{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"NY\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-issues-statement-on-50-years-of-the-hyde-amendment/", "CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON 50 YEARS OF THE HYDE AMENDMENT", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nSeptember 30, 2026\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nBROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2014 Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cToday marks 50 years of harm, hardship, and uncertainty under the Hyde Amendment. Since its adoption in 1976, the Hyde Amendment has relentlessly and brutally restricted a woman\u2019s right to make her own healthcare decisions. Its vile legacy can be seen in the countless women it has affected over this painful past century, as well as in every regression in this nation that its very existence has made possible. Indeed, the Supreme Court\u2019s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and deny millions of women their right to an abortion could only have arrived in the wake of a post-Hyde America, where women\u2019s autonomy has remained under siege, and our personal medical decisions are offered to all hands but our own.\n\n\u201cWhile there is no shortage of cruelties lurking in the laws of this nation, the Hyde Amendment is particularly sickening because its negative impacts are felt mostly by those with the least. For half a century, it has blocked low-income Americans from having access to insurance when seeking abortion coverage. For Black and brown women, as well as those belonging to rural communities who have long navigated systemic discrimination and contended with trauma and hardship in their struggle to receive care, its impact and consequences have been especially devastating.\n\n\u201cSystemic injustice does not occur spontaneously. It is born in the cruel and controlling hearts of politicians who steal our power and pretend it is their own. As Members of Congress, we have a moral responsibility to stop the Hyde Amendment before it reaches one more year and harms any more women. Now is the time we come together to put an end to this vicious chapter in our history. That starts with passing the EACH Act and ensuring that every American can access affordable abortion care, no matter what.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-gillen-langworthy-schrier-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-rare-disease", "Reps. Gillen, Langworthy, Schrier Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Rare Disease Screenings for Newborns", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Laura Gillen", "G000602", "gillen.house.gov", "gillen", "https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GARDEN CITY, NY \u2014 Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), alongside her colleagues Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA-8), introduced the bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act to provide states with federal funding and resources to conduct newborn screenings for rare health conditions on the national Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). These screenings identify newborns at risk of serious and treatable rare health conditions to prevent irreversible brain damage, lifelong disability or even death.\n\n\u201cNewborn screenings give families a critical opportunity to detect rare and deadly conditions in the first days of a child\u2019s life,\u201d said Rep. Gillen. \u201cCatching rare illnesses and treating them early can be lifesaving and prevent costly, lifelong disabilities. I\u2019m proud to partner with my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to ensure every state has the funding to provide proven, effective newborn screenings and give every child a fighting chance.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of our most sacred duties as a society is to protect our newborn babies. We already have the technological advancements to detect serious conditions\u2014now we must do everything in our power to ensure that every single newborn has access to them,\u201d said Rep. Langworthy.\u201cAdding a condition to the federal recommended panel is a good first step, but we need to make sure that states have the resources to put the screenings into practice. This bill will literally save lives and help get these precious babies into treatment before it\u2019s too late. We have to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a pediatrician, I\u2019ve taken care of patients whose conditions were discovered early on their newborn screen,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cBecause we had the resources to screen for these diseases, we were able to help babies right away and save lives. However, states often lack the resources to screen for each condition listed on the recommended panel, which puts our children at risk. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure that newborns in Washington state and across the country are screened for all of these treatable conditions at birth.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services oversees the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, a national list of rare conditions that experts advise states to include in newborn screening. It includes 40 core conditions with proven, effective screening and treatment options and 26 secondary conditions that may be identified through core screening or follow-up testing. Conditions are added to the RUSP upon rigorous, evidence-based evaluation and confirmation of an effective treatment option.\n\nThe Surge to Save Newborns Act would:\n\nProvide dedicated funding to states: establish a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to help states implement newborn screening for conditions included on the RUSP.\n\nTarget funding directly to state implementation: allow a state's chief health executive, their designee or a state governmental agency to apply for funding and explain how the grants would be used to implement recommended screenings.\n\nTrack state-level progress: require annual reports to Congress from FY2027 through FY2031 identifying which recommended conditions each state screens for, which have not yet been implemented, the effectiveness of the grants and recommendations for legislative or administrative action.\n\nInvest in newborn screening infrastructure: provide $35 million annually from FY2027 through FY2031, with funds remaining available until expended.\n\nThe legislation is supported by a broad coalition of rare-disease patient advocacy organizations, family foundations and children\u2019s health organizations including the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, ALD Alliance, ALD Connect, Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Advocacy Association, Association for Creatine Deficiencies, Believing for Bryleigh Foundation, Conner's Crusade, CTX Alliance, Cure ALD, HCU Network America, Hunter\u2019s Hope Foundation, Judson's Legacy, Katelynn\u2019s Butterfly Kisses, Krabbe Connect, Little Hercules Foundation, MLD Foundation, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Project Alive, the RARE Foundation, Remember The Girls, The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders, United Leukodystrophy Foundation, United MSD Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).\n\nIn Congress, Rep. Gillen has been a strong advocate for children\u2019s health. In 2025, she co-led a letter with a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and National Cancer Institute Deputy Director Douglas Lowy, urging their agencies to reconsider proposed federal funding cuts to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/30/leader-jeffries-at-the-capitol-donald-trump-and-republicans-have-broken-the-economy-and-the-american-people-are-paying-the-price/", "LEADER JEFFRIES AT THE CAPITOL: \u201cDONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BROKEN THE ECONOMY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE PRICE\u201d", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol, where he highlighted the contrast between Republicans, who have done nothing to end the affordability crisis that is crushing the American people, and House Democrats, who are committed to fighting for an affordable America.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Housing costs are up. Gas prices are up. Mortgage insurance rates are up. Inflation is up. Healthcare premiums are up. Donald Trump and Republicans have broken the economy, and the American people, unfortunately, are paying the price. Republicans have failed to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America. In fact, housing costs, grocery costs, utility costs, child care costs and healthcare costs have all gone in the wrong direction as a direct result of policies enacted by Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.\n\nThe American people have had enough, and our message to them is that help is on the way. House Democrats are committed to fighting for an affordable America, lowering the high cost of living, lowering the cost of groceries, lowering the cost of gas, lowering the cost of housing and fighting to make healthcare affordable for every single American.\n\nThe American people have understandably had enough with failed Republican policies that actually hurt everyday Americans simply to benefit the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. It\u2019s time for Congress to put the American people first, and that\u2019s exactly what House Democrats intend to do.\n\nFull press conference can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-langworthy-announces-326-million-fema-funding-erie-county-winter", "Congressman Langworthy Announces $3.26 Million in FEMA Funding for Erie County Winter Storm Elliott Response", "2026-09-30", "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.\u2014September 30th\u2026 Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced that Erie County has been awarded $3,260,556.21 in federal funding to reimburse the county for emergency protective measures undertaken during Winter Storm Elliott, the severe winter storm and snowstorm that struck Western New York in December 2022.\n\nThe funding, provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covers 75 percent of eligible costs incurred by Erie County between December 22 and December 31, 2022, during a storm that led to the deaths of nearly 60 residents and created an immediate threat to the health and safety of countless others.\n\n\u201cWinter Storm Elliott delivered a devastating blow to Western New York\u2014one that will go down in the history books for its speed and severe impact,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cIt occurred just days before my swearing-in and one of my first official acts was to make sure that FEMA stepped in to do right by our communities. This $3.2 million in federal funding will cover 75% of the county\u2019s emergency response costs, providing much needed relief to local property taxpayers. We sadly cannot get back the lives we lost in that storm, but I will always fight to make sure Western New York receives the federal resources it needs to recover and prepare for future emergencies.\u201d\n\nThe FEMA award reimburses Erie County for a portion of the $4,347,408.27 in eligible emergency response costs incurred during the storm, including:\n\n$779,534.21 for overtime for county employees responding to the emergency, including 555 laborers who worked more than 15,800 hours;\n\n$113,838.21 for emergency materials;\n\n$67,469.95 for rental equipment; and\n\n$3,386,565.90 for contracted emergency response services.\n\nThe county's emergency protective measures included search and rescue operations, operation of an Emergency Operations Center, distribution of life-sustaining commodities, maintaining emergency access on public roadways, safety inspections of structures and emergency medical care activities.\n\nThe funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and is associated with FEMA's disaster declaration for the December 2022 severe winter storm and snowstorm (FEMA-DR-4694-NY).", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-tannousis-carr-demand-raise-age-reform-nycha-security-improvements", "Malliotakis, Tannousis, Carr Demand Raise the Age Reform, NYCHA Security Improvements Following Berry Houses Assault", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(STATEN ISLAND, NY) \u2014 Following the horrific rape of a delivery woman at the Berry Houses on Staten Island, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) joined Assemblyman Michael Tannousis and New York City Councilman David Carr in calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State legislature to fix the Raise the Age law. The lawmakers also urged the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to immediately install the security cameras, a CCTV system, and additional lighting that Malliotakis secured $1 million in federal funding for.\n\nAccording to police, a 37-year-old woman making a delivery was attacked, struck with a firearm and raped near the development earlier this month. A 14-year-old has since been arrested and charged with rape, assault, sexual abuse, criminal possession of a firearm and other offenses.\n\nEnacted in 2017, New York's Raise the Age law ended the automatic prosecution of 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, with felony cases generally beginning in a special Youth Part and many eligible for transfer to Family Court. The lawmakers are calling for a review of the state's juvenile justice laws to ensure serious violent offenses, particularly those involving firearms and sexual assault, are appropriately addressed and do not go before Family Court judges. In this case, the Family Court Judge set bail at $30,000 despite the District Attorney requesting $150,000.\n\n\u201cThis horrific crime underscores the need for Albany to revisit Raise the Age and ensure young offenders accused of serious violent crimes are held accountable. This case should be in Criminal Court before a Criminal Judge, not before a Family Court Judge appointed by soft-on-crime Bill de Blasio. I\u2019m calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to strengthen these laws, while also urging NYCHA to immediately use the $1 million I secured to install security cameras and improve lighting at Berry Houses. The victim deserves justice, and residents deserve to feel safe in their own neighborhood,\u201d said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.\n\n\u201cThis horrifying case is yet another example of why New York\u2019s approach to juvenile justice reforms and public safety demands serious scrutiny. Albany Democrats championed Raise the Age and other policies that expanded the circumstances in which young criminals are handled through the specialized Youth Part of Supreme Court or Family Court. This has allowed these perpetrators to live in a world where committing some of the most heinous crimes imaginable will not mandate them to face the traditional adult criminal justice system. When an individual is accused of a monstrous act like this, our justice system must have the tools to protect the public and ensure that criminals face severe consequences. Staten Islanders deserve to feel safe in their own community, and we cannot allow policies enacted by Albany Democrats to embolden dangerous criminals. At the same time, the $1 million in federal funding secured by Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for CCTV security upgrades at the Berry Houses must see immediate expedited installation. Those cameras, planned for building lobbies, exteriors, and elevators can provide residents and law enforcement with an important public safety tool that has proven to be more necessary than ever before,\" said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-presses-faa-and-dot-address-persistent-airplane-noise-around-jfk-and", "Suozzi Presses FAA and DOT to Address Persistent Airplane Noise Around JFK and LGA in New Letter", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Thomas R. Suozzi", "S001201", "suozzi.house.gov", "suozzi", "https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013Congressman Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) last night sent a follow up letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford urging immediate action to reduce persistent airplane noise affecting communities surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. This letter follows a response Congressman Suozzi received regarding his April 2026 letter to Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and Regional Administrator Kennington-Gardiner requesting a reduction in airplane noise surrounding both airports. The response failed to adequately address the problem for residents living under flight paths from both airports.\n\n\u201cI appreciate the FAA\u2019s response and willingness to engage, but the problem has not been fixed,\u201d said Congressman Suozzi. \u201cAirplane noise isn\u2019t just an annoyance, it\u2019s a real quality-of-life and public health issue, and my constituents deserve relief. I am again asking the Federal Aviation Administration to do more to reduce airplane noise and protect the quality of life of families in my district. This is a serious issue, and I will not stop pressing the FAA until they bring meaningful relief to my constituents.\u201d\n\nSince coming to Congress in 2017, Congressman Suozzi has made reducing airplane noise a priority, working with federal officials, airlines, and local stakeholders to maintain consistent pressure on the FAA to substantively address noise issues. Congressman Suozzi serves as Vice Chair of the bipartisan congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, where he recently led a bipartisan letter demanding a reduction in airplane noise ahead of the summer months.\n\nRead Suozzi\u2019s full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford,\n\nThank you for your response to my April 6, 2026, letter regarding aircraft noise surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). I appreciate the FAA\u2019s efforts to address this ongoing issue with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey airports, airlines, and our communities. Since receiving your response, I have continued tracking aircraft noise complaints and hearing directly from my constituents to determine whether conditions have improved. They have not!\n\nMy constituents are increasingly frustrated. Aircraft noise remains a major quality-of-life concern. Research has linked aircraft noise to sleep disturbance, stress, cardiovascular disease, and poorer learning outcomes in children. This is not just an annoyance, and these grievances are not isolated. It affects the health, well-being, sleep quality, and daily lives of citizens under these flight paths.\n\nI have three specific requests:\n\nRequire arrivals using JFK Runway 22L and 22R to remain at 3,000 feet until they are within 15 miles of the airport at all times. I appreciate the FAA\u2019s decision to begin keeping arrivals into JFK Runways 22L and 22R at or above 3,000 feet until they are within 15 miles of the airport during \u201cnighttime hours\u201d, when conditions allow. But this does not go far enough. In 2018, I brokered a deal with the FAA to do exactly this all day, not only at night. The FAA must honor this agreement and explain why the 3,000-foot procedure is now only being applied during the night. Constituents continue to report a decline in their quality of life and repeated low-flying planes over their neighborhoods. Constituents deserve relief from persistent aircraft noise at all hours of the day, not just at night.\n\nStricter oversight of air traffic rotation of runways 22L and 22R every eight hours when conditions permit.This can help communities under the 22L/22R flight path from shouldering noise pollution constantly, but stricter oversight is needed to ensure these procedures are consistently followed. I respectfully request the FAA provide information on how often this strategy is deployed, and what alternative solutions the FAA considers minimizing noise when airport volume does not allow for runway rotation.\n\nMinimize the use of the TNNIS climb. I also appreciate the FAA\u2019s efforts to minimize use of the TNNIS departure procedure between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. This is a productive step, yet just as residents under JFK flight paths experience noise at all hours, the problem does not end at 8:00 a.m. Residents in Queens are awake, working, going to school, and living their daily lives. In fact, flight activity around JFK and LGA remains substantial throughout the day; the busiest period being afternoon hours when residents are spending time with their families, and simply trying to enjoy their homes and communities. The FAA must consider how to reduce use of the TNNIS climb beyond these early morning hours. I welcome a discussion to understand any barriers the FAA faces.\n\nThere is no single solution to airplane noise. Safety, weather, traffic, and airport operations must always be considered, but these challenges cannot become an excuse for inaction. Residents have dealt with persistent aircraft noise for far too long, and they are rightfully asking when they will see results. Continued delays in addressing this issue only prolong the burden on these communities and undermine Congress\u2019s efforts to address aviation noise. The FAA must move beyond monitoring the problem. It must take action and follow through on the commitments it has made to our communities. My constituents deserve meaningful relief.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/tenney-concludes-three-day-law-enforcement-roundtable-series-public-safety", "Tenney Concludes Three-Day Law Enforcement Roundtable Series on Public Safety Challenges Facing NY-24 Communities", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Oswego, NY \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) concluded a three-day series of law enforcement roundtables across New York\u2019s 24th Congressional District, bringing together sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors, probation officials, and other local leaders to discuss the challenges facing law enforcement and the policies affecting public safety in their communities.\n\nAcross stops in Albion, Canandaigua, and Lyons, Tenney heard directly from local officials about the impact of state policies on their work, challenges facing local departments, and the resources and support law enforcement needs to keep New Yorkers safe.\n\nWestern New York Roundtable \u2013 Albion\n\nOn Monday, September 28, Tenney kicked off the series in Albion, where law enforcement leaders discussed public safety challenges facing Western New York and the impact of state policies on local departments.\n\nJoining the discussion were Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke, Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard, Orleans County Probation Director Sarah Osborne, Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby, Batavia Police Chief Christopher Camp, Genesee County Sheriff Joe Graff, and other local law enforcement officials.\n\nFinger Lakes Roundtable \u2013 Canandaigua\n\nOn Tuesday, September 29, Tenney continued the series in Canandaigua, where participants discussed policies coming out of Albany, challenges officers and prosecutors face in enforcing the law and holding offenders accountable, and the tools local departments need to serve their communities.\n\nParticipants included Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione, Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard, Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci, and additional local law enforcement officials.\n\nEastern NY-24 Roundtable \u2013 Lyons\n\nTenney concluded the series on Wednesday, September 30, in Lyons, bringing together law enforcement officials from the eastern portion of NY-24 to discuss challenges facing their departments and ways the federal government can support local public safety efforts.\n\nThe roundtable included Wayne County Undersheriff Tammy Ryndock, Wayne County Chief Deputy Joe Croft, Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck, Macedon Police Chief Adam Husk, Clyde Police Officer in Charge Aaron DiSanto, and additional local law enforcement officials.\n\n\u201cOur sheriffs, police officers, prosecutors, and other law enforcement professionals understand the public safety challenges facing our communities because they confront them every day,\u201d said Congresswoman Tenney. \u201cOver three days and across NY-24, I heard directly from the men and women responsible for keeping our communities safe about the obstacles they face, the impact of policies coming out of Albany, and what they need to do their jobs effectively. Their experience should help shape public safety policy. I will continue working in Congress to ensure local law enforcement has the tools, resources, and support they need, and Albany should be listening to the people confronting these challenges on the ground.\u201d", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-introduces-bill-to-protect-americans-data-from-big-tech-and-ai-companies/", "Gillibrand Introduces Bill To Protect Americans\u2019 Data From Big Tech And AI Companies", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) reintroduced the Data Protection Act. This legislation would create a new independent federal agency to protect Americans\u2019 data, ensure fair data practices, and help the government adapt to rapidly evolving digital technologies.\n\n\u201cAs AI continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that we take action to crack down on tech companies that misuse Americans\u2019 data,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cCurrently, Big Tech companies are free to sell individuals\u2019 data to the highest bidder without fear of real consequences, posing a severe threat to privacy and civil rights. My bill would create an independent federal agency to protect data and privacy, equipped with the resources to give Americans the meaningful protection they deserve.\u201d\n\nData privacy is a growing concern in the United States. In 2025 alone, more than 3,300 data breaches exposed over 278 million individuals\u2019 personal information. About 89 percent of Americans are concerned that their data is being accessed and used inappropriately.\n\nAdditionally, the U.S. is one of few democracies in the world that lacks a data protection agency. Senator Gillibrand\u2019s Data Protection Act would create such an agency, strengthening the federal government\u2019s ability to protect Americans\u2019 data and bringing the U.S. in line with peer nations.\n\nSpecifically, the Data Protection Act would:\n\nLimit the collection, use, and sharing of personal data;\n\nOversee high-risk data practices, ensure that data processing and algorithms are fair, and minimize the collection of data for commercial purposes;\n\nExamine the social, ethical, economic, and civil rights impacts of data collection practices;\n\nMaintain a publicly accessible list of data aggregators that collect, process, or share data;\n\nEnforce privacy statutes and rules as authorized by Congress, with a broad range of tools including civil penalties, injunctive relief, and equitable remedies;\n\nDevelop model privacy and data protection standards, guidelines, and policies for use by the private sector and government agencies, and;\n\nAdvise Congress on emerging privacy and technology issues.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Consumer Federation of America, Fairplay, Consumer Action, and National Association of Consumer Advocates.\n\n\u201cThe United States has been ensnared in a data privacy crisis for decades, and putting an end to it will take significant action from Congress,\u201d said Kara Williams, Counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center. \u201cEPIC is proud to endorse Sen. Gillibrand\u2019s Data Protection Act, which would establish a federal data protection agency that would focus exclusively on protecting privacy\u2014a crucial first step to ending the mass overcollection and exploitation of Americans\u2019 personal data.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith an increase in surveillance of every corner of life online and off, the need for a strong and clear privacy law with teeth has never been more urgent,\u201d said Ben Winters, Director of AI and Privacy of the Consumer Federation of America. \u201cThe Data Protection Act is straightforward, administrable, and what we need right now.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommercial surveillance has become Silicon Valley\u2019s economic operating system, yet the United States is the only major industrialized country without a dedicated data protection agency to rein in harmful data practices,\u201d said Asad Ramzanali, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Technology Policy at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator. \u201cThis void leaves Americans exposed and the government underequipped to respond. We\u2019ve long needed a well-staffed watchdog with real authority to enforce privacy rights and hold companies accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsumers need an agency that makes data protection its priority. Senator Gillibrand\u2019s plan to create a Data Protection Agency is the right step to ensure that companies use individuals\u2019 data fairly, responsibly and with accountability,\u201d said Ruth Susswein, Director of Consumer Protection at Consumer Action.\n\n\u201cData centers in the U.S. are vulnerable to attack, and as a country we need to do a much better job with data security. That\u2019s why the U.S. needs a data protection agency,\u201d said Bruce Schneier, Fellow and Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School.\n\nThe full text of the Data Protection Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/watch-gillibrand-demands-enabler-hegseth-resign-after-dismissing-uss-lincoln-suicide-attempts-politically-motivated-firings/", "Watch: Gillibrand Demands \u201cEnabler\u201d Hegseth Resign After Dismissing USS Lincoln Suicide Attempts, Politically Motivated Firings", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Gillibrand: \u201cThis Is A Secretary Of Defense Who Does Not Know How To Lead Our Country Productively To Keep Americans Safer.\u201d\n\n***Watch Senator Gillibrand\u2019s Full Interview Here***\n\nToday, in an interview on CNN\u2019s The Situation Room, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s immediate resignation following recent revelations that 8 sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had attempted suicide and that Hegseth plans to cut the number of generals and admirals in the military by 20%.\n\nGillibrand also continued to demand immediate passage of her bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) in light of the allegations in the Cornell University fraternity rape case. The legislation would hold campuses accountable, create a fair process for students, and ensure victims have access to a dedicated advocate to assist in navigating the adjudication process.\n\nFootage of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s interview with Pamela Brown can be found here.\n\nTranscripts of key moments can be found below:\n\nON HEGSETH\u2019S INABILITY TO STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ENSURE OUR MILITARY KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE:\n\nGILLIBRAND: This administration and Pete Hegseth want $1.5 trillion for the military, showing that they want unlimited money for bombs. They have plenty of money for billionaires and ballrooms, but yet not sufficient money for regular people who are working hard for food, for housing, and for healthcare. It\u2019s just deeply demoralizing, the direction the secretary is taking.\n\nBROWN: And you believe he should resign. Is that right?\n\nGILLIBRAND: I\u2019ve called on him to resign many times over almost all of these issues. Most recently, over the hitting of a girls\u2019 school in Iran, the fact that he continues to prosecute a war that the American people have not had a chance to even support. There\u2019s been no congressional approval. And again, asking for unlimited money for his bombs, waging this war when this administration refuses to fund things like Medicaid.\n\nBROWN: But isn\u2019t \u2013 in terms of the war itself, it\u2019s more up to President Trump, right? As the commander-in-chief, and getting that sign-off, right?\n\nGILLIBRAND: President Trump is bringing this country in the wrong direction on all these issues, but Secretary Hegseth is an enabler, and he is unwilling to do his job as the Secretary of Defense to prosecute wars properly, to have civilian harm reduction as part of his military services. He\u2019s firing people not based on qualifications, but how they look, the color of their skin. These are all red flags that this is a secretary of defense who does not know how to lead our country productively to keep Americans safer.\n\nON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION\u2019S LACK OF LEADERSHIP THAT FORCED SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE USS LINCOLN STRIKE GROUP TO SERVE IN DISMAL CONDITIONS:\n\nBROWN: You\u2019re also calling for congressional hearings after the Navy confirmed to you in a letter that eight sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln fleet \u2013 we should note there you have the carrier and then you have the fleet \u2013 that there were attempted suicides. So, what more have you learned about the conditions on board? Not just the carrier itself, which I was an embed on for three days back in July, but also just the other warships around it, where there were attempted suicides as well.\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, this goes to the lack of leadership of Secretary Hegseth again, and ultimately President Trump, deploying our service members for months upon months, far longer than they expected, not giving them the dwell time, the time at home that they need to recuperate and be ready to continue to go back into combat over and over again. We wrote a letter asking what is the status and well-being of the service members that are deployed, and the answer we got was shocking. Eight people have attempted suicide on these warships. Two threw themselves overboard, which, according to experts, is the most extreme scenario you can imagine being a sailor on a warship. And so I have serious questions about how Secretary Hegseth is leading this military and, ultimately, President Trump.\n\nON THE SERIOUS AND HORRIFIC ALLEGATIONS IN THE CORNELL RAPE CASE AND THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION LIKE THE CAMPUS ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY ACT TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS:\n\nBROWN: I want to turn to another issue, and that is this Cornell rape civil suit that is getting a lot of attention. You have called the allegations \u201cserious and horrific.\u201d You and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley have introduced legislation to combat sexual assault on college campuses, but that bill was never passed. What role can Congress play here?\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, we should pass our legislation immediately. What it does is create rules of the road so that every student is protected on campus. We have to make sure that there\u2019s a person who\u2019s highly trained to receive these allegations in the first instance to tell a survivor what his or her rights are, what opportunity she has to report either through a civilian system, through a college system, or through a criminal system. She or he is given just the basic tools of advocacy about what\u2019s going to happen to their lives and whether the school will provide accommodations. And then you need a process that is a highly informed process, that is legitimate, and doesn\u2019t pit one student against another unfairly in a circumstance that doesn\u2019t actually resolve to justice. And so we need reform on all of these college campuses. It\u2019s not right that kids go off to school and are not safe. It\u2019s not right that what happened in this instance doesn\u2019t appear to have been assessed properly. So I\u2019m grateful that the DA is looking at it again.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-issues-statement-on-the-passing-of-calypso-icon-slinger-mighty-sparrow-francisco/", "CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF CALYPSO ICON, SLINGER \u201cMIGHTY SPARROW\u201d FRANCISCO", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nSeptember 29, 2026\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nBROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2014 Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on the passing of singer, composer, and calypso icon, Slinger \u201cMighty Sparrow\u201d Francisco:\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the people of the 9th District of New York, the Clarke family, and myself, I wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the many loved ones and countless fellow fans of the internationally renowned Mr. Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, as we grieve this peerless icon\u2019s transition to paradise. Though he was born in Grenada and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, the Mighty Sparrow\u2019s talent was so substantial and his art so impactful, it could not be confined to the nations of the Caribbean, but instead came to be beloved across the globe. Indeed, the \u201cCalypso King of the World\u201d earned his crown through his remarkable talent, generous spirit, and unrelenting commitment to his craft. I have no doubt that incomparable legacy will persist long past the loss of our Legend. We will remember the Mighty Sparrow as a consummate entertainer, celebrate him as a cultural institution, and honor him as the trailblazer, charitable soul, and innovator he was. And, though our sorrow is great, may we find comfort in knowing that tonight, the Kingdom of Heaven will ring alive with sweet steel melodies and the songs and sounds of our people.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.\u201d \u2013 Matthew 25:23", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/29/leader-jeffries-on-pbs-everyday-americans-need-us-to-decisively-act-in-order-to-make-life-more-affordable/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON PBS: \u201cEVERYDAY AMERICANS NEED US TO DECISIVELY ACT IN ORDER TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE\u201d", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on PBS News Hour, where he made clear that House Democrats are committed to fighting for an affordable America and holding the crooks accountable who are ripping off the American people.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: The latest national polling shows Democrats with a solid shot of regaining control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections. If they do, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries could go from Minority Leader to Speaker of the House, with debates over the economy, government funding and President Trump\u2019s agenda all unfolding. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins us now. Thanks for being with us.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Great to be with you.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: I want to start with AI, what with President Trump meeting with those tech leaders at the White House today. You have said that Congress needs to lean in on AI safety. What does that mean in practice? What guardrails should Congress put in place?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Our fundamental responsibility as Members of Congress is to protect the general welfare, the health, the safety and the well-being of the American people. And you have industry stakeholders raising alarms that the pace of AI development is going so fast that the ability to make sure we ensure the safety of the American people is in question. And that, of course, in our view, means that congressional action that is decisive, working with all of the relevant parties involved, is important. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has come to the conclusion that self-policing is appropriate. It is not. This is a nation of laws, and Congress is here for a reason: to ensure, yes, of course, that science and innovation and technology can continue to develop at a pace that exceeds what\u2019s going on in China with the Chinese Communist Party. At the same period of time, we also want to make sure we protect the American people from bad actors and harms that could befall them.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: Let\u2019s shift our focus to the economy because Democrats are making affordability central to the midterm argument. What would Democrats actually do with control of the House that would make life less expensive for the American public?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Life is far too expensive for the American people, and everyday Americans need us to decisively act in order to make life more affordable. There are too many people\u2014they\u2019re working hard, they\u2019re playing by the rules, they can\u2019t thrive and can barely survive. People are drowning in this failed Trump economy and have had enough. There are a variety of different things that need to happen. One, we need to end the Trump Tariffs, which have cost everyday Americans thousands of dollars per year in additional expenses, particularly as it relates to groceries and goods. We need to stop this reckless war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed gas prices on the American people and also had an impact on increasing food prices because of the increase in fertilizer expenses, as well as the increase in diesel prices. And certainly, we need to reverse the Medicaid cuts, which have ripped healthcare away from more than 10 million Americans or is threatening to do so. And at the same period of time, we certainly need to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits so we can reverse the increases in health insurance premiums that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: Another fight playing out in Washington right now is over Congress\u2019s power of the purse. And I raise this because for the second year in a row, President Trump is trying to cancel money that Congress has already approved, this time more than $800 million. If this money expires before Congress or the courts can act, hasn\u2019t the White House found a way around Congress\u2019s power to appropriate funds?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: It has been incredibly unfortunate that my Republican colleagues have become nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump\u2019s extreme agenda and, as opposed to behaving like separate and co-equal parts of a branch of the federal government that is not subservient to Donald Trump but is co-equal to the executive branch, they continue to allow the President to try to get away with anything he wants to do, including changing the allocation of funds that Congress previously appropriated in a bipartisan way. And so, in connection with the upcoming spending debate and agreement that we\u2019ll need to reach by December 11, certainly, I think it\u2019s important for the American people that Congress reasserts its authority.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: If the White House can simply refuse to spend parts of a bipartisan funding agreement, I\u2019m sure people will ask the question: why should Democrats ever make another deal, another spending deal with Republicans?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Certainly, it\u2019s the case that we cannot proceed in entering into an agreement when it\u2019s clear that the other side of the aisle is not going to, in good faith, adhere to that agreement. It\u2019s going to be one of the things that certainly will be part of the discussion as we move forward, because when decisions are made to allocate taxpayer dollars in ways that are designed to uplift the health and the safety and the economic well-being of the American people, that money should be spent in a manner consistent with what the law says should happen. And when that doesn\u2019t occur, of course, Congress is going to have to respond, in our view, and certainly the courts are going to have to respond as they\u2019ve previously done in other instances.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: If Democrats retake control of the House come November, what\u2019s the first bill a Democratic House under your leadership would pass?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We\u2019ll have that discussion at the appropriate time. Right now, we are running through the finish line, but we\u2019re going to make sure that dealing with the affordability crisis is a top priority. And we\u2019ve established working groups in five different areas where we believe action needs to be taken on affordability. That\u2019s housing. That\u2019s healthcare. That\u2019s gas and utilities and energy affordability. It\u2019s groceries and goods. And it\u2019s caregiving. We believe that decisive action needs to be taken at minimum in all five of these areas and that certainly will be our intention.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: On accountability, there are some Democrats who are already talking about impeachment. Of course, as you well know, you were a former House impeachment manager. The President was impeached twice, acquitted twice in the Senate. How are you thinking about impeachment or, more broadly, accountability, if Democrats take control of the House?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We certainly haven\u2019t ruled anything in and we haven\u2019t ruled anything out because our focus is going to be delivering accountability in areas where you have individuals who have stolen from the American people, are shortchanging the American people or have been screwing over the American people. And when you have people in high office who are so focused on enriching themselves, their family members, their friends or their donors, then what it means is that they\u2019re not actually doing the job to make life more affordable, more comfortable and more livable for everyday Americans. And so, we\u2019ve promised on the accountability front, beginning on day one, to make sure that we\u2019re holding the crooks accountable. We will follow the facts, apply the law, be guided by the Constitution and then, of course, let the chips fall where they may in the best interest of the American people.\n\nGEOFF BENNETT: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thanks again for joining us this evening.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.\n\nFull interview can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-joins-gods-love-we-deliver-push-medically-tailored-meals-bill", "Malliotakis Joins God\u2019s Love We Deliver to Push Medically Tailored Meals Bill", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(BROOKLYN, NY) \u2014 Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) joined God\u2019s Love We Deliver highlighting H.R. 5439, Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act, bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored with Rep. Jim McGovern and celebrated its recent unanimous passage out of the House Ways and Means Committee, marking an important step toward final passage of the legislation.\n\nThe legislation creates a 6-year Medicare pilot program for 40 hospitals to deliver medically tailored meals for Medicare beneficiaries who live at home and have a diet-impacted disease like diabetes and heart failure after they leave the hospital. The meals are medically tailored, which means they are designed by nutritionists to accommodate\n\nthe specific health needs of a patient. The legislation is budget neutral with no additional cost to taxpayers.\n\nRep. Malliotakis also recognized the organization\u2019s important work delivering medically tailored meals to constituents across her district, particularly older adults and medically vulnerable individuals who have difficulty shopping or cooking on their own. In FY2026, God\u2019s Love We Deliver provided 230,635 medically tailored meals to 996 unique residents of New York\u2019s 11th Congressional District, at no cost to them. Fifty-seven percent of meals delivered in the district supported residents age 60 and older. Research from God\u2019s Love We Deliver found that patients receiving medically tailored meals had 16% lower health care costs and 49% fewer inpatient hospital admissions.\n\n\u201cGod\u2019s Love We Deliver does incredible work across our city, including providing more than 230,000 medically tailored meals to 1,000 constituents in my district last year. These meals help people with serious illnesses stay healthier, avoid unnecessary hospital visits and remain in their own homes instead of hospital beds. Our bipartisan legislation builds on this important work by creating a pilot program for medically tailored meals for Medicare beneficiaries. By expanding access to medically tailored meals, we can improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs\u2014it\u2019s a win-win. We hope to see this legislation move forward to a vote of the full House and ultimately become law,\u201d said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.\n\n\u201cLast year, God\u2019s Love We Deliver provided more than 230,000 medically tailored meals to nearly 1,000 people in Congresswoman Malliotakis\u2019s district. Today, at Liberty BKLYN, our new meal distribution center, she saw firsthand the care and coordination behind every one of those deliveries,\u201d said Terrence Meck, President & CEO of God\u2019s Love We Deliver. \u201cWe thank the Congresswoman for championing the bipartisan Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act and helping it advance through the Ways and Means Committee. We look forward to working with her to bring this legislation to the House floor and give Medicare the opportunity to test how medically tailored meals can improve health and support people living with chronic illness at home.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-demands-trump-stop-using-taxpayer-dollars-political", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE DEMANDS TRUMP STOP USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR POLITICAL ADVERTISING", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Rochester, N.Y.)\u2014Today, Congressman Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, led top senior House Democrats in demanding President Donald Trump immediately stop airing a new television advertisement bearing the disclaimer \u201cPaid for by the U.S. Government\u201d amid serious questions about whether taxpayer dollars and federal resources are being illegally used for political purposes. Members are demanding the Trump Administration disclose who authorized and paid for the advertisement, what legal authority was used to fund it, and whether it underwent a legal review before being broadcast.\n\n\u201cAt a time when families are struggling with the cost of groceries, housing, healthcare, and other everyday necessities, taxpayer dollars should be used to make their lives easier\u2014not to bankroll political advertising,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cThe American people deserve to know who authorized this advertisement, how much it cost, where the money came from, and whether federal laws designed to protect taxpayers from political misuse of government resources were followed. We are demanding answers, accountability, and an immediate end to this advertisement.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis advertisement indicates a potential significant misuse of taxpayer funds and federal government resources for what appears to be political advertising. Given the proximity to the November midterm elections, this advertisement\u2014and the circumstances surrounding its development and production\u2014warrants an immediate investigation,\u201d the Members wrote.\n\nThe Members further emphasized that while presidents have broad authority to publicly advocate for their policies, federal resources cannot simply be treated as political campaign funds.\n\nAs chair of the Anti-Corruption and Democracy Reform Task Force, Congressman Morelle has consistently pushed for greater transparency and accountability in government and, as the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, has worked to protect the integrity of American elections and ensure government institutions serve the public interest.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-calls-allegations-in-cornell-rape-case-serious-and-horrific-on-nprs-all-things-considered/", "Gillibrand Calls Allegations In Cornell Rape Case \u201cSerious And Horrific\u201d On NPR\u2019s All Things Considered", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "***Hear Senator Gillibrand\u2019s Full Interview Here***\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called the allegations in the Cornell University fraternity rape case \u201cserious and horrific\u201d in an interview on NPR\u2019s All Things Considered and issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe allegations made in the Cornell University complaint are extremely serious and horrific.\n\n\u201cI am glad the district attorney is reopening this case. Regardless of what this grand jury concludes, the larger truth is clear: a system that forces survivors to these lengths is a system that is fundamentally broken. Victims deserve thorough investigations, and perpetrators must be held accountable.\n\n\u201cOur priorities are upside down. The Senate recently spent two weeks urgently talking about college sports but has spent years looking away from sexual violence and student safety on our college campuses.\n\n\u201cCongress must act and take up my bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) with Senator Chuck Grassley to hold campuses accountable, create a fair process for students, and ensure victims have access to a dedicated advocate to assist in navigating the adjudication process.\u201d\n\nListen to Senator Gillibrand\u2019s interview with NPR here. Full transcript of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s interview below:\n\nSACHA PFEIFFER: It\u2019s All Things Considered from NPR News. I\u2019m Sacha Pfeiffer.\n\nJUANA SUMMERS: And I\u2019m Juana Summers. When I heard a woman\u2019s allegations that she was drugged and gang raped at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024, the story felt familiar to me. It\u2019s not because the story was well known before this weekend. It\u2019s because so many of the details she alleges \u2013 a campus party, a fraternity, drugs, alcohol, and sexual assault \u2013 echo so many of the stories we\u2019ve heard from numerous college campuses for years.\n\nPFEIFFER: The alleged assault at Cornell happened in 2024. Campus police investigated, but no criminal charges were ever filed. Cornell defends its handling of the case. Now the woman, identified as Jane Doe, has brought a civil case against the university and the seven male students she says assaulted her. That has prompted prosecutors to reopen the case, and the details of these allegations have sparked national outrage.\n\nSUMMERS: To unpack all of this, I called up someone earlier today who\u2019s been pushing for years for legislation to address the handling of campus sexual assault crimes, New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and I started by asking her for her reaction to these allegations, as well as the decision to reopen the case.\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, I\u2019m certainly grateful that the DA is reopening the investigation. I\u2019ve just seen the public reports, and obviously these allegations are extremely serious and horrific, and as a parent with a kid in college, this is probably something that every parent in America wants addressed.\n\nSUMMERS: Matthew Van Houten, who\u2019s the Tompkins County District Attorney, said on Monday that Jane Doe\u2019s original statement two years ago, and I\u2019m going to quote him here, did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped. Now, in light of the new details provided in that civil suit, he says he would now let a grand jury decide. Her lawyer told CNN that the new report was not materially different from what was contained in the original complaint. What questions would you want answered about how investigators handled that initial report?\n\nGILLIBRAND: So, one of the things that I found over the years of working in this space, is that the people who do the interviews initially or ask questions initially have to be highly trained. They have to be experts in this kind of trauma. They have to be experts on what happens when someone has lived through this kind of trauma. You need a trauma-informed counselor to do that first interview, and a lot of our lawyers, a lot of our district attorneys, a lot of law enforcement are not trained in that way. We studied cases where law enforcement groups were trained appropriately, and it exponentially increased the number of people who reported rapes. It increased the number of people whose cases actually went to adjudication, and it increased the number of convictions.\n\nSUMMERS: I mean, you have been working on these issues for such a long time. I think it was more than a decade ago that I was talking to you, covering the bipartisan push that you and other lawmakers made to address this issue to curb the rates of sexual assaults on campuses. You\u2019ve come back to this legislation over and over again, and yet I have to say, Senator, it doesn\u2019t feel like much has changed. Is that your view?\n\nGILLIBRAND: No, I think very little has changed. I do imagine that many campuses have put in place much better policies than they had a decade ago, but Congress hasn\u2019t done its part, and we just spent two weeks talking about college sports. Congress should spend at least that time talking about how to make campuses safe for all students.\n\nSUMMERS: What would you like to see Congress do? What\u2019s an appropriate step here?\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, I\u2019d like to have hearings on the piece of legislation that Senator Grassley and I have authored, CASA, and then we should be able to get a vote. Just simply get a vote so that we can hold campuses and communities of responsibility, hold them accountable for whether they are protecting all students or not, and that is literally not happening today on many, many college campuses.\n\nSUMMERS: Senator Gillibrand, I\u2019ve heard you for a long time, on and off the Hill. So I want to ask you a question, not as a senator, but just as a mom. And I understand that you have at least one son who\u2019s college age. How do you talk to your sons? How do we talk to young men about situations and allegations like these? Because these instances, they keep happening year after year, from college campus to college campus.\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, as a mom, I of course worry about the safety and well-being of my children, and I try to make sure that they understand the risks they have every day. I also read the story about a bunch of kids who died on campus because they did some drug that\u2019s not fentanyl but worse than fentanyl. So when I hear stories like this, I just talk to my children about what happened on these campuses, what happened to these children, and ask them like, \u201cDo you ever see yourself in this situation? What would you do in this situation? Who would you ask for help? You know, would you save someone? Would you stick up for someone? Would you prevent someone from taking a risk that\u2019s very scary, like taking drugs?\u201d I think a lot of campuses have some sexual assault prevention training. I don\u2019t know if all campuses have them, but I know that my sons have had those trainings on their campuses. So it\u2019s very hard, and you just want your children and their friends and their whole community to be safe.\n\nSUMMERS: I mean, just taking a step away from the specifics of these allegations at Cornell University, I just know so many women, myself included, who have had stories of experiencing unwanted sexual contact, assault, or rape on their campuses who then seek help from systems that were ostensibly built to keep them safe, and yet feel let down or betrayed, and it keeps happening. So I guess the question I have is, what makes it stop? What\u2019s the tipping point?\n\nGILLIBRAND: What you\u2019ve heard from many survivors, and this is the throughline, is that when they felt they could report what happened, they were not received openly. They were received with disbelief. They were received with blame. They were received with, \u201cThat\u2019s what you were wearing,\u201d or \u201cYou were drinking that,\u201d or \u201cYou were doing drugs. What do you expect?\u201d Like sometimes, the first person they talk to is so uninformed and so poorly trained. They say all the wrong things, and the things that they say in those instances often will leave a survivor to drop the case or to blame him or herself and unwilling to tell his or her story. That does not set a campus up for safety or for success. You need to have a system that works, that works for everyone, that is 100% transparent.\n\nSUMMERS: We\u2019ve been speaking with Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. Thank you so much.\n\nGILLIBRAND: Thank you.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-pass-legislation-to-cement-saratoga-battlefields-legacy/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Pass Legislation To Cement Saratoga Battlefield\u2019s Legacy", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Legislation Would Rename Historic Site \u201cSaratoga National Battlefield Park\u201d\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced congressional passage of the bipartisan Strengthening America\u2019s Turning Point Act. This legislation would officially redesignate Saratoga National Historical Park as Saratoga National Battlefield Park, more accurately reflecting its pivotal role in the Revolutionary War.\n\nRepresentatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) led the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it passed last year. The bill now heads to the president\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cSaratoga Battlefield is a source of pride for the Capital Region and a symbol of the patriotism, sacrifice, and resilience that built our country,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThe Battles of Saratoga were the turning point of the American Revolution and monumental events in world history, marking the first time that a British army laid down their arms. This name change reflects the historic significance of the battles and honors the sacrifice of those who fought for our nation\u2019s founding.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Battles of Saratoga were the turning point of the American Revolution. I\u2019m proud to announce that legislation renaming the historical park \u2018Saratoga National Battlefield Park\u2019 has just passed the Senate and will be signed into law,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis new name provides important context and reflects the significance of the battlefield as a turning point for the Revolutionary War. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary this year, and get ready for the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga next year, honoring the heart of New York\u2019s Revolutionary War history is key to ensuring America\u2019s history lives on.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis summer, as we celebrated our nation\u2019s 250thbirthday, I was reminded once again of the pivotal role our Capital Region played in America\u2019s fight for freedom and independence,\u201d said Rep. Tonko. \u201cNow, as we approach the 250thanniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, I\u2019m thrilled to celebrate the passage through the Senate of the Strengthening America\u2019s Turning Point Act. The designation of \u2018Saratoga National Battlefield Park\u2019 will help accurately reflect the importance of this national historic site, boosting local tourism and fostering a greater appreciation for our region\u2019s historic heritage among locals and visitors alike. I was proud last year to lead this legislation through the House, and I\u2019m eager now to see it signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe Saratoga National Historical Park is the site of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, which were some of the first significant American victories over the British army during the Revolutionary War. The battles were called a \u201cturning point\u201d and helped to convince the French to ally with the American colonies. New York State began to preserve the site in 1927. In 1938, Congress passed a law to designate the park as a unit of the National Park System, naming it the \u201cSaratoga National Historical Park.\u201d\n\nLocal New York stakeholders have advocated to change the park\u2019s name ahead of the battles\u2019 250th anniversary to more accurately reflect its significance as a battlefield. In 2024, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution requesting that Congress and the National Park Service change the name. This legislation would finalize this change.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-congress-passage-of-her-bill-to-end-production-of-the-penny-and-save-taxpayers-money/", "Gillibrand Statement On Congress\u2019 Passage Of Her Bill To End Production Of The Penny And Save Taxpayers Money", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, following Congress\u2019 passage of her Common Cents Act with Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement:\n\n\u201cHalting production of the penny just makes sense. It currently costs the U.S. Mint nearly four cents to produce a single penny \u2013 a massive waste of taxpayer dollars. By suspending the penny\u2019s production, we can cut back on costs, streamline transactions, and move toward a more practical financial system. I am grateful to Senators Lummis, Lankford, and Wyden for their partnership in getting this bill through the Senate, and I now urge the president to sign it into law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-new-report-that-impending-social-security-benefit-cuts-will-be-deeper-than-predicted/", "Gillibrand Statement On New Report That Impending Social Security Benefit Cuts Will Be Deeper Than Predicted", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "New Report Finds Social Security Benefits Could Be Cut 26% In 2032\n\nGillibrand\u2019s Social Security Expansion Act Would Extend The Solvency Of Social Security For 75 Years By Requiring The Wealthiest Americans To Pay Their Fair Share Of Payroll Taxes\n\nFollowing the release of a new report finding that Social Security benefit cuts could be deeper than previously predicted \u2013 up to 26% \u2013 U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) slammed the Trump administration for its role in jeopardizing seniors\u2019 benefits and demanded passage of her legislation to extend the solvency and guarantee of Social Security.\n\n\u201cAmericans who have worked hard their entire lives deserve every dollar of Social Security they were promised. But due to Trump administration and Republican inaction, their benefits are on track to be slashed by 26% in just six years,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cWe must take immediate action to prevent this benefit cut. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I\u2019m demanding swift passage of my legislation to blow the Social Security cap, make wealthy Americans pay their fair share, and prevent these draconian benefit cuts.\u201d\n\nThis year\u2019s annual Social Security Trustees Report, which was released in June, previously concluded that Social Security\u2019s retirement trust fund will be depleted by 2032. A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released earlier this month concluded that at that time, seniors will see their benefits cut by about 26%\u2013a higher percentage than previously predicted.\n\nLast year, Senator Gillibrand introduced the Social Security Expansion Act to extend the solvency of Social Security for 75 years by requiring the wealthiest American households to pay their fair share of payroll taxes.\n\nUnder the current formula, a CEO making $20 million a year pays the same amount into Social Security as individuals making $184,500 a year. This legislation would lift the cap on Social Security, requiring income above $250,000 to be subject to the Social Security payroll tax and thus increasing the amount paid into the Social Security trust fund to increase its longevity. Under this bill, over 91 percent of American households would not experience a tax increase.\n\nThe full text of this bill can be found here.\n\nThe depletion of Social Security funds is due in part to the Trump administration\u2019s reckless policy agenda. The so-called \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act,\u201d which was passed by Republicans in Congress and signed into law by President Trump last year, permanently lowered income tax rates. This resulted in less tax being paid on Social Security benefits, reducing the revenue flowing to the Social Security trust fund and decreasing its solvency. At the same time, the administration\u2019s deportation efforts and restrictive immigration policies have further reduced the revenue for the trust fund, as legal immigrants and many undocumented workers pay billions of dollars in Social Security taxes, but undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-republicans-blocking-her-bill-to-repeal-and-refund-trumps-cost-increasing-tariffs/", "Gillibrand Statement On Republicans Blocking Her Bill To Repeal And Refund Trump\u2019s Cost-Increasing Tariffs", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "New York Families Have Spent Over $5,500 More Due To President Trump\u2019s Tariff Chaos And Other Reckless Policies\n\nToday, after her bill to repeal and refund Trump\u2019s Canadian tariffs and lower Americans\u2019 costs was blocked by Senate Republicans, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cWhen Americans go to the grocery store, the gas station, or their local small business, they are paying more because of Trump\u2019s tariffs,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cHardworking families are struggling because of the policies of Donald Trump and Washington Republicans that put bombs and billionaires over working people. Today, I offered a clear way to genuinely lower everyday costs and put more money back in Americans\u2019 pockets. Yet again, Trump and Republicans stood in the way of progress for working families.\u201d\n\nGillibrand\u2019s bill, the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act, would have repealed all tariffs levied under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and required that Americans be refunded for all duties paid under this authority. This includes the 50% tariffs on Canada and the import ban on certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products, motorcycles that took effect today.\n\nThe president\u2019s tariffs have previously been found to be unconstitutional and have already raised costs on New Yorkers. Poll after poll after poll have found that a resounding majority of Americans oppose Trump\u2019s tariffs actions that have raised prices and hurt their families.\n\nSenator Gillibrand has opposed President Trump\u2019s tariffs since the start of his administration. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. In March, she and her colleagues introduced the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to exempt small businesses from another set of Trump-imposed tariffs and refund what they had already paid.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-132-million-in-federal-funding-for-fire-departments-across-upstate-new-york", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $13.2+ MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Helped Create AFG & SAFER Programs To Train, Equip, And Staff Fire Departments Across Upstate NY\n\nSchumer Pushed To Re-Authorize Programs In 2024 To Continue Delivering Gear, Training, And Other Vital Support For First Responders\n\nSchumer, Gillibrand: Keeping Upstate NY\u2019s Firefighters & First Responders Safe\n\nU.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $13,230,088.46 in federal funding for dozens of fire departments across Upstate New York. The funding will be used to provide protective gear, training, and supplies to emergency personnel. This federal funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)\u2019s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs, which Schumer helped create, and the senators fought hard to preserve and fund.\n\n\u201cEvery day, our first responders risk everything to keep families safe and protect communities across Upstate New York. This more than $13.2 million in federal investments will put critical resources directly into the hands of firefighters\u2014from New Rochelle to Syracuse to Buffalo\u2014helping them stay safe and giving them what they need to do their jobs when it matters most,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cFor decades, I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with firefighters from across Upstate New York to fight for this critical program, and I\u2019m proud to see that work continue to deliver real resources for the brave first responders who always answer the call for help.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cWe owe it to them to ensure that they have the resources and personnel they need to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. I\u2019m proud to be delivering over $13 million in federal funding to battle ongoing training and equipment gaps in fire departments across New York, and I will keep fighting to get more federal resources to our first responders.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe North Tonawanda Fire Department is extremely grateful to Senator Schumer for his continued support of our department and assistance throughout the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant process. The $488,020.48 award will allow us to send eight of our firefighters, approximately 21% of our career staff, to an accredited Paramedic Certification Program and become New York State-certified paramedics. With EMS incidents accounting for approximately 82% of our nearly 4,000 annual calls for service, increasing the number of paramedics within our department will expand Advanced Life Support and enhance patient safety. Senator Schumer\u2019s continued commitment to the North Tonawanda Fire Department and to firefighters and first responders across New York State is deeply appreciated,\u201d said City of North Tonawanda Fire Chief Doug Orlowski.\n\n\u201cI am extremely grateful to Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for their support of the Syracuse Fire Department\u2019s AFG application. Traffic collisions are one of the more significant occupational risks of injury or death for firefighters nationwide. This funding of $857,024 will allow us to give our nearly 400 members extensive classroom driver training and hands-on practice with our apparatus. Better prepared drivers mean safer responses for our firefighters, the people we serve, and everyone who shares the road with us,\u201d said City of Syracuse Fire Chief Michael J. Monds.\n\n\u201cWe are an all-volunteer department of 30 active firefighters serving about 9,300 residents across 39 square miles in Wayne County, and this funding will be critical to replace and upgrade our aging self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units to ensure our firefighters have dependable breathable air when responding to emergencies. We appreciate the Senators\u2019 support to help secure this funding to help safeguard our firefighters and local residents,\u201d said South Macedon Fire and Rescue 1st Asst. Chief Christopher Creamer.\n\nSchumer helped create these programs and has championed program reauthorization and increased funding levels. In 2024, Senator Schumer led to passage the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act, extending funding for the AFG and SAFER programs through Fiscal Year 2030. Schumer explained that the AFG and SAFER programs have been a lifeline for fire departments and have become essential to their continued operations because they often face budget shortfalls and high costs, hindering their ability to purchase the modern equipment they need to respond to emergencies and keep firefighters safe. These programs have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars for firefighters and first responders across New York. The AFG and SAFER grant programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Federal Emergency Management Agency, providing funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants that most closely address the program\u2019s priorities and demonstrate financial need.\n\nA full list of funding recipients can be found below:\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-leads-letter-to-revlon-demanding-answers-following-findings-of-dangerous-contaminants-in-cosmetics/", "CLARKE LEADS LETTER TO REVLON DEMANDING ANSWERS FOLLOWING FINDINGS OF DANGEROUS CONTAMINANTS IN COSMETICS", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nSeptember 28, 2026\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Representative Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) led a letter signed by nine Members of Congress to CEO of Revlon Group Holdings LLC, Michelle Peluso, following the FDA\u2019s recent findings that the cosmetics company failed to adequately test products for the presence of contaminants \u2013 including cancer-causing chemicals and mold \u2013 putting the health of its customers at risk, particularly its Black customers who are disproportionately represented in the beauty and personal care market.\n\n\u201cBlack consumers, specifically women and girls, occupy a significant space within the overall U.S. beauty landscape. In 2026, beauty spending among Black consumers reached $16.2 billion, representing a 9 percent increase from the previous year. Given their prevalence in your customer base, it is our serious concern that Black women and girls would be disproportionately exposed to carcinogenic chemicals in contaminated beauty products,\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cProducts that pose a risk to consumers have no place in our markets. Black women and girls should be able to use beauty and personal care products, including over-the-counter (OTC) drug products, without worrying about potential exposure to harmful chemicals.\u201d\n\nThe letter was signed by: Representatives Clarke, Carson, Crockett, DeLauro, Grijalva, Holmes Norton, Thanedar, Tlaib, and Wilson (FL).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/goldman-announces-he-secured-15464700-new-york-city-public-housing-authority", "Goldman Announces He Secured $15,464,700 for New York City Public Housing Authority", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "New York, N.Y. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10) announced that he has secured $15,464,700 for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) through the Community Funding Project award program. This funding will go towards improving the standard of safety, security and quality of living at New York City Public Housing developments.\n\nThis funding will advance several key goals to improve quality of life in public housing developments across New York's 10th Congressional District. Working alongside Senator Schumer, Congressman Goldman secured $5 million to remediate mold conditions at Red Hook East in Brooklyn and won $1.5 million to restore the community center at the Jacob Riis Houses in partnership with Vision Urbana.\n\nGoldman also secured grants to upgrade safety infrastructure at eight NYCHA developments, funding improvements to fire safety technology, security cameras, elevator upgrades and lighting systems.\n\nGoldman secured $39,344,968 for 49 community projects in NY-10 across the three appropriations processes during his time in office.\n\nRepresentative Goldman was joined by NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt at the press conference.\n\n\"From the moment I was elected to Congress, representing the historically underserved working-class neighborhoods in my district has been my top priority,\" said Congressman Dan Goldman. \"I am proud to announce that my office has secured more than $15.4 million in federal grants for NYCHA residents at 11 different developments. Public housing should be safe and livable, and I'm proud to have worked alongside so many incredible community leaders to make that a reality. A special thank you is in order for NYCHA, as well, whose leaders have worked with me to pass these projects into law. I am proud to share their commitment to a better future for their residents.\u201d\n\n\"Every New Yorker deserves a safe, healthy, and dignified home, and this investment will help to make meaningful improvements in the quality of life for thousands of NYCHA residents,\" said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. \"From making safety and security upgrades to restoring vital community spaces, these projects reflect the kinds of investments that make a significant difference in residents' everyday lives. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Goldman for his ongoing partnership and unwavering commitment to NYCHA residents.\"\n\nManhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said: \"NYCHA's capital needs have never been greater. I\u2019m deeply grateful to Congressman Dan Goldman for his advocacy in Washington on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Manhattanites who call NYCHA home. This $15.4M investment, which includes fire safety upgrades, security camera installations, and refurbished community centers, will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of Manhattanites who depend on NYCHA for safe, affordable housing. I look forward to working with my elected colleagues and NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt to continue advocating for the needs of Manhattanites living in NYCHA units.\u201d\n\n\"On behalf of the Board of Directors of Vision Urbana, Inc., I extend our profound gratitude to Congressman Dan Goldman for securing this historic $1.5 million federal investment to transform the former Virginia Day Care Center at the NYCHA Jacob Riis development into a Community Resiliency Center,\" said Rev. Dr. Marcos Rivera, Chairperson of Vision Urbana. \"This is a NYCHA development recovering from the effects of Superstorm Sandy making this investment more than just a renovation of a center\u2014it is an investment in the resiliency of a community facility designed for families and older adults who have called Jacob Riis their home for generations.\u201d\n\n\"Vision Urbana now has an executed agreement with HUD providing us a critical foundation from which to develop this facility into a fully functional resource hub that will continue beyond any future superstorm Sandy for NYCHA residents at Jacob Riis and throughout the Lower East Side\", said Eric Diaz, Executive Director of Vision Urbana. \"Community stakeholder sessions have started this Summer with support from sister agencies and the tenants themselves to ensure this facility becomes a resilient center Jacob Riis himself would have been proud to report as a prime example of social infrastructure within NYC public housing.\"\n\nThe projects for which he\u2019s won funding are:\n\nFiscal Year 2024\n\nJacob Riis / Vision Urbana Community Center - $1,500,000\n\nFiscal Year 2026\n\nRed Hook East Building Line Initiative - $5,000,000\n\nRed Hook Community Center Elevator Upgrades - $1,100,000\n\nGowanus Fire Upgrades - $850,000\n\nBaruch Fire Upgrades - $850,000\n\nLES Group V Windows - $850,000\n\nFirst Houses Cameras - $1,031,000\n\nWyckoff Gardens Cameras - $1,039,000\n\nFiscal Year 2027 - (Yet to be signed into law)\n\nLaGuardia Fire Upgrades - $850,000\n\nWald Fire Upgrades- $850,000\n\nVladeck Cameras- $772,700\n\nBaruch Addition Lighting- $772,000\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/28/leader-jeffries-on-squawk-box-people-are-drowning-in-this-failed-republican-economy/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON SQUAWK BOX: \u201cPEOPLE ARE DROWNING IN THIS FAILED REPUBLICAN ECONOMY\u201d", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNBC\u2019s Squawk Box, where he made clear that unlike Donald Trump and Republicans, House Democrats are committed to fiscally responsible behavior in the fight for an affordable America.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Welcome back to Squawk Box. We are just five weeks away now from the midterm elections. Joining us right now is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Good morning to you. Really wanted to spend some time thinking about what you think the Democratic agenda would be if you do win the House and how things change or shift under those circumstances.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning, great to be with you. Our focus right now, of course, will be over the next 36 days making our case to the American people that we are committed to fighting for an affordable America. The cost of living in this country is way too high. Life is way too expensive. Donald Trump and Republicans promised to lower the high cost of living on day one. That\u2019s what they said. Of course, costs haven\u2019t gone down, costs have gone up. So we\u2019re committed to driving down the high cost of groceries, driving down the high cost of gas, driving down the high cost of housing and also fighting to make healthcare affordable for every single American.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader, how much of the next two years do you think, if you\u2019re to win in the House, would be a series of hearings effectively about Trump, about Trump\u2019s family, about business executives, about giving to ballrooms and all of that?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We\u2019re committed to an affordability agenda. As I travel the country, speak to people whether that\u2019s in urban America, rural parts of America, the heartland of America, small-town America or Black and Brown communities throughout America, the one thing that is clear is that people are struggling. They are drowning in this failed Republican economy.They\u2019re working hard, they\u2019re playing by the rules, but they cannot thrive and can barely survive. It\u2019s an unacceptable situation. And so, when we say we\u2019re focused on affordability, we mean it. At the same period of time, we have seen unprecedented corruption unleashed on the American people. And if you have folks who are so focused on enriching themselves, their family members, their friends or their donors, then it means they\u2019re not focused on making life more affordable for the American people. And we have a responsibility to visit the type of accountability that is consistent with the House as a separate and co-equal branch of government.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: The reason, Leader, I raised this question is because there is a question about just how much of this will be about recrimination versus affordability, and where the energy in the party comes from right now. I found\u2014I don\u2019t know if you agree with this, you\u2019re talking about affordability now. One of the things that\u2019s been very interesting about watching some of the folks, maybe on the far left, considered sort of the DSA world is they rarely actually talk about Trump or talk about Republicans per se or the family or all of these things. They almost always simply talk about affordability or other kinds of sort of forward-looking issues. How do you think about that versus this accountability issue? Because I know that there are others in the Democratic Party that have a real, you know, thirst for both accountability\u2014maybe it\u2019s a blood, but they want something.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, in the new Congress, there are going to be progressives, there are going to be New Dems, moderate Democrats, centrist Democrats, Blue Dogs, more socially conservative Democrats. But what does unite everyone is this commitment to lowering the high cost of living, to making sure that we can actually bring the American dream back to life for people all across this country. When it comes to the accountability aspect of what needs to happen, cleaning up the rampant corruption that exists in Washington, D.C., wherever that may be, whether that\u2019s the Congress, the Supreme Court or certainly with the Trump cartel, our view is that we\u2019re going to follow the facts, apply the law, be guided by the Constitution and then let the chips fall where they may on behalf of the American people. We have a responsibility, of course, as a Congress, to serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch. That\u2019s not partisan, that\u2019s patriotic.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Where do you think AI and the debate around data centers, but increasingly\u2014the conversation we were just having with Jensen Huang around regulation around some of these models, agentic models, getting out of sandboxes and the like\u2014how much of that do you think is going to become a political football, not just in the midterms, but over the next two years?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Congress, pursuant to the Constitution, has a responsibility to provide for the common defense of the American people and protect the general welfare of the American people. So when it comes to AI safety, it certainly seems to me that we need to actually lean in boldly and responsibly now. That\u2019s why it was so extraordinary that, in light of pleas coming from people within the artificial intelligence industry itself that Congress needs to act, that Speaker Johnson, Republicans decided to get out of town and cancel votes for two weeks so they could save themselves on the campaign trail, as opposed to trying to save the American people from pending harm if this thing gets out of control with respect to AI safety.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader, I want to go back to the affordability issue because one of the big issues\u2014we\u2019re watching the price of treasuries right now, which is also affecting mortgages and the like. One of the things that clearly, at least, the bond investor community is demanding, is that we get our fiscal house in order. And my question to you is whether you think Democrats have any plan to spend less money rather than more.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, here\u2019s the thing. The American people have made clear throughout the last several months that they trust Democrats on the economy, trust us on fighting inflation, trust us on lowering the high cost of living, trust us on ending this reckless war of choice in Iran, trust us on immigration and trust us on the deficit because what they\u2019ve seen from Republicans is fiscally irresponsible behavior. They ripped away, these Republicans, Medicaid from 14 million Americans in order to provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors and then skyrocket the debt and the deficit by trillions of dollars. You\u2019re not going to see that type of fiscally irresponsible behavior from Democrats. We\u2019re going to put the American people first.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Do you see or could you imagine over the next two years any kind of real fiscal responsibility, also Democrats and Republicans coming together to try to deal with this budget?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I don\u2019t want to get out ahead of what we\u2019ll talk about as Democrats in the new Congress, but what is clear is that we can\u2019t continue down this unsustainable path that Republicans have brought us along. I mean, when you think about a $40 trillion debt, 25% of that debt has basically been accumulated during the approximately six years that Donald Trump is President. That\u2019s extraordinary. It\u2019s unacceptable. It\u2019s hurting us. And, certainly, we\u2019ve got to find a path forward to change course from what Republicans have done\u2014\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader, I think people want to understand what that path looks like. Obviously, a lot of Democrats have talked about taxes. They\u2019ve talked about wealth taxes, raising money on one end. But I\u2019m asking, is there a balanced approach where, and maybe it includes tax increases, but is there any effort in your mind, are there things that you could point to today that you can say to yourself, you know, we\u2019ve got to cut this, it\u2019s the only way?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: What I\u2019m saying, and of course, as Democrats, we\u2019ve repeatedly made clear that we actually are authentically interested in dealing with waste, fraud or abuse where it exists. And we certainly have seen an unprecedented amount of waste, fraud, abuse and corruption unleashed on the American people by Donald Trump and the Trump cartel. But our focus has to be on lowering the high cost of living. That is what the American people want us to address decisively. Republicans have failed in that regard. Democrats will not.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader Jeffries, we\u2019re going to leave the conversation there. We appreciate it. Good to see you.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.\n\nFull interview can be watched here.\n\n###", 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://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/one-month-left-congressman-pat-ryan-invites-hudson-valley-middle-and-high", "ONE MONTH LEFT! CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN INVITES HUDSON VALLEY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ENTER 2026 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Congressional App Challenge encourages tech innovation among middle and high school students as they compete for a chance to have their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol\n\nHudson Valley middle and high school students are encouraged to submit by October 26, 2026; more information on submission can be found on Congressman Ryan\u2019s website\n\nLast year\u2019s winner, \u201cHudson Connect,\u201d was designed by New Windsor 11th grader Aarna Patel; the app is a community resource navigation tool designed to help residents quickly find local services and programs across New York\u2019s 18th Congressional District\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Pat Ryan is encouraging Hudson Valley middle and high school students to participate in the 2026 Congressional App Challenge.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an annual nationwide competition that encourages U.S. middle and high school students in each congressional district to learn coding and develop their own software applications, fostering STEM education and engagement with their local Representative.\n\nThis challenge is open to middle and high school students; students must either attend school or reside in NY-18. Submissions are due October 26, 2026; the portal can be found on Congressman Ryan\u2019s website.\n\n\u201cI look forward to this every year. The Congressional App Challenge gives young people across the Hudson Valley a chance to build and demonstrate their entrepreneurial spirit for the benefit of the community we love,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cI am consistently so impressed with what our students submit \u2013 it truly gives me hope for the next generation of innovators growing up right here in the Hudson Valley. There\u2019s one month left to submit, and I can\u2019t wait to see what everyone comes up with!\u201d\n\n\u201cParticipating in the Congressional App Challenge and attending the House of Code has been an incredible honor. I created Hudson Connect to help people find local and accessible resources and to bring the community closer together,\u201d said Aarna Patel, New Windsor, 2025 winner. \u201cHaving the app recognized on a national stage was both exciting and deeply meaningful. Connecting with other student innovators and speaking with Congressman Ryan and his team reinforced how powerful technology can be in supporting and uplifting a community. The support from Congressman Ryan\u2019s team throughout the process made the experience even better and truly memorable.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a competition organized by Members of Congress across the country for middle school and high school students to create their own software applications and gain experience with computer coding.\n\nSubmissions are due by October 26, 2026; more information and submission instructions can be found on Congressman Ryan\u2019s website.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-colleagues-press-commissioner-bisignano-on-mismanagement-mistreatment-of-workers-at-social-security-administration-irs/", "Gillibrand, Colleagues Press Commissioner Bisignano On Mismanagement, Mistreatment Of Workers At Social Security Administration, IRS", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Decision to limit paid annual and sick leave will affect over 120,000 IRS and SSA workers\n\nU.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Aging, joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in sending a letter to Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Chief Executive Officer of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), on their concerns about his mistreatment of agency employees after obtaining a circulated internal memo that indicates that he will strip SSA and IRS of advanced annual leave and sick leave.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration has starved the Social Security Administration and the IRS of the resources they need to provide critical services to millions of Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cLimiting paid leave will only further push away quality workers from these agencies and cause increased wait times, more frustration, and real hardship for families trying to access essential benefits and file their taxes. I am demanding that the administration immediately reverse this decision and ensure that every American can count on the services they need.\u201d\n\nWorkers at the Social Security Administration and the IRS receive advance paid leave policies that allow them to take time off before it is officially accrued, a common practice across the federal workforce. Advanced leave grants employees the ability to respond to health and family emergencies and has long been a part of the federal government\u2019s efforts to provide the workplace conditions needed to attract and retain the most qualified individuals to serve the American people.\n\nBut an internal memorandum indicated that Bisignano, the head of SSA and IRS, would strip agency employees of these benefits.\n\n\u201cWe are concerned that this policy will further weaken the already stressed resources of these agencies, leaving the American people with degraded access to their rightful Social Security benefits and needed IRS services,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201c\u2026(Y)ou have imposed a cruel and unjustified plan that is likely to drive additional employees out the door, doubling down on the Administration\u2019s already disastrous efforts to push out federal employees.\u201d\n\nThe Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut over 32,000 employees from the IRS and the SSA in 2025, diminishing customer service at these agencies. Suspending advanced annual and sick leave will make matters worse, pushing out federal employees and directly hurting Americans who need assistance from the SSA and IRS. These fresh cuts could delay access to benefits and critical tax refunds.\n\n\u201c(T)his latest action to eliminate a workplace benefit could contribute to increasingly dire conditions for agency staff, negatively impacting morale and employee retention and \u2014 if the agencies lose additional workers \u2014 hurting taxpayers and Social Security recipients,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nThe senators urged Bisignano to reverse this decision and immediately restore advanced leave at the SSA and IRS. They further requested that SSA and IRS provide more details on the suspension of advanced paid leave policies at both agencies by no later than October 6, 2026.\n\nAs the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Gillibrand is a staunch supporter of Social Security and has fought the Trump administration\u2019s cuts and overhauls at SSA. In March, she launched an investigation into SSA\u2019s ongoing customer service crisis, after staffing cuts and reassignments left the agency unable to fully serve the 75 million Americans who rely on the program. She has also rallied alongside seniors and unions to demand a reversal of staffing and service cuts, and she pressed SSA on its plans to close field offices and make it harder for Americans to get their benefits.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/26/leader-jeffries-on-cnn-the-american-people-are-disgusted-with-the-performance-of-donald-trump-and-republicans/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON CNN: \u201cTHE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS\u201d", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN This Morning Weekend, where he made clear that House Democrats are relentlessly focused on fighting for an affordable America.\n\nMANU RAJU: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who wants to be the next Speaker of the House, he is joining me live now to talk about the midterm elections 38 days away. Mr. Jeffries, good morning to you and thanks for being here. As you know, Cook Political Report is now predicting that Democrats will take the House in November. You\u2019ve actually been saying that for months, making that prediction. So right now, what are you exactly predicting? Are you\u2014do you anticipate a Democratic wave or a narrow victory?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We\u2019re going to work as hard as we can to get to 218, and then win as many seats on top of that as possible because we\u2019re focused on fighting for an affordable America. Life is way too expensive, Manu, here in the United States of America. There are too many people, millions of folks, working hard, playing by the rules, can\u2019t thrive and can barely survive. The Republican economic policies have been a disaster. They promised to lower costs on day one, costs haven\u2019t gone down, they\u2019ve gone up. Democrats are determined to do something about that.\n\nMANU RAJU: Mr. Leader, are you worried about the amount of GOP spending that is coming in late from Trump\u2019s outside organization and GOP outside groups? They\u2019re really bombarding the airwaves and they\u2019re dwarfing Democrats by nearly $200 million in House and Senate races. How concerned are you about that?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We always understood that MAGA Republicans were going to try to unload as much of their special interest money as possible. This is part of the problem with why Republicans have failed. They\u2019re not interested in promoting the public interest. They haven\u2019t done a damn thing to make life more affordable for the American people. Instead, they spend all their time raising money from their MAGA big donors, who they rewarded with a massive tax break in the One Big Ugly Bill, while at the same time ripping Medicaid, healthcare and nutritional assistance away from the American people. We\u2019re going to stay focused, continue to communicate our message. We know the most important issues in this election are not going to be about MAGA money. It\u2019s going to be about the economy, the high cost of living and combating inflation, which Donald Trump and Republican economic policies have dramatically worsened in this country.\n\nMANU RAJU: Mr. Leader, let\u2019s talk about the generic ballot. The CNN poll from this week has Democrats with an eight-point advantage when voters are asked which party should control Congress. But in 2018, that\u2019s when Democrats had picked up 41 seats, at this time, Democrats had a 12-point advantage in the generic ballot. Now, given how bad the environment is for Republicans, why aren\u2019t Democrats holding an even bigger advantage now?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: The plus-eight advantage is incredibly strong, and we\u2019re going to continue to run through the finish line. And remember, Manu, in 2018 we needed to flip 24 seats. We were at 194, we needed to get to 218. Right now we\u2019re at 215. It\u2019s one of the reasons why Republicans are running scared all across the country because we only need to flip a handful of seats to take back control of the majority, and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re going to do at minimum.\n\nMANU RAJU: But does the fact that your advantage isn\u2019t even higher have anything to do with your own approval ratings, Mr. Leader? In that same poll, the approval of Democratic leaders is abysmal. It stands at 26%. And that is just two points better than GOP leaders. So why are the approval ratings of Democratic leaders still so low?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We\u2019re not running a popularity contest. We\u2019re working hard to run Republicans out of power because they\u2019ve done so much damage to the American people. And the American people clearly deserve better. They clearly deserve a party\u2014House and Senate Democrats\u2014which are going to focus on making life better for the American people, Manu. Those are the stakes at this moment.\n\nMANU RAJU: But do you think the public is not sold yet on Democrats leading Congress?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: I think that we\u2019ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, we have to accomplish the mission. And the mission is to make sure that we take back control of the House, which we\u2019ve maintained we were on track to do now for months. In fact, we were very confident about our ability to change direction in January 2025 and began to say so publicly. And we\u2019ve had two goals: push back against the Republican extremism that has been unleashed on the American people and chart a better course forward, so that the American people actually can live a comfortable life, an affordable life and a good life.\n\nMANU RAJU: I want to drill down to one critical district that you know very well: New York\u2019s 17th congressional district. That\u2019s where the incumbent Republican Mike Lawler\u2014one of the top Democratic targets in the country\u2014he\u2019s one of three Republicans who sit in districts that Kamala Harris won last cycle. You need to flip that seat. And just last week, a member of your Caucus, Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine, issued an endorsement of Lawler. Are you okay with that?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: I issued a statement making clear that I thought the endorsement effort by Mike Lawler was a desperate attempt to head off what\u2019s coming on November 3, which is that Cait Conley, a decorated combat veteran, a patriotic hero, is about to flip that seat. In fact, I was with Cait last evening. I\u2019ll be spending some time with her in the district at some point soon. We\u2019re all in to make sure that she wins. Mike Lawler is an unmitigated fraud. He voted to cut Medicaid of his own constituents. He\u2019s consistently voted to rubber-stamp Donald Trump\u2019s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed gas prices\u2014\n\nMANU RAJU: What about the fact that you have a member of your Caucus endorsing him?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: You have to talk to Jared Golden about that. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Democrats, leadership, the members of the New York congressional delegation across the ideological spectrum\u2014we all stand behind Cait Conley. And mark my words, she\u2019s going to win.\n\nMANU RAJU: Okay, I want to ask you about something many people saw last night when watching the Northwestern-Indiana college football game. There\u2019s a taxpayer-funded ad from the White House. Watch this.\n\nRECORDING OF AD: And nothing was going to stop him from fighting so hard for the country he loves.\n\nMANU RAJU: Mr. Leader, the administration says that these are public service announcements with the goal of educating Americans and to ensure they are unapologetically patriotic. Any issue with that?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: These aren\u2019t public service announcements. These are ads designed to elevate Donald Trump because he has record-low approval ratings across the board. Certainly, the American people are disgusted with the performance of Donald Trump and Republicans in the House, who are nothing more than reckless rubber stamps for his extreme agenda. And this is another example of how taxpayer dollars are being misused by the Trump cartel to try to elevate themselves or enrich themselves, their family members, their friends and their donors, as opposed to actually doing what Democrats will be focused on, which is spending taxpayer dollars to make life more affordable for hardworking American taxpayers.\n\nMANU RAJU: Trump is also saying that he wants this election to be about him. He said, \u2018Vote like I\u2019m on the ballot.\u2019 He is suggesting he could be in a few dozen battleground districts as well. Do you want Trump on the campaign trail?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Yes. And the reality is, Donald Trump is effectively on the ballot. His failed economic policies are on the ballot. The Trump Tariffs, which have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year, on the ballot. His One Big Ugly Bill that ripped Medicaid away from about 14 million Americans\u2014that\u2019s on the ballot. The Epstein cover-up is on the ballot. The failure of this administration to actually keep its promise not to start wars in the Middle East, but to stop them, is on the ballot because they turned around and did the exact opposite with the reckless war of choice in Iran. So certainly, Republican policies are on the ballot. The Democratic vision to make life more affordable for the American people, that\u2019s on the ballot as well.\n\nMANU RAJU: I do want to ask you about the Wall Street Journal. It\u2019s reporting that President Trump has told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the midterm election. So if you become Speaker, will you vow to end the Iran war?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Absolutely. In fact, we\u2019ve made that clear. We\u2019ve now successfully on the House Floor passed three different War Powers Resolutions to end this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. That\u2019s in the best interest of the American people\u2014\n\nMANU RAJU: You would cut off all funding?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, we\u2019ll deal with the appropriations process when we deal with the appropriations process. Right now, the mechanism that is in front of us will be to aggressively move War Powers Resolutions until we end this war in the best interest of the American people.\n\nMANU RAJU: Alright, we\u2019re going to have to leave it there. Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you so much for joining me this morning. Really appreciate it.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Manu.\n\nFull interview can be watched here.\n\n###", 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://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://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"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schneider-call-for-hearings-after-navy-discloses-8-attempted-suicides-by-sailors-in-uss-abraham-lincoln-carrier-strike-group/", "Gillibrand, Schneider Call For Hearings After Navy Discloses 8 Attempted Suicides By Sailors In USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, and Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called for congressional hearings following the Navy\u2019s confirmation that 8 sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had attempted suicide during the group\u2019s most recent deployment. This admission was made in a September 22 letter Gillibrand received from Acting United States Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, weeks after administration officials and the president had dismissed families\u2019 and soldiers\u2019 concerns about conditions on board the ship.\n\nActing Secretary Cao\u2019s response follows the August 2026 letter that Gillibrand and 14 of her colleagues sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for transparency after reporting detailed dismal conditions for sailors on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. Gillibrand also previously demanded hearings over those reports.\n\n\u201cWhat Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as \u2018fake news\u2019 turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. \u201cOur troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect. That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable. The American people need hearings, accountability, and a clear plan to protect our service members and prioritize American families.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Member of Congress representing Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, where every Navy recruit receives basic training, the health and well-being of our men and women in uniform is one of my highest priorities,\u201d said Rep. Schneider. \u201cEvery American should be outraged by this Administration\u2019s failure to equip our service members with the tools and support they need to carry out a successful deployment and the blatant lies about the conditions sailors were experiencing on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The new reporting from CNN in response to Senator Gillibrand\u2019s oversight effort is deeply concerning and should alarm everyone. I\u2019m glad to join Senator Gillibrand in calling for open and public hearings to get the answers the American people and our service members deserve.\u201d\n\nIn the response letter, Acting Secretary Cao wrote, \u201cSince the beginning of Lincoln\u2019s deployment, there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group \u2013 this number includes the Lincoln crew and Sailors from the carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and all embarked aviation squadrons.\u201d\n\nThe letter detailed one particular suicide attempt, in which \u201cone Sailor attempted to go overboard in March and was stopped by his shipmates. That Sailor was also provided immediate medical care and subsequently returned to homeport.\u201d\n\nThe full response can be read HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/new-study-trump-vanity-projects-slated-to-cost-1-8-billion/", "New Study: Trump Vanity Projects Slated To Cost $1.8+ Billion", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "JEC Report: Cost Of Vanity Projects Could Cover 600 Million School Lunches, Medical Expenditures For More Than 88,000 Veterans For One Year, Or Hiring Of Nearly 30,000 Schoolteachers Or Firefighters\n\nThis week, the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) \u2013 Minority issued a new report with calculations that find that President Trump\u2019s vanity projects \u2013 including construction of the new White House ballroom and the no-bid contract to paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, among others \u2013 are expected to cost more than $1.8 billion. Using this total, the Committee created an Interactive Cost Calculator where users can explore how this $1.8 billion could instead be spent to lower costs and help the American people.\n\nIn response to the new report that highlights President Trump\u2019s egregiously misplaced priorities, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe president of the United States serves the people, not the other way around. Right now, working families are struggling to afford groceries, gas, and sky-high health care bills. They want their president bringing down costs and putting money back in their pockets, not wasting time and taxpayer dollars on self-serving insanity. I urge this administration to end its wasteful spending and instead support the working families who are paying the price for the president\u2019s absurdity.\u201d\n\nKey examples from the report of what $1.8 billion for Trump\u2019s vanity projects could instead pay for include:\n\nMore than 600 million school lunches\n\nAbout 12 million people\u2019s electric bills for one month\n\nThe medical expenditures for more than 88,000 veterans for one year\n\nThe hiring of more than 27,000 schoolteachers or 29,000 firefighters\n\nMore than 35 million tanks of gas for a typical sedan\n\nWhile President Trump pledged not to use taxpayer dollars for construction of his White House ballroom, he then broke that promise by using funds for the Secret Service to pay for parts of the ballroom. He also continues to oversee new projects and events \u2013 including his proposed Triumphal Arch, the retrofit of the new Qatari Air Force One plane, and more \u2013 that require considerable funding.\n\nSenator Gillibrand has been fighting back against President Trump\u2019s vanity projects and self-promotion at taxpayers\u2019 expense. In April, she introduced the Halting Unilateral Money and Building Labeling by Egotistical (HUMBLE) Presidents Act, which would bar the use of a sitting president\u2019s name, image, likeness, or signature to decorate or designate federal property, assets, or currency. She has also highlighted how the $1 billion Republicans sought for the president\u2019s ballroom could instead support law enforcement across the country, and called out how President Trump and congressional Republicans have made life $5,000+ more expensive for average households in New York.\n\nFind the Committee\u2019s full report here and explore the Interactive Cost Calculator here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/trump-craters-economy-meng-and-duckworth-reintroduce-resolution-empower", "AS TRUMP CRATERS ECONOMY, MENG AND DUCKWORTH REINTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO EMPOWER MOTHERS IN THE WORKFORCE", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As Donald Trump\u2019s reckless policies continue to crater our economy and leave families behind, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced the Mom Economy Resolution to promote and empower mothers in the workforce across the nation. While the Trump Administration cuts critical lifelines that so many depend on and offer nothing to support Americans struggling to get by, the lawmakers\u2019 bicameral resolution lays out a plan to support moms who enter and stay in the workplace through investments in childcare, the child tax credit, SNAP, increasing the minimum wage and paid leave. The legislation also includes additional provisions seeking to assist LGBTQ+ mothers and maternal care/family planning resources.\n\n\u201cMoms are the backbone of our economy, but too often, the economy doesn\u2019t work for them,\u201d said Congresswoman Meng. \"Women still earn just 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, even as so many are bringing home half\u2014or all\u2014of their family\u2019s income. That has to change. I\u2019m proud to introduce the Mom Economy Resolution with Senator Duckworth, which builds on my Marshall Plan for Moms, to recognize the burdens working moms face and renew the call for paid leave, affordable childcare, and the support families need to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cCosts are climbing, childcare is more expensive and too many moms are feeling left behind by an Administration that promised to help,\u201d said Senator Duckworth. \u201cIf we want to build a stronger economy, it\u2019s past time we stop treating moms\u2019 time as both expendable and endless. Our resolution recognizes the urgent need to invest in moms and make it easier for them to succeed in our workforce by advancing policies like universal child are, paid leave and beyond. Republicans in Congress must stop prioritizing harmful tax cuts that only benefit the ultra-wealthy and start working with Democrats to pass meaningful legislation that meets the needs of mothers across the country.\u201d\n\n\"The childcare crisis isn't a mom problem, it's a $172 billion economic problem, and mothers have been absorbing the cost alone for too long \u201d said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. \"I'm grateful to Congresswoman Meng and Senator Duckworth for their leadership. When we invest in paid leave and affordable childcare, we're not just helping moms \u2014 we're growing the economy.\"\n\n\u201cThe Mom Economy Resolution offers solutions to many of the devastating challenges moms and families are facing as our country\u2019s care and affordability crises deepen,\u201d said MomsRising Together Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. \u201cIt makes a powerful case for the measures that will open avenues for moms, families, small businesses, and our economy to thrive, including fair wages; affordable child care and health care, including maternal and reproductive care; improved access to nutritious food; paid family and medical leave; a permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit; and a higher minimum wage. This is a finger-on-the-pulse Resolution and America\u2019s moms are deeply grateful to Rep. Grace Meng for leading on it and championing the initiatives we urgently need.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Mom Economy Resolution highlights an essential, and often forgotten, principle that mothers, who face a persistent gender wage gap, are critical to our nation's workforce and economy,\u201d said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR). \u201cIWPR is proud to support this resolution that recognizes the crucial role mothers, especially mothers of color, play in their families\u2019 economic security. By investing in care infrastructure, expanding inclusive tax credits, and improving workplace supports, we can strengthen families and the economy. The childcare crisis isn't a mom problem, it's a $172 billion economic problem, and mothers have been absorbing the cost alone for too long. I'm grateful to Congresswoman Meng and Senator Duckworth for their leadership. When we invest in paid leave and affordable childcare, we're not just helping moms \u2014 we're growing the economy.\u201d\n\nSupported by MomsRising Together the Institute for Women\u2019s Policy Research, Moms First, National Partnership for Women and Families, A Better Balance, and National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, this resolution comes at a time where the labor force has 20% fewer women in it than men, while at least four out of every ten women report having experienced gender discrimination at work. Moreover, the median earnings for women who work full-time is 84 cents and part-time 78 cents, for every dollar paid to men. The rate of the wage gap is even higher for Black women, Latinas, Native women and other communities of Asian American and Pacific Islander women.\n\nAlong with Meng, the legislation is cosponsored in the House by U.S Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL). Along with Duckworth, the legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nMeng has long been a leading advocate for policies that strengthen working families\u2014supporting affordable childcare, paid leave, paid sick days, and family-friendly workplaces. Meng is a cosponsor of the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to expand the supply and quality of childcare while lowering costs for families. She also reintroduced the Honoring Family-Friendly Workplaces Act, which would encourage employers to adopt policies such as paid family leave, paid sick days, child care subsidies, flexible work arrangements, and support for pregnant and postpartum workers.", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-langworthy-announces-introduction-bipartisan-surge-save-newborns", "Congressman Langworthy Announces Introduction Of Bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicholas A. Langworthy", "L000600", "langworthy.house.gov", "langworthy", "https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Clarence, NY\u2014September 25th\u2026 Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced the introduction of the bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act, bipartisan legislation co-led by Democrat Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-8) that would provide states with dedicated federal resources to implement newborn screenings for serious health conditions included on the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). Congressman Langworthy made the announcement joined by NFL Hall of Fame Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, who lost their son, Hunter to Krabbe disease.\n\nNewborn screening can identify serious health conditions shortly after birth, giving families and doctors the opportunity to pursue appropriate follow-up care as early as possible. While the federal government maintains the RUSP to identify conditions recommended for inclusion in state newborn screening programs, adding a condition to the federal panel does not necessarily mean states immediately implement screening for that condition.\n\nThe Surge to Save Newborns Act would help close that gap by establishing a new federal grant program specifically designed to help states implement screening for conditions included on the RUSP. The legislation would provide $35 million annually from Fiscal Year 2027 through Fiscal Year 2031 for states to strengthen their newborn screening infrastructure and implement recommended screenings.\n\n\u201cOne of our most sacred duties as a society is to protect our newborn babies,\u201d said Congressman Langworthy. \u201cWe already have the technological advancements to detect serious conditions\u2014now we must do everything in our power to ensure that every single newborn has access to them. Adding a condition to the federal recommended panel is a good first step, but we need to make sure that states have the resources to put the screenings into practice. This bill will literally save lives and help get these precious babies into treatment before it\u2019s too late. We have to get this done.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Kim Schrier said, \u201cAs a pediatrician, I\u2019ve taken care of patients whose conditions were discovered early on their newborn screen. Because we had the resources to screen for these diseases, we were able to help babies right away and save lives. However, states often lack the resources to screen for each condition listed on the recommended panel, which puts our children at risk. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure that newborns in Washington state and across the country are screened for all of these treatable conditions at birth.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen our son Hunter (2/14/97\u20138/5/05) was diagnosed with Krabbe disease, we learned firsthand how devastating it is to receive a diagnosis after the window for disease-altering treatment has already closed. Finding them early through newborn screening can mean the difference between life and death. The Surge to Save Newborns Act gives us a real opportunity to help states screen more babies, sooner, for conditions we already know should be found at birth. Hunter gave our family a mission - to fight so that other children have the best possible chance at a healthy life from the very start.\u201d - Jim Kelly, Founder of Hunter's Hope\n\nThe Surge to Save Newborns Act would:\n\nProvide dedicated funding to states: Establish a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to help states implement newborn screening for conditions included on the RUSP.\n\nTarget funding directly to state implementation: Allow a state's chief health executive, their designee, or a state governmental agency to apply for funding and explain how the grants would be used to implement recommended screenings.\n\nTrack state progress: Require annual reports to Congress from FY2027 through FY2031 identifying which recommended conditions each state screens for, which have not yet been implemented, the effectiveness of the grants, and recommendations for legislative or administrative action.\n\nInvest in newborn screening infrastructure: Provide $35 million annually from FY2027 through FY2031, with funds remaining available until expended.\n\nThe legislation is supported by a broad coalition of rare-disease patient advocacy organizations, family foundations and children\u2019s health organizations representing families affected by conditions that can be detected through newborn screening, including the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, ALD Alliance, ALD Connect, Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Advocacy Association, Association for Creatine Deficiencies, Believing for Bryleigh Foundation, Conner's Crusade, CTX Alliance, Cure ALD, HCU Network America, Hunter\u2019s Hope Foundation, Judson's Legacy, Katelynn\u2019s Butterfly Kisses, Krabbe Connect, Little Hercules Foundation, MLD Foundation, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Project Alive, the RARE Foundation, Remember The Girls, The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders, United Leukodystrophy Foundation, United MSD Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders , and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).\n\n\u201cTime is of the essence is rare disease. Rare conditions prioritized for federal newborn screening are serious, progressive, and often life-threatening. Our newborn screening system has the ability to detect a treatable rare disease in a newborn before irreversible damage occurs, improving that baby\u2019s health outcome -- and even saving their life. But for today\u2019s life-saving potential to be realized for our nation\u2019s newborns, states must have the critical resources needed to screen for all recommended conditions. Newborn screening saves lives, but only when we can screen.\u201d \u2013 Annie Kennedy, Chief Mission Officer, RARE Foundation\n\n\"The Surge to Save Newborns Act will help states overcome the barriers that delay implementation of recommended newborn screening and give more families access to an early diagnosis, saving countless lives. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Langworthy and Congresswoman Schrier for championing a stronger newborn screening system for every baby in America.\u201d\u2014Elisa Seeger, Founder of the ALD Alliance and Founding Partner of the Surge to Save Newborns", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4667", "Tonko, Cammack Introduce Bipartisan TIME Act", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Kat Cammack (R-FL) today introduced H.R. 10611, the Temporary International Movement of Equines (TIME) Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation that modernizes federal requirements governing the temporary international movement of elite competition and racehorses.\n\nThe TIME Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a science-based, risk-based regulatory framework that reflects internationally recognized standards while maintaining strong protections for equine health and biosecurity.\n\n\u201cAligning with international safety standards benefits fans, athletes, economies, and the sport as a whole, which is what drove me to introduce the TIME Act,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cThis bill prioritizes equine health and safety while pushing venues like my district\u2019s own Saratoga Racetrack and its athletes further onto the international stage. I thank Congresswoman Cammack for joining me to champion this bill, and urge my colleagues to join us in this effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarion County is the Horse Capital of the World, and the best horses on the planet should be able to come here and compete without getting tangled up in red tape. The TIME Act brings our rules in line with proven international standards and keeps strong protections in place for the horses already here. I\u2019m proud to partner with Congressman Tonko on this bill and to keep working with the American Horse Council to get it across the finish line,\u201d said Congresswoman Cammack.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Representatives Tonko and Cammack for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the TIME Act. Their willingness to listen to the equine community and champion this issue marks an important step toward ensuring the United States remains a leading destination for international equine competition for years to come,\u201d said Julie Broadway, President of the American Horse Council.\n\nThe United States is a major destination for international equestrian sport and racing, a role that will become even more visible as the country prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and other major international competitions. Current U.S. import requirements, however, can create obstacles for international horses traveling temporarily to compete in the United States.\n\nElite international competition horses are subject to rigorous health, identification, traceability, and biosecurity protocols. The TIME Act recognizes those safeguards and directs USDA to establish requirements appropriate to the health profile and temporary nature of their entry into the United States.\n\nThe legislation draws on the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) High Health, High Performance (HHP) framework, an internationally recognized approach to the temporary movement of elite competition horses. The approach also has support within the U.S. animal-health community. The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) has formally urged USDA to recognize HHP horses as a distinct subpopulation and use the WOAH framework to implement the concept in the United States for qualified competition and racehorses.\n\nSpecifically, the TIME Act would:\n\nDirect USDA to establish regulations for the temporary international movement of high-health, high-performance horses.\n\nEstablish a risk-based system incorporating identification, traceability, and biosecurity measures.\n\nProvide expedited entry procedures and modified quarantine protocols consistent with international best practices.\n\nImprove the efficiency of USDA animal health oversight by reducing duplicative requirements and allowing agency resources to remain focused on higher-risk disease concerns.\n\nAHC spearheaded an industry coalition working to advance the policy, bringing together organizations from across the equine sector around the shared goal of facilitating international competition while protecting the health of the domestic horse population. Early supporters of the TIME Act include the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), The Jockey Club, and other industry stakeholders.\n\nWith the bill now introduced, AHC will continue working with congressional leaders, federal policymakers, and stakeholder organizations to build support for the legislation and advance the initiative through Congress.\n\nSupport for the Legislation\n\n\u201cThe US Equestrian Federation looks forward to working collaboratively with the USDA to improve policies for international movement of high-performance horses. In our capacity as a national governing body via the Ted Stevens Act, we recognize the complexities that come with temporary international travel overseas and similar challenges for competitors from other countries. The United States has become one of the largest international competition hosts in the world. Our goal is to keep all horse populations safe and healthy, and the proposed joint partnership between government and private resources is a big step in the right direction.\u201d David O\u2019Connor, Olympic medalist and US Equestrian Chief of Sport\n\n\u201cModernizing these requirements means a reduction in quarantine time and post-arrival restrictions for the temporary entry of competition and racehorses that are already among the healthiest and most closely monitored in the world. That\u2019s a win for equine welfare and for the health of horses.\u201d Dr. Sarah Reuss, AAEP President\n\n\u201cThe TIME Act recognizes that modern identification, traceability, and biosecurity tools can support both horse welfare and international competition. By creating a framework for the temporary movement of high-health, high-performance horses, this legislation would reduce unnecessary barriers to international participation in U.S. racing while maintaining rigorous animal health safeguards. As the United States prepares to host some of the world\u2019s premier racing and equestrian events, a science-based approach to equine movement helps ensure our entire equine industry remains competitive on the global stage while protecting the health and welfare of horses.\u201d Kristin Werner, Vice President of Thoroughbred Strategy & Industry Initiatives; The Jockey Club\n\n\u201cThe Breeders\u2019 Cup World Championships are built on bringing together the best horses and their connections from around the globe, and efficient international movement is essential to making that possible. The world\u2019s elite horses are also among the most rigorously tested, health-certified, and examined equine athletes, with extensive veterinary oversight surrounding their international movement and participation.\n\n\u201cWe support the TIME Act\u2019s effort to modernize the process for high-performance horses while maintaining rigorous protections for equine health and biosecurity. A science-based framework that reflects the realities of international competition will help strengthen the United States\u2019 position as a destination for world-class racing and other equestrian sports.\u201d Drew Fleming, President & CEO, Breeders\u2019 Cup Limited", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-cosponsors-bipartisan-frontier-act-establish-national-ai-framework", "Malliotakis Cosponsors Bipartisan FRONTIER Act to Establish National AI Framework", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2014 Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) is joining Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), alongside Representatives Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Erin Houchin (R-IN-09), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), in cosponsoring H.R. 9925, Frontier Risk Oversight, National Transparency, Independent Evaluation, and Reporting (FRONTIER) Act. This bipartisan legislation would establish a national, risk-based framework for the development and deployment of the most advanced artificial intelligence models.\n\nThe FRONTIER Act establishes tiered requirements based on the size of a frontier AI developer, including model cards, risk-management frameworks, independent audits, incident reporting, and ongoing assessments. It also creates a uniform national standard for transparency, auditing, and reporting of catastrophic risk to prevent a patchwork of state regulations.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-introduces-legislation-support-students-facing", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS FACING FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2014Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced the introduction of legislation to help ensure unexpected financial emergencies do not prevent students from continuing their education and completing their degrees. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) also introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act establishes an emergency grant program for institutions of higher education to efficiently provide small grants to support students with unexpected expenses that may otherwise jeopardize their ability to complete their education.\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education and achieve their goals,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cFor too many students, an unexpected car repair, medical bill, housing expense, or other emergency can be the difference between staying in school and being forced to leave their education. The Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act would give colleges and universities the tools they need to respond quickly when students face these challenges and help ensure a temporary financial setback does not derail years of hard work.\u201d\n\nThe Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act would establish a new grant program through the U.S. Department of Education. The program would prioritize institutions serving students with significant financial need, including community colleges, rural and under-resourced institutions, and institutions where at least one-third of enrolled students are eligible for Federal Pell Grants.\n\nParticipating institutions would determine student eligibility and award assistance based on individual circumstances, with grants available up to the maximum Federal Pell Grant for the academic year. The legislation also ensures this emergency assistance would not reduce a student\u2019s eligibility for other federal financial aid or public benefits and would not be counted as taxable income.\n\nRead more about this legislation here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-markey-reintroduce-civilian-climate-corps-jobs-and-justice", "Ocasio-Cortez, Markey Reintroduce Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice to Rebuild America", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, legislation that would establish a Civilian Climate Corps (CCC), administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service within AmeriCorps, which follows in the footsteps of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps, with important equitable updates. The CCC would provide good-paying service opportunities to a diverse group of 1.5 million Americans over five years to complete clean energy, climate resilience, environmental remediation, conservation, and sustainable infrastructure projects, while providing transformational educational benefits and career pathways in good union jobs.\n\n\u201cThe impacts of the climate crisis are being felt across our country, with extreme weather events taking lives and causing billions in devastating losses. We need a massive public investment to combat the toll of wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act alongside Senator Ed Markey, which puts 1.5 million people to work forging climate-resilient communities. The urgency of this moment requires us to respond with robust and reliable solutions,\u201d said Representative Ocasio-Cortez.\n\n\u201cAs Americans face frequent extreme weather disasters, a job market disrupted by the expansion of artificial intelligence, and other economic challenges, the Civilian Climate Corps presents an opportunity to support meaningful job opportunities and efforts to combat the climate crisis,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cI am proud to work with Representative Ocasio-Cortez to continue to fight for this program, which would provide an opportunity for more than a million Americans\u2014especially young people\u2014from every walk of life to earn a good wage while serving their communities and working toward a climate-resilient future.\u201d\n\nThe Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and in the House of Representatives by Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Summer Lee (PA-12), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30).\n\nSenator Markey and Representative Ocasio-Cortez first introduced the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act in April 2021. This CCC proposal, and others like it, inspired the Biden administration to launch the American Climate Corps in 2023. Trump dismantled the American Climate Corps on his first day back in office.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by: AFSCME; Appalachian Mountain Club; Evergreen Action; Food & Water Watch; the Forum for Youth Investment; Grid Alternatives; Indivisible; Louisiana Green Corps; Partnership for the Civilian Climate Corps; SEIU; Sierra Club; Sunrise Movement; Union of Concerned Scientists; United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE); WE ACT for Environmental Justice.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s workforce has tremendous potential to fight climate change and build a safer future. The Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act will help unlock that potential by creating pathways to good-paying jobs to boost our economy while building pollution-free communities across the country,\u201d said Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt. \u201cWith the support of this legislation, the next generation of the energy and climate workforce will have the skills they need to withstand climate disasters and to lead the clean energy transition.\u201d\n\n\u201cYoung people are desperate for good-paying, meaningful jobs that allow us to build a future worth living in. We\u2019ve spent a summer choking on wildfire smoke and watching our communities flood, while housing and food become increasingly unaffordable. Now, as AI threatens to upend entire industries, young people are spending years in college preparing for jobs that may not even exist. We need jobs that provide stability, purpose, and a livable future. We need a Civilian Climate Corps, now,\u201d said Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement.\n\n\u201cThis is timely legislation as communities across the nation are struggling with worsening climate impacts and rising energy costs and urgently need policymakers to help protect them by boosting resilience and clean energy. Investing in a civilian climate corps is a huge opportunity to create good paying jobs with on-the-job training while advancing the solutions frontline communities need and deserve,\u201d said Rachel Cleetus, Interim Program Director for Climate & Energy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-ocasio-cortez-pressley-bera-senators-murray-hirono-cortez", "Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, Bera, Senators Murray, Hirono, Cortez Masto, Reintroduce Bill to Expand Coverage of Birth Control in America", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ami Bera (CA-06), and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) reintroduced their bicameral Affordability is Access Act.\n\nThe Affordability is Access Act would require insurers to fully cover over-the-counter birth control without any fees or out-of-pocket costs, once it\u2019s FDA-approved. The legislation also includes a new provision to require health insurance to cover every FDA-approved contraceptive drug or drug-led combination product without cost sharing unless the health plan also covers a therapeutically equivalent generic without cost sharing\u2014this would significantly eliminate barriers that some patients face in accessing contraceptives prescribed by their provider.\n\nThis reintroduction comes as the Trump administration continues their senseless attacks on reproductive care, family planning, and contraception. Throughout the press conference, speakers discussed the administration\u2019s moves to cancel teen pregnancy prevention grants, their attempts to decimate Title X, and their attacks on contraception\u2014including the State Department\u2019s extremist decision to falsely label birth control products as abortifacients.\n\n\u201cI am proud to reintroduce the Affordability is Access Act alongside Representative Ayanna Pressley and Senator Patty Murray, which will make birth control widely accessible and affordable without a prescription,\u201d said Rep Ocasio-Cortez. \u201cAs this administration continues to attack bodily autonomy, we will continue to fight to ensure that people everywhere have access to reproductive care.\u201d\n\n\"While Trump and his Republican co-conspirators attack our bodily autonomy and make life less affordable, we\u2019re fighting hard to protect reproductive freedom, lower costs, and ensure contraceptives are affordable nationwide,\" said Rep. Pressley. \u201cOur bill would make over-the-counter birth control accessible to all who need it, without the burden of prescriptions or out-of-pocket costs. Reproductive justice means protecting and expanding reproductive healthcare, and I'm proud to partner with Senators Murray, Cortez Masto, and Hirono, alongside Reps. Bera and Ocasio-Cortez, and our colleagues to make that a reality for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen it comes to birth control, the challenge we face isn\u2019t just to stop Trump from setting up new barriers. We have to tear down the barriers that have been standing for far too long\u2014like cost,\u201d said Senator Murray. \u201cWe have to put forward our own vision for the future\u2014not just reject Trump\u2019s far-right dystopia. That\u2019s why we are re-introducing the Affordability is Access Act. This bill would require insurance to fully cover safe, over-the-counter birth control for patients. And this year we made a big update: our bill will also make sure all other FDA-approved forms of contraception are covered for patients. No fees. No hurdles. No out-of-pocket costs. This is especially important because, as of March 2024, there is an over-the counter birth control pill that women can buy at pharmacies and grocery stores. Trump has made his vision painfully clear, he wants to take women\u2019s rights away, he wants to set birth control on fire. Well, this bill is our vision as Democrats. We want to protect women\u2019s rights. And we want to protect your birth control.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Trump regime continues to attack reproductive freedom, fighting for contraception access has never been more important,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \"FDA approval of over-the-counter birth control is a major step forward, but approval alone does not guarantee access. By requiring insurance companies to cover over-the-counter contraception at no cost and without a prescription, this legislation will help to ensure women nationwide have the power to control their bodies and their lives.\"\n\n\u201cCongress must pass the Affordability is Access Act to expand Americans\u2019 reproductive freedoms even as this Administration tries to shrink them,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cBirth control has helped thousands of Nevadans and millions of Americans live healthy lives. It\u2019s past time we made sure every woman who wants it has an affordable over-the-counter option they can buy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBirth control is essential healthcare that everyone, no matter their insurance or income, should be able to get when they need it,\u201d said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. \u201cThis act is a crucial first step in removing cost barriers and expanding access to contraception. As anti-reproductive health lawmakers continue to do everything in their power to restrict access to care, we\u2019re grateful to Sen. Murray for reintroducing this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cContraception is a fundamental part of reproductive health care and autonomy\u2014 it gives people the power to shape their own futures,\u201d said Daria Neal, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights. \u201cEveryone who needs contraception should be able to access and afford it. Yet the Trump Administration has repeatedly put that access at risk, from subverting the federal family planning program and ending teen pregnancy prevention grants, to letting millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contraceptives go to waste overseas. We're grateful to Senator Murray and her colleagues for standing up for reproductive rights and supporting this critically important legislation.\"\n\n\u201cWith the sudden termination of AccessMatters\u2019 teen pregnancy prevention initiative, over 2,500 adolescents in Philadelphia immediately lost access to everything this program provided over the last three years \u2013 including evidence-based education programming, parent workshops, connections to local healthcare providers, assistance setting up medical appointments and accessing contraceptives, and leadership opportunities for the Youth Advisory Board,\u201d said Audrey Ann Ross, Senior Manager of Communications and Policy at AccessMatters. \u201cThis loss of access coupled with the shifts in Title X program priorities further underscore the need for policies that support access to contraceptives and sexual and reproductive health care and information. We urge Congress to pass policies like the Affordability in Access Act and to also demand that HHS immediately restore this funding so that adolescents nationwide can continue benefitting from these programs.\u201d\n\nUnder the Affordable Care Act, all private health insurance plans are required to fully cover \u2014 without copays or out-of-pocket costs \u2014 prescribed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, granted, or cleared methods of contraception. The Affordability is Access Act would change this to apply to over-the-counter birth control that women can get without a prescription. The Affordability is Access Act would also maintain the FDA\u2019s sole authority to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs and make them available over the counter without a prescription, and ensure retailers provide contraception without a prescription. The legislation states that any retailer that stocks contraception that the FDA has approved, granted, or cleared without a prescription may not interfere with a consumer\u2019s access to or purchase of such contraception.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by: Contraceptive Access Initiative (CAI), National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Upstream USA, Reproductive Health Access Project, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Partnership for Women & Families, Healthy Teen Network, Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, Reproductive Freedom for All, Power to Decide, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Center for Biological Diversity, National Council of Jewish Women, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Advocates for Youth, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, AIDS United, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Network of Abortion Funds, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Organization for Women (NOW), Religious Community for Reproductive Choice, The Guttmacher Institute, Population Connection Action Fund, American College of Nurse Mid-Wives, and Ibis Reproductive Health.\n\nRead the full text of the Affordability is Access Act HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-adds-new-constituent-resource-trump-accounts", "Congresswoman Tenney Adds New Constituent Resource on Trump Accounts", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24)today announced a new Trump Accounts informational resource on her congressional website to help families across New York\u2019s 24th District understand the program, eligibility requirements, and how to access official federal resources.\n\nTrump Accounts are tax-advantaged accounts established for eligible children under federal law. Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who meet federal eligibility requirements may receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury. The accounts are established for eligible children who are U.S. citizens, under federal law in the child\u2019s name, with a parent or guardian serving as custodian until the child turns 18. Tenney\u2019s new constituent resource provides an overview of Trump Accounts, information about the federal seed contribution and certain charitable contributions, and instructions for accessing the official Trump Accounts program.\n\n\u201cEvery parent wants to give their child a strong start and the opportunity to build a successful future,\u201d said Congresswoman Tenney. \u201cTrump Accounts create a new opportunity for eligible children to have an account established in their name, including a $1,000 federal contribution for those who qualify. Families deserve clear and accessible information about federal programs available to them, which is why our office has created this resource to explain how Trump Accounts work and connect constituents directly with the official federal program.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/ahead-of-import-ban-on-some-canadian-products-gillibrand-demands-passage-of-bill-to-repeal-and-refund-president-trumps-tariffs-against-canada/", "Ahead Of Import Ban On Some Canadian Products, Gillibrand Demands Passage Of Bill To Repeal And Refund President Trump\u2019s Tariffs Against Canada", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Gillibrand\u2019s Legislation Would Also Halt The Import Ban On Certain Canadian Dairy Products, Alcohol, and Other Goods, Which Is Set To Go Into Effect Next Week\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference demanding passage of her legislation to curb President Trump\u2019s costly trade war with Canada. This comes less than a week before a sweeping import ban on Canadian dairy products, alcohol, and motorcycles is set to take effect.\n\nSenator Gillibrand\u2019s legislation, the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act, would repeal all tariffs levied under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and refund Americans for all duties paid under this authority. This includes President Trump\u2019s 50% tariffs on Canada as well as his forthcoming import ban on Canadian goods.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs and make life more affordable, but they\u2019ve used their total power in Washington to make life more expensive than ever,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cLet\u2019s be clear: the latest tariffs and impending import ban on Canadian goods are a bad deal for New York families. I\u2019m doing everything I can to halt these tariffs and lower costs for New York families.\u201d\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s trade war with Canada is driving up prices and harming New York families. Canada is one of New York State\u2019s largest export markets for both goods and services, and the state imports more than $20 billion annually from Canada. Already, New York families have spent over $5,500 more due to President Trump\u2019s tariff chaos and other reckless policies. The new 50% tariffs on Canada are projected to cost businesses and households across the U.S. up to $10 billion annually.\n\nSenator Gillibrand introduced the BAD DEAL Act last week alongside Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also cosponsor the bill, and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in August.\n\nSenator Gillibrand has opposed President Trump\u2019s tariffs since the start of his administration and worked tirelessly to get the American people their money back. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. In March, she and her colleagues introduced the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to exempt small businesses from another set of Trump-imposed tariffs and refund what they had already paid.\n\nThe full text of the BAD DEAL Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-introduces-legislation-to-streamline-law-enforcement-and-protect-public-safety-on-seneca-nation-land/", "Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To Streamline Law Enforcement And Protect Public Safety On Seneca Nation Land", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Legislation Would Address A 1948 Federal Law That Granted New York State Criminal Jurisdiction Over Seneca Nation Territory, Fix Termination-Era Law Enforcement Model\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act. The bill would establish a legal mechanism to end a 1948 federal law that granted New York State criminal jurisdiction over Seneca Nation territory, helping to resolve overlapping responsibilities between federal, state, and Tribal authorities. In order to eliminate legal confusion and strengthen public safety, the Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act makes clear that the Seneca Nation and the U.S. attorney general must jointly agree in writing to end New York State\u2019s criminal jurisdiction over Seneca land once the bill has been signed into law. This would give the Seneca Nation a path to more fully pursue their self-determination and self-governance on their Tribal lands.\n\n\u201cThe Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act is a crucial first step in fixing a Termination-era law enforcement model that has existed for the last 78 years,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThe Seneca Nation has suffered as a result, and now is Congress\u2019 chance to right historic wrongs and end New York State\u2019s automatic jurisdiction over Seneca lands. This bill will enhance public safety and respect Tribal sovereignty.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe lack of clear and effective law enforcement and criminal jurisdiction on our lands has created an environment where drug dealers, drug traffickers and other criminals have thrived at the expense of the safety of the Seneca people,\u201d said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca. \u201cThe current archaic system of New York State jurisdiction puts our people in danger. Restoring the federal government\u2019s treaty responsibility to work with the Seneca Nation to provide law enforcement represents a major step forward in protecting our people and our territories. We appreciate Senator Gillibrand\u2019s willingness to listen to our concerns and work with us to introduce this important legislation in the Senate. We will not relent in our efforts to make enhanced public safety a reality on Seneca Nation lands.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis outdated jurisdictional framework has created real-world public safety problems,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cOur men and women in law enforcement are doing the best they can under challenging circumstances, but when authority is fragmented and accountability is unclear, resourceful criminals exploit the gaps and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ve seen happen. This legislation provides a targeted solution that respects tribal sovereignty, preserves federal oversight, and ensures that any change occurs only with mutual agreement. Most importantly, it will make our communities safer, and that is a goal we all share.\u201d\n\nMore than 8,500 enrolled Seneca citizens live in New York State. For generations, the Seneca people have lived in the Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley regions of New York State and now reside in large portions of Western New York on the Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Oil Spring territories, including the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.\n\nCongressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) leads similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe bill can be read HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-secretary-of-the-navy-admission-that-8-service-members-attempted-suicide-in-the-uss-abraham-lincoln-carrier-strike-group/", "Gillibrand Statement On Secretary Of The Navy Admission That 8 Service Members Attempted Suicide In The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Trump Dismissed Previous Concerns About Ship Conditions And Soldiers\u2019 Well-Being As \u201cFake News\u201d\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement regarding the September 22 response letter she received from Acting United States Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao in which he confirmed that 8 sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had attempted suicide. This came after administration officials and the president dismissed families\u2019 and soldiers\u2019 complaints about conditions on board the ship. The response follows the August 2026 letter that Gillibrand and 14 of her colleagues sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for transparency after reporting detailed dismal conditions for sailors on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.\n\n\u201cWhat Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as \u2018fake news\u2019 turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members,\u201d said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. \u201cOur troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect. That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable.\u201d\n\nIn the response letter, Acting Secretary Cao wrote, \u201cSince the beginning of Lincoln\u2019s deployment, there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group \u2013 this number includes the Lincoln crew and Sailors from the carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and all embarked aviation squadrons.\u201d\n\nThe letter detailed one particular suicide attempt, in which \u201cone Sailor attempted to go overboard in March and was stopped by his shipmates. That Sailor was also provided immediate medical care and subsequently returned to homeport.\u201d\n\nThe full response can be read HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6521", "Lawler Introduces Legislation to Update Home Safety Design Features for HUD Housing", "2026-09-24", "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 9/24/26\u2026 This week Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Home Accessibility Improvements Inclusion Act, legislation that directs the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to update its options for universal design features and to train appraisers on how to properly value universal\u2011design and accessibility improvements, which can be financed through the FHA\u2019s 203(k) rehab mortgage program.\n\nUniversal design features include zero\u2011step entrances, wider doorways and hallways, accessible bathrooms, lever\u2011style handles, and walls reinforced for grab bars.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://riley.house.gov/2026/09/24/riley-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-transit-access-in-rural-communities/", "RILEY INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO IMPROVE TRANSIT ACCESS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Josh Riley", "R000622", "riley.house.gov", "riley", "https://riley.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Representative Josh Riley (NY-19) and Representative James Gallagher (CA-01) introduced the Improving Rural Transportation Act. This bipartisan bill will create a federal grant program to fund rural transportation infrastructure and help communities deploy ride-share and micro-transit programs with a focus on public-private partnerships.\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 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\n\u201cRural communities deserve transportation options that actually work for them, not one-size-fits-all solutions designed for big cities. The 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 said Gallagher.\n\nThe Improving Rural Transportation Act would:\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\nThe legislation is endorsed by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE).\n\n\u201cThe Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is proud to endorse the bipartisan \u2018Improving Rural Transportation Act.\u2019 This proposed legislation represents a critical opportunity to invest in advanced transportation technologies outside of urban centers, positioning rural communities at the forefront of American technological innovation in the transportation sector. CTE\u2019s work supporting rural fleets across the country as they plan for and deploy advanced transportation technologies has reinforced the importance of improving transportation access and quality in rural communities. We applaud Representatives Riley and Gallagher for advancing legislation that responds to the needs of their constituents while encouraging continued innovation in the transportation sector,\u201d said CTE Executive Director Dan Raudebaugh.\n\nYou can read the text of the Improving Rural Transportation Act HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/23/leader-jeffries-in-the-capitol-house-democrats-are-running-toward-the-finish-line-and-republicans-are-running-scared/", "LEADER JEFFRIES IN THE CAPITOL: \u201cHOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING TOWARD THE FINISH LINE AND REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING SCARED\u201d", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability, where he emphasized that while Republicans have neglected to make life better for the American people and are doing nothing to end Donald Trump\u2019s reckless and costly war of choice, Democrats are focused on rooting out corruption and fighting for an affordable America.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: It\u2019s about six weeks until Judgment Day. Democrats are running toward the finish line. Republicans are running scared all across the country. The American people know that the Trump-Republican economy has been a complete and total failure and that Democrats are on their side. Democrats are committed to driving down the high cost of living. Democrats are committed to making sure that healthcare is affordable for every single American. And Democrats are committed to ending this reckless war of choice in Iran that has skyrocketed gas prices, skyrocketed food prices and skyrocketed diesel prices on the American people in the Midwest and beyond. Six weeks until Judgment Day, House Democrats are running toward the finish line and Republicans are running scared.\n\nFull press availability can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-langworthy-and-pocan-introduce-bipartisan-compact-act-end-taxpayer", "Congressmen Langworthy and Pocan Introduce Bipartisan COMPACT Act to End Taxpayer-Funded Biomedical Testing on Dogs and Cats", "2026-09-23", "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. \u2014 September 23rd\u2026Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) today announced the introduction of the Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing (COMPACT) Act, the most comprehensive legislation in history to modernize federally funded biomedical research and end inhumane testing practices on dogs and cats. The legislation was announced at a press conference in Washington with the nation\u2019s leading animal wellness organizations and rescue beagles released from Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin, which drew national attention and closure following revelations of widespread abuse.\n\nThe COMPACT Act prohibits the use of federal public-health research funds for biomedical research involving live dogs and cats while protecting animals currently in research facilities and preserving flexibility for genuine national emergencies. The legislation, developed with input from the medical and bioscience community, comes as advances in biomedical science have created alternatives to traditional animal testing, including in vitro systems, computational modeling and other non-animal technologies.\n\n\u201cThe horrific abuse and barbaric treatment of beagles uncovered inside research facilities like Ridglan Farms and Marshall Bioresources has outraged Americans from every corner of the country and political spectrum,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cDogs and cats are companion animals and part of the family for millions of Americans; they should never have to endure inhumane suffering, particularly at expense to taxpayers and when science has evolved to develop more effective research methods. This is the most comprehensive legislation to date that moves our federal research system forward to better outcomes, while protecting innocent animals. I\u2019m proud to work with my colleague, Congressman Pocan, on this thoughtful, bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat happened at Ridglan Farms was a wake-up call for our community and for the country,\u201d said Congressman Mark Pocan. \u201cWe saw thousands of beagles confined in inhumane conditions and bred for research, and we saw what was possible when people came together to demand change. This is a nonpartisan issue, and I am glad to work with Congressman Langworthy to build on that progress with the COMPACT Act. For years, our federal research agencies have worked on reducing animal testing and turning to more humane and effective alternatives, and this legislation takes the important next step in modernizing our federally funded research and protecting animals.\u201d\n\nThe COMPACT Act would:\n\nProhibit the use of federal funds administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and relevant subagencies for research involving live dogs and cats, including grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, fellowships, training awards and other federal funding mechanisms.\n\nProtect and rehome animals currently being used for biomedical testing, giving them an opportunity for life outside research facilities.\n\nEstablish strong compliance and oversight mechanisms and provide law enforcement with tools to protect dogs and cats from taxpayer-funded experimentation.\n\nIncrease transparency and accountability at HHS through an annual agency report and a Government Accountability Office review three years after enactment.\n\nProvide clear standards and transition provisions for research institutions, giving facilities certainty as they move toward modern, non-animal research methods.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the nation\u2019s leading animal rights and wellness advocacy groups, including the Animal Wellness Action, White Coat Waste Project, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Humane World for Animals, Humane World Action Fund, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Beagle Freedom Project, PETA, and Save the Dogs.\n\n\u201cWe are past due to close out the long, painful era of government-funded invasive testing on beagles and on cats,\u201d said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. \u201cIn a world of predictive AI, organoids, and so many other biomedical innovations, American taxpayers need not subsidize ineffective experiments on animals widely recognized as beloved members of our families. We thank Congressman Langworthy and Pocan for leading an effort to usher in cruelty-free medicines and animal-free science.\u201d\n\n\"This is a common-sense Act long overdue in recognizing that dogs and cats deserve protection. The federal government should not be funding experimentation on them when they belong in homes. Beagle Freedom Project stands at the ready to place these animals in loving homes,\" said Shannon Keith, president and founder.\n\n\u201cThe COMPACT Act is a long-overdue step toward ending the use of dogs and cats in animal research\u201d said Blair Eagleson, Legislative Affairs Fellow at the Animal Legal Defense Fund. \u201cBy ensuring that the Department of Health and Human Services will not fund these practices, we are protecting our companion animals and encouraging biomedical research to prioritize humane methods. The Animal Legal Defense Fund thanks Congressman Langworthy for championing this cause to protect future dogs and cats from being used for research and offering a pathway to find loving homes for those who are currently suffering in labs.\u201d\n\n\u201cDogs and cats belong in homes, not laboratories, and taxpayer dollars should support research that better translates to human health. The COMPACT Act will help direct federal agencies toward research that benefits people and spares animals. The Physicians Committee commends Rep. Langworthy and Rep. Pocan for recognizing that protecting animals and improving science go hand in hand,\u201d said Janine McCarthy, director of research policy at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.\n\nWayne Hsiung of Save the Dogs said, \"Americans have been paying $40 million a year to fund cruel experiments on dogs and most have no idea. The COMPACT Act finally puts taxpayers back in control of their own money, and ends a program the science stopped justifying long ago. We're grateful to Rep Langworthy for leading this fight.\"\n\n\u201cAmericans should not be forced to pay for painful, deadly experiments on dogs and cats when modern, reliable, human-relevant research methods are available,\u201d said Kathy Guillermo, PETA Senior Vice President. \u201cThe bipartisan COMPACT Act will help move federally funded research into the 21st century while protecting dogs and cats from suffering in laboratories. PETA applauds Representatives Langworthy and Pocan for their leadership and urges Congress to swiftly pass this commonsense legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://nadler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397536", "Congressional Jewish Caucus Urges Secretary Rubio To Preserve The Office Of The Special Envoy For Holocaust Issues As A Permanent And Distinct Entity", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Jerrold Nadler", "N000002", "nadler.house.gov", "nadler", "https://nadler.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Co-Chairs Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) led the Congressional Jewish Caucus in calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to preserve the office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues (SEHI) as a permanent and distinct entity within the Department of State and not for SEHI to be absorbed under the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS). This letter highlights that SEHI is the only office in the federal government solely devoted to pursuing justice for Holocaust survivors and advocating on their behalf, and the need to appoint a career official as the next SEHI, with the seniority, diplomatic experience, and specialized expertise necessary to negotiate complex restitution and compensation matters.\n\n\u201cSince its establishment in 1999, the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues has been the only office in the federal government solely devoted to pursuing justice for Holocaust survivors and advocating on their behalf,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cThe office has also been supported on a bipartisan basis in Congress and administrations of both parties have actively affirmed its importance. For decades, SEHI has worked with foreign governments, international institutions, and Jewish organizations to pursue restitution and compensation for survivors and their families, recover Nazi-looted property, preserve Holocaust memory, and address unresolved Holocaust-era obligations. As the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline, this work is only becoming more urgent.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is why we oppose any effort to consolidate or eliminate SEHI and are troubled by the reported plan for the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS) to absorb the SEHI office. SEHI and SEAS have clearly distinct mandates and responsibilities,\u201d the members continued. \u201cBoth are full-time responsibilities that require full-time principals with unique areas of focus and full-time staff with unique expertise. Combining them would not streamline efficiency or eliminate any meaningful duplication; it would risk diminishing the focus, experience, and institutional capacity necessary for each.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe SEHI portfolio requires deep institutional knowledge, advanced diplomatic acumen, and sustained relationships with governments and international organizations,\u201d the members added. \u201cWe ask that you appoint, as soon as possible, a senior career State Department official whose sole and full-time responsibility is serving as Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. That official should have the seniority, diplomatic experience, and specialized expertise necessary to negotiate complex restitution and compensation matters and to maintain the relationships that SEHI has built over decades.\u201d\n\nSigners of the letter include Reps. Jake Auchincloss, Becca Balint, Suzanne Bonamici, Steve Cohen, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Dan Goldman, Josh Gottheimer, Sara Jacobs, Greg Landsman, Mike Levin, Jared Moskowitz, Jerrold Nadler, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Schneider, Kim Schrier, Eugene Vindman, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.\n\nView the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nAs members of the Congressional Jewish Caucus, we write to urge you to immediately appoint a new Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues (SEHI) and to preserve SEHI as a distinct, permanent office led by a dedicated career State Department official.\n\nSince its establishment in 1999, the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues has been the only office in the federal government solely devoted to pursuing justice for Holocaust survivors and advocating on their behalf. The office has also been supported on a bipartisan basis in Congress and administrations of both parties have actively affirmed its importance. For decades, SEHI has worked with foreign governments, international institutions, and Jewish organizations to pursue restitution and compensation for survivors and their families, recover Nazi-looted property, preserve Holocaust memory, and address unresolved Holocaust-era obligations. As the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline, this work is only becoming more urgent.\n\nThat is why we oppose any effort to consolidate or eliminate SEHI and are troubled by the reported plan for the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS) to absorb the SEHI office.\n\nSEHI and SEAS have clearly distinct mandates and responsibilities. SEAS is responsible for confronting contemporary antisemitism around the world, while SEHI focuses on Holocaust-era restitution, historical justice, remembrance, and accountability. These missions are complementary, but they are not interchangeable. Both are full-time responsibilities that require full-time principals with unique areas of focus and full-time staff with unique expertise. Combining them would not streamline efficiency or eliminate any meaningful duplication; it would risk diminishing the focus, experience, and institutional capacity necessary for each.\n\nThe effort is also especially troubling given the highly specialized nature of SEHI\u2019s work and the longstanding success of having it led by a career diplomat with the expertise and continuity necessary to conduct sensitive restitution negotiations. The SEHI portfolio requires deep institutional knowledge, advanced diplomatic acumen, and sustained relationships with governments and international organizations. This unique mandate needs an independent office, fully integrated within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, and without additional or perhaps superseding agenda items both with external interlocutors and internal stakeholders.\n\nStrong institutions must outlast individual officeholders and administrations. We are troubled by the suggestion that the plan to merge these offices may be motivated, at least in part, by a desire to expand the influence of certain personnel within the State Department.\n\nJewish organizations across the ideological and institutional spectrum have recognized the importance of maintaining a dedicated SEHI. In their letter to you, leading organizations including the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, World Jewish Restitution Organization, American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, B\u2019nai B\u2019rith International, and more urged you to appoint a senior diplomat promptly and preserve the uniqueness of this important office. Their concern is shared by former SEAS and Holocaust experts who understand that preserving the distinct mission of SEHI is not bureaucratic duplication\u2014it is an essential part of the United States\u2019 commitment to Holocaust survivors and their families.\n\nWe urge you to heed their call and to reject any effort to eliminate, consolidate, or dual-hat the SEHI position. Instead, we ask that you appoint, as soon as possible, a senior career State Department official whose sole and full-time responsibility is serving as Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. That official should have the seniority, diplomatic experience, and specialized expertise necessary to negotiate complex restitution and compensation matters and to maintain the relationships that SEHI has built over decades.\n\nThis appointment should be made with urgency. The recent departure of Special Envoy Germain creates a vacancy at precisely the moment when continuity is most important. There are fewer Holocaust survivors with each passing year. Every delay risks losing opportunities for restitution, accountability, and historical preservation that may never return.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-blast-trump-administration-for-politicizing-disaster-assistance-and-denying-aid-for-february-blizzard/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Blast Trump Administration For Politicizing Disaster Assistance And Denying Aid For February Blizzard", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Yesterday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) condemned the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for politicizing disaster assistance following its second unexplained denial of Governor Hochul\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in the wake of the February 2026 blizzard in New York. The storm brought record snowfall, whiteout conditions, and coastal flooding to downstate New York, resulting in increased expenditure of state and local resources to help communities recover from the disastrous conditions.\n\nThe relief provided by the declaration would have alleviated the financial burden that counties and the state took on to mitigate the impacts of the storm. Governor Hochul\u2019s request included Public Assistance for Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, Snow Assistance for Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties, and Hazard Mitigation for the entire state.\n\nIn a letter to the FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton, the senators called out FEMA\u2019s July 2, 2026 denial of Hochul\u2019s initial request, which did not provide any reasoning or justification. In fact, according to public reporting, administration officials had determined that the request met federal standards for approval, but President Trump himself denied it regardless. The senators wrote, \u201cReporting reveals that the regional offices at FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determined that the February blizzard met the threshold and standards for a disaster declaration for a record-breaking snowstorm. Disturbingly, the same reporting shows that President Trump chose to overrule the findings of his own agencies, in a move that can only be described as political.\u201d\n\nAfter Governor Hochul appealed the denial, FEMA again refused her request with no explanation on September 2, 2026. The senators expressed their concern over the administration\u2019s blatant political weaponization of federal disaster assistance, writing, \u201cPresident Trump and this administration have the wrong priorities. Since taking office in his second term, President Trump has disproportionately denied or delayed approval of requests for federal disaster aid from states led by Democrats. Instead of helping all Americans to recover from record-breaking natural disasters, it is clear the President is turning his back to the millions of hard-working New Yorkers.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded the letter by calling for full transparency around the Major Disaster Declaration denials. They requested that FEMA provide them with its analysis and reasoning for both the initial denial of Governor Hochul\u2019s request and the denial of her appeal by October 5, 2026.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-hosts-roundtable-discussion-hudson-valley-gun-violence", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN HOSTS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH HUDSON VALLEY GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION LEADERS IN POUGHKEEPSIE", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Ryan \u2013 an Army combat veteran and member of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force \u2013 has been a consistent advocate for gun violence prevention throughout his time in Congress\n\nGuns remain the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States; Ryan is a proud co-sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban and has championed legislation promoting universal background checks and safe gun storage\n\nRoundtable participants included representatives from Moms Demand Action, Family Services, local elected officials and more\n\nPOUGHKEEPSIE, NY \u2013 Last week, Congressman Pat Ryan \u2013 an Army combat veteran and member of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force \u2013 joined Hudson Valley community leaders and gun violence prevention advocates for a roundtable discussion in Poughkeepsie. As violent crime rates continue falling in the Hudson Valley, advocates and leaders discussed efforts to build upon that progress and keep communities safe.\n\nGuns remain the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States; in 2026, there have already been 83 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 27 deaths and 47 injuries nationwide.\n\nRyan is a proud co-sponsor of several bills curtailing the gun violence epidemic, including the Assault Weapons Ban.\n\nRoundtable participants included representatives from Moms Demand Action, Family Services, local elected officials and more.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m so grateful to everyone who gathered for today\u2019s conversation. From local law enforcement, to elected leaders, to nonprofits dedicated to keeping our communities safe, this coalition has done amazing work toward ending the scourge of gun violence in Dutchess County and beyond. Tackling this epidemic requires all-hands-on-deck, and we recommitted to working together to save lives.,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cThere is nothing more important than keeping our communities \u2013 especially our kids \u2013 safe. As a combat veteran I know the weapons I carried in war have no place on our streets or in our schools. That\u2019s why I proudly co-sponsor the Assault Weapons Ban, and support legislation promoting red flag laws, safe firearm storage, and universal background checks. We\u2019ve made encouraging progress, but there\u2019s still more work ahead. While the Trump administration tries to roll back our efforts, I\u2019m continuing to fight for commonsense gun safety legislation and to help make sure the people doing the work to keep our communities safe have the resources they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt Family Services we see firsthand the devastating impact that violence has on children, families, and entire neighborhoods, and we also see the incredible strength and resilience of the people working to create safer communities,\u201d said Leah Feldman, CEO, Family Services, Poughkeepsie. \u201cThat is why sustained investment in community violence intervention is so important. Programs like SNUG provide a critical connection between communities and the resources, support, and opportunities that can prevent violence. We are grateful for leaders like Congressman Ryan who recognize the importance of this work and continue to bring attention and resources to the effort to build safer communities.\u201d\n\nWhen young people experience violence in their neighborhoods, schools, or homes, the impact can extend far beyond the immediate moment, affecting their sense of safety, their ability to learn, and their vision for what is possible for their future,\u201d said Jill Gomez, ED, Poughkeepsie Children\u2019s Cabinet. \u201cAs a Children\u2019s Cabinet, we believe every young person deserves to grow up surrounded by adults, institutions, and systems that work together to create safe, connected communities. Preventing gun violence requires that same collective commitment: listening to young people and families, strengthening the places and relationships that protect them, and aligning our community\u2019s resources around the conditions that allow every child to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am a Survivor Lead working out of MOMS Demand Action in the Hudson Valley. MOMS Demand Action continues to support initiatives that afford for our voices to be raised on Gun Violence prevention legislation and supporting candidates who wear GunSense on their sleeves. Boots on the ground advocacy for the support of Gun violence prevention is crucial, Gun Violence does not discriminate and we have to STAND ten toes down on electing those in office that will advocate endlessly to end Gun Violence. MOMS Demand Action will continue to advocate, be visible and support those entities that are working in sync to END GUN VIOLENCE,\u201d said Kenya Gadsden. \u201cStatistics often mention that on average 130 people are killed by guns every day in the U.S. with 200 shot and wounded. Guns are the leading cause of deaths among children and teens in this country. We can be the change!\u201d\n\nCongressman Ryan is a proud member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and co-sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, which makes it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess semiautomatic assault weapons or large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. Existing owners of these weapons must store them securely. It also authorizes the use of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds to run buyback programs to compensate people who surrender their covered weapons or large-capacity magazines.\n\nIn addition to the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, Congressman Ryan proudly co-sponsors:\n\nH.R.2368 \u2013 Raise the Age Act of 2025 raises the minimum age to buy a semiautomatic firearm from 18 to 21 and prohibits a licensed gun dealer, importer, collector, or manufacturer from selling or transferring a semiautomatic center-fire shotgun to an individual under 21.\n\nH.R.18 \u2013 Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 requires background checks for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals) and prohibits the transfer of firearms between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer takes possession of the firearm first and conducts a background check.\n\nH.R.1564 \u2013 Ethan\u2019s Law creates a framework to regulate firearm storage on residential premises at the federal, state, and tribal levels. At the federal level, it establishes requirements for firearms on residential premises to be safely stored if a minor can gain access or if a resident is ineligible to possess a firearm. Individuals who violate this rule face criminal penalties, and firearms stored in violation of the requirements are subject to seizure and forfeiture. At state and tribal levels, the bill requires the Department of Justice to award grants for the safe storage of firearms.\n\nH.R.3018 \u2013 Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act authorizes federal courts to issue federal extreme risk protection orders, which allow certain individuals (such as law enforcement officers and family members) to petition a court for a temporary order prohibiting an at-risk individual from purchasing or possessing firearms.\n\nH.R.4261 \u2013 Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act makes it illegal to sell or attempt to sell firearms or ammunition under pretenses. It strengthens regulations on the sale and distribution of firearms to improve overall safety and accountability in the firearms market.\n\nCongressman Ryan also knows that the intersection of gun violence and domestic abuse cannot be ignored. Women in the United States are five times more likely to be murdered if their abuser has access to a firearm, and someone is shot and killed by a current or former intimate partner every 12 hours. In May, Ryan introduced groundbreaking domestic violence legislation to protect victims and their families. Ryan\u2019s bill works to expand New York State\u2019s Melanie\u2019s Law nationwide. Melanie\u2019s Law, signed into law in New York in 2024, is named for Wappingers Falls woman Melanie Chianese. In 2022, Melanie was killed by her mother\u2019s abuser after an egregious gap in the law left her unable to obtain an order of protection. Ryan\u2019s legislation incentivizes states to adopt laws similar to Melanie\u2019s Law through the creation of a new federal grant program.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-statement-trump-administrations-additional-31-million-aid-nepal", "MENG STATEMENT ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION\u2019S ADDITIONAL $31 MILLION IN AID TO NEPAL AND TIBET", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) today released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to provide an additional $31 million in humanitarian assistance to Nepal and Tibet following the deadly flooding on August 26:\n\n\u201cAfter devastating floods struck Nepal and Tibet, the United States initially sent only one advisor and $500,000 in assistance. Trump Administration officials themselves acknowledged that the U.S. response was \u2018slow.\u2019\n\nAfter I pressed Administration officials during an Appropriations Committee hearing to increase aid and strengthen rescue support, the Administration is now delivering a total of $36 million in humanitarian assistance. While this remains far below what affected communities need, it is a significant improvement over the Administration\u2019s original response.\n\nAs families continue searching for loved ones and communities begin the difficult work of recovery, I will continue standing with Nepali and Tibetan communities in Queens and advocating for the robust assistance they need to rebuild.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2484", "Stop Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax: Kennedy Warns Escalating Trade War with Canada Threatens Western New York Manufacturing Jobs", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Timothy M. Kennedy", "K000402", "kennedy.house.gov", "kennedy", "https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Standing at Northland Workforce Training Center, Kennedy Highlights How Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, and Cross-Border Materials are Raising Costs for WNY Manufacturers\n\nBUFFALO, N.Y. \u2013 Today Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), joined by local employers and advocates at the Northland Workforce Training Center, warned that the escalating trade war between the United States and Canada is raising costs and creating uncertainty for Western New York\u2019s manufacturing sector, one of the region\u2019s largest employers. Manufacturing is the third-largest industry in the Buffalo Niagara region, employing tens of thousands of workers, and Northland trains the next generation of workers pursuing advanced manufacturing and energy careers.\n\n\u201cManufacturing built this region, and the workers training right here at Northland are the reason Western New York\u2019s manufacturing sector has a future,\u201d said Congressman Kennedy. \u201cBut that future is at risk when the materials that cross the border during production get taxed each time. This is a Trump tax on Western New York manufacturers and the workers who rely on them for stable, good paying jobs in an increasingly unaffordable America. Canada is our closest ally and our neighbor, not our enemy, and it\u2019s long past time to end this petty trade war before it costs us more manufacturing jobs.\u201d\n\nWestern New York\u2019s manufacturers are especially vulnerable to the cross-border trade war because materials used in manufacturing frequently cross the northern border multiple times during production, subjecting them to tariffs at every step. That two-way exposure shows up clearly in New York\u2019s own trade numbers: the state exports $482 million in aluminum and aluminum articles and $254 million in iron and steel products to Canada each year, while importing $1.1 billion in aluminum and $586 million in copper and copper articles from Canada, according to the Consulate General of Canada in New York. Canada supplied roughly 60% of all U.S. unwrought aluminum imports in the first half of 2026[1], while current tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper products can range up to 50% depending on their classification. On September 8th, Canada\u2019s retaliatory tariffs on roughly $20 billion in U.S. goods took effect, covering steel, aluminum, agricultural equipment, appliances, electronics, and other products manufacturers rely on.\n\nErie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, \u201cFor more than 200 years, Canada has been our closest ally politically and one of our most important economic partners. Simply put, Canada is not our enemy and President Trump's trade war against our neighbor is hurting Western New York's economy. The free flow of goods across our shared border supports businesses and good-paying jobs throughout our region. Trump\u2019s unnecessary tariffs are raising costs for local manufacturers, creating uncertainty and threatening the jobs families rely on to pay their bills and put food on the table. I join Congressman Kennedy in calling on the administration to end this dangerous trade war it started and restore stability to our relationship with Canada.\u201d\n\n\"You cannot build a sound financial plan around uncertainty, and our local manufacturers are no different,\u201d said Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick. \u201cWestern New York\u2019s economic relationship with Canada is too important to be undermined by unpredictable trade policies. When our manufacturers struggle to plan, invest, and grow, the consequences are felt throughout Erie County\u2019s economy. Our businesses and workers deserve stability, predictability, and a trade relationship that allows both sides of the border to prosper.\"\n\n\u201cWestern New York\u2019s economy has always been closely connected with our Canadian neighbors,\u201d said New York State Senator April N.M. Baskin. \u201cOur manufacturers should not have to navigate constant uncertainty to do their regular business across the border. When companies cannot reliably plan for their costs and supply chains, it puts jobs, businesses, and people\u2019s livelihoods at risk. Our federal leaders should be helping us strengthen Western New York\u2019s unique relationship with Canada, not undermining it with unpredictable trade policies.\u201d\n\nAssemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, \u201cWestern New York workers are the ones paying the price for the uncertainty and instability created by President Trump\u2019s trade war. The men and women who build, manufacture, ship, and move goods across our region deserve the confidence that comes with stable economic policies and strong cross-border partnerships. Instead, they are facing disruptions to supply chains, rising costs, and growing uncertainty about the future. For generations, Western New York\u2019s economy has been built on the close relationship we have with Canada. When trade policies create unnecessary barriers, it\u2019s our workers, families, and local communities that feel the impact first. I thank Congressman Kennedy for highlighting the challenges facing Western New York workers and for continuing to fight for an economy that puts working families first.\u201d\n\n\u201cWestern New York manufacturers should not be forced to operate under a cloud of uncertainty created by President Trump\u2019s disastrous trade policies,\u201d said Erie County Legislator Lawrence Dupre. \u201cOur region\u2019s economy is deeply connected to Canada, and continued volatility in our trading relationship can raise costs, disrupt supply chains, and make it harder for businesses to plan, invest, and grow.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Chair of the Erie County Legislature\u2019s Economic Development Committee and a member of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency Board, I know that businesses need stability to invest and create jobs,\u201d said Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard \u201cOur manufacturers should not have to navigate unnecessary uncertainty over the cost and availability of the materials they need to operate. The families who make up our local workforce deserve an economy where businesses can plan for the future, not one where they are left wondering what the next tariff will mean for their jobs, their paychecks, or the cost of living. Buffalo and Erie County have worked too hard to build a strong manufacturing economy to allow needless trade disputes to undermine that progress.\"\n\nThe stakes extend beyond heavy industry. New York and Canada are both key partners in the Northeast Semiconductor Corridor, and a single Quebec facility in Bromont packages and tests more than 80% of all semiconductors manufactured in the United States. This is a stark reminder that the advanced manufacturing careers Northland provides depend on the same cross-border supply chains now caught in the crosshairs of Trump\u2019s tariff fight. Statewide, 816 Canadian-owned companies employ 88,700 New Yorkers, underscoring how deeply integrated the two economies have become.\n\nKennedy will continue pushing the administration to end the trade war with Canada and restore a stable, predictable trading relationship for Western New York\u2019s manufacturers and the tens of thousands of workers whose jobs depend on it.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-praises-security-agreement-between-united-states-denmark-and", "Malliotakis Praises Security Agreement Between United States, Denmark, and Greenland", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) \u2014 Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued the following statement regarding the security agreement between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland.\n\n\"The security agreement signed today will strengthen the United States' military and strategic position in the Arctic while preventing China and Russia from gaining footholds in the region. Greenland\u2019s strategic location and rare-earth resources make it vital to America\u2019s national and economic security and I applaud President Trump for negotiating this critical and consequential deal,\" said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-announce-over-1-4-million-in-disaster-recovery-funding-for-new-york-state/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Announce Over $1.4 Million In Disaster Recovery Funding For New York State", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced $1,466,049 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for New York State. This federal funding will support ongoing disaster relief and recovery efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic and other severe weather and fire events across the state. Of these funds, more than $1 million is dedicated to repairing critical infrastructure damaged by severe weather and fires, and more than $400,000 will reimburse hospitals and health networks for pandemic-related emergency measures.\n\n\u201cAs New York continues to face the impacts of severe weather and disaster events, as well as continued costs associated with pandemic recovery, I am proud to deliver this critical federal funding for communities across the state,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThese grants will be used to repair infrastructure across our cities and reimburse medical facilities for emergency measures they took to combat COVID-19. I will keep pushing for funding that helps ensure New Yorkers are protected from further catastrophes.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom helping communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic to repairing infrastructure after severe storms, this $1.4 million in FEMA funding will support communities across New York,\u201d said Senator Chuck Schumer. \u201cI\u2019ve long fought to ensure New Yorkers have the resources they need to recover from catastrophes, and I\u2019m proud to deliver this funding today to help build a safer, more resilient future for New York.\u201d\n\nThe offices of Senator Gillibrand and Schumer will continue to monitor the distribution of these funds to ensure they are delivered efficiently to the impacted communities.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-xi-white-house-meeting-congressman-pat-ryan-leads-democratic-veterans", "AHEAD OF XI WHITE HOUSE MEETING, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN LEADS DEMOCRATIC VETERANS IN DEMANDING TRUMP HOLD BEIJING ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING KEY INTELLIGENCE TO IRAN RESULTING IN U.S. TROOP DEATHS", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "On July 17th, an Iranian missile struck a U.S. base in Jordan killing three servicemembers and injuring four others; Wall Street Journal reporting has confirmed that Iran acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of the base \u2013 used to carry out the attack \u2013 from Chinese entities\n\nAhead of the September 23rd White House meeting between Trump and Xi, Congressman Ryan is leading his Democratic veteran colleagues in demanding Trump hold Xi accountable for Beijing\u2019s role in U.S. troop deaths\n\nRyan is chair of the Democratic Veterans Caucus, the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress, and served 2 combat tours in Iraq earning him two Bronze Stars; Ryan also sits on the House Armed Services Committee, where he has become the leading voice of opposition to Trump\u2019s war in Iran\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Pat Ryan and 12 fellow Democratic veterans in Congress called on President Trump to publicly condemn China's support for Iranian forces that are killing U.S. troops, ahead of his White House meeting with President Xi Jinping later this month.\n\nOn July 17th, an Iranian missile struck a U.S. base in Jordan killing three servicemembers and injuring four others. Recent reporting from the Wall Street Journal confirms that Iran acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of the base from Chinese entities.\n\nAhead of the September 23rd White House meeting between Trump and Xi, Ryan is leading his Democratic veteran colleagues in demanding Trump hold Xi accountable for Beijing\u2019s role in U.S. troop deaths, and that he publicly condemn China\u2019s support for IRGC operations.\n\n\u201c22 brave Americans have lost their lives in Trump\u2019s war with Iran. We now know that at least three of those deaths directly resulted from President Xi sharing key intelligence about U.S. positions with Iran. Instead of holding China accountable, Trump is rolling out the red carpet,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cI served 27 months in combat in Iraq as an Army Intelligence Officer \u2013 I know just how critical and sensitive this information is, and how dangerous it can become in the wrong hands. What\u2019s worse is that Trump knows, too, and hasn\u2019t done a thing to stop it. He said he thinks Xi has been \u2018well behaved.\u2019 We disagree. From intelligence sharing to assistance with weapons manufacturing, President Trump must send a strong clear message to Beijing that aiding the IRGC to kill U.S. troops will not be tolerated.\u201d\n\nRyan\u2019s letter to Trump \u2013 sent alongside Democratic veteran colleagues including Salud Carbajal, Gilbert Cisneros, Herbert Conaway, Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, Ted Lieu, Seth Moulton, Mike Thompson, Derek Tran, and Eugene Vindman \u2013 is included here, and in full below:\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nAhead of President Xi Jinping\u2019s upcoming visit to the White House, we implore you to use your meeting to strongly condemn China\u2019s sharing of satellite information that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. servicemembers in Jordan on July 17th, and demand that President Xi cease any support, cooperation, and information sharing with Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).\n\nOn July 17th, an Iranian ballistic missile struck sleeping quarters at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, killing three American soldiers and wounding four others. The Wall Street Journal has since reported that Iran acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of the base from Chinese entities both before and after the attack, intelligence that U.S. officials say was directly connected to the strike that killed our troops.\n\nYour administration knew this coordination was happening. In May, the State Department sanctioned three China-based firms for supplying Iran with satellite imagery of American and allied military facilities. Senior officials in your administration reportedly spent months warning their Chinese counterparts that companies in their country were arming Iran with the targeting data.\n\nThe satellite imagery is only one piece of China\u2019s material support to Iran; Chinese firms have supplied key raw materials for the production of Iranian Shaheds, delivered chipmaking equipment to the IRGC, and sold Iran shoulder-launched missile systems, including the weapon that was likely responsible for the downed American F-15E Strike Eagle.\n\nRather than hold Beijing accountable, you downplayed these findings. When asked aboard Air Force One whether you would raise the issue with President Xi, you told reporters, \u201cI think he\u2019s behaved reasonably well.\" That is a direct and egregious betrayal of our troops.\n\nOur servicemembers are paying the price in blood for this administration's pathetic refusal to confront Beijing. That must end now. Your meeting with President Xi presents an important opportunity to condemn China's role in arming and enabling Iran, and to demand an end to their support.\n\nAs veterans, we know what it means to send Americans into harm's way, and we know what is owed to them in return: the truth, and a Commander-in-Chief willing to hold accountable anyone and everyone who might do harm to our troops.\n\nRyan is chair of the Democratic Veterans Caucus, the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress, and served 2 combat tours in Iraq earning him two Bronze Stars; Ryan also sits on the House Armed Services Committee, where he has become the leading voice of opposition to Trump\u2019s war in Iran.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/ryan-warren-bicameral-lawmakers-urge-armed-services-committee-chairmen-hold", "RYAN, WARREN, BICAMERAL LAWMAKERS URGE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON FATAL PORT SHUAIBA ATTACK FOLLOWING WHISTLEBLOWER REPORTS", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Warren, Ryan, Bicameral Lawmakers Urge Armed Services Committee Chairmen to Hold Public Hearings on Fatal Port Shuaiba Attack Following Whistleblower Reports\n\nNew details reveal DoD was unprepared and failed to support service members and their families in the aftermath of Iranian strike\n\n\u201cIt is critical that Congress gets answers on the failures that led to the attacks, and on the subsequent mistreatment of survivors and families of those killed\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the administration continues to ask Congress for more resources for this war, we can no longer afford to wait for DoD to deign when they are going to answer these questions.\u201d\n\nText of Letter (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, led 19 members of Congress in a letter to Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Representative Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Chair of the House Committee on Armed Services, urging them to hold public hearings on the Iranian attack of a U.S. military base in Kuwait that killed six service members and injured more than 30 others.\n\n\u201c(A)llegations reported by whistleblowers to Representative Ryan\u2019s and Senator Warren\u2019s offices, have raised even more concerns about the lack of appropriate medical care for service members injured in the strike, the treatment of survivors and their families, and the DoD (Department of Defense) investigation of this attack,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nIn April, Representative Ryan and Senator Warren led investigations into reports that Secretary Hegseth failed to take basic steps to protect troops during President Trump\u2019s war in Iran, including during a strike that killed six service members and injured dozens in Kuwait. Following reports revealing that service members were warned of safety issues ahead of the strike, the lawmakers pressed for answers as to why the Trump administration reportedly failed to adequately prepare for attacks on troops in the Middle East.\n\nThe lawmakers then expanded the investigation in July following additional new reports that DoD failed to provide adequate medical care to service members injured in the strike. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers asked for clarity on the reports and DoD\u2019s investigation into the Port Shuaiba strike. DoD has not responded to the lawmakers\u2019 questions and has stonewalled oversight by failing to provide Congress with the results of the Army\u2019s investigations into the Port Shuaiba strike despite repeated requests.\n\nThese new reports indicate that:\n\n\u201cThere was absolutely no evacuation plan\u201d in the case of an attack on Port Shuaiba.\n\nInjured survivors of the March 1st strike faced delays in receiving appropriate care in the immediate aftermath of the strike.\n\nSince then, multiple soldiers injured in the strike have waited months for appointments, with at least one still unable to secure an appointment months later.\n\nFamilies of the fallen were misled about meetings with DoD officials\u2014they were told they had been invited to a ceremony instead of a briefing on the deaths of their loved ones.\n\nSome purple hearts were mailed to survivors and families of the fallen, instead of being presented in a ceremony in accordance with Secretary Hegseth\u2019s policy memorandum.\n\nThe service member originally appointed to conduct the investigation into the strike was a public affairs officer under the chain of command of one of the commanders present during the strike. Additionally, the more senior officer who later took over the investigation was reportedly still a lower rank than the commanders of the 103rd Sustainment Command and the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, who were both present during the strike.\n\nThe lawmakers urged the chairmen to hold public hearings on the Port Shuaiba attack to answer the questions already posed by Congress and address the additional allegations regarding the treatment of military families, including whether DoD followed appropriate protocols in briefing the families, informing them of the injuries of their loved ones, and awarding medals.\n\n\u201cIt is unacceptable that President Trump has dragged the U.S. into a reckless war while failing to properly protect our service members from Iranian attacks and to give them the care they need,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cThese are serious allegations and our service members, their families, and the American people deserve answers,\u201d concluded the lawmakers.\n\nThe full list of signers includes Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.); and Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Derek Tran (D-Calif.), and Eugene Vindman (D-Va.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/ccbwg-announces-new-co-chairs-to-lead-caucus-in-120th-congress/", "CCBWG ANNOUNCES NEW CO-CHAIRS TO LEAD CAUCUS IN 120TH CONGRESS", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nSeptember 21, 2026\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Last week, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), announced that Representatives LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12) and Shontel Brown (OH-11) will take up the mantle as new Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls (CCBWG) in the 120th Congress.\n\nDespite more than 430 registered Congressional caucuses and Member organizations in 2016, until the creation of the CCBWG, no group on Capitol Hill had sought to make Black women and girls a priority in policy debates. Inspired by the #SheWoke Committee, a collective of seven women leaders with a shared vision of advocacy, equity, and sisterhood; Reps. Clarke, Kelly, and Watson Coleman created the Caucus to advance policies that eliminate barriers and disparities experienced by Black women. With Reps. Kelly and Watson Coleman departing at the conclusion of the 119th Congress, Reps. Brown, McIver and Simon will take their place alongside Rep. Clarke. The Co-Chairs made the announcement at the caucus-hosted panel event titled \u201cReclaiming the Narrative and Building Economic Power\u201d during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation\u2019s Annual Legislative Conference at the Washington Convention Center.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m incredibly appreciative of the work Congresswomen Clarke and Kelly and I have accomplished over the last decade,\u201d said Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman. \u201cIt has truly been an honor and a privilege having them as partners as we did our best to help further cultivate a sisterhood here in Congress. Forming this caucus was already critical at the time, but its work and impact is exponentially more important today. And while we\u2019ve made great strides in representation over the years, there is much more to do in order to make our voices heard in every facet of our society and to ensure policies don\u2019t have an unintended negative impact on our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt feels like the last ten years have flown by, but it is indeed time. I am proud to pass the baton to Congresswomen LaMonica McIver, Lateefah Simon, and Shontel Brown \u2013 three outstanding women who have already demonstrated leadership by fighting for the right things and making sure Black women\u2019s voices are heard. I\u2019ll miss the Caucus, but I\u2019m fully confident that we\u2019re leaving it in great hands and that they will take it to the next level. America is primed for a better future when everyone has a seat at the table. Instead of waiting for a spot to open up, my sisters have brought their own chair.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the last ten years, my co-chairs and I, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Yvette Clarke, have put our hearts into building this Caucus from the ground up to highlight both the extraordinary successes and the ongoing plight of Black women across America, ensuring our voices are heard and represented in Congress,\u201d said Representative Robin Kelly. \u201cIt has been a true honor to lead alongside them. While leaving this leadership legacy is bittersweet, I am thrilled to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new co-chairs, alongside Representative Yvette Clarke. They each bring their own powerful vision, passion, and lived experiences to this work, and I know that the mantle we built together is in wonderful hands as they lead our Caucus into its next decade of progress.\u201d\n\n\u201cWords cannot fully express my gratitude to my fellow Black Women & Girls Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robin Kelly, for their years of hard work, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to bringing greater attention to the systemic challenges facing Black women and girls and ensuring their voices are heard and represented in Congress,\u201d said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. \u201cWhile I am saddened to see my sisters depart, I am excited to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new Co-Chairs. I look forward to working alongside them as we pick up the mantle and continue fighting for the equity, opportunity, and justice our Black women and girls deserve, especially as this administration continues to target Black women in the workplace, threaten equitable access to healthcare, and undermine the support systems our communities rely on. The work continues, and I look forward to advancing this important mission with our new Co-Chairs.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlack women and girls play a vital role in shaping politics and policy, bringing invaluable perspectives and experience to the table,\u201d said Representative Lamonica McIver. \u201cToo often, that contribution is undervalued and overlooked. We face barriers to entry, and barriers to success. Under the leadership of Reps. Watson Coleman, Kelly, and Clarke, this caucus has done the important work of amplifying our voices and confronting the systemic inequalities that silence us. I am humbled and excited to carry that legacy forward, and deeply grateful to the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls for what they have built. I am also grateful beyond words to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has been a light to me personally; my co-chairs and I will do all we can to carry on what she has built.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am deeply honored to join the Caucus on Black Women and Girls as a Co-Chair next Congress and pick up the mantle from Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Yvette Clarke, and Robin Kelly,\u201d said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. \u201cI started my career working with young girls who were impacted by the criminal justice system, and I know intimately that in every aspect of life from school to the workplace \u2014 Black women and girls face unique opportunities and challenges. Congress can and should do more to ensure that our federal policies sees and serves Black women and girls equally, and I look forward to working with my Co-Chairs on this caucus to advance these efforts. Thank you to Congresswomen Watson Coleman, Clarke, and Kelly for the pioneering work you have done to advocate for our girls in Congress \u2014 the fight continues.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am honored to become the new Co-Chair of the Black Women and Girls Caucus,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. \u201cAs a Black woman and a Black lawmaker, it is incredibly frustrating to watch the current administration weaponize policies designed to help the very communities they have locked out of the conversation. This Caucus has been critical in countering those efforts by shining a national spotlight on the issues that disproportionately impact our community. But our work has to be about more than defense. We have an opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda that expands opportunity, protects the rights of Black women and girls, and makes sure they have a real voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. I am so grateful for the leadership of Reps. Clarke, Kelly and Watson Coleman in this Caucus, which has led to the advancement of long overdue legislation that supports Black women. From the Crown Act to the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, the Members have shown that they are fighters for meaningful change for our women and girls. The legacy that they leave behind is one that I am proud to carry forward.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-welch-van-hollen-reintroduce-bicameral-bill-to-create-70-renewable-energy-resource-standard-by-2036-speed-u-s-clean-energy-transition/", "CLARKE, WELCH, VAN HOLLEN REINTRODUCE BICAMERAL BILL TO CREATE 70% RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE STANDARD BY 2036, SPEED U.S. CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nSeptember 21 2026\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nLegislation would establish ambitious energy standard to rapidly reduce emissions and achieve up to 100% renewable energy generation by 2046\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in reintroducing the bicameral American Renewable Energy Act (AREA), legislation to establish an ambitious 70% renewable energy resource standard by 2036 to drastically reduce emissions, decrease pollution, and promote community resilience. To achieve this goal, AREA prioritizes the development and implementation of solar, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as marine energy, limited hydropower, and methane digesters for smaller farms and wastewater plants.\n\nThe bill also seeks to ensure the equitable distribution of economic, health, and resiliency benefits of renewable energy deployment by establishing an enforcement mechanism that requires at least 50% of collected funds be spent on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and storage projects in impacted communities.\n\n\u201cAs we witness the devastating impacts of climate change on communities across our nation, we can no longer afford the luxury of inaction. The choices we make today will determine the world we leave to our children and grandchildren. We have the tools, the technology, and the knowledge to build a cleaner future; we need Congress to act,\u201d said Rep. Clarke. \u201cInvesting in renewable energy also means confronting the environmental injustices that have left our nation\u2019s most underserved communities bearing the greatest burden. My legislation puts clean energy technology and innovation to work, reducing emissions, improving air quality and health outcomes, and creating millions of good-paying renewable energy jobs. We cannot leave future generations to pay the price for problems we have the power to solve today.\u201d\n\n\u201cTaking immediate, ambitious action to reduce emissions and build a clean energy future is essential to combating the climate crisis. Now is the time to enact a national renewable energy standard. Vermont has long led the nation in the clean energy transition, passing historic legislation just this summer that puts us on the path to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2046,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis bill will help the country follow in Vermont\u2019s footsteps to speed the transition to renewables and build energy independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Americans face skyrocketing electricity bills and the increasingly harmful impacts of the climate crisis, unleashing the power of clean energy has never been more important. This legislation will help us accelerate bringing cleaner options for consumers online while reducing emissions, lowering our dependence on fossil fuels and volatile global markets, creating new jobs, and cutting costs for working Americans. This is a key step in our fight towards a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable energy future,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nAREA would require retail electricity suppliers to achieve at least 20% renewable energy generation in 2027, with an increase to 70% by 2036, and up to 100% by 2046. The bill would also require retail electricity suppliers to strengthen energy resilience by contributing an increasing share of their generation through distributed renewable energy, such as rooftop solar, starting with 15% in 2027, with an increase to 20% deployment requirement after five years.\n\nAdditionally, AREA also stipulates that electricity suppliers must meet their requirements by submitting renewable energy credits or paying an alternative compliance payment that begins at $50/megawatts per hour (MWh) and increases with inflation. Compliance with the bill would be facilitated by the creation of six regional credit trading markets to track retail electricity suppliers\u2019 transition to renewable energy and ensure the benefits of renewable energy development are spread across the country.\n\nFurther, AREA seeks to ensure the equitable distribution of economic, health, and resiliency benefits and investments created by renewable energy deployment by establishing an enforcement mechanism that requires at least 50% of collected funds to be spent on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and storage projects in impacted communities. The legislation would also require utilities to produce 20% of their energy generation from renewables in impacted communities, reducing the need for polluting fossil fuel power plants in historically marginalized areas.\n\nThe American Renewable Energy Act is endorsed by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Evergreen Action; Sierra Club; Indivisible; and Vote Solar.\n\n\u201cThe American Renewable Energy Act (AREA) is a major step toward building an electric grid that is cleaner, more affordable, and more just. By setting a strong national renewable electricity standard while ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach frontline and impacted communities, AREA will help reduce harmful pollution, create good-paying jobs, and protect families from the rising costs of fossil fuels. Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund proudly supports AREA and urges Congress to move this bill forward to deliver the clean energy future that American families across the country deserve,\u201d said Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director, CCAN Action Fund.\n\n\u201cShifting to renewable energy is no longer just an option, it is the necessary next step for the United States to meet the urgency of the climate crisis. The American Renewable Energy Act is the bold legislation we need to meet rising electricity demand, while improving public health, reducing American reliance on fossil fuels, and creating new jobs to supercharge our clean energy economy,\u201d said Lena Moffitt, Executive Director, Evergreen Action. \u201cThe transition to clean energy is well underway and the federal government must be a leader in ensuring Americans benefit from the lower energy costs and cleaner air that renewable energy can deliver.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the last year, electricity cost increases rapidly outpaced the rate of inflation while toxic and deadly emissions from coal plants spiked significantly,\u201d said Patrick Drupp, ClimatePolicy Director, Sierra Club. \u201cIt is more urgent than ever that we invest in affordable, reliable, and clean energy to relieve families from soaring bills and protect our communities from more deadly pollution. Despite Donald Trump\u2019s persistent attacks on clean energy, it is evident that Americans want more clean energy because of how much cleaner, cheaper, and faster it is. We applaud Senator Peter Welch for his work as a steadfast champion of the American Renewable Energy Act and look forward to working together more in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cA strong federal renewable energy standard establishes a clear national floor for clean energy while preserving states\u2019 ability to pursue even more ambitious policies,\u201d said Nathan Phelps, Managing Director, Vote Solar. \u201cThis legislation provides the certainty needed to accelerate investment in affordable, reliable clean energy, expanding access to solar and the benefits of the clean energy transition. By complementing state renewable energy standards, a federal RPS ensures that communities across the country can benefit from lower energy costs, cleaner air, and a stronger economy.\u201d\n\nLearn more about the American Renewable Energy Act of 2026.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-gillen-van-drew-and-kean-jr-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-lower", "Reps. Gillen, Van Drew and Kean, Jr. Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Commuting Costs for Working Americans", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Laura Gillen", "G000602", "gillen.house.gov", "gillen", "https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Lowering Commuting Costs Act would create the first personal tax deduction of more than $4,000 a year for commuting costs\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04) alongside Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02) and Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07) introduced the bipartisan Lowering Commuting Costs Act to deliver relief from rising commuting costs for working Americans. This legislation would create a federal income tax deduction, more than $4,000 a year or $340 a month, for personal commuting expenses, including the cost of gas, public transit and tolls such as New York City\u2019s congestion pricing.\n\n\u201cHardworking Long Islanders are forced to pay skyrocketing costs just to get to work, making the cost of living crisis even worse,\u201d said Rep. Gillen. \u201cWith the rising price of gas, LIRR fares and the NYC congestion tax, working families are left with no affordable way to get to their jobs. This bipartisan bill will help families save money as they commute to work and contribute to the economy by creating the first-ever tax credit for personal commuting expenses.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor millions of Americans, just getting to work every day is expensive,\u201d said Rep. Van Drew. \u201cGas is expensive, tolls are expensive, and for a lot of families, those costs add up to thousands of dollars a year. If businesses can deduct the cost of doing business, working people should be able to deduct what it takes to get to and from their jobs. I am proud to join Congresswoman Gillen on this bill and give some of that money back to the people who earn it.\u201d\n\n\"Commuting costs strain hardworking New Jerseyans' bottom lines,\" said Rep. Kean, Jr. \"The Lowering Commuting Costs Act would create a new deduction for taxpayers to save thousands of dollars of costs incurred when commuting, whether on train fare, on congestion pricing tolls, and more. I am proud to co-lead this bill to help families keep more of their hard-earned money and reduce the monetary strain of daily commutes.\"\n\n\u201cNew York City Firefighters are struggling with high costs as it is, on top of paying thousands a year just commuting to their stations to save lives,\u201d said Bobby Eustace, President, Uniformed Firefighters Association. \u201cBecause they have to carry heavy gear to work every day, taking public transit to work isn't realistic. Rising gas prices and paying the daily congestion tax have been a massive financial burden. We really appreciate Congresswoman Gillen and her colleagues stepping up for our members and trying to make our daily commutes more affordable.\u201d\n\nThe IRS currently allows taxpayers to deduct the business use of a car, including driving between work locations and running business errands, but it does not allow a federal income tax deduction for personal commuting expenses.\n\nThe Lowering Commuting Costs Act would help relieve rising commuting costs by establishing an above-the-line tax deduction of more than $4,000 a year ($340 a month) for commuting costs, including the cost of gas, public transit, parking and tolls such as New York City\u2019s congestion pricing. The tax credit would also stack with pre-tax commuter \u201cfringe\u201d benefits afforded by employers.\n\nRep. Gillen has consistently advocated for policies that lower costs and provide tax relief for Long Island families. Since taking office, she has led efforts to restore the full State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, including a measure to eliminate the SALT cap. She also introduced bipartisan legislation to lower Long Islanders\u2019 taxes by adjusting their federal tax brackets to reflect the local cost of living. Rep. Gillen also recently led bipartisan legislation to help lower car insurance rates by cracking down on staged \u201ccrash for cash\u201d schemes.\n\nThe full bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-john-mannion-cosponsors-keep-lights-local-act-prohibit-foreign", "Representative John Mannion Cosponsors the \u2018Keep the Lights Local Act\u2019 to Prohibit Foreign Ownership of American Utilities and Keep Ratepayer Dollars Invested at Home", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SYRACUSE, NY - Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today announced that he is cosponsoring H.R. 5487, the Keep the Lights Local Act, legislation to prohibit foreign ownership of American public utilities.\n\nThe bill would help protect ratepayers, strengthen accountability, and keep more of the money families pay through their monthly utility bills invested in American communities instead of supporting profits overseas.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion (NY-22) said, \u201cFamilies in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley are paying too much to power their homes and businesses, and they shouldn\u2019t be forced to subsidize the profits of foreign corporations. The Keep the Lights Local Act will help lower costs and keep more ratepayer dollars here at home - supporting grid reliability, infrastructure improvements, and local workers. Keeping control of energy production and transmission is essential to American energy and national security. I\u2019ll keep fighting for affordable, reliable energy and real accountability for ratepayers.\u201d\n\nUnder current federal law, foreign corporations and foreign governments are not prohibited from owning public utility holding companies in the United States. The Keep the Lights Local Act would close that gap by barring foreign corporations and governments from owning American public utility holding companies. The legislation was introduced by Representative Josh Riley (NY-19).\n\nMannion has made energy affordability and ratepayer protection a priority in Congress. He recently voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent data centers from shifting their electricity costs to families and small businesses, cosponsored legislation to end special federal tax breaks for data centers, and has called for data centers to mitigate impacts on local air quality, drinking water and water supplies.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-be-recognized-first-democratic-member-congress-be-awarded-us-chambers", "Suozzi To Be Recognized as First Democratic Member of Congress To Be Awarded U.S. Chamber\u2019s \u201cAdvocate for American Business\u201d Award", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Thomas R. Suozzi", "S001201", "suozzi.house.gov", "suozzi", "https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GLEN COVE, NY \u2014 Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03) was recognized today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with its \u201cAdvocate for American Business\u201d Award during a stop of the Chamber\u2019s national Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour at Standard Bots in Glen Cove.\n\nU.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley presented Suozzi with the award, recognizing his bipartisan, commonsense approach to governing, his leadership as Democratic Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, and his work on affordability, immigration reform, and other issues affecting American families and businesses.\n\nSuozzi is the first Democratic Member of Congress to receive the award during the Chamber\u2019s national Opportunity Tour.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Chamber is proud to recognize Rep. Tom Suozzi as the first Democratic Member of Congress to receive this award on the Free Enterprise Bus Tour. Rep. Suozzi has been a steadfast defender of free market capitalism and his approach to policy prioritizes real solutions for American families and businesses. We look forward to continuing to work with him to advance free enterprise policies that allow businesses, workers, and communities to grow and thrive,\u201d said Bradley.\n\n\u201cI want to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and for bringing the Free Enterprise Express here to Glen Cove,\u201d said Suozzi. I\u2019ve always believed that the best way to grow our economy is to give people the opportunity to work hard, build something, create jobs, and succeed. Companies like Standard Bots are doing exactly that right here on Long Island. We need to work together \u2014 Democrats and Republicans \u2014 to bring down costs, support our small and growing businesses, and create an environment where American innovation can thrive. That\u2019s how we grow our economy, create opportunity, and keep the American Dream alive for the next generation.\u201d\n\nThe event was held at Standard Bots, a growing Glen Cove company that designs and assembles industrial robotic arms in the United States. The company provided a local example of the entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation the Chamber\u2019s nationwide tour is seeking to highlight.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re proud to welcome Congressman Suozzi and the U.S. Chamber\u2019s Free Enterprise Express to Standard Bots here in Glen Cove,\u201d said Evan Beard, Co-Founder and CEO of Standard Bots. \u201cWe believe America can and should lead the world in advanced manufacturing and robotics. By encouraging innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship, we can build many more things in America, create good jobs, and compete globally.\u201d\n\nThe Chamber also cited Suozzi\u2019s leadership of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, his five-point affordability plan, his leadership on the Promise to America, and his efforts to advance bipartisan immigration reform.\n\nThe Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour is traveling across the country for six weeks, visiting 20 states and holding more than 50 events highlighting local businesses, employers, workers, and community leaders. The tour is designed to showcase the role of entrepreneurship, innovation, competition, and economic growth in creating jobs and opportunity.\n\nThe tour is part of the U.S. Chamber\u2019s New Fight for Free Enterprise, a multi-year initiative to promote free enterprise and highlight businesses and entrepreneurs in communities across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4662", "Tonko Demands Answers on Buffalo Detention Center Expansion", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 In a follow-up to his August visit to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko today is demanding answers and transparency on facility operations, namely on the facility expansion announced earlier this year.\n\nThe first letter \u2014 sent to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, as well as the Acting Director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Acting Field Director for the Buffalo facility \u2014 requests answers on facility practices as well as the planned construction of the new 100-bed facility. The second letter \u2014 sent to Akima Infrastructure Protection, LLC, the construction company that received the federal contract for overseeing the facility expansion \u2014 asks for details on the construction and other information.\n\nFederal records show that ICE awarded the contract for construction just one day after public notice, a clear violation of the statutorily required minimum of 15 days of public notice for federal contracts.\n\n\u201cIn July 2026, ICE announced that it would be constructing a 100-bed facility to expand the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility,\u201d the first letter reads. \u201cICE intends to use taxpayer dollars for this expansion and says that it will operate \u201cin accordance with applicable National Detention Standards,\u201d yet ICE has failed to answer basic questions about what this expansion might look like, estimated construction timelines, and who would be housed in such an expansion. During my visit to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, I followed up for further detail on these questions and was extremely disappointed by the lack of transparency and detail in the responses I received.\u201d\n\nThe letter continues, \u201cThis expansion is especially concerning given the conditions that have been alleged by current and former detainees, including many of my constituents, at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility. Detainees have alleged overcrowding, issues with accessing medical care in a timely fashion, and excessive use of solitary confinement as punishment.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs an agency, your practices and standards, as well as the behavior and actions of your employees, have been appalling. For the safety of our communities and my constituents, I demand that you take immediate action to correct the horrific and dehumanizing behavior that your employees have exhibited and pause the plans for this expansion.\u201d\n\nThe full letter to Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Acting Director Venturella, and Acting Director Kurzdorfer can be read HERE and below.\n\nThe letter to Akima Infrastructure Protection President, Laura Mitchell can be read HERE.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin, Acting Director Venturella, and Acting Director Kurzdorfer:\n\nI am writing today to follow up after my visit to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York, on August 3, 2026. My visit to this facility came amid increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and arrests in New York\u2019s Capital Region, as well as across the country, and after I was illegally denied entry to this same facility in August 2025.\n\nIn July 2026, ICE announced that it would be constructing a 100-bed facility to expand the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility. ICE intends to use taxpayer dollars for this expansion and says that it will operate \u201cin accordance with applicable National Detention Standards,\u201d yet ICE has failed to answer basic questions about what this expansion might look like, estimated construction timelines, and who would be housed in such an expansion. During my visit to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, I followed up for further detail on these questions and was extremely disappointed by the lack of transparency and detail in the responses I received. Now, federal records show that after just a single day of public notice, ICE awarded a contract for the construction and operation of the expansion of this facility, a decision that was made in clear violation of the statutorily required minimum of 15 days of public notice for federal contracts. I am following up to demand proper and substantive responses to my questions below and requesting that you send my office all records related to the decision to construct the facility, including official memos, cost estimates, and communications with any contractors.\n\n1. What is the full construction timeline for this expansion?\n\n2. Have you completed the environmental review for this planned expansion?\n\n3. What does \u201chard-sided\u201d mean? Will these structures be able to safely house detainees during a Buffalo winter? If yes, provide relevant data to back this assertion. Does the facility have an emergency winterization plan?\n\n4. Will the facility be for temporary or permanent lodging of detained individuals? What is the expected sleeping arrangement? Will detainees be provided individual sleeping quarters? Will the bathrooms in the facility have running water? Will this facility be equipped with air conditioning and heating?\n\n5. Does ICE plan to detain any women or children at the new facility? Do you expect to detain members of the same family at this facility? Do you expect that individuals detained in this facility will interact with individuals detained in the main facility?\n\n6. Please provide all information that allowed you to make the determination that \u201conly Akima Infrastructure Protection, LLC can meet the requirement in the required timeframe without unacceptable risk to ERO operations.\u201d Are the costs of the construction and operation of this expansion included in Akima Infrastructure Protection, LLC\u2019s existing contract with ICE? Will you be hiring additional staff for this facility? Will prior contracts for the original facility, including those for security, health, and food preparation, be in force for this new facility?\n\n7. What does your organization determine to be an \u201cunacceptable risk to ERO operations?\u201d Please provide all relevant materials that led you to make this determination.\n\nThis expansion is especially concerning given the conditions that have been alleged by current and former detainees, including many of my constituents, at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility. Detainees have alleged overcrowding, issues with accessing medical care in a timely fashion, and excessive use of solitary confinement as punishment. My own constituents have also alleged overcrowding at this facility, including being forced to sleep on the floor, and during my visit I witnessed staff wheeling additional cots inside the facility. I was also particularly struck that you were shackling a detainee at the wrists and ankles even though he was designated as a non-criminal and non-violent detainee, and upon further inquiry was told that this behavior was standard practice for detainees when leaving the facility. This is deeply disturbing and dehumanizing behavior, and I am angered that it is taking place under the federal government\u2019s watch.\n\n8. How often has solitary confinement been utilized at this facility? Please provide the documented reasons for and length of each placement, including whether an individual\u2019s classification (non-criminal, criminal/non-violent, violent).\n\n9. Your most recent publicly available data shows that you are detaining 699 people in the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, which is over your 650-bed capacity. However, your publicly shared data has not been updated in months. How many people are currently detained in Batavia? Do you track the daily population of this facility? How many times in the past six months has this facility been over capacity? How many individuals are sleeping on cots on any given night? Are individuals ever forced to sleep on the floor? Please provide all data for the population of this facility during fiscal year 2026.\n\n10. Do you ever move large numbers of detainees in and out of the facility at a time? Did you move more than 100 detainees out of the facility in advance of my visit? If so, where were those 100 detainees moved during my visit?\n\n11. During fiscal years 2024 and 2025, detention statistics for this facility were updated approximately 22 times. As of September 4, 2026, they have been updated approximately 8 times in fiscal year 2026. Why have these numbers not been updated more regularly over the past fiscal year?\n\n12. Is it standard practice to shackle non-criminal, non-violent detainees at the wrists and ankles when they are leaving the facility? Please provide the relevant statute that directs this behavior.\n\nAs an agency, your practices and standards, as well as the behavior and actions of your employees, have been appalling. For the safety of our communities and my constituents, I demand that you take immediate action to correct the horrific and dehumanizing behavior that your employees have exhibited and pause the plans for this expansion. Your agency is operating with little regard for human life and dignity, and you have repeatedly refused to cooperate with lawful Congressional oversight. As an agency, you report that at least 22 people have died while detained in facilities across the United States this year, which is an unprecedented and horrifying increase. At the same time, my colleagues and I have serious concerns regarding the reliability and accuracy of your data on deaths in custody. Your recent actions, coupled with my visit to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility have raised serious questions, and I demand that you respond with the transparency the American people require before September 30, 2026.\n\nSincerely,\n\nPaul D. Tonko", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-celebrates-6-million-investment-for-food-bank-for-nycs-hunts-point-food-distribution-center/", "Gillibrand Celebrates $6 Million Investment For Food Bank For NYC\u2019s Hunts Point Food Distribution Center", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stood with Bronx elected officials and Food Bank For NYC to celebrate the $6 million she secured for major renovations and modernization of Food Bank For NYC\u2019s Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx.\n\n\u201cFood Bank For NYC distributes millions of pounds of food to families, seniors, and other New Yorkers in need each year,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have led the effort to secure $6 million in federal funding to support the comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, and I\u2019m committed to fighting for more federal resources to expand access to healthy and nutritious food, promote local job creation, and help New Yorkers thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis incredible investment in Food Bank For New York City\u2019s Hunts Point warehouse is a commitment to addressing food insecurity and expanding access to nutritious food in communities that need it most,\u201d said New York State Senator Jose M. Serrano. \u201cThis critical funding will strengthen our local food distribution infrastructure, helping ensure that Bronx families have reliable access to healthy food while improving the health and well-being of our communities. As the Senator of the 29th Senate District, I am grateful to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and our fellow elected officials for securing this important investment for our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cHunts Point is not only the heart of New York City\u2019s food system; it is critical infrastructure that millions of New Yorkers depend on every day,\u201d said New York State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo. \u201cThis $6 million investment will strengthen that infrastructure, expand Food Bank For New York City\u2019s ability to get millions more pounds of food to families, and ensure The Bronx continues to lead the fight against hunger across our city. At a moment when families are feeling enormous pressure at the grocery store, investments that increase our capacity to feed New Yorkers could not be more important.\u201d\n\n\u201cI grew up here in the South Bronx, raised by a single mother who relied on food distributions powered by Food Bank For New York City to help us get by,\u201d said Council Member Justin E. Sanchez. \u201cAt a time when the White House is determined to cut programs that feed New Yorkers their work is more important than ever. Senator Gillibrand\u2019s outstanding investment will strengthen the Food Bank\u2019s infrastructure, expand its capacity, and help ensure it can meet this moment as more New Yorkers are forced to turn to its network for support.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her support of vital federal food and nutrition programs and for helping secure this $6 million investment in Food Bank For New York City\u2019s Hunts Point Food Distribution Center,\u201d said Bob Silvia, Chief Procurement and Operations Officer at Food Bank For NYC. \u201cInvestments in both nutrition assistance programs and food distribution infrastructure are essential to ensuring that families can access food when they need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis $6 million investment will modernize critical infrastructure at Food Bank for NYC\u2019s Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, strengthening our city\u2019s ability to deliver fresh, nutritious food to our families who need it most,\u201d said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. \u201cEven as this White House administration cuts critical funding to social safety net programs, I am proud to see our federal legislators standing up for everyday New Yorkers and supporting projects that will help us combat hunger in our communities. Thank you to Senator Gillibrand for her advocacy and continued commitment to bringing federal resources to the Bronx.\u201d\n\nFood Bank For NYC is the city\u2019s largest hunger relief organization, and its 90,000 square foot Hunts Point Distribution Center is the city\u2019s largest hunger relief logistics hub. Last year, more than 90 million pounds of food was distributed through the Food Bank For NYC network, including nearly 31 million pounds of produce.\n\nSince 2019, visits to New York City food pantries have increased by 82%. Meanwhile the Trump administration has slashed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and caused prices for groceries to skyrocket. More than 1.6 million people in New York City rely on SNAP, but with new expanded work requirements and eligibility rules, 223,000 New Yorkers are at risk of losing food assistance. Additionally, with the federal government shifting substantial SNAP costs to states, New York State, counties, and the city will be on the hook for an estimated $1.3 billion in administrative and benefits costs annually.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-celebrates-ge-aerospace-225-million-investment-in-aerospace-research-center-creating-75-new-good-paying-jobs-in-capital-region", "SCHUMER CELEBRATES GE AEROSPACE $225 MILLION INVESTMENT IN AEROSPACE RESEARCH CENTER, CREATING 75 NEW, GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN CAPITAL REGION", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Major New Investment Upgrades Research Equipment And Modernizes Infrastructure To Support Next-Gen Aerospace Research\n\nSchumer Has Long History Of Supporting GE\u2019s Growth And Boosting Upstate New York As Leader In Aerospace Technology Research\n\nSchumer: The Sky Is The Limit For Capital Region\u2019s Workforce!\n\nFollowing his continued advocacy to boost Upstate New York as a leader in aerospace technology research and manufacturing, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today celebrated GE Aerospace\u2019s $225 million investment in its Niskayuna facility, which is expected to create 75 new good-paying jobs over five years. Schumer explained that GE Aerospace will modernize the research facility, upgrading the Aerospace Research Center with new advanced research equipment and improved infrastructure needed to support the center\u2019s cutting-edge work developing next-generation technological breakthroughs.\n\n\u201cGE Aerospace\u2019s new $225 million investment in Niskayuna, along with 75 high-skilled, good-paying jobs, shows the sky is the limit for our top-notch workforce. I have long supported GE Aerospace\u2019s growth in Upstate New York and am thrilled that the workforce expansion of GE Aerospace Research in Niskayuna \u2013 and upgrades to the campus \u2013 are on their way to the Capital Region,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cInvestments like this are key to ensuring that cutting-edge aerospace technology research is happening at home in places like Schenectady County. I will keep fighting to support investments in the equipment we need to strengthen New York\u2019s research and manufacturing leadership.\u201d\n\nThe planned $225 million investment will support research in AI, autonomy, robotics, advanced materials, future manufacturing, hypersonic propulsion, and hybrid electric flight. The Niskayuna campus has been a leader in technology development for more than 75 years and is driving innovation in aerospace technology research. The investment is projected to create 75 new good-paying jobs over the next five years, in addition to short-term construction jobs, and will also protect the jobs of scientists, engineers, researchers, and skilled laborers already employed at the facility. The facility will continue to support advanced technology projects, some funded by the federal government.\n\nSchumer added, \u201cThis investment is about building the future of aerospace\u2014advancing cutting-edge research, bringing next-gen technologies to life, and creating 75 good-paying jobs. It\u2019s an investment in the ideas and talent that will take aerospace innovation to new heights. I applaud GE Aerospace for its commitment to Upstate New York.\u201d\n\nSchumer has a long history of supporting GE Vernova and GE Aerospace\u2019s work in Upstate New York. In 2023, following his advocacy, Schumer announced that GE Vernova would create 200 new good-paying jobs, including skilled union operators and manufacturing engineers, while investing $50 million at its Schenectady, NY, facility to establish a new manufacturing line for its onshore wind business. In 2024, Schumer visited Unison, a GE Aerospace company, in Norwich to highlight over $3.4 million in local investment to modernize the plant, purchase new machines, and make major upgrades to the Southern Tier facility. In the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bill, Senator Schumer secured $40 million for GE Aerospace\u2019s integrated hypersonic propulsion technology project with the Air Force, supporting the development and maturation of sensors and mission-critical future-of-flight technologies for the Air Force developed at GE Aerospace Research in Niskayuna, Unison in Norwich, and Innoveering in Bohemia.\n\nGE Aerospace is a leading provider of jet engines, components, and systems for commercial and military aircraft with a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aerospace and its joint ventures have an installed base of more than 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines, and the business is playing a vital role in shaping the future of flight.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-stands-with-new-york-centers-against-proposed-federal-changes-to-head-start-that-threaten-programs-serving-roughly-40000-new-york-children", "SCHUMER STANDS WITH NEW YORK CENTERS AGAINST PROPOSED FEDERAL CHANGES TO HEAD START THAT THREATEN PROGRAMS SERVING ROUGHLY 40,000 NEW YORK CHILDREN", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "New York Providers Warn That Federal Changes Could Weaken Head Start Programs And Put Essential Services For Families At Risk\n\nSchumer Leads Senate Democrats Against Changes That Could Lower Head Start Quality Standards And Hurt New York Families\n\nSchumer: Head Start Is Under Attack. We Must Protect It.\n\nAfter a new federal proposal was released earlier this summer that threatens Head Start programs in New York and across the country, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today rallied against the proposed rule with the support of providers from across Upstate New York. Schumer explained the proposed rule would dismantle Head Start by gutting quality standards that ensure that America\u2019s most vulnerable children and families have access to educational programs, medical and dental exams, developmental screenings, and nutrition services. In New York, it is estimated that the proposed rule could lead to 2,854 jobs lost, result in a $12.68 million decline in funding for health services for children and families, and force families to pay $862 more per child for additional childcare.\n\n\u201cRoughly 40,000 children in New York benefit from access to Head Start and the early childhood education and comprehensive services it provides families. The proposed changes by the administration threaten the quality of these programs and put essential services at risk. From eliminating math and literacy requirements, to rolling back health services and developmental screenings, and reducing the allowable cap on administrative costs, the gutting of Head Start will hurt hundreds of thousands of children across the country. From DOGE to healthcare, the tendency to cut and gut, rather than to boost and build is sadly reflective of this administration\u2019s misguided approach to governing in general,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThat is why I\u2019m leading Senate Democrats in the fight to stand up against this effort that undercuts Head Start and undercuts our children and makes hardworking families pay the price. We must protect Head Start and invest in New York families.\u201d\n\nEarlier this summer, the Trump administration released a new proposal that would gut federal performance standards for Head Start. The proposed rule would eliminate federal requirements that ensure low-income families have access to school readiness resources for children from birth to age five, including, but not limited to:\n\nEliminating staff-to-child ratios. The proposed rule eliminates federal group size and staff-to-child ratios, meaning that Head Start staff may be expected to care for up to 32% more children.\n\nSignificantly reducing program hours. The proposed rule reduces the number of hours that Head Start programs are required to operate, meaning that families will be forced to find care elsewhere and spend $862 more annually per child on care.\n\nRemoving requirements to provide comprehensive health care services and developmental screenings. The proposed rule removes requirements around connecting children and families with health, mental health, dental, visions, screenings, and other related support services, forcing families to find these services elsewhere and pay higher prices.\n\nLowering the allowable cap on administrative costs from 15% to 5%. The proposed rule lowers the allowable cap that programs can spend on administrative costs from 15% to 5%, meaning that programs will be forced to bring their administrative costs (staff salary and benefits, auditing, accounting, human resources, etc.) down to 5% of their grant amount. Many programs will be forced to institute layoffs and pay cuts, and some programs may no longer find it finally viable to operate, especially small and rural programs.\n\nHead Start experts say the proposed changes would weaken the quality of Head Starts services and undermine early childhood education. Currently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which runs Head Start programs, is holding a 60-day comment period for its proposed rule. An initial analysis based on HHS data estimate that nationally, the proposed rule means that nearly 40,000 Head Start jobs could be cut, Head Start staff could experience a 6-9% pay cut even while being expected to care for up to 32% more children, and healthcare services for children and families could be reduced by up to $167 million annually.\n\nThe senator announced he will continue to lead Senate Democrats in the fight to stand up against the proposed changes to Head Start, programs that serve approximately 40,000 children in New York and over 685,000 children nationally every year. The senator said maintaining high-quality standards for Head Start programs is essential for the success of kids in New York and across the country. Schumer\u2019s leadership has garnered the support of providers serving children across Upstate New York.\n\nIn the Capital Region, there are concerns that the federal requirements could create inconsistent quality and protections across Head Start programs, resulting in different implementation standards. The Fulmont Head Start Program, which is funded to serve 182 three- and four-year-old children every year, served 213 children and families last year.\n\n\"Head Start standards are not just paperwork or regulations\u2014they are the promise that every child, no matter their ZIP code, deserves a strong start in life. We can reduce unnecessary bureaucracy without lowering the floor of quality that families depend on. That\u2019s why this NPRM matters: the choices we make today will shape the quality, consistency, and access of Head Start for children and families for years to come. Thank you, Senator Schumer, for taking the time to focus on this important issue and for standing up for the children, families, and communities who rely on Head Start. Your leadership and willingness to engage on this issue truly matter. We appreciate your commitment to making sure that every child has the opportunity for a strong start,\" said Denis Wilson, Sr., Executive Director/CEO of Fulmont Community Action Agency.\n\nIn Western New York, federal funding reductions have already resulted in cuts, including the loss of jobs and available Head Start slots.\n\n\u201cCommunity Action Organization of WNY\u2019s Head Start and Early Head Start programs are far more than childcare; they are a comprehensive system of education, health, mental health, nutrition, disability, workforce, and family-stability services. CAO serves more than 1,000 children and families in Erie and Niagara counties. The proposed federal cuts and the removal of key Head Start requirements would significantly weaken our program quality, reduce safety and eliminate the individualized comprehensive support services, which are all the hallmark of Head Start. Head Start programs are a proven community investment that strengthens children, families, and the local workforce while promoting long-term stability. Almost 200 slots for children with disabilities would be eliminated. If enacted, cuts will absolutely force us to lay off staff, close classrooms and sites, thereby decreasing access to early childhood education in communities already facing childcare shortages. These proposed cuts are simply unconscionable: they are harmful to children, families, and communities. CAO of WNY is grateful for the continued leadership of Senator Schumer in advocating on the behalf of Head Start and the children, families and communities they serve,\u201d said Dr. Marie Cannon, President and CEO of Community Action Organization of Western New York.\n\n\"Head Start is far more than a preschool program. It provides children and families with comprehensive services that support school readiness, health, nutrition, developmental screenings, and family stability. At Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, we see every day how these services change lives and strengthen communities. While there is significant discussion about increasing Head Start enrollment, policymakers must recognize the realities facing families in states like New York. A parent working full-time at New York's minimum wage can earn above the federal poverty guidelines used to determine Head Start eligibility, even while struggling to afford housing, childcare, transportation, and basic necessities. If the goal is to serve more children, eligibility standards must better reflect the true cost of living families face today. At the same time, proposals that weaken quality standards and drastically reduce allowable administrative costs would undermine the very elements that make Head Start effective. Our agency is already grappling with a federally imposed $912,000 Head Start funding reduction that has forced painful cuts, including the loss of valued employees. It also reduced our available Head Start slots from 244 to 194. Further weakening the program through the proposed rule would jeopardize services for vulnerable children and families across rural communities like ours. We are grateful to Senator Schumer for his continued leadership in protecting Head Start and advocating for policies that strengthen, rather than diminish, opportunities for children and families,\u201d said Renee M. Hungerford, Executive Director/CEO, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.\n\nIn Rochester, there are concerns that changes could compromise program quality and the well-being of families. Last year, Action for a Better Community enrolled 624 children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.\n\n\u201cAs CEO of Action for a Better Community, I am in agreement with Senator Schumer and all other elected officials who oppose the proposed Head Start rule changes. Increasing class sizes, lowering teacher qualification standards, eliminating funding for essential medical screenings, and slashing allowable administrative costs from 15% to 5% would weaken a program that is foundational to children and families in Rochester. The current performance standards should be the floor for improvement, not the ceiling. We fully support strengthening Head Start, but never at the expense of program quality or the well being of the children and families we serve,\u201d said Jerome H. Underwood, CCAP, President & CEO, Action for a Better Community.\n\nIn Central New York, Head Start providers from Syracuse to Cortland are speaking out about the damage this proposed rule could inflict on everything from program operations, outcomes, and financial viability to the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable children and families in local communities. Last year, the People\u2019s Equal Action and Community Effort (PEACE) and the Cortland County Community Action Program (CAPCO) collectively served more than 1,000 Head Start and Early Head Start children and families across the region.\n\n\u201cLike others, we have been closely following the proposed adjustments to Head Start Program Performance Standards. Our core criterion for evaluating reforms that streamline administrative processes is that fewer rules cannot mean fewer results. Head Start makes the same promise to every family: that their child will be safe, healthy, and ready for school - wherever they live. All reforms must align with that promise. Regulatory changes that affect performance standards or administrative expenses must not impede PEACE, Inc.'s ability to serve more than 918 Head Start children and families in the Central New York region. We appreciate Senator Schumer\u2019s advocacy for Head Start, its mission, and its communities,\u201d said Carolyn D. Brown, Executive Director, People\u2019s Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc.\n\n\u201cCAPCO stands firmly with Senator Schumer and our fellow Head Start agencies across NY State in opposition to the proposed Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs rule. A core strength of Head Start is that children and families, regardless of geography, are guaranteed access to a comprehensive and evidence-based model that addresses school readiness, health, nutrition, disabilities, and family well-being. If adopted, the proposed rule would significantly weaken federal standards that have long ensured consistent, high-quality Head Start and Early Head Start services nationwide, and that have long operated as essential safeguards for child health and safety, educational quality, and family support in Cortland County and across Central NY. Equally concerning, the proposed 5% administrative cost limit is unrealistically low for most, if not all, Head Start and Early Head Start grantees, including CAPCO. Imposing such a restrictive cap would force grantees to divert resources away from program governance, fiscal oversight, enrollment management, data systems, audit and reporting obligations, and other key infrastructure needed to operate high-quality Head Start programs. Rather than strengthening local programs, this approach would gradually erode agencies operational capacity, make compliance with federal requirements financially unsustainable for many, and ultimately risk dismantling the Head Start system through financial attrition. CAPCO is grateful to Senator Schumer for stepping up to fight for Head Start providers like us, and we join him in urging the Administration to preserve the strong federal performance standards that vulnerable children and families in our community depend upon,\u201d said Greg Richards, Executive Director, Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc.\n\nIn the Southern Tier, there are increasing concerns that the proposed changes may create unintended consequences for program quality, fiscal stability, workforce capacity, child and family access, and accountability. Last year, Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc. enrolled 340 children and Opportunities for Otsego enrolled 229 children in Head Start programs.\n\n\u201cHead Start is not simply a program\u2014it is a promise to children and families that opportunity should not depend on income, geography, or circumstance. At Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, we see every day how Head Start and Early Head Start provide far more than early learning. These programs support school readiness, health and developmental screenings, nutrition, family engagement, and the stability parents need to work, learn, and build a stronger future for their children. While we support efforts to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, that cannot come at the expense of the quality, safety, and comprehensive services that make Head Start effective. Proposals that increase class sizes, weaken staff qualification standards, reduce access to essential screenings and supports, or drastically limit allowable administrative costs would place significant strain on programs\u2014especially in rural communities where families already face barriers related to transportation, workforce shortages, housing, and access to care. The current Head Start Program Performance Standards should be strengthened as a floor for quality, not lowered in a way that puts children and families at risk. We are grateful to Senator Schumer for his leadership, for listening to providers and families, and for standing up for the children, families, and communities who rely on Head Start. His willingness to engage on this issue matters deeply, and we appreciate his commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity for a strong start,\u201d said Laura Rossman, CEO / Executive Director of Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc.\n\n\u201cWhile Opportunities for Otsego supports efforts to reduce burdensome and duplicative regulations, it cannot come at the expense of providing quality early childhood education programming for the children and families we serve. The proposed Head Start Performance Standard revisions undermine the core components of comprehensive services that are the foundation of Head Start. The change in the allowable administrative costs, elimination of imperative dental and health requirements, lower teacher ratios coupled with increased class size, and changes to staff qualifications will significantly impact staff retention and the quality of services that we currently offer. The reality is that we transport families over 1.5 hours to get dental services due to lack of providers in our area, get children back on track with their immunization schedules, provide two thirds of a child\u2019s nutrition while in program, provide necessary transportation to access services in our rural county, make referrals for early intervention services and work closely with school districts to transition those services when they enter kindergarten all while providing education with evidence based curriculum that is cross walked with the New York State education system. We are charged with serving the most vulnerable populations in a fiscally responsible and data driven way and the proposed revisions will devastate our ability to employ quality staff, continue to support families holistically, and will certainly impact outcomes of this valuable program that assists families and fosters success by giving them a head start. We applaud Senator Schumer\u2019s efforts on this issue,\u201d said Tanya Shalor, Chief Executive Officer of Opportunities for Otsego.\n\nIn the Hudson Valley, there are concerns about larger class sizes, reducing staff qualification standards, and providing less federal support. Head Start of Rockland County services more than 1,000 children and families and aims to ensure they can continue delivering the support needed to help children in the community.\n\n\u201cHead Start of Rockland, Inc. is deeply concerned about proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards including larger class sizes, reduced staff qualification standards, and a smaller administrative cap. The more than 1,000 children in Rockland County we serve should not receive a lesser standard of education, care, health, or safety because federal requirements change. We should be strengthening the standard for the next generation by investing in the systems, professionals, and services necessary to help children thrive\u2014not lowering the expectations that will shape our communities and our nation for generations to come,\u201d said Vernex Harding, Executive Director of the Head Start of Rockland.\n\nSchumer has long led the fight to protect Head Start in New York State. In the FY24 budget, when the Democrats held the Senate and as the then-Senate Majority Leader, Schumer secured a $275 million increase for Head Start, totaling $12.3 billion for Head Start. Earlier in the Trump administration, Schumer fought to ensure Head Start programs would receive payments amid the federal funding freeze so they could continue their essential services in rural and underserved communities. Schumer has also fought against the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to eliminate Head Start altogether, illegally withhold the nearly $1 billion in federal funding for Head Start, and the decision to shutter the Region 2 Head Start Office serving more than 100,000 children and families across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, Schumer secured an $85 million increase for Head Start, totaling $12.357 billion, in the most recent FY26 federal budget.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-recognized-first-democratic-member-congress-be-awarded-us-chambers", "Suozzi Recognized as First Democratic Member of Congress To Be Awarded U.S. Chamber\u2019s \u201cAdvocate for American Business\u201d Award", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Thomas R. Suozzi", "S001201", "suozzi.house.gov", "suozzi", "https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GLEN COVE, NY \u2014 Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03) was recognized today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with its \u201cAdvocate for American Business\u201d Award during a stop of the Chamber\u2019s national Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour at Standard Bots in Glen Cove.\n\nU.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley presented Suozzi with the award, recognizing his bipartisan, commonsense approach to governing, his leadership as Democratic Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, and his work on affordability, immigration reform, and other issues affecting American families and businesses.\n\nSuozzi is the first Democratic Member of Congress to receive the award during the Chamber\u2019s national Opportunity Tour.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Chamber is proud to recognize Rep. Tom Suozzi as the first Democratic Member of Congress to receive this award on the Free Enterprise Bus Tour. Rep. Suozzi has been a steadfast defender of free market capitalism and his approach to policy prioritizes real solutions for American families and businesses. We look forward to continuing to work with him to advance free enterprise policies that allow businesses, workers, and communities to grow and thrive,\u201d said Bradley.\n\n\u201cI want to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and for bringing the Free Enterprise Express here to Glen Cove,\u201d said Suozzi. I\u2019ve always believed that the best way to grow our economy is to give people the opportunity to work hard, build something, create jobs, and succeed. Companies like Standard Bots are doing exactly that right here on Long Island. We need to work together \u2014 Democrats and Republicans \u2014 to bring down costs, support our small and growing businesses, and create an environment where American innovation can thrive. That\u2019s how we grow our economy, create opportunity, and keep the American Dream alive for the next generation.\u201d\n\nThe event was held at Standard Bots, a growing Glen Cove company that designs and assembles industrial robotic arms in the United States. The company provided a local example of the entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation the Chamber\u2019s nationwide tour is seeking to highlight.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re proud to welcome Congressman Suozzi and the U.S. Chamber\u2019s Free Enterprise Express to Standard Bots here in Glen Cove,\u201d said Evan Beard, Co-Founder and CEO of Standard Bots. \u201cWe believe America can and should lead the world in advanced manufacturing and robotics. By encouraging innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship, we can build many more things in America, create good jobs, and compete globally.\u201d\n\nThe Chamber also cited Suozzi\u2019s leadership of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, his five-point affordability plan, his leadership on the Promise to America, and his efforts to advance bipartisan immigration reform.\n\nThe Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour is traveling across the country for six weeks, visiting 20 states and holding more than 50 events highlighting local businesses, employers, workers, and community leaders. The tour is designed to showcase the role of entrepreneurship, innovation, competition, and economic growth in creating jobs and opportunity.\n\nThe tour is part of the U.S. Chamber\u2019s New Fight for Free Enterprise, a multi-year initiative to promote free enterprise and highlight businesses and entrepreneurs in communities across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/21/leader-jeffries-in-providence-affordable-healthcare-has-to-be-a-right-available-to-every-single-american/", "LEADER JEFFRIES IN PROVIDENCE: \u201cAFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE HAS TO BE A RIGHT AVAILABLE TO EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN\u201d", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Yesterday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke to reporters following a roundtable in Providence with Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) and local healthcare union leaders about how House Democrats are committed to ending the Republican healthcare crisis and building a healthcare system that works for everyday Americans.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It\u2019s an honor and a privilege to be here in the great state of Rhode Island. Thank you, Congressman Magaziner for convening us and for your incredible leadership in the healthcare area and in many other areas on behalf of the people of the Ocean State. And I want to thank, of course, Congressman Magaziner and Congressman Amo, just for their partnership, their tremendous commitment to improving the lives of the people of Rhode Island and the American people and for the work that they have done and will continue to do to address the healthcare crisis that exists in the United States of America right now. Certainly want to thank Jesse and Lynn and Pat, of course, SEIU 1199, United Nurses, the AFL-CIO\u2014all of the wonderful practitioners and healthcare providers who joined us at a very robust, comprehensive, thoughtful roundtable discussion where I learned a lot about the challenges that the people of Rhode Island are confronting in the midst of a Republican healthcare crisis that is worsening their ability to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the people that they so ably serve.\n\nAnd unfortunately, it\u2019s a familiar conversation that I\u2019ve had\u2014as I\u2019ve traveled the country\u2014with people all throughout America. The Republican healthcare crisis is devastating the ability of healthcare providers to serve our families, our loved ones, our friends and our neighbors in the way that they are committed to doing, particularly in an environment now where you have so many healthcare providers who are overworked and underpaid, as well as, of course, far too often underappreciated. House Democrats appreciate the work of our healthcare heroes and are committed to making sure that we provide them with the support necessary to enable them to provide the best possible care to people here in Rhode Island and all throughout America.\n\nAs House Democrats, our core principle is that when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life and a good life. And that includes access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. It cannot be the situation where, in this country\u2014the wealthiest country in the history of the world\u2014accessing high-quality, affordable healthcare is simply a privilege available only to the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. No, it has to be a right available to every single person here in Rhode Island, every single American. That is our commitment. A lot of work that needs to be done because of the Republican healthcare crisis. So we\u2019re committed, as a top priority as House Democrats, to reversing these Medicaid cuts and extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And then getting to work together with providers, like those we had an opportunity to talk with today, to construct the best possible healthcare ecosystem, a system that the American people deserve so they can go see a nurse and go see a doctor and get high-quality healthcare whenever and wherever they need it.\n\nRepublicans have made a lot of promises to the American people, and they\u2019ve broken them all. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, but costs haven\u2019t gone down in the United States of America. Costs have gone up as a direct result of policies, including the Trump Tariffs, which have increased costs on everyday Americans and the people of Rhode Island by thousands of dollars per year. Donald Trump promised not to start endless wars in the Middle East, but to stop them, and then turned around and has gotten us involved in a reckless and costly war of choice in Iran that has skyrocketed gas prices on the people here in Rhode Island and beyond.\n\nIt was Donald Trump who promised to love and cherish Medicaid and then turned around, along with House Republicans and Senate Republicans, and enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, putting a target on hospitals here in Rhode Island, putting a target on nursing homes here in Rhode Island, putting a target on home care workers here in Rhode Island and putting a target on community-based health centers. Enough with this Republican assault on healthcare. We\u2019re committed, as House Democrats, to turning it around.\n\nFull press availability can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://riley.house.gov/2026/09/19/riley-helps-pass-bipartisan-bill-to-hold-data-centers-accountable-lower-utility-bills-for-upstate-new-yorkers/", "RILEY HELPS PASS BIPARTISAN BILL TO HOLD DATA CENTERS ACCOUNTABLE, LOWER UTILITY BILLS FOR UPSTATE NEW YORKERS", "2026-09-19", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Josh Riley", "R000622", "riley.house.gov", "riley", "https://riley.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 With the support of Representative Josh Riley (NY-19), the U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation to stop utilities from charging families and small businesses for the grid upgrades needed to power massive data centers, and make the tech companies driving that demand pay instead.\n\n\u201cUpstate New Yorkers shouldn\u2019t be forced to foot the bill for massive data centers that none of us asked for,\u201d said Riley. \u201cIf Big Tech wants to build in our communities, they can pay their own way. Our power bills are already way too high \u2013 this legislation makes sure that data centers don\u2019t drive them even higher.\u201d\n\nMassive data center projects, which demand huge amounts of electricity, are moving ahead across Upstate New York and the country. Serving them requires costly grid upgrades and under current rules utility companies can pass those costs on to everyday ratepayers instead of the companies driving the demand. In the first half of 2025 alone, utilities across the country requested more than $29 billion in electricity rate increases \u2013 nearly double what they sought the year before \u2013 as they scramble to make infrastructure upgrades and meet increased need.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act requires state utility regulators to establish new rules ensuring that families and small businesses do not face rate hikes to subsidize new power generation, transmission lines, and other upgrades needed to serve large-load customers like data centers. Instead, the large tech companies building these projects will be responsible for covering the full energy and infrastructure costs associated with them.\n\nThe vote builds on Riley\u2019s own legislation, the FAIR Data Act, which stops data center projects from driving up energy bills for Upstate New Yorkers.\n\nRiley\u2019s has led the fight stand up to the utility monopolies and lower costs:\n\nFebruary 13, 2025 \u2014 Introduced the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act (H.R. 1355) to help families reduce energy usage and lower monthly utility bills\n\nSeptember 18, 2025 \u2014 Introduced the Keep the Lights Local Act (H.R. 5487) to ban foreign corporations and governments from owning American utility companies\n\nDecember 10, 2025 \u2014 Introduced the No Bonuses for Utility Executives Act (H.R. 6590) to prohibit utility company executives from receiving bonuses when they raise rates faster than inflation.\n\nApril 17, 2026 \u2014 Introduced the No Taxes on Utility Bills Act (H.R. 8350) to allow Upstate New Yorkers to to allow taxpayers to deduct taxes and state-mandated surcharges included on their gas and electric utility bills.\n\nApril 29, 2026 \u2014 Introduced the Lowering Utility Bills Act (H.R. 8568) to crack down on utility companies overcharging customers.\n\nJuly 13, 2026 \u2014 Introduced the FAIR Data Act (H.R. 9655) to stop data center projects from driving up energy bills for Upstate New York families and small businesses.\n\nSeptember 4, 2026 \u2014 Smart Meter Data Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 10284) to ban utility companies from selling Upstate New Yorkers\u2019 private data and crack down on the misuse of personal information collected through smart meters.\n\n2025\u20132026 \u2014 Served as an intervener in the Central Hudson and NYSEG rate cases, where he participated in proceedings and cross-examined utility companies on behalf of ratepayers.\n\nYou can read the text of the Ratepayer Protection Act HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/18/leader-jeffries-statement-on-the-rise-of-anti-south-asian-hate/", "LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON THE RISE OF ANTI-SOUTH ASIAN HATE", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:\n\nThe disturbing rise of targeted, vile and bigoted hate against our South Asian communities shocks the conscience.\n\nJust this week, a Sikh driver in Wyoming was stabbed 17 times after Donald Trump\u2019s out-of-control Department of Homeland Security posted racist propaganda with the message \u201cGet off our roads, you don\u2019t know how to drive, Mr. Singh.\u201d Bo French, a Republican statewide Texas candidate, peddled vile racism towards students celebrating at a University of Texas football game. Right-wing Republicans are repeatedly using derogatory slurs in a casual manner.\n\nMeanwhile, most Republicans are standing by while the GOP traffics in hateful behavior and demeaning rhetoric targeting members of the South Asian community. It is unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American. Our greatness as a nation is connected to the fact that we are a gorgeous mosaic of people from all over the world who come to this country, work hard and pursue the American dream. House Democrats will continue to confront racism and xenophobia whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head. It\u2019s time for Republicans to join us.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-and-house-intelligence-chairman-crawford-host-house", "Congresswoman Tenney and House Intelligence Chairman Crawford Host House Intelligence SCALE UP Event in Syracuse on CCP Counterintelligence Threats", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Syracuse, N.Y. \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (AR-01) hosted federal, state, and private sector partners at Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse for a SCALE UP event examining counterintelligence threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party in Upstate New York and across the United States.\n\nThe SCALE UP event brought the House Intelligence Committee's work to Upstate New York for classified and unclassified discussions on how the CCP targets our government, critical infrastructure, businesses, agriculture, educational institutions, and other sectors. Tenney and Chairman Crawford heard from National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director Wes Street and senior leaders from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC), Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and Department of Homeland Security. The discussion focused on improving cooperation among federal, state, and local officials and private sector partners to better detect, deter, and disrupt foreign intelligence activities in Upstate New York and throughout the country.\n\n\u201cProtecting our national security starts with defending our communities here at home,\u201d said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. \u201cThe Chinese Communist Party is targeting American industry, research, and critical infrastructure to undermine our economic strength and threaten our way of life. These operations go beyond stealing information. The CCP is seeking access to the systems Americans depend on so it can disrupt essential services and exploit that access in a crisis. This roundtable brings my work on the House Intelligence Committee home to Upstate New York, connecting federal experts with local leaders to confront these threats. I thank Chairman Crawford for his leadership as we work to hold the CCP accountable and put the safety and security of Americans first.\u201d\n\n\"In today's age, an attack on our nation might not come by aerial bombing campaigns. It might not come with fiery assaults on civilian or military infrastructure, inflicting mass causalities,\" said Chairman Crawford. \"A new kind of attack may come quickly and quietly with debilitating consequences for the security and prosperity of our country. I applaud Rep. Tenney for her steadfast commitment to ensuring New Yorkers, and all Americans, understand the growing counterintelligence threat we continue to face both at home and abroad. We cannot risk waiting for the counterintelligence version of September 11th to make the reforms needed to strategically disable, disrupt, and neutralize foreign intelligence entities' activities against the United States.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4658", "Tonko, Kiggans Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representatives Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2) announced the introduction of a bipartisan resolution designating September 20th as \u201cPharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day\u201d and recognizing the need to reduce mental health stigma and improve access to mental health services.\n\nAcross the United States, nearly 800,000 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians provide essential care and medication services to patients across community pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. The pharmacy workforce experiences significant levels of occupational fatigue given systemic staffing shortages, administrative hurdles, and workplace threats and violence. Suicide rates amongst pharmacists are 20 per 100,000, which is greater than the general population of 12 per 100,000.\n\n\u201cOur pharmacists work hard each day to ensure we are delivered the treatment and care we need,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cThey deserve to have their needs met, and that must include addressing any mental health challenges they may experience. I\u2019m proud to be joined by Congresswoman Kiggans to designate September 20th National Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day. I\u2019ll keep pushing to ensure our healthcare workforce receives the same support, dedication, and compassion that they provide to their patients.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe men and women working in the healthcare space are tasked with long and trying schedules, and pharmacists are no exception. As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I understand how important it is to ensure healthcare professionals have the mental and emotional support they need to do their jobs effectively,\u201d said Rep. Kiggans. With over 30% of the pharmacy workforce experiencing significant levels of distress leading to depression, anxiety, and fatigue, I\u2019m proud to join Congressman Tonko in recognizing September 20th as National Pharmacy Workforce Suicide Awareness Day. Our pharmacists dedicate their careers to helping others and we have a responsibility to make sure they have the resources they need to care for themselves.\u201d\n\n\u201cAPhA is deeply grateful to Reps. Tonko and Kiggans for introducing this resolution and elevating the mental health and well-being of the pharmacy workforce,\u201d said Michael Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, executive vice president and CEO of APhA. \u201cEvery death by suicide is a heartbreaking loss to families, colleagues, patients, and our profession. This resolution challenges all of us to look more broadly at the conditions contributing to burnout, psychological distress, and isolation. APhA is committed to working with congress and our partners across pharmacy to create environments where pharmacists and pharmacy professionals feel supported and can thrive.\u201d\n\n\"We are grateful for the leadership of Reps. Tonko and Kiggans for introducing this resolution. Today marks an important step in broadening awareness of the mental health needs and prevalence of death by suicide within our profession. ASHP is proud to partner with members of Congress and other pharmacy organizations in prioritizing the well-being of our workforce,\u201d said Samuel V. Calabrese, MBA, RPh, CPEL, FASHP, Executive Vice President and CEO of ASHP\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) & American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).\n\nRepresentatives Hayley Stevens (MI-11), Buddy Carter (GA-1), Jonathan Jackson (IL-1), Diana Harshbarger (TN-1), Seth Moulton (MA-6), and Don Bacon (NE-2) joined the Congressman as original cosponsors.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-colleagues-demand-answers-from-hegseth-on-cost-of-iran-war/", "Gillibrand, Colleagues Demand Answers From Hegseth On Cost Of Iran War", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Pentagon Greatly Underestimates Cost of Iran War to Taxpayers and Families\n\nU.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined 45 of her colleagues, nearly the entire Democratic caucus, in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding a full accounting of the costs of the ongoing war with Iran. The letter also criticized the Department of Defense (DoD) for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to increase.\n\n\u201cSecretary Hegseth\u2019s tenure at DoD continues to be marred by blatant carelessness and incompetent leadership that has endangered our troops, jeopardized our national security, and left working families paying higher costs,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cNow he is asking for tens of billions more to fund President Trump\u2019s reckless war while refusing to reveal its true cost. That is completely unacceptable, and Secretary Hegseth must be held accountable and give taxpayers a straight answer about how this administration is spending their hard-earned money.\u201d\n\nThe United States is now more than six months into a conflict President Trump initially said would last six weeks. Eighteen American servicemembers have been killed and more than 820 wounded, and over 50,000 troops are currently deployed to the Middle East. In the letter, Gillibrand and her colleagues note that deployments, including for the USS Lincoln and the 82nd Airborne, have been repeatedly extended, and that their offices have heard directly from military families worried about loved ones serving in the conflict.\n\n\u201cAt home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cNow you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon\u2019s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration\u2019s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.\n\nGillibrand and the senators are requesting that the Department of Defense provide:\n\nA detailed breakdown of all direct and indirect costs of military operations against Iran to date, including damage to installations, aircraft, and equipment.\n\nA full accounting of the $67 billion supplemental request, specifying what covers past costs versus future operations.\n\nA detailed plan for how the Pentagon intends to spend the remaining $34 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n\u201cDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cCongress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\u201d\n\nSenator Gillibrand has repeatedly pressed the administration to disclose the true harm of President Trump\u2019s Iran war. In July, she called out Hegseth over the Pentagon\u2019s inaccurate public casualty reporting, pushing for a full and accurate accounting of the human cost of the war, and demanded the release of DoD\u2019s long-delayed investigation into the U.S. strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed more than 100 children. She also pushed for hearings after reports that service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were left without adequate food and medical care.\n\nIn addition to Senator Gillibrand, the letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gillen-celebrates-passage-125-million-federal-funding-authorization-long", "Rep. Gillen Celebrates Passage of $125 Million in Federal Funding Authorization for Long Island Out of House in Bipartisan Water Resources Infrastructure Package", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Laura Gillen", "G000602", "gillen.house.gov", "gillen", "https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Yesterday, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) celebrated the passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 out of the House of Representatives, which included $125 million she secured for Long Island water infrastructure project authorizations. The two-year water resources infrastructure investments package previously passed unanimously out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The package includes several of Rep. Gillen\u2019s priorities, such as bolstering flood risk management, storm damage prevention and coastal restoration in communities across New York\u2019s 4th Congressional District.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that this bipartisan water infrastructure package has passed the House with real investments for Long Island,\u201d said Rep. Gillen. \u201cThrough my work on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I fought to secure $125 million for critical water infrastructure projects across our communities. That includes replacing lead pipes in Garden City, upgrading aging water mains in Long Beach and strengthening stormwater pumps in Freeport. These investments will protect our drinking water, strengthen our infrastructure and help keep Long Islanders safe for generations to come.\u201d\n\nIn the package, Rep. Gillen secured funding authorization for multiple environmental infrastructure efforts on Long Island. The bill authorizes funding but does not appropriate it; the House Appropriations Committee provides actual funding.\n\nAuthorization of $11 million for the Village of Garden City to replace legacy lead water service lines with new non-lead water service lines.\n\nAuthorization of $25 million for the City of Long Beach to make essential upgrades to its aging water main infrastructure, to ensure that the public has access to safe, clean, reliable drinking water.\n\nAuthorization of $3.3 million for the Village of Freeport to support the installation of additional stormwater pumping stations to mitigate chronic tidal flooding and storm-related inundation that regularly impacts residential neighborhoods, roadways and critical infrastructure.\n\nAuthorization of $130,000 to help mitigate flooding on Rock Hall Road, near Lawrence Avenue.\n\nAuthorization of $65.57 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.\n\nAuthorization of $20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management, water reclamation and environmental restoration in Nassau County.\n\nRep. Gillen also advanced the Coastal Infrastructure Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation she introduced with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), that directs the Secretary of the Army to research shoreline stabilization and erosion-control technology to prevent coastal erosion.\n\nRep. Gillen additionally secured the following project and study priorities in the legislation. These projects can now proceed at the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or through the appropriations process.\n\nExpediting the Nassau County Back Bays Coastal Storm Risk Management Project Study to protect Nassau County's South Shore from flooding.\n\nAuthorization of proposed feasibility study for the Reynolds Channel project in the Village of Atlantic Beach to reduce coastal flooding impacts to public street ends, drainage outfalls, open spaces and marine rescue facilities through bulkhead replacement and shoreline stabilization.\n\nAuthorization of proposed feasibility study for the dredging of Bannister Bay in the Village of Lawrence.\n\nAuthorization of proposed feasibility study for ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, coastal storm risk management and navigation off the South Shore of Long Island.\n\nAuthorization to expedite a project in the City of Long Beach to remove and replace seven beach groins critically needed to stabilize the beach, reduce damage from future storms and reduce the need for future sand renourishment.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/17/leader-jeffries-the-american-people-have-had-enough-of-donald-trump-and-the-failed-republican-economy/", "LEADER JEFFRIES: \u201cTHE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF DONALD TRUMP AND THE FAILED REPUBLICAN ECONOMY\u201d", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability with Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that ahead of the midterm elections, House Democrats are committed to lowering the high cost of living, making healthcare affordable and holding the crooks accountable who have been ripping off the American people.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump and Republicans promised a Golden Age in America. They\u2019ve failed. They\u2019ve delivered a Rotten Age. The economy is not going in the right direction. It is failing everyday Americans. Gas prices are up, grocery prices are up, interest rates are up, housing costs are up and health insurance premiums are up. The cost of living is out of control. America is way too expensive. Far too many people\u2014millions of everyday Americans\u2014they\u2019re working hard, they\u2019re playing by the rules, but they can\u2019t thrive and they can barely survive.\n\nThe American people have had enough of Donald Trump and the failed Republican economy. And as House Democrats, we\u2019ll continue to make clear that we\u2019re fighting for an affordable America and we\u2019re committed to bringing down the high price of groceries, bringing down the high price of gas, bringing down the high price of housing, making healthcare affordable for every single American and at the same time, making it clear that there\u2019s a cost to the American people of the out-of-control corruption that has been visited upon them by Donald Trump and MAGA extremists. Which is why our commitment to the American people, when it comes to corruption, is that if folks have been stealing from the American people, shortchanging the American people or screwing over the American people, we\u2019re going to hold the crooks accountable beginning on day one.\n\nWhat are Republicans doing in the face of the failed economy and the cost-of-living crisis and the fact that we have an existential situation that has to be dealt with with respect to AI safety? What are Republicans doing? They\u2019re running away from their responsibilities here on Capitol Hill, and they\u2019re running away from their constituents at home because they\u2019ve been ordered by Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise not to hold any town hall meetings, not to engage with their constituents. They continue to, at best, bury their heads in the sand while Rome is burning. That\u2019s a disgrace. And that\u2019s why I believe the American people are going to fire them in November.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6482", "Lawler Demands Hochul and NYPA Release the Hidden Cost of Electricity Discounts for Rockland Data Centers", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Hochul's Power Authority admits it is cutting power bills for three Orangeburg data centers but refuses to tell the public what those discounts cost New York ratepayers.\n\nPearl River, N.Y. \u2013 9/17/26\u2026 Today, Congressman Mike Lawler called on Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Power Authority to immediately disclose the full value of the electricity discounts the state is giving to data centers in Rockland County, after The Journal News reported that the authority is refusing to say how much the subsidies are worth or what rate the data centers are paying.\n\nAccording to the report, three of the four data centers in the Orangeburg section of Orangetown are receiving discounted hydropower through the authority's ReCharge program. NYPA officials told LoHud they cannot disclose how much those discounts save operators, or even what rate a given data center is paying, calling the information \"proprietary and protected under contract.\u201d\n\n\u201cRockland families have watched their electric bills climb year after year, and now we learn that Kathy Hochul's Power Authority has been handing discounted power to data centers while refusing to tell the people footing the bill what it costs them,\u201d said Congressman Lawler. \u201cThis is public power, sold by a public authority whose board is appointed by the Governor. The public has every right to know what it is worth and who is getting it. Governor Hochul and NYPA need to release the numbers, and they need to do it now.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Governor imposed a moratorium on data centers and promised to go after their tax breaks, and the whole time her own Power Authority has been quietly cutting their electric bills and hiding the details behind confidentiality agreements,\u201d Lawler continued. \u201cAlbany is doing what Albany always does: making decisions behind closed doors and sending the bill to hard-working Hudson Valley families. If the Governor wants to be taken seriously on data centers, she can start by telling the truth about what her own agency is giving them.\u201d\n\nLawler said the authority should, at a minimum, publish the total annual cost of ReCharge discounts to New York ratepayers and the average subsidy per participant. The good-government group Reinvent Albany has argued that the authority could release both figures without exposing any single company's power usage, and that it has refused to do so even in response to public records requests. State records show 858 entities are enrolled in ReCharge.\n\nLawler has spent this year working across the aisle on artificial intelligence legislation. In January, he introduced the CHAT Act to protect children from harmful AI companion chatbots. In February, he and Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced the AI Workforce Training Act, which creates a tax credit for businesses that train their workers to use AI. In March, he joined Representatives Sara Jacobs and Don Beyer on the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act, which would require the companies building the most powerful AI models to disclose how they are trained. This month, he and Gottheimer introduced the Stop Rogue AI Act, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to set national standards for tracking and controlling AI agents used by the federal government and its contractors.\n\n\u201cI have worked all year with Democrats and Republicans on AI legislation that protects kids from AI chatbots and requires transparency from the companies building these systems,\u201d Lawler said. \u201cBut transparency has to apply to government too. If New York is going to use public power to attract data centers, it should be able to tell the public what the deal is and what taxpayers get in return.\u201d\n\nLawler has also been one of the loudest voices in Congress against the state policies driving up energy costs in the Hudson Valley. New York electricity prices have risen 58 percent since 2019, against 36 percent nationally, and NYSERDA projects the state's climate law will cost households more than $4,000 a year. Lawler has called for reopening the Indian Point nuclear plant, expanding natural gas pipeline capacity, and repealing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy.\n\n\u201cThe reason a data center needs a secret discount to operate in New York is that Albany has made electricity unaffordable for everyone. Albany shut down Indian Point, spent years blocking natural gas pipelines, and passed a climate law that is pricing families out of their own homes,\u201d Lawler concluded. \u201cNow the only way to get anyone to build here is a special deal off the top, paid for by every other ratepayer. Fix the underlying problem. Bring Indian Point back, build the pipelines, put reliable power back on the grid, and prices come down for everyone.\u201d\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, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6483", "Lawler, Gottheimer Push for Bipartisan AI Safeguards at Capitol Hill Press Conference", "2026-09-17", "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 9/17/26\u2026 Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) held a bipartisan press conference to highlight their Stop Rogue AI Act, legislation that would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop national standards, guidelines, and best practices for discovering, verifying, monitoring, and controlling AI agents.\n\nWATCH: LAWLER, GOTTHEIMER PUSH FOR BIPARTISAN AI SAFEGUARDS AT CAPITOL HILL PRESS CONFERENCE\n\nThe legislation comes as AI agents become increasingly capable of acting autonomously, with recent incidents highlighting concerns about AI systems accessing external networks and taking actions beyond their intended scope.\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t about stopping AI or stifling innovation. It is about making sure we can safely deploy AI. A pause is not a safeguard. Some states have put a moratorium on the infrastructure that powers this technology. That does not invent a kill switch. It does not inventory the agents already on a hospital network or a utility system,\u201d said Congressman Lawler.\n\n\u201cIf the United States taps the brakes while others floor it, we do not get safer AI. We get someone else\u2019s AI. We are not going to regulate ourselves into second place,\u201d concluded Congressman Lawler.\n\n\u201cOur bill gives basically a driver\u2019s license to every AI agent operating in this country. It tells NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, get in a room and set standards so organizations can find every agent on their network, verify who built it, who\u2019s running it, watch it in real time for anything suspicious, and cut off its access the second something looks wrong. That\u2019s what putting people back in the driver\u2019s seat looks like,\u201d said Congressman Gottheimer.\n\nThe bill would also require federal agencies and contractors to incorporate these safeguards into how they procure and deploy AI, with NIST and CISA coordinating with existing cybersecurity guidance.\n\nReps. Lawler and Gottheimer have also worked together on a broader bipartisan AI agenda focused on preparing American workers for an AI-driven economy, protecting consumers, strengthening national security, and maintaining American technological leadership.\n\nThese include:\n\nH.R. 7576, the AI Workforce Training Act, which provides businesses with a tax credit for qualifying AI workforce training.\n\nH.R. 9318, the National Security Commission Quantum Computing Act, which establishes an independent commission to evaluate advancements in quantum computing and make recommendations for maintaining U.S. technological leadership.\n\nH.R. 9585, the Advancing American Quantum Leadership Act, which expands the definition of quantum technology under the Export-Import Bank\u2019s China and Transformational Exports Program.\n\nB-ROLL: Video content from today can be found HERE.\n\nPHOTOS: Pictures from today can be found HERE.\n\nVIDEO: Remarks from today 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, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6485", "Lawler Joins Problem Solvers Caucus to Introduce Four Bipartisan Bills to Address Gerrymandering Nationwide", "2026-09-17", "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 9/17/26\u2026 Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined the Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) announced four bipartisan bills aimed at establishing clearer and more consistent rules for congressional redistricting across the country. Reps. Lawler and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) introduced their bipartisan Problem Solvers Mapdrawing Accountability and Principled Standards (MAPS) Act.\n\nWATCH: LAWLER JOINS PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS TO INTRODUCE FOUR BIPARTISAN BILLS TO ADDRESS GERRYMANDERING NATIONWIDE\n\nThe legislation is the result of months of work by the Caucus\u2019 bipartisan Gerrymandering Working Group, led by Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03) and Ed Case (D-HI-01).\n\nThe Caucus previously released its Gerrymandering Reform Framework outlining four areas for congressional action: banning mid-decade redistricting, establishing nationwide standards for drawing congressional districts, reducing partisan influence in the map-drawing process, and creating a consistent federal process for resolving redistricting challenges.\n\n\u201cCongressional districts should be drawn around communities, not political interests. The Problem Solvers MAPS Act establishes clear, commonsense standards to stop partisan gerrymandering and ensure districts are fairly drawn without favoring any one candidate or party. Politicians in states like New York and Texas should not be able to choose their elected representatives - under a democracy, that power is reserved for the people. I\u2019m proud to work with Rep. Carbajal and our colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus to advance a bipartisan approach that puts voters first,\u201d said Congressman Lawler.\n\n\u201cThis Problem Solvers MAPS Act is really about putting some commonsense guardrails around the redistricting process. When mapmakers do not have clear standards to follow, it becomes much easier for politics to take over. Every state is different, and no two congressional districts are going to look exactly alike, but the basic rules should be fair and consistent, no matter where you live across the country. That is what the Problem Solvers MAPS Act is trying to do: give states clear rules to follow and give voters more confidence that their districts were drawn for the right reasons,\u201d said Congressman Carbajal.\n\nMembers of the Caucus formally unveiled three additional pieces of the four-bill legislative package supporting their Gerrymandering Framework. Those bills include:\n\nH.R. 10379 - Problem Solvers Mapdrawing Accountability and Principled Standards (MAPS) Act, led by Reps. Mike Lawler and Salud Carbajal, would establish clear and consistent criteria for drawing congressional districts nationwide. Maps would be required to comply with standards including equal population, contiguity, compactness, respect for existing political boundaries such as counties, municipalities, and cities, and to prohibit drawing maps to favor any particular party, candidate, and/or incumbent.\n\nH.R. 10378 - Problem Solvers Transparent Redistricting Under Stable Timelines (TRUST) Act, led by Reps. Ed Case and Jeff Hurd, would prohibit states from redrawing congressional districts more than once following each decennial Census. The bill is intended to establish a consistent national rule and prevent states from repeatedly redrawing congressional maps between censuses for partisan gain.\n\nH.R. 10380 - Problem Solvers Independent Commissions Act, led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Debbie Dingell, would require congressional districts to be drawn through independent citizen redistricting commissions designed to reduce direct partisan influence from politicians over the map-drawing process and establish a more transparent process for developing congressional maps.\n\nH.R. 10381 - PSC Nonpartisan Congressional Uniformity and Oversight of Redistricting Trials (COURTS) Act, led by Reps. Ryan Mackenzie and Ed Case, would establish a uniform federal process for legal challenges involving congressional redistricting, including consistent jurisdiction and venue requirements for cases challenging congressional maps.\n\n\u201c[Gerrymandering] is a problem that both parties are guilty of. It\u2019s a power issue, not a party issue. Every party that has the opportunity to do it has capitalized on it, and there needs to be a group of individuals and patriotic Americans that say no more because everybody agrees, even the people that do it, by the way, that it is corrosive to democracy, but they are justifying this as this tit-for-tat; meanwhile, the American people suffer,\u201d said Co-Chair Fitzpatrick.\n\n\u201cGerrymandering is bad for America. It weakens the will of the voters, erodes public trust, and creates safe seats that reward extremism and disincentivize thoughtful, bipartisan collaboration. I\u2019m proud our caucus is leading on this framework to take politics out of redistricting and restore confidence in a system where voters choose their representatives, not the other way around,\u201d said Co-Chair Suozzi.\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, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakismcgovern-medically-tailored-meals-bill-advances-ways-and-means", "Malliotakis/McGovern Medically Tailored Meals Bill Advances from Ways and Means Committee", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) \u2014 Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) applauded the passage of bipartisan legislation she introduced with Rep. James McGovern (D-MA-02), H.R. 5439 - Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act, from the House Ways and Means Committee.\n\nFor seniors living with chronic illnesses, access to nutritious food tailored to their medical needs can play an important role in helping them manage their conditions and remain healthy at home. Similar programs have already shown promise in New York and across the country by providing meals designed by registered dietitians for patients with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and kidney disease.\n\nThe legislation creates a 6-year Medicare pilot program for 40 hospitals to deliver medically tailored meals for Medicare beneficiaries who live at home and have a diet-impacted disease like diabetes and heart failure after they leave the hospital. The meals are medically tailored, which means they are designed by nutritionists to accommodate the specific health needs of a patient. The legislation is budget neutral with no additional cost to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to see our bipartisan Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act pass the Ways and Means Committee to help seniors who have difficulty shopping or cooking on their own receive healthy meals,\u201d said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. \"For seniors living with serious chronic illnesses, access to nutritious meals tailored to their medical needs can help them better manage their conditions, stay healthier at home and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. This pilot will allow us to measure the results and determine how we can improve outcomes for seniors while potentially lowering healthcare costs for taxpayers.\u201d\n\n\"For years, I\u2019ve traveled across Massachusetts and the country learning from experts about how we can help improve nutrition and health outcomes. Incredible providers like Community Servings in Boston, God\u2019s Love We Deliver in New York City, and many others from coast to coast have taught me about the life-saving benefits of Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs),\u201d said Jim McGovern, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee. \u201cYou can\u2019t be healthy if you\u2019re hungry\u2014and that\u2019s why I'm proud to author this legislation with Rep. Malliotakis to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital visits, and save billions of dollars in healthcare spending. It\u2019s a big step forward in our fight for a country where no one goes to bed hungry and everyone has access to the affordable, quality healthcare they deserve.\"\n\n\"Too many seniors leave the hospital only to be readmitted within weeks because they lack access to the right food or nutrients to manage a chronic illness at home,\" said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). \"This bill tests a targeted approach: whether medically tailored meals paired with nutrition counseling can keep Medicare patients healthier and out of the hospital. Representative Malliotakis has consistently championed this idea for years, and her persistence is paying off with this bipartisan pilot program. The Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act will give us the real-world data we need to see if this approach improves care for our most vulnerable seniors and lowers costs by reducing avoidable hospital readmissions.\"\n\n\"God\u2019s Love We Deliver is grateful to Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for sponsoring H.R. 5439 - Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act - and for her leadership in advancing the bill with unanimous bipartisan support through the House Ways and Means Committee. As a leading provider of Medically Tailored Meals with over 41 years of history serving individuals and families living with life-altering illnesses, God\u2019s Love is excited for the transformative opportunity that this legislation will have in improving the health and well-being of New Yorkers and individuals nationwide. Every day, we deliver 15,000 meals to New Yorkers affected by illness, and every day we see the impact that Food Is Medicine services like Medically Tailored Meals have on the people and families we serve, allowing them to live healthier, more independent lives and keeping them safe in their homes and out of the hospital. We look forward to the continued progress of this signature piece of legislation and are excited for the opportunity to further advance healthcare through the power of Food Is Medicine,\" said Terrence Meck, President and CEO of God's Love We Deliver.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-mannion-cosponsors-bill-stop-tax-giveaways-data-centers", "Representative Mannion Cosponsors Bill to Stop Tax Giveaways for Data Centers", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today announced he is an original cosponsor of new legislation to stop data centers from claiming special federal tax breaks included in Donald Trump\u2019s partisan budget bill.\n\nLast year, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) significantly expanded tax breaks that have helped spur the construction of AI data centers; that same legislation cut over $1 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. The Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act would exclude data centers from benefiting from those OBBBA tax breaks. Specifically, the bill would exclude data centers from being able to take the 100% bonus depreciation tax deduction, and from being eligible for Opportunity Zone tax benefits.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion said, \u201cData centers need to pay their own way, and siting decisions must be transparent, locally driven, and centered on the people who live in these communities. It\u2019s wrong to hand out tax breaks and public resources to data centers, especially while cutting over $1 trillion in food assistance, Medicaid, and health care.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is being led by Representatives Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Don Davis (NC-01.)\n\nEarlier this week, Representative Mannion also voted for the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act. That legislation would require state utility regulators to consider policies ensuring data centers cover the full cost of the new power generation and transmission upgrades required to serve them instead of shifting those costs onto families and small businesses.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-secures-351-million-flood-prevention-bronx-and-queens", "Ocasio-Cortez Secures $351 Million for Flood Prevention in The Bronx and Queens", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Funding is a $161 million increase from the Water Resources Development Act of 2024\n\nWashington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) announced the House of Representatives\u2019 passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA), which includes a provision she requested with her New York Delegation colleagues to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to spend $351 million to combat flooding in The Bronx and Queens.\n\nThe funding authorizes projects that would directly improve water and wastewater infrastructure, including new flood control and stormwater infrastructure projects in New York\u2019s 14th District.\n\n\u201cIn 2021, Hurricane Ida devastated New York City, taking the lives of 13 community members in flash floods and causing extensive damage to homes in The Bronx and Queens. Since then, the climate crisis has increased the prevalence and intensity of severe weather events,\u201d said Alexandria Representative Ocasio-Cortez. \u201cI am very proud to have secured $351 million in the House-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2026. This funding will allow us to strengthen our existing flood infrastructure, protect our community from future weather events, and help communities better engage with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.\u201d\n\nIn 2024, Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Grace Meng (NY-06), along with Senator Schumer (D-NY), secured $190 million to combat flooding in Queens. This year\u2019s funding increase adds to that amount.\n\nIn addition to funding for flood management, Representative Ocasio-Cortez and her colleagues secured the creation of a new Office of Technical Assistance and Community Outreach and support for oyster restoration projects in the East River, Flushing Bay, and the Bronx River.\n\nThe impacts of climate change are being felt across our communities, particularly in The Bronx and Queens. By the end of the century, it\u2019s estimated that sea levels could rise by seven feet along the United States coastline.\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act of 2026 provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the authority to carry out development projects and studies that improve water resources infrastructure, including for rivers and harbors.\n\nThis legislation will now be reconciled with the Senate version of the Water Resources Development Act before being signed into law by the President.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-introduces-honoring-sacrifice-troops-war-act-leads-house", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN INTRODUCES \u201cHONORING THE SACRIFICE OF TROOPS IN WAR ACT,\u201d LEADS HOUSE COLLEAGUES IN DEMANDING TRUMP AND HEGSETH STOP HIDING TRUE COST OF IRAN WAR", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Ryan has been the leading voice of opposition to the war in Iran; he has voted to stop the war 6 times, leads the \u201cNo Funds for Iran War Act,\u201d and has repeatedly called on Secretary Hegseth to resign over his massive betrayals to US troops and citizens\n\nRyan sits on the House Armed Services Committee, is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress, and served 2 combat tours in Iraq earning him two Bronze Stars\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Congressman Pat Ryan \u2013 an Iraq War combat veteran and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress \u2013 today led 11 of his Democratic Veteran colleagues in introducing legislation to honor the immense sacrifices made by US troops in the Iran War, and stop Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth\u2019s desperate attempts to obscure the true cost to our troops and the American people. Ryan\u2019s Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act would ban the Secretary of Defense from manipulating casualty records and jeopardizing the benefits of our servicemembers and public servants. The bill introduction comes after the Pentagon unprecedentedly recategorized recent casualties suffered in Trump\u2019s Iran war\u2014including four killed and over 200 wounded servicemembers\u2014under a separate category outside Operation Epic Fury in a shameless attempt to downplay the damage done and evade accountability to the American people.\n\n\u201cEvery Patriot deployed to this war in Iran \u2013 the 50,000 still in theater, the hundreds wounded, and especially the 18 killed \u2013 are American heroes. They deserve to be honored as such \u2013 not swept under the rug by a President and SecDef so humiliated by their failure that they\u2019d rather dishonor the troops than tell the truth,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cIt\u2019s a total betrayal of our armed forces by the very people that swore to protect and do right by them. I\u2019m proud to lead so many of my fellow veterans in Congress to make it clear we will not stand for the Trump Administration\u2019s disgraceful disrespect of American heroes \u2013 before, during, or after their deployments.\u201d\n\nTo ban the Secretary of Defense from hiding the true cost of war, the Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act specifically:\n\nBans Arbitrary, Unjustified Recategorizing of Designated Contingency Operations by prohibiting redesignating an ongoing conflict if the Administration continues to mobilize forces against the same enemy;\n\nPrevents Manipulation of Casualty Records by prohibiting manipulation of casualty records by falsely redesignating a contingency operation;\n\nRestores Casualty Records of Our Fallen and Wounded Heroes in the Iran War by requiring restoration of casualty records for Iran-related operations since February 28, 2026, and notify next-of-kin about the correction;\n\nBans Cutting Hard-Earned Benefits for Troops and Civilian Personnel by prohibiting the modification of eligibility for deployment-related personnel benefits on the basis of falsely redesignating a contingency operation; and\n\nRestores Benefits to Personnel Supporting Iran War by retroactively restoring all covered benefits entitled to members of the Armed Services and civilian employees who have supported Iran-related operations since February 28, 2026.\n\nIn addition to Ryan, the Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives and Democratic Veterans Eugene Vindman, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Jason Crow, Herb Conaway, Derek T. Tran, Mike Thompson, Jimmy Panetta, Ted W. Lieu, and Salud Carbajal.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).\n\n\u201cFamilies who have lost a servicemember deserve an accurate, permanent record of their sacrifice. Congressman Pat Ryan's companion bill in the House helps ensure that record can't be rewritten. VoteVets is proud to support his leadership on this issue,\u201d said Vote Vets Senior Advisor Major General (Ret.) Paul Eaton.\n\n\u201cWe are proud to stand with Congressman Ryan in demanding the Department of Defense be accountable and transparent in their decision to reclassify casualty records,\u201d said Jess Finucan, Director of Policy & Advocacy for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). \u201cIt is imperative to Congress and to the American people that we understand the true cost of war, not just in dollars but in lives forever affected. Purposefully reclassifying records to minimize the impacts of war is negligent and is a disservice to the servicemembers and families who have borne the costs. The Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act ensures transparent, accurate accounting and prevents long-term, negative impact on benefits for those who have served in harm\u2019s way.\u201d\n\nRyan has become the leading voice of Democratic opposition to the war in Iran. He has cosponsored and voted in favor of War Powers Resolutions to end the war in Iran five separate times.\n\nIn May, amid reports that the Pentagon would seek $200B in supplemental funding for the war, Ryan introduced the No Funds for Iran War Act, which would prohibit the use of additional taxpayer funds for military action against Iran in the absence of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or official declaration of war from Congress.\n\nIn April, Ryan confronted Hegseth himself during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, pressing him on his failure to protect troops at Port Shuaiba. Following new reporting on the strike on Port Shuaiba, Ryan opened an investigation in August into how the Department of Defense failed to provide adequate medical care to service members injured and demanded answers about the Department's lack of preparation for a strike against Port Shuaiba.\n\nMost recently, Ryan spoke on the House floor against handing Hegseth\u2019s Pentagon a $1.5 trillion blank check through the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). He criticized colleagues for again refusing to consider his No Funds for Iran War Act, especially following the successful passage of a War Powers Resolution.\n\nCongressman Ryan is a U.S. Army veteran, served two combat tours in Iraq, and is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in the U.S. House of Representatives. Amid recent threats to veterans\u2019 benefits, national security concerns, and rising threats worldwide, Congressman Ryan led his fellow veterans in Congress to create the Democratic Veterans Caucus. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee and has led extensive legislation to deliver relief for veterans, servicemembers, and military families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4656", "Tonko Introduces Slate of Affordability Bills to Lower Energy Costs", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Ranking Member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, introduced several new bills that would help address the cost-of-living crisis for American households by delivering urgently-needed utility bill relief and establishing a comprehensive energy affordability agenda. The legislation authored by Tonko includes:\n\nThe End Energy Hardship Act: establishes a federal program to fund forgiveness of residential customer utility debt. Roughly 1 in 6 households are behind on their energy bills, and 14 million Americans have utility debt so severe that it has been or will soon be sent to collections. To qualify for funding, utilities must adopt a program to cap eligible customers\u2019 bills at no more than 6% of each household\u2019s income for at least 60 consecutive months. Capping utility bills at a set percentage of income provides customers with predictable and more affordable bills each month and prevents arrears from accumulating. The legislation would also provide federal funding to help offset the potential ratepayer impacts of administering these percentage of income payment programs.\n\nThe Data Center Fairness Fee Act: requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose a charge on the owners of data centers based on electricity consumption. The revenues raised would be made available to State and Tribal Governments to fund energy affordability programs, such as LIHEAP, and electric grid upgrades to benefit residential utility customers.\n\nThe State Energy Oversight Act: creates a Department of Energy (DOE) program to provide financial and technical assistance to state public utility commissions, which are responsible for overseeing utility rates, to support staffing, modeling, analysis, and other activities to increase commission capacity and improve public participation in proceedings. The bill would authorize $50 million for each of Fiscal Years 2027 through 2031 to be allocated to states through a DOE-determined formula.\n\nThe Regional Energy Hubs Act: authorizes the DOE to fund state governments to establish regional energy hubs across the nation that help residents navigate and access energy efficiency incentives and affordability programs. This proposal is modeled after the success of programs like New York\u2019s Capital Region Clean Energy Hub and the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Cooperative Extension System.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of talk in Washington about skyrocketing energy costs; but the American people don\u2019t want more discussion about rising utility bills \u2014 they need action,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cThis slate of legislation I\u2019m introducing responds to that need with near-term utility bill relief that provides tangible savings for consumers and puts us on a path to a more affordable energy system. When it comes to lowering energy costs, there\u2019s no time to waste. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this legislation that will deliver relief for countless Americans struggling to pay their energy bills.\u201d\n\nSince President Trump took office, household electric bills have gone up on average 18% nationally, with estimates expecting that number to continue to rise. Tens of millions of U.S. households have reported difficulty paying their energy bills, often reducing or forgoing food or medicine to keep the lights and heat on.\n\nThese latest bills build upon Congressman Tonko\u2019s track record as a leader in the national energy affordability policy conversation. Tonko is a long-time champion of existing federal energy affordability programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). He is the author of H.R. 1355, the bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act, which would reauthorize and strengthen WAP.\n\nAdditional details, including supporting organizations, bill text, and section-by-section summaries on each of Tonko\u2019s bills can be found below.\n\nH.R.10466: The End Energy Hardship Act\n\nBill text\n\nSection-by-section summary\n\nThis bill is supported by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP).\n\nAlexander Ratner, senior federal policy counsel at the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy, said \u201cNo one should have to choose between paying an energy bill and buying groceries. Rep. Tonko\u2019s bill would help wipe out utility payment debts and put stronger protections in place so bills stay affordable. This is a smart way to give families relief today and more stability tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\"It is absolutely unacceptable that American families are having to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table because of how unaffordable essential utility services have become in our for-profit monopoly utility system,\" said Marissa P. Gillett, Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and former Chairman of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. \"Rep. Tonko's bill is an important first step in delivering real relief from skyrocketing utility bills. We look forward to continuing working with him and others in the fight for structural change that addresses the roots of the affordability crisis, including excess utility profit.\"\n\nH.R.10467: The Data Center Fairness Fee Act\n\nBill text\n\nSection-by-section summary\n\nH.R.10468: The State Energy Oversight Act\n\nBill text\n\nSection-by-section summary\n\nThis bill is supported by Evergreen Action, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), and the Future of Heat Initiative.\n\n\u201cAt a time when Americans are paying historically high energy costs, the State Energy Oversight Act will help ease their burden by giving states the resources and funding they need to hold utilities accountable for the rates they charge, while putting consumers first,\u201d said Evergreen Action Federal Affairs Director Dani Hupper. \u201cKeeping the lights on at home should not come at the expense of paying for other basic needs. Families deserve affordable energy and a government that will stand up to the utility companies profiting off of them.\u201d\n\n\u201cState public utility commissions are the peoples\u2019 best defense against skyrocketing bills and exploding data center energy use. Unfortunately these commissions are outdated, underfunded, and understaffed, and families and businesses are paying the price. This bill would strengthen states\u2019 affordability arsenal through much-needed funding and technical support for commissions,\u201d said Arjun Krishnaswami, FAS Senior Advisor.\n\n\u201cUtilities come to rate cases with teams of lawyers and expert witnesses. State regulators often have a few staff and a mountain of filings. When they don\u2019t have the capacity to scrutinize a spending request, families absorb the difference on their energy bills. The State Energy Oversight Act gives regulators the support they need and it gives consumer advocates a real seat at the table. We\u2019re glad to support it,\u201d said Jamie Van Nostrand, Policy Director, The Future of Heat Initiative, and former Chair of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.\n\nH.R.10469: The Regional Energy Hubs Act\n\nBill text\n\nSection-by-section summary\n\nThis bill is supported by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/amid-skyrocketing-fuel-prices-and-dropping-temperatures-gillibrand-holds-press-conference-demanding-release-of-heating-assistance-funding/", "Amid Skyrocketing Fuel Prices And Dropping Temperatures, Gillibrand Holds Press Conference Demanding Release Of Heating Assistance Funding", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to demand that the Trump administration release funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the cold winter months.\n\n\u201cNew Yorkers are already feeling the pain of President Trump\u2019s economy at the grocery store, the gas pump, and the pharmacy. Now, as temperatures begin to drop, they\u2019re getting hit again: this time at the thermostat,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cFuel prices are soaring because of President Trump\u2019s war with Iran, and New Yorkers need help heating their homes as temperatures drop. I\u2019m calling on the Trump administration to immediately release LIHEAP funding to help low-income New Yorkers afford their energy bills.\u201d\n\nLast week, the price of crude oil rose to $100 per barrel for the first time since July\u2014a direct result of President Trump\u2019s war with Iran. That has driven up the average cost of heating oil in New York up to $6.14 per gallon, which is a 66% increase from this time last year.\n\nAt the same time, President Trump\u2019s administration has yet to release the LIHEAP funding that helps New Yorkers heat their homes in the fall and winter, which was appropriated by Congress in the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 earlier this month. Under this bill, New York is slated to receive an estimated $360 million in LIHEAP funds.\n\nWith temperatures beginning to drop and fuel prices continuing to rise, Senator Gillibrand sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding that the administration immediately release this funding.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-bipartisan-group-of-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-release-all-documents-from-u-s-saudi-nuclear-deal/", "Gillibrand, Bipartisan Group Of Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Release All Documents From U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined a bipartisan group of senators to press the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a \u201c123 agreement.\u201d\n\nThe Trump administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress\u2014as is required by law\u2014but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them.\n\n\u201cTransparency is the only path to truth,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cProtecting our national security is of the utmost importance, and a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia has serious implications for it. There is no justification for hiding key parts of this agreement from the public. As part of our constitutional oversight responsibilities, we are demanding that the Trump administration declassify and release these side letters without delay so the American people get the transparency and accountability they deserve.\u201d\n\nIn their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, the bipartisan group of senators wrote: \u201cCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cCongress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\u201d\n\nSenator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, has long fought for transparency and oversight around nuclear weapons policy. She led 26 senators in urging President Trump to preserve key nuclear arms control treaties during his first term, and earlier this year, she introduced legislation that would bring much-needed oversight to the military\u2019s use of AI, including banning its use to launch nuclear weapons. She also demanded that the Trump administration give Congress a full intelligence briefing on its strikes last year against Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities.\n\nIn addition to Senator Gillibrand, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Edward Markey (D-MA), Rand Paul (R-KY), John Kennedy (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-his-advocacy-schumer-announces-nearly-300000-for-the-town-of-hamden-to-make-major-repairs-to-roads-severely-damaged-by-tropical-storm-debby", "AFTER HIS ADVOCACY, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEARLY $300,000 FOR THE TOWN OF HAMDEN TO MAKE MAJOR REPAIRS TO ROADS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY TROPICAL STORM DEBBY", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "In 2024, Tropical Storm Debby Devastated Communities Across The Southern Tier & Upstate New York, Schumer Says New Federal Funding Will Help Town Upgrade Roads & Critical Infrastructure\n\nSchumer Will Continue To Advocate For More Federal Investment To Ensure Town Has Resources Needed To Complete Project And Protect Local Taxpayers From Shouldering Crushing Costs of Storm Recovery\n\nSchumer: Fed $$ Puts Hamden On Road To Recovery!\n\nFollowing his advocacy, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced $294,773.51 for the Town of Hamden to fund major repairs following Tropical Storm Debby. For nearly two years, the Town of Hamden has worked diligently with FEMA to advance its over $5 million request for disaster assistance and mitigation funding. Schumer said this grant is a key first step towards ensuring Hamden residents have the federal assistance they need to support critical repairs to their roads and mitigation efforts to protect the community from future flooding events. Schumer vowed to continue fighting to unlock the other federal support needed to rebuild and strengthen the community\u2019s resilience.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to deliver nearly $300,000 in federal funding needed for the Town of Hamden to repair roads damaged by Tropical Storm Debby. This investment will help restore safe and reliable roads for residents,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThe community deserves to see these roads repaired without taxpayers having to shoulder the costs of storm recovery, and I\u2019m proud to have helped make this first step a reality. I\u2019ll keep fighting to deliver the remaining funding the Town needs to rebuild stronger and weather the storms ahead.\u201d\n\nSchumer explained that because of flooding during the storm, the town saw severe damage along portions of Chamber Hollows Road, East Brook Road, and many other ditches and shoulders. Schumer said this funding will help keep the Town of Hamden and local taxpayers from bearing the costs of repair projects that were necessary for protecting the town\u2019s infrastructure and local properties. These projects will address storm damage and make several improvements to enhance long-term resiliency. Work will replace existing metal pipes with properly sized concrete box culverts, along with new headwalls and wingwalls to provide additional structural support, improve drainage capacity, and meet New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requirements. The project will also stabilize a failing roadside embankment where erosion has caused the bank to slide away from the roadway through the installation of soil nails. Additionally, the Town will restore damaged roadside ditches and shoulders in areas impacted by flooding, improving drainage, protecting roadways, and reducing the risk of future storm damage. Schumer\u2019s August letter to FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton supporting federal funding for these repairs and improvements can be found HERE. Schumer said he will continue to fight for more federal funding to ensure the Town has the resources it needs to complete the full project.\n\nSchumer has been a long-standing fighter for Delaware County\u2019s efforts to combat flood damage and natural disasters. After major storms in 2006 and 2011, Schumer advocated for federal disaster declarations on behalf of flood-impacted communities, including Delaware County, that would provide federal funding to enable places like Hamden and other communities within the county to recover and rebuild. As a result, local governments and thousands of property owners were able to apply for disaster assistance following these storms. In the aftermath of the 2006 flooding, Schumer successfully secured approval from FEMA to bring in temporary housing units for displaced residents, including those in Delaware County. In 2008, Schumer secured $300,000 in the Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations Bill funding for flood protection measures in the Village of Sidney, which included infrastructure repairs to village pump stations and flap gates. With communities like Delaware County in mind, he helped author the provision in the Federal Disaster Aid Bill in 2012 that provided $200 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding to help fund key economic growth projects in counties hammered by natural disasters. Schumer then secured $3.8 million from that provision for the Delaware County IDA. This funding provided critical support to relocate Amphenol Aerospace, keeping them in the community and saving over 950 jobs. Schumer's efforts to secure disaster declarations unlocked the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (MPMG) fund, which brought nearly $7 million to local efforts to buy out over 100 flood-damaged properties in the Lower River Street neighborhood in Sidney for flood mitigation. In 2025, Schumer demanded that FEMA immediately reverse its decision to cancel federal funding for the Sidney Culvert Project, critical for mitigating flooding in the Village of Sidney, helping save lives, and reducing the damage and costs from flooding caused by extreme weather events.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/16/joint-democratic-leadership-statement-on-h-r-5334/", "JOINT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON H.R. 5334", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "UPDATE: Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians\n\nOn Tuesday, June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could move forward with its plans to rip legal status away from nearly 350,000 current Haitian and Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. Following this decision, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of TPS for Haitians and Syrians, effective July 27, 2026.\n\nIndividuals who have lost TPS may be impacted in different ways, including loss of protection from deportation and loss of work authorization. However, there may be alternative legal pathways to remain and work in the United States. To learn more about what the end of TPS means for you and your family:\n\nAll TPS holders regardless of designation should visit the USCIS website for the latest updates on their TPS status.\n\nVisit the NYC Mayor\u2019s Office of Immigration Affairs website to learn more about what the expiration of TPS status means for impacted New Yorkers. Resource documents are available in English, Arabic, French and Haitian Creole.\n\nContact the Mayor\u2019s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), whose Legal Support Centers offer free, confidential immigration legal help. Free, safe and confidential immigration legal services are available regardless of your immigration status and in your language by calling the MOIA legal support hotline at 800-354-0365 or visiting nyc.gov/knowyourrights.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/16/leader-jeffries-announces-committee-assignment-for-congressman-everton-blair/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT FOR CONGRESSMAN EVERTON BLAIR", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that the House Democratic Caucus has approved Everton Blair to be appointed to the Committee on Financial Services.\n\n\u201cToday, I am honored to announce that the Democratic Caucus has approved Rep. Everton Blair to be appointed to the House Committee on Financial Services. Congressman Blair is an accomplished public servant, educator and fighter for equality who will advocate for the financial industry to work on behalf of everyday Americans. The child of Jamaican immigrants and a proud son of Gwinnett County, Rep. Blair knows the promise of the American Dream and the importance of it remaining within reach. Rep. Blair is a committed champion for working families, and will use his role on the critical Financial Services Committee to support first-time homeowners and expand access to affordable housing for the people he is privileged to represent in Georgia\u2019s 13th Congressional District and folks across America. The House Democratic Caucus family is proud to welcome him to the Congress, and we look forward to his distinguished service on behalf of the American people.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/16/leader-jeffries-on-house-floor-we-will-continue-to-stand-with-the-ukrainian-people-until-victory-is-won/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON HOUSE FLOOR: \u201cWE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE\u00a0UNTIL VICTORY IS WON\u201d", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor in opposition to legislation that would expand Donald Trump\u2019s authority to impose tariffs and continue his failed global trade war that is making life far too expensive for everyday Americans.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: I rise in strong support of the underlying bill to honor the heroic, brave, patriotic Tuskegee Airmen, part of the Greatest Generation, who stood up against fascism, authoritarianism and the forces that were trying to bring about totalitarianism all across Europe and to the rest of the world. We can learn and be inspired by the courage, the character and the conviction of the Tuskegee Airmen. And it\u2019s unfortunate that some in this administration are trying to erase their history. But that history is not just Black history. It\u2019s American history. We will never let it be erased. We must continue to be informed by it, encouraged by it and inspired by it.\n\nAs I was thinking about this on the way over\u2014I\u2019m certainly so thankful to Congressman Shomari Figures for his leadership in advancing this legislation and for continuing in every possible way to stand up for his constituents of every race in the great state of Alabama. As I was thinking about the Tuskegee Airmen and the greatest generation who rescued the world from Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany and fascism, I thought how ironic it is that we\u2019re on the Floor today debating legislation with respect to Russia, Vladimir Putin and their horrific invasion of Ukraine. Now, House Democrats, led by Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer and many others, have been at the forefront of standing up for the people of Ukraine, pushing back against the effort to run them over, pushing back against tyranny and propaganda and the horrors that have been inflicted on them by Vladimir Putin and this war of aggression that Russia has launched.\n\nWe will continue to, at all times, stand behind the Ukrainian people, support their courage and their bravery in their fight, an existential one, against Vladimir Putin and Russia. We believe it\u2019s a fight not just for their territorial integrity, but it\u2019s also a battle between the forces of democracy versus the forces of autocracy, the forces of freedom versus the forces of tyranny, the forces of truth versus the forces of propaganda. And the United States of America has always stood on the side of democracy, freedom and truth, which is why we must always continue to stand on the side of the Ukrainian people. And that\u2019s our pledge as House Democrats. We\u2019ve been there with the Ukrainian people from the very beginning. But this legislation that will be before us today, unfortunately, in my view, does not accomplish the objectives that some may, in good faith, in this House or over in the Senate be trying to accomplish.\n\nAll of us, I believe, certainly as House Democrats, will continue to stand up for the Ukrainian people. But the manner in which this bill has been written doesn\u2019t require the President of the United States to impose sanctions on Russia. In fact, there are so many loopholes written into the bill, I believe, that it\u2019s very unlikely that the sanctions relief contemplated in the legislation will ever see the light of day. That\u2019s particularly the case because President Trump has shown great reluctance over the 10 years that he\u2019s been in our faces here in the United States of America to actually side with the Ukrainian people. He recently blamed Ukraine for the increase in diesel prices. No, Mr. President, diesel prices have increased because of your reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. He suggested that somehow President Zelenskyy, who has been a brave and courageous wartime leader, and the Ukrainian people have visited the horror, the terror, the war upon themselves. No, one person bears responsibility for it: Vladimir Putin.\n\nMany of us wonder why the President has been so reluctant to aggressively confront the bully of Eastern Europe. One of the things we\u2019ve learned from the Tuskegee Airmen, from the great leaders of that time, from the Greatest Generation, from FDR, from Churchill, is that you have to confront the bully, not appease the bully. So we find ourselves once again, in 2026, just like the Tuskegee Airmen found themselves in the early to mid-1940s in the FDR, Churchill versus Chamberlain moment: you either are going to confront the bully or appease the bully. That\u2019s what Chamberlain did. And when you appease the bully, it doesn\u2019t work out. We learned that lesson, or should have, in 1939. And yet we find ourselves at this moment in time, some, including the highest reaches of the federal government in the executive branch, seemingly more interested in appeasing Vladimir Putin, not confronting him. And that\u2019s why I\u2019ve got real concerns, and I\u2019m not in a position to support this legislation, notwithstanding the fact that I\u2019m proud to represent more Ukrainian Americans than any other Member of Congress in the country back home in South Brooklyn, in Coney Island and in Brighton Beach, an incredible patriotic community.\n\nI say to my constituents: we will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people in Ukraine until victory is won, but this legislation does not provide a path to secure that. Worse yet, what this legislation will do is give Donald Trump perhaps unfettered authority to unleash tariffs on the American people in ways that have already cost everyday Americans thousands of dollars in additional expense per year. Why in the world, in the middle of an affordability crisis that is not a hoax, it\u2019s very real\u2014far too many people in this country, working hard, playing by the rules, can\u2019t thrive, can barely survive in this failed economy. Life way too expensive in the United States of America. Why in the world would this Congress or the People\u2019s House give this President unfettered authority to visit more tariffs on the world that will have an adverse economic impact on the American people? I can\u2019t do it, because I\u2019m standing up for everyday Americans who are suffering in this failed economy with a president who promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven\u2019t gone down in America. Costs have gone up. And one of the reasons they\u2019ve gone up is because of the Trump Tariffs that have increased costs on everyday Americans. Thousands of additional dollars in expense per year on groceries, on goods, on cars, even on homeownership. And so why in the world would this Congress give this President additional authority to visit that kind of economic harm on the American people?\n\nAnd so, respectfully, Mr. Speaker, I cannot support the bill\u2026because, substantively, it will not accomplish the objective, which is to stand with the American people, stand with the Ukrainian people, stand with democracy, stand with freedom, stand with truth and push back against tyranny. And this bill at the same time could give the President an additional tool to visit economic harm on the American people. I thank you for yielding. I thank the distinguished gentleman from Alabama for bringing this legislation honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. And at this moment in time, when we see renewed tyranny coming out of Eastern Europe by Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression, let\u2019s summon the courage, the character and the conviction that the Greatest Generation showed and not appease the bully, but confront the bully until victory is won.\n\nFull Floor remarks can be watched here.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/16/leader-jeffries-statement-on-donald-trumps-inflationary-policies/", "LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON DONALD TRUMP\u2019S INFLATIONARY POLICIES", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:\n\nFor the past 605 days, Donald Trump has unilaterally implemented an onslaught of failed, inflationary policies that have blown up our economy, leaving the Federal Reserve with no choice but to raise interest rates for the first time in three years. Make no mistake. Donald Trump owns this rate hike and is to blame for the mortgages and credit card rates that will rise as a result.\n\nRepublicans promised to lower costs and stop endless wars. Instead, Donald Trump\u2019s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran has caused the largest global energy crisis in history. Americans are paying an extra half-billion dollars a day for gas, diesel has never been more expensive and electricity bills are through the roof. At the same time, his on-again, off-again tariffs are causing the price of groceries and everyday essentials to skyrocket.\n\nIn the twenty months since Donald Trump took office, the average family has spent $4,200 more just to get by, inflation is far higher and the Fed is raising rates to clean up his mess. ENOUGH.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/16/leader-jeffries-we-are-committed-to-this-fight-for-an-affordable-america-until-we-win-this-fight-for-the-american-people/", "LEADER JEFFRIES: \u201cWE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS FIGHT FOR AN AFFORDABLE AMERICA UNTIL WE WIN THIS FIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE\u201d", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press event with the House Democratic Caucus and advocates on the Capitol steps, where he emphasized that as people continue to struggle with the high cost of living due to failed Republican policies, House Democrats are committed to fighting for an affordable America.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: It\u2019s a high honor and a distinct privilege to stand here today on the steps of the United States Capitol, alongside Whip Katherine Clark, Dr. Raul Ruiz, Nikema Williams, Yassamin Ansari and distinguished, courageous, fighting Members of the House Democratic Caucus. I want to thank Kat as well as Rebecca from the great state of Arizona, Terri from the great state of Georgia and John from the Great State of Nebraska for bravely sharing your stories and advocating for families, farmers and millions of Americans who are struggling throughout the country.\n\nFar too many people are working hard and playing by the rules, but they can\u2019t thrive and can barely survive. Life is way too expensive. People are drowning in Donald Trump\u2019s failed economy. House Democrats are determined to make life more affordable for the American people. We just need a handful of Republicans to stand up to Donald Trump and join us. Instead, they have decided to cancel votes and run out of town without providing any relief to hardworking American taxpayers.\n\nRepublicans have done nothing to lower the high cost of groceries. Nothing to make healthcare more affordable. Nothing to end the reckless war of choice in Iran. Nothing to lower gas prices. Nothing to stop the violent mass deportation machine. Nothing to hold the Trump administration accountable for the unprecedented corruption unleashed on the American people. This is a do-nothing Republican Congress, and it\u2019s about to come to an end.\n\nHouse Democrats believe that here in America, when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life and a good life. You should be able to own a home, educate your children, see a doctor when you need one, go to the grocery store without being stressed out, take a vacation with your family, save for a rainy day and then retire with grace and dignity. That\u2019s the American Dream. It\u2019s broken right now, but House Democrats are working hard to revive it.\n\nTwo years ago, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans promised to bring down grocery prices on day one. They promised to stop endless wars in the Middle East. They promised to bring energy prices down by 50%. They promised to get gas prices below $2 a gallon. But Republicans have done nothing to make life more affordable for the American people. Instead, they\u2019ve made life more expensive. For two years, Americans have been wondering: were MAGA Republicans lying, indifferent or are they just incompetent? We now have an answer. It\u2019s all of the above.\n\nDemocrats know that things need to change dramatically. Our message to the American people is a simple one: we hear you, we see you, we feel you and we\u2019re committed to making life better for you. House Democrats are fighting for an affordable America. House Democrats are fighting to lower the high cost of groceries, gas and housing. House Democrats are fighting to make healthcare affordable because we believe, in this great nation, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, access to high-quality and affordable healthcare can\u2019t simply be a privilege available only to the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Affordable healthcare must be a right available to every single American. We are also here to make clear that it\u2019s time for the corruption to end. Anyone who is stealing from the American people, shortchanging the American people or screwing over the American people, you are now on notice. House Democrats are going to hold the crooks accountable beginning on day one.\n\nDemocrats are here. We outside. We are committed to this fight for an affordable America until we win this fight for the American people. We will continue to show up, we will continue to stand up and we will continue to speak up until we end this national nightmare and restore prosperity, peace and the promise of America for everyone.\n\nFighting for an Affordable America.\n\nFull press event can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2483", "Kennedy\u2019s NEXUS for Families Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Timothy M. Kennedy", "K000402", "kennedy.house.gov", "kennedy", "https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Legislation Would Allow Families to Apply and Interview Together, Reducing Unnecessary Barriers to Cross-Border Travel\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Tim Kennedy\u2019s NEXUS for Families Act, H.R. 9382, legislation that would make it easier for families to enroll in and renew their NEXUS memberships. The bipartisan bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to link NEXUS applications for members of the same family, allowing them to apply and interview together. It would also give CBP the ability to waive in-person interviews for children under 14 when appropriate.\n\n\u201cI am proud to lead the NEXUS for Families Act, legislation that modernizes and improves the process and ensures it actually works for families,\u201d said Congressman Kennedy. \u201cBy allowing families to apply together and conduct joint interviews, this bill makes the travel process simpler for parents, children, and spouses.\u201d\n\nFor families in Western New York, where travel across the U.S.-Canada border is part of everyday life, the current NEXUS process can create unnecessary hurdles. Each family member must submit a separate application, and parents often have to schedule separate interviews for their children, requiring multiple, inconvenient trips to enrollment centers. This results in delays that prevent families from traveling together through NEXUS lanes, adding unnecessary time and bureaucracy to cross-border trips.\n\nNEXUS was created jointly by the United States and Canada in 2000 to provide pre-approved, vetted travelers with expedited processing at the northern border. Today, more than two million people are enrolled in NEXUS, and nearly 328,000 people cross the northern border every day, supporting local economies and strengthening the ties between America and Canada. By allowing families to manage their NEXUS applications and interviews together while preserving the program\u2019s security and vetting requirements, the NEXUS for Families Act cuts through unnecessary red tape and makes cross-border travel more efficient for Western New York families. This legislation will now be considered by the U.S. Senate.\n\nCongressman Kennedy's floor remarks can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-langworthy-announces-house-passage-his-northern-border-security", "Congressman Langworthy Announces House Passage of his Northern Border Security and Enhancement Review Act", "2026-09-16", "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.\u2014September 16th\u2026 Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced that the House of Representatives passed his Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act (H.R. 5517), advancing bipartisan legislation to ensure the United States regularly evaluates evolving threats along the northern border and maintains a strategy capable of addressing them. The bill passed today by voice vote.\n\nCongressman Langworthy Speaks on his Bill on the House Floor \u2014September 16, 2026\n\nThe legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to regularly assess threats along the northern border, update its northern border strategy as needed and provide Congress with the information necessary to conduct effective oversight. It also requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection\u2019s Air and Marine Operations to establish performance measures for its efforts to secure the northern border between ports of entry.\n\n\u201cProtecting our northern border is just as important to our homeland security as the southern border, and we cannot afford to take it for granted,\u201d said Congressman Langworthy. \u201cFor too long, the northern border has not received the sustained attention it deserves, even as the threats facing our communities continue to evolve. This bipartisan legislation ensures we are regularly assessing those threats, updating our strategy and giving Congress the information it needs to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable. I\u2019m proud that the House has passed this common-sense bill, and I\u2019ll continue working to make sure our national security is protected, particularly for our border communities like right here in Western New York.\u201d\n\nThe United States shares more than 5,500 miles of border with Canada, spanning some of the most diverse and challenging terrain in the country. In recent years, Border Patrol apprehensions between ports of entry along the northern border increased from 916 in Fiscal Year 2021 to more than 23,000 in Fiscal Year 2024.\n\nIn Western New York, the need for continued vigilance is particularly important. The Government Accountability Office reported that Border Patrol was involved in 170 drug-seizure events in the Buffalo Sector during Fiscal Year 2024, nearly double the number recorded the previous year.\n\nHe concluded, \u201cAmericans deserve to know that the men and women responsible for protecting them have the tools, information and strategy necessary to meet the threats of today and prepare for the threats of tomorrow. We have made progress, but this is no time for complacency.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6478", "Lawler Applauds Passage of Bill to Modernize U.S. Foreign Service", "2026-09-16", "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 9/16/26\u2026 Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after his bill, H.R. 9086, the Foreign Service Modernization Act, passed the House by voice vote.\n\nThis legislation will improve the operations and effectiveness of America\u2019s diplomatic corps as they work to advance U.S. interests abroad.\n\nWATCH: CONGRESSMAN LAWLER DEBATES ON HOUSE FLOOR IN FAVOR OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT\n\nThe Foreign Service Modernization Act marks the first comprehensive review of the Foreign Service Act since it was signed into law in 1980.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s diplomats are on the front lines of advancing our interests and protecting our national security around the world. But for more than four decades, their processes and scope have not evolved with the geopolitical landscape. This legislation will give our diplomats the tools, resources, and support they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century. I\u2019m proud to see this important legislation pass the House, and I look forward to working to get it across the finish line in the Senate,\u201d said Congressman Lawler.\n\nThe legislation includes several reforms to improve how the State Department recruits and trains diplomats, including measures that would:\n\nProvide Ambassadors with increased authority and oversight in carrying out US foreign policy at their posts overseas,\n\nCreate a pilot program for a Diplomatic Reserve Corps, modeling the reserve functions of the armed services, that would surge diplomats to the front lines in response to emergencies and crises abroad,\n\nEnhance expeditionary diplomacy in austere posts to advance American interests outside of the confines of embassy walls,\n\nAlign State Department human resources, technology, and training to meet modern national security demands, and\n\nIncrease pathways for military veterans to join the Foreign Service.\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, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-bill-protect-taxpayers-ghost-preparers-passes-house-unanimously", "Malliotakis Bill to Protect Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Passes House Unanimously", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) \u2014 Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis applauded the unanimous House passage of her legislation, H.R. 9499, the Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act. This legislation takes an important step to ensure that taxpayers who are victims of preparer fraud are not unfairly punished for actions they did not commit.\n\nUnder current law, when a dishonest tax preparer commits fraud without the taxpayer's knowledge, the taxpayer may be subject to an indefinite statute of limitations, even if they had no intent to evade their tax obligations. The bill addresses this gap in the law by clarifying that the unlimited statute of limitations for fraudulent tax returns applies only when the taxpayer intended to commit fraud\u2014not when a dishonest tax preparer acted alone without the taxpayer's knowledge.\n\nSeveral recent New York cases underscore how dishonest tax preparers can exploit taxpayers and defraud the system. An individual on Long Island pleaded guilty to a nearly $12 million tax fraud scheme. They prepared fraudulent tax returns, charged clients more than $1 million in fees\u2014including a percentage of their refunds\u2014and put those taxpayers at risk while enriching themselves. An individual in the Bronx was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating a decade-long, $145 million tax fraud scheme. He oversaw the filing of tens of thousands of false tax returns, generating approximately $12 million in fraudulent proceeds.\n\n\u201cFar too many taxpayers have been forced to spend months trying to fix IRS problems they did not create, and my office has seen that frustration firsthand through more than 1,400 IRS-related constituent cases,\u201d said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. \u201cWith the unanimous passage of my legislation in the House, we are one step closer to ensuring innocent taxpayers are not penalized for fraud or misconduct committed by a tax preparer. This bill puts the responsibility where it belongs\u2014on those who break the law\u2014and gives taxpayers greater protection when they have acted in good faith. I hope the Senate will now take up this bipartisan, commonsense measure and send it to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\u201cShady businesses that file tax returns on behalf of taxpayers but deceive the IRS by making it appear that the taxpayer prepared the return are not just committing fraud \u2013 they are committing a crime that could leave an innocent taxpayer facing consequences and potential IRS penalties for something they did not do,\u201d said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). \u201cWith the Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act, we can ensure taxpayers do not face an indefinite future of IRS assessments or penalties due to the misdeeds of others. Having seen the impact of tax fraud on victims in the communities she serves, Representative Malliotakis is protecting the rights of taxpayers by keeping the IRS focused on going after the criminals responsible.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-john-w-mannions-ny-22-legislation-improve-reading-outcomes-0", "Representative John W. Mannion\u2019s (NY-22) Legislation to Improve Reading Outcomes in Elementary and Secondary Schools Passes House With Bipartisan Support", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today announced that his legislation, the Science of Reading Act of 2026, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The bipartisan bill, also supported by Representative Erin Houchin (IN-9) and Representative Kevin Kiley (CA-3), aims to strengthen reading outcomes by promoting evidence-based instruction grounded in the Science of Reading.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion said, \u201cAs a teacher for nearly three decades - and the husband of a literacy expert - I know that strong reading skills are the foundation for success in the classroom, in the workplace, and throughout life. The Science of Reading Act gives teachers and students access to proven, evidence-based approaches that help kids become stronger readers. I\u2019m proud that Republicans and Democrats came together to pass this legislation and move us one step closer to improving reading outcomes for students in NY-22 and across the country. Strong schools and strong readers are essential to America\u2019s ability to compete and win globally.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Erin Houchin said, \u201cReading is the foundation of learning, and we cannot accept declining literacy rates as the status quo. The Science of Reading Act will equip classrooms with proven methods to ensure every student can read. Indiana has shown that the Science of Reading works, and I\u2019m proud to see this important legislation pass the House.\u201d\n\nThe Science of Reading Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require that literacy instruction funded through the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program follows the \u201cscience of reading.\u201d Furthermore, the bill would limit the use of the three\u2011cueing model as the primary model of instruction for states participating in this program. This bill also carefully ensures protections for individualized instructional supports for students with disabilities and English language learners.\n\nThe science of reading uses five evidence-based components of phonemic awareness - phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension - to teach students literacy skills. More than 40 states have implemented these methods successfully, helping to create more consistent and comprehensive outcomes for students.\n\nWatch Congressman Mannion's remarks here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-introduces-stamps-staying-connected-act", "MENG INTRODUCES THE STAMPS FOR STAYING CONNECTED ACT", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) introduced the Stamps for Staying Connected Act (H.R.10129), a bill that provides postage to incarcerated individuals who cannot afford it.\n\nThis legislation would authorize the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide postage for general correspondence to incarcerated individuals who lack sufficient funds in their commissary accounts. While the BOP already provides postage for legal-related mail, this measure would codify that policy and extend it to personal correspondence by providing up to five stamps per week for general mail, in addition to the five stamps currently available for legal-related mail.\n\nFederal prisons currently require individuals to use funds from their commissary accounts to purchase postage. But many incarcerated people have little or no money available. Federal prison jobs can pay as little as 12 cents per hour, meaning it can take several hours of work to earn enough to purchase a single stamp.\n\n\u201cPeople who are incarcerated rely on mail to stay connected with their families and loved ones, prepare for reentry, pursue education, practice their faith, and communicate with their attorneys,\u201d said Congresswoman Meng. \u201cProviding a few stamps each week is a basic but meaningful way to help people maintain those critical connections while they are serving their time. This commonsense legislation builds on an existing BOP policy so that people in prison do not have to spend the little money they earn each day simply to write home.\u201d\n\nStaying connected with family, friends, faith communities, and other support networks can help people successfully return to their communities after incarceration. The Bureau of Prisons encourages people in its custody to maintain these relationships, and research shows that strong support systems can reduce recidivism and improve reentry outcomes after release\n\n\"Maintaining family and community connections is one of the strongest predictors of successful reentry and safer communities,\u201d said Nina Patel, Senior Policy Counsel, Justice Division, American Civil Liberties Union. \u201cHowever, many people in federal prison cannot afford the cost of a postage stamp. The Stamps for Staying Connected Act recognizes that meaningful rehabilitation depends on preserving relationships for people who are incarcerated. Sending a letter home can strengthen a parent's bond with a child, sustain hope, and reinforce the support systems that help people return to their communities successfully. This commonsense legislation will help ensure people in federal prison are not cut off from the very connections that provide meaning and support for rehabilitation.\"\n\n\u201cWhen incarcerated people are able to stay connected to their families, it helps boost their mental health and can ease their transition back home after they\u2019re released,\u201d said JC Hendrickson, senior policy strategist in the Brennan Center's Justice Program. \u201cBut many people incarcerated in federal prison cannot afford stamps, making it difficult to send letters to loved ones. This bill would help make sure that everyone behind bars can communicate with their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommunicating with family members in prison should not depend on how much money someone has,\u201d said Shanna Rifkin, FAMM General Counsel. \u201cThis bill would help people in prison foster relationships with loved ones that we know are crucial for improved mental health and also reduced recidivism once people return to the community.\u201d\n\n\u201cNYC Books Through Bars, a prison literacy project, sends free books in response to letters we receive from people who are incarcerated in facilities around the country,\u201d said Daniel Schaffer, NYC Books Through Bars. \u201cWe know that the stamps needed to write to us are a precious resource, and we are likely failing to serve the neediest population\u2014those with nothing in their commissary. If people in federal prisons were regularly provided stamps, they would not have to choose between staying in touch with their families, seeking legal advice from their lawyers, and writing to us to request books that are critical to their survival behind bars.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor many incarcerated people, the cost of postage is a barrier to staying connected with their loved ones,\u201d said Aleks Kajstura, Sr. Policy & Advocacy Analyst, Prison Policy Initiative. \u201cImproving family contact is critical for the health and reentry outcomes of people in prison. Requiring that the Bureau of Prisons provide stamps to people who cannot afford the cost of sending a letter makes it easier for everyone to achieve those goals.\u201d\n\nThe bill is cosponsored by Reps. Yvette Clarke, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Eleanor Norton-Holmes, and Nydia Velazquez. It is supported by American Civil Liberties Union, Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens Against Recidivism, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), Fortune Society, Justice Action Network, NYC Books Through Bars, Prison Policy Initiative, and Social Workers and Allies Against Solitary Confinement.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-warren-hoyle-wyden-merkley-subramanyam-introduce-bill-ban", "Ocasio-Cortez, Warren, Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley, Subramanyam Introduce Bill to Ban the Corporate Practice of Medicine", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act would ban corporations and private equity from owning physicians.\n\nThe bill is modeled on the landmark Oregon law that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to ban the corporate practice of medicine.\n\n\u201cAcross the country, private equity firms and corporate conglomerates are buying up American physician offices. To increase shareholder profits, these entities often cut corners, leading to patients paying more for significantly worse care,\u201d said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to get Wall Street out of Americans\u2019 doctors\u2019 offices and ban predatory noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cPatients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine.\u201d\n\n\u201cBillionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cIn Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It\u2019s time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m proud of Oregon\u2019s pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it\u2019s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians.\u201d\n\n\u201c80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019,\u201d said Representative Hoyle. \u201cHealthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctors, not dictated solely by the pursuit of maximizing profits. States have passed laws to protect the independence of physicians, and it\u2019s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians,\u201d said Representative Subramanyam.\n\n\u201cWith big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country,\u201d Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said, the author and chief sponsor of Oregon Senate Bill 951 (2025). \u201cOregon has shown that it\u2019s possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it\u2019s time to take that fight nationwide.\u201d\n\nOver 80 percent of doctors in the United States are employed by corporate entities\u2014including private equity firms and insurers\u2014up from 62 percent in 2019. Despite prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine in over thirty states, private equity firms, insurers, and other corporate entities have exploited legal loopholes that allow them to circumvent these restrictions to the detriment of clinicians and patients.\n\nManagement services organizations (MSOs) have become vehicles for exercising corporate control over physicians. MSOs contract with physician practices to handle ostensibly purely administrative tasks, but these actors often challenge the autonomy of acquired physicians once in control. For example, corporate entities often assume control over clinical operations, management and staffing decisions, and billing and coding practices\u2014all of which can exert pressure on physicians to change care delivery.\n\nThe Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act ensures health care decisions are made by physicians\u2014not private equity firms, insurance companies, or other corporate actors. The legislation:\n\nBans the corporate practice of medicine by making it illegal for private equity funds, insurance companies, and other for-profit corporations to own or control medical practices;\n\nCloses the \u201cfriendly physician\u201d loophole that has allowed investor-backed corporations to evade state-level bans on the corporate practice of medicine and control medical practices through MSOs;\n\nProhibits an MSO from controlling a medical practice through a \u201cfriendly\u201d or \u201ccaptive\u201d physician, or by taking over business, administrative, and clinical functions such as hiring and firing, work schedules, compensation, disbursement of revenue or setting of revenue targets, billing practices, contracting, and other services;\n\nEnsures that physicians retain ultimate control of medical practices by requiring that physician owners are meaningfully engaged in providing medical care in the state in which their practice is located; and\n\nProtects physician independence by prohibiting corporate interference with clinical decisions and banning restrictive contract terms, such as non-compete agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and non-disparagement agreements.\n\nThe bill is modeled on a landmark law in Oregon that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers in the state. Most recently, Eugene Emergency Physicians beat back efforts by Peace Health to replace local physicians with a private equity-backed staffing company.\n\nThis legislation is also supported by Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fl.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Az.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Coalition for Patient Centered Care, Bull Moose Project, Center for Health and Democracy, OrthoForum, Alliance of Independent Dentists, Private Equity Stakeholder Project, and Association for Independent Medicine.\n\n\"The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that local physician ownership of their practice is the best arrangement for the physicians, the medical staff, the hospital and, most importantly, for the patient,\u201d said Vicki Norton, MD, FAAEM, President of the AAEM. \u201cThat\u2019s why the AAEM strongly supports the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026. The bill would prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and allow physicians to work unencumbered, focusing on patients. There is no greater policy imperative for AAEM than protecting patient safety and quality of care in emergency departments through efforts such as this bill.\u201d\n\n\"The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will strengthen long-standing bans on the corporate practice of medicine, ensuring clinical decisions are made by licensed professionals sworn to care for patients, not corporations beholden to shareholders,\" said Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Health Care at the American Economic Liberties Project. \"It's an essential step toward breaking up Big Medicine, which drives costs up, quality down, and independent practitioners out of business.\"\n\n\"States established prohibitions against the corporate practice of medicine a century ago for a simple reason: when corporations start making medical decisions instead of doctors, everyone loses. Care gets worse and more expensive for patients, working conditions get worse for doctors and their staff, and communities lose the unique benefits of high-quality, independent care,\" said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director at Coalition for Patient-Centered Care. \"We commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing today\u2019s legislation, which will enshrine our nation\u2019s strongest and most effective protections against the corporate practice of medicine into federal law for the benefit of all Americans, and hope it is enacted quickly.\"\n\n\u201cPatients are best served when clinical decisions and practice operations remain under the control of licensed healthcare professionals, not private equity firms or management companies whose primary obligation may be to investors, says Dr. Jill Tanzi, President of the Alliance of Independent Dentists. \"The threats posed by corporate consolidation are not unique to medicine; dentists and their patients deserve these same protections. This bill\u2019s protections against corporate control and interference are critical safeguards for both clinicians and patients, and we commend its sponsors for working to protect independent medicine.\"\n\n\u201cPrivate equity firms and other corporate investors should not get to decide how doctors practice medicine. When investors dictate staffing levels or how much time doctors can spend with patients, they are directing patient care. Doctors need the authority to make those decisions based on what their patients need. We support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act and urge Congress to put enforceable limits on corporate control of medical practices,\u201d said Michael Fenne, Senior Policy Coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project.\n\n\"Our health care system is perfectly designed to concentrate wealth and power into corporate entities and increasingly badly designed to actually care for patients. The Oncology Practices of ONCare Alliance are dedicated to helping oncologists remain independent of private equity and other corporate structures that pull needed resources away from patient care into their profit margins,\" said Barbara McAneny, Co-Chair of the OnCARE Alliance. \"We strongly oppose the corporate practice of medicine and commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing this important bill that will help doctors design our practices to make the best treatment plans with our patients.\"\n\nYou can read the full text of the bill here.\n\nA one-pager of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/dam-breaking-congressman-pat-ryans-no-funds-iran-war-act-gains-support-house", "\u201cTHE DAM IS BREAKING\u201d: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN\u2019S \u201cNO FUNDS FOR IRAN WAR ACT\u201d GAINS SUPPORT AS HOUSE AGAIN VOTES TO END WAR IN IRAN", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "For more than six months, the Trump Administration has waged war in Iran without Congressional approval, costing Americans more than $100 billion, killing 18 brave U.S. servicemembers, and wounding hundreds more\n\nRyan has voted to end the war six times, with a third consecutive vote passing the House last night with bipartisan support\n\nRyan\u2019s No Funds for Iran War Act \u2013 which prohibits the use of additional taxpayer funds for the war in Iran \u2013 has also gained steady support and now has more than 60 cosponsors\n\nRyan has been the leading voice of opposition to Trump\u2019s war in Iran; he sits on the House Armed Services Committee, is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress, and served two combat tours in Iraq earning him two Bronze Stars\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Following last night\u2019s vote to pass a third War Powers Resolution to end President Trump\u2019s war in Iran, Congressman Pat Ryan announced growing support for his No Funds for Iran War Act, legislation to prohibit the use of additional taxpayer dollars on Trump\u2019s war without Congressional approval. The bill now has more than 60 cosponsors.\n\nRyan \u2013 an Iraq War combat veteran and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress \u2013 has voted to end Trump\u2019s war in Iran six separate times, with each vote gaining bipartisan support. The resolution last night passed the House of Representatives for a third consecutive time by a vote of 220-204. Trump\u2019s war has now killed 18 brave U.S. troops, injured more than 800, and raised prices across the board on the American people.\n\nMore than six months into the war with Iran, Ryan is encouraging his colleagues not to give up the fight, and urging Members across the aisle to listen to their constituents and join his efforts to stop the war.\n\n\u201cEvery single American \u2013 from the military families with loved ones deployed overseas, to the farmer buying fertilizer to feed our communities, to the mom filling up her gas tank \u2013 is feeling the impact of this reckless war with Iran. The American people want this war to end \u2013 and it's past time for Trump, Hegseth, and all their allies in Congress to listen,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cEvery time we force my Republican colleagues to face the facts, more and more of them vote with us. We\u2019ve now voted three times, in a bipartisan way, to end the war. But Trump continues to ignore the will of the people. My bill to prohibit the use of more taxpayer dollars now has more than 60 cosponsors and would cut off his recklessness at the source. The dam is breaking \u2013 we have to keep up the pressure. I\u2019m going to keep fighting everyday, with every fiber of my being, to end this war and bring our troops home.\u201d\n\nAccording to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Trump\u2019s war in Iran has caused more than 40 percent of inflation from the second quarter of 2026 and will continue to drive inflation higher into 2027, meaning the cost of basic goods will continue to rise. CBO also stated the U.S. military will not be able to replace munitions for at least five years.\n\nA Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 61 percent of Americans believe using military force against Iran was a mistake, making Trump\u2019s war as unpopular among Americans as the Iraq War during the peak of violence in 2006 and the Vietnam War in the early 1970s.\n\nThe Pentagon\u2019s internal overall cost estimate has exceeded $100 billion. That number doesn\u2019t even account for the cost to the American people. Gas prices have soared, as people across NY\u201018 have spent an additional $172 million on gas since the beginning of the war, costing the average family in our district an additional $646 in gas costs over the past six months. Grocery prices have also skyrocketed as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.\n\nRyan has repeatedly cosponsored and voted in favor of War Powers Resolutions to end the war in Iran six separate times \u2013 with bipartisan support for the effort steadily growing:\n\nMarch 5, 2026 \u2013 vote fails 212 - 219, with two Republicans voting YEA\n\nApril 16, 2026 \u2013 vote fails 213 - 214, with four Republicans abstaining\n\nMay 14, 2026 \u2013 vote fails after 212 - 212 tie with three Republicans voting YEA\n\nJune 3, 2026 \u2013 vote PASSES 215 - 208, with four Republicans voting YEA\n\nJuly 23, 2026 \u2013 vote PASSES 214 - 208, with seven Republicans abstaining\n\nSeptember 15, 2026 \u2013 vote PASSES 220 - 204, with seven Republicans voting YEA and eight abstaining\n\nIn May, amid reports that the Pentagon would seek $200B in supplemental funding for the war, Ryan introduced the No Funds for Iran War Act, which would prohibit the use of additional taxpayer funds for military action against Iran in the absence of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or official declaration of war from Congress. Ryan introduced the legislation with the support of his fellow Democratic veterans in Congress, and it has continued to grow in support in the enduring months of the war.\n\nIn April, Ryan confronted Hegseth himself during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, pressing him on his failure to protect troops at Port Shuaiba. Following new reporting on the strike on Port Shuaiba, Ryan opened an investigation in August into how the Department of Defense failed to provide adequate medical care to service members injured and demanded answers about the Department's lack of preparation for a strike against Port Shuaiba.\n\nIn July, Ryan spoke on the House floor against handing Hegseth\u2019s Pentagon a $1.5 trillion blank check through the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). He criticized colleagues for again refusing to consider his No Funds for Iran War Act, especially following the successful passage of a War Powers Resolution.\n\n\u201cIt's personal to me. Having served twenty-seven months in combat in Iraq. Watching us double down on a losing strategy, year after year, while my friends and fellow soldiers \u2013 many of whose names are on this memorial bracelet I wear \u2013 fought and died. It's personal to the now eighteen families who lost their loved ones in this reckless war in Iran \u2014 sons, daughters, husbands, wives, somebody's whole world. It\u2019s personal to the hundreds more wounded, many carrying injuries that will last their entire lives from this war,\u201d Ryan said on the House floor.\n\nRyan\u2019s full floor remarks can be viewed here.\n\nMost recently, when the Trump administration tried to downplay the number of casualties in the war, Ryan again joined his Democratic veteran colleagues in demandingthe Administration accurately and transparently account for U.S. servicemembers killed and wounded in the Iran war.\n\nCongressman Ryan is a U.S. Army veteran, served two combat tours in Iraq, and is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in the U.S. House of Representatives. Amid recent threats to veterans\u2019 benefits, national security concerns, and rising threats worldwide, Congressman Ryan led his fellow veterans in Congress to create the Democratic Veterans Caucus. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee and has led extensive legislation to deliver relief for veterans, servicemembers, and military families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2066, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "NY", "p1": "2026"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1653, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 413, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1581, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 485, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "NY", "label": "NY", "count": 2066, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2026", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 2066, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-09-16,https~3A~2F~2Fpatryan~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fdam-breaking-congressman-pat-ryans-no-funds-iran-war-act-gains-support-house", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2026&_next=2026-09-16%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fpatryan~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fdam-breaking-congressman-pat-ryans-no-funds-iran-war-act-gains-support-house&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 1078.4615073353052, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}