{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"PA\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meuser-announces-193-million-pennsylvania-rural-health-working-families-tax", "Meuser Announces $193 Million for Pennsylvania Rural Health from the Working Families Tax Credit", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "POTTSVILLE, PA: Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) released the following statement after the Trump Administration and CMS awarded $193 million to Pennsylvania from the Rural Health Transformation Fund.\n\nCongressman Meuser strongly advocated for and voted in favor of the Working Families Tax Cut package which created this fund that will transform healthcare across rural Pennsylvania.\n\n\u201cPennsylvania will be receiving $193 million this year through the Rural Transformation Fund, an investment that will expand access to care and strengthen workforce training across the Commonwealth,\u201d said Rep. Meuser.\n\nMeuser continued, \u201cMy Republican colleagues and I supported the creation of this fund to confront the growing healthcare challenges facing rural communities across the United States. It\u2019s unfortunate that every single Democrat in Congress, including every Democrat from Pennsylvania, voted against creating this fund. In recent years, rural Pennsylvanians have experienced a steady decline in access to essential healthcare services, and this funding is a critical step toward reversing that trend.\u201d\n\nAbout the Rural Health Transformation Fund:\n\nCongress created the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund through the Working Families Tax Cut. This funding, which represents the largest direct federal investment in rural healthcare in American history, will be distributed over the next five years to help states improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1990", "Congresswoman Scanlon Announces Winner of 2025 Congressional App Challenge", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mary Gay Scanlon", "S001205", "scanlon.house.gov", "scanlon", "https://scanlon.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today announced the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is an opportunity for students in PA-05 to create and submit their original app for a chance to win the Challenge competing against students from all over the country. In order to participate in the competition: Students must be in middle or high school by the time the competition ends and must either live or go to school in the registered district they wish to compete in; and, apps can be coded on any platform, on any language, on any theme.\n\n\u201cThe annual Congressional App Challenge is a great program that engages our youth in STEM-related fields,\u201d said Rep. Scanlon. \u201cAt a time when science and technology fields are rapidly evolving, it\u2019s important that we invest in programs that help our youth develop skills for success in the future. I\u2019m pleased to celebrate all of our participants this year and congratulate this year\u2019s winner.\u201d\n\nA team of judges evaluated six submissions using a rubric to rate each of the apps along two general categories \u2014 Concept and Technology.\n\nThis year\u2019s first-place winner is Allison Tan from Lower Merion High School, who came up with OpiWarrior, an iOS app that helps people quickly find nearby pharmacies that stock buprenorphine, a life-saving medication for opioid use disorder. Runner up Christopher Armstrong from Strath Haven High School coded the app Coaster Dreams, a minimalistic, open-ended roller coaster design video game.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/bresnahan-applauds-193-million-pennsylvania-rural-healthcare-reaffirms", "Bresnahan Applauds $193 Million for Pennsylvania Rural Healthcare, Reaffirms Commitment to Securing More Funding", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "SCRANTON, PA: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) applauded the announcement that $193 million in federal dollars will be directed to Pennsylvania through the Rural Health Transformation Fund. Rep. Bresnahan strongly advocated for and worked to include the fund as a central component of the Working Families Tax Cuts package.\n\n\u201cThis $193 million investment is a major win for Pennsylvania\u2019s rural communities,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cFrom the start, I pushed to guarantee the Rural Health Transformation Fund was included, because I knew how critical these resources would be for our hospital providers and patients. This funding will make a real difference for families across the Commonwealth.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Rep. Bresnahan hosted Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in Scranton for a healthcare roundtable with hospital executives, providers, and community leaders from Northeastern Pennsylvania. During the visit, participants discussed workforce shortages access to care challenges and the financial pressures facing rural and community hospitals.\n\n\u201cWhen Administrator Oz came to Northeastern Pennsylvania, he heard directly from the people on the front lines of our healthcare system,\u201d continued Bresnahan. \u201cThose conversations helped reinforce why this fund must be prioritized, and why Pennsylvania deserves strong federal support.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Fund is intended to help states strengthen rural healthcare systems expand access to care support workforce recruitment and retention and invest in innovative delivery models. Pennsylvania\u2019s $193 million allocation will support state-driven strategies tailored to the needs of rural and underserved communities.\n\nRep. Bresnahan emphasized that while this funding represents an important step, his work is far from finished.\n\n\u201cI remain committed to continuing to fight for Pennsylvania, so we secure even more resources in the future,\u201d continued Bresnahan. \u201cOur rural communities deserve long-term solutions, and I will keep working to make sure Pennsylvania gets its fair share.\u201d\n\nAbout the Rural Health Transformation Fund\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Fund provides targeted federal resources to help states improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural communities by supporting infrastructure workforce development and innovative care delivery.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/pennsylvania-receives-nearly-200-million-rural-health-care-transformation", "Pennsylvania Receives Nearly $200 Million for Rural Health Care Transformation", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, welcomed today\u2019s announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that Pennsylvania will be receiving nearly $200 million in 2026 to support rural health care initiatives. The funding was made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts \u2014 the funding package passed by Congress this year. That legislation included $50 billion, spread over five years, to support rural health care.\n\n\u201cThis funding marks the beginning of an unprecedented investment in rural health care,\u201d said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars to support our state\u2019s rural health infrastructure, which will help to address longstanding challenges facing hospitals, medical staff, and patients throughout Pennsylvania. By investing in our health care workforce, embracing innovation, improving substance abuse treatment, and supporting providers, we can deliver better outcomes for people throughout our community.\u201d\n\nPennsylvania\u2019s proposal features a range of solutions aimed at improving collaboration, supporting innovation, and investing in the rural health workforce. The objectives of the proposal include:\n\n\u201cImprove key health outcomes, including prevention and treatment of chronic disease and use of the 988-suicide prevention line, substance use disorder treatment engagement and collaborative care arrangements for subspecialty care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIncreased adoption of paramedicine programs at EMS agencies.\u201d\n\n\u201cIncreased training and credentialing programs (e.g., EMTs, midwives, MDs, etc.) focused on rural workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201c10% reduction in workforce vacancy rate in rural hospitals.\u201d\n\nRead the press release from CMS HERE\n\nSee Pennsylvania\u2019s proposal HERE\n\nSee highlights from Pennsylvania\u2019s proposal HERE\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-issues-2025-year-review", "Thompson Issues 2025 Year in Review", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "BELLEFONTE, Pa. \u2013 U.S. Representative Glenn \"GT\" Thompson today issued a 2025 Year in Review, providing a snapshot of the work he focused on in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. during the year.\n\n\"This year was full of legislative victories: From ensuring more milk options in public schools to making certain our rural schools receive the funding they need, we continue to deliver for Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District,\" Rep. Thompson said. \"In addition to serving as a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I continued in my role as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, where I proudly advocate for all of rural America.\"\n\nTOP SPEAKER: Rep. Thompson was again named the No. 1 speaker in the House of Representatives, speaking 91 days on the House Floor and delivering 120 speeches.\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: Rep. Thompson helped ensure passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law in December 2025. Rep. Thompson also secured numerous provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut Act that became law in July 2025, including the largest investment in American agriculture in a generation as well as a provision authorizing Workforce Pell Grants. In addition, Rep. Thompson delivered more than $6.1 million in federal funding for nine community projects in PA-15, which became law through the appropriations package Congress passed to reopen the government this fall.\n\nPRESIDENT'S DESK: Rep. Thompson's Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 has passed both the House and Senate and will be signed into law by President Trump.\n\nHOUSE APPROVED: In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in July, the House approved Rep. Thompson'sDigital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (CLARITY Act) to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets like cryptocurrency. In September, with strong bipartisan support, the House passed Rep. Thompson's U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025, a testament to our shared commitment to fair markets and reliable standards for American farmers.\n\nThe report also includes information about community project funding, nominations of seven exceptional students from PA-15 to our nation's service academies, and various metrics for constituent services.\n\nClick here to review the full report.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-statement-following-silver-lake-nursing-home-explosion", "Fitzpatrick Statement Following Silver Lake Nursing Home Explosion", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "LANGHORNE, PA\u2014 Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) released the following statement in the wake of a devastating explosion at Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township, which claimed two lives, injured dozens, and prompted a heroic, multi-agency emergency response on Christmas Eve:\n\n\u201cOn this Christmas Eve, our hearts are heavy\u2014but they are also grateful.\n\nWe have received confirmation that everyone at Silver Lake Nursing Home has been accounted for\u2014an outcome made possible by the heroic first responders who ran into danger again and again, risking their own lives to save others.\n\nWe mourn the two lives lost, pray for the twenty who were injured, and hold close the families whose lives have been forever changed.\n\nThe incident occurred yesterday, shortly after 2:00 PM, when PECO crews responded to reports of a gas odor at the facility. While crews were on site, an explosion occurred, causing the first floor to collapse into the basement and trapping individuals inside. A second explosion followed approximately 30 seconds later. What happened will be thoroughly examined in the days ahead, and those facts will be made known. An investigation is already underway.\n\nBut what needs no explanation is this: when the moment demanded courage, our community delivered it. Firefighters, police officers, medics, nurses, and emergency personnel from across our region answered the call without hesitation, and because of them, lives were saved.\n\nSo tonight, as homes and churches across our region are lit for Christmas, we ask for prayers\u2014for those grieving, for those recovering, and for the brave men and women who stood watch when it mattered most.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nYesterday, Congressman Fitzpatrick was on site at Lower Bucks Hospital, where he addressed the media and received a comprehensive operational briefing following the explosion at Silver Lake Nursing Home. He reaffirmed that his office remains fully engaged and stands ready to secure any necessary federal assistance as the response continues.\n\nAfter the briefing, Congressman Fitzpatrick toured the on-scene command post alongside Governor Josh Shapiro and Mike Motte, CEO of Lower Bucks Hospital, where they met with and thanked the extraordinary nurses, medical professionals, and first responders who have worked tirelessly under dangerous conditions since the first call came in.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-mackenzie-urge-gov-shapiro-preserve-law-enforcement-communication-access", "Kelly, Mackenzie urge Gov. Shapiro to preserve law enforcement communication access", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) led members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation in urging Governor Josh Shapiro to preserve Pennsylvania\u2019s participation in the International Justice & Public Safety Network (formerly known as the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, or Nlets), a critical information-sharing system used by law enforcement agencies nationwide.\n\nJoining Reps. Kelly and Mackenzie on the letter are Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Congressman Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Congressman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (PA-15), Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10), Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), Congressman John Joyce (PA-13), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).\n\n\u201cNlets works to connect local law enforcement with federal agencies. As the federal government cracks down on illegal immigration and crime in cities nationwide, including right here in Pennsylvania, it\u2019s imperative that our local and federal agencies have the ability to work together quickly and efficiently,\u201d said Rep. Kelly.\n\n\u201cAny move to restrict law enforcement\u2019s access to vital information-sharing systems would endanger our communities,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cNlets is a proven tool that helps law enforcement apprehend dangerous criminals and keeps Pennsylvanians safe. Restricting access would empower criminal illegal aliens at the expense of Pennsylvania families.\u201d\n\n\"The International Justice & Public Safety Network has been an effective resource for law enforcement agencies at every level,\u201d said Congressman Thompson. \u201cSharing secure information helps law enforcement apprehend fugitives and supports efforts in missing persons cases. Any restrictions to these programs will hinder the efforts of law enforcement to keep Pennsylvania safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our Commonwealth and keep dangerous criminals off our streets. Efforts by far-left Democrats to shield criminal illegal aliens and restrict Pennsylvania\u2019s participation in Nlets undermine public safety,\u201d said Congressman Reschenthaler. \u201cI am proud to join my Pennsylvania Republican colleagues in urging Governor Shapiro to continue the Commonwealth\u2019s participation in this critical public safety program.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former law enforcement professional and FBI agent, I know that investigations succeed or fail in real time, based on timely and accurate information,\u201d said Congressman Fitzpatrick. \u201cNlets provides the data that officers depend on every day in the field. Limiting access would slow apprehensions, disrupt multi-agency investigations, and needlessly increase risk to officer safety and the public, without any public-safety benefits. This would be a step backward for law enforcement and a risk Pennsylvania should not take.\u201d\n\n\"The only constituency that Governor Shapiro cares about are illegal aliens bankrupting Pennsylvania Taxpayers by abusing our generous welfare system. Cutting off Pennsylvania from Nlets, a secure and effective public safety database that\u2019s over half a century old, proves once again that our governor is more concerned with protecting criminal aliens from Immigration and Customs Enforcement than he is in protecting Commonwealth Citizens from violent felons. Governor Shapiro should have our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies\u2019 backs - instead of stabbing them in the back,\" said Congressman Perry.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kelly-delivers-2025-christmas-message", "Rep. Kelly delivers 2025 Christmas message", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Ahead of the Christmas holiday, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) delivered his annual Christmas message to Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District.\n\nYou can watch his full message here or by clicking the image below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-hails-strong-q3-gdp-report", "Congressman Mackenzie Hails Strong Q3 GDP Report", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, hailed the news of strong economic growth in the third quarter. Wednesday\u2019s report from the Commerce Department showed that gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a rate of 4.3% in the third quarter. This is the fastest rate of growth in two years and well above economists\u2019 expectations of 3.2% growth.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s growth figures are the latest sign that investing in workers, families, and small businesses is the key to strong, sustainable growth,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cMore work remains, but after entering the year and finding an economic situation that was far weaker than initially thought, we are making progress towards building an economy that delivers for the American people. I\u2019ll keep working to unleash American energy; cut unnecessary red tape; and support workers, seniors, and small businesses.\u201d\n\nCongressman Mackenzie has helped to pass a range of pro-growth policies since beginning his term in January. This includes:\n\nTax relief for every American, including families, seniors, and workers.\n\n$750 increase to the standard deduction.\n\nRaised the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 (had been set to fall back to $1,000).\n\nEstablished a $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors \u2014 eliminating taxes on social security for 88% of seniors.\n\nAnd more.\n\nPreventing the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which would have resulted in a 22% tax increase for the average taxpayer.\n\nPermanently extending the 20% Small Business Deduction, benefiting over 30 million small businesses.\n\nPermanently allowing 100% immediate expensing for business investments, helping small businesses to grow and expand.\n\nRolling back the failed, one-size-fits-all energy policies of the Biden era and embracing an all-of-the-above policy.\n\nReining in red tape that strangles small businesses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/mackenzie-urges-governor-shapiro-preserve-nlets-access", "Mackenzie Urges Governor Shapiro to Preserve Nlets Access", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, is leading a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro alongside members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation. The letter raises concerns about efforts to restrict or end Pennsylvania\u2019s participation in the International Justice & Public Safety Network (Nlets).\n\nJoining Congressman Mackenzie on the letter are Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16), Congressman Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Congressman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (PA-15), Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10), Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), Congressman John Joyce (PA-13), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).\n\nNlets is a secure, state-managed law enforcement network connecting more than 45,000 agencies nationwide, allowing officers to quickly share critical public-safety information such as driver\u2019s license data, vehicle registrations, criminal histories, and warrants. In November, a group of Democrats urged Governor Shapiro to restrict Nlets information from being shared with certain federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE, HSI, and U.S. Border Patrol. Any attempt to limit federal access to Nlets would slow investigations, disrupt real-time coordination between agencies, and put additional strain on state and local law enforcement without improving public safety.\n\n\u201cAny move to restrict law enforcement\u2019s access to vital information-sharing systems would endanger our communities,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cNlets is a proven tool that helps law enforcement apprehend dangerous criminals and keeps Pennsylvanians safe. Restricting access would empower criminal illegal aliens at the expense of Pennsylvania families.\u201d\n\n\"The International Justice & Public Safety Network has been an effective resource for law enforcement agencies at every level,\u201d said Congressman Thompson. \u201cSharing secure information helps law enforcement apprehend fugitives and supports efforts in missing persons cases. Any restrictions to these programs will hinder the efforts of law enforcement to keep Pennsylvania safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cNlets works to connect local law enforcement with federal agencies. As the federal government cracks down on illegal immigration and crime in cities nationwide, including right here in Pennsylvania, it\u2019s imperative that our local and federal agencies have the ability to work together quickly and efficiently,\u201d said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA).\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our Commonwealth and keep dangerous criminals off our streets. Efforts by far-left Democrats to shield criminal illegal aliens and restrict Pennsylvania\u2019s participation in Nlets undermine public safety,\u201d said Congressman Reschenthaler. \u201cI am proud to join my Pennsylvania Republican colleagues in urging Governor Shapiro to continue the Commonwealth\u2019s participation in this critical public safety program.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former law enforcement professional and FBI agent, I know that investigations succeed or fail in real time, based on timely and accurate information,\u201d said Fitzpatrick. \u201cNlets provides the data that officers depend on every day in the field. Limiting access would slow apprehensions, disrupt multi-agency investigations, and needlessly increase risk to officer safety and the public, without any public-safety benefits. This would be a step backward for law enforcement and a risk Pennsylvania should not take.\u201d\n\n\"The only constituency that Governor Shapiro cares about are illegal aliens bankrupting Pennsylvania Taxpayers by abusing our generous welfare system. Cutting off Pennsylvania from Nlets, a secure and effective public safety database that\u2019s over half a century old, proves once again that our governor is more concerned with protecting criminal aliens from Immigration and Customs Enforcement than he is in protecting Commonwealth Citizens from violent felons. Governor Shapiro should have our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies\u2019 backs - instead of stabbing them in the back,\" said Congressman Perry.\n\nCongressman Mackenzie has consistently opposed policies that block cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement. Earlier this year, he condemned policies implemented by the Northampton County Executive that forced ICE to conduct arrests in public rather than in prison facilities.\n\nTo read the full text of the letter, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-announces-more-13-million-federal-funding-old-lycoming", "Thompson Announces More than $1.3 Million in Federal Funding for Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. \u2013 U.S. Representative Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson today announced $1,345,000 in federal funding for the Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company to enhance its facilities and help alleviate the shortage of first responders in Pennsylvania.\n\nThe funding will be used to repair and rehabilitate the Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company's existing building, including enhancements to accommodate full-time, live-in training facilities, which is expected to help with staffing shortages for first responders in Central Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth, like other states, continues to face a recruitment and retention shortage for volunteers. Fire company leaders hope this funding will help grow first responder ranks in Lycoming County.\n\n\"Our first responders are an essential part of our communities, and we must work to recruit and retain more,\" Rep. Thompson said. \"I was pleased to secure this funding so we can update the Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company's building and help make it a regional hub for training first responders. This is a great investment for expanding public safety in Lycoming County.\"\n\n\"The Old Lycoming Twp. Volunteer Fire Company greatly appreciates Congressman Glenn Thompson recognizing our critical need to provide lifesaving services by supporting our project with this significant funding provided in the USDA Rural Development Grant,\" said Donald Neidig, Grant Manager, Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company. \"The project will add to the station approximately 2,000 square feet and renovate 21,000 square feet. Our objective is to continue the all-important emergency services to these areas through enhancing and extending the role of the volunteer emergency service providers and the tax-saving role they play in provision of critical emergency services.\"\n\n\u201cI was honored to help Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company get a $1 million grant from the state in 2023,\u201d said PA State Rep. Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Union). \u201cThis additional Federal funding from Congressman Thompson will help the Fire Company complete the renovation of their fire station to incorporate their college student live-in program within the fire house, modify the fire station facilities to accommodate current operational needs, and enhance the facility for future recruitment and retention of essential volunteers. I want to thank Congressman Thompson for working with me to help the Fire Company get this project done.\u201d\n\nRep. Thompson secured the funding through Community Project Funding for Fiscal Year 2026, which was approved in the appropriations package the House passed to reopen the government this fall.\n\nThe Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company in recent years has secured local, state, and federal funding to complete this project.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-announces-more-260000-bucktail-medical-center", "Thompson Announces More than $260,000 for Bucktail Medical Center", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "RENOVO, Pa. \u2013 U.S. Representative Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson today announced $262,470 in federal funding for Bucktail Medical Center to modernize its infrastructure through radiology upgrades and new patient beds.\n\nThe funding will be used to improve equipment in the radiology room, both the wiring and the patient table, ensuring patients have state-of-the-art technology at Bucktail Medical Center. Ten patient beds will be replaced with new, modernized beds and mattresses.\n\nBucktail Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital serving surrounding rural communities in Clinton, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, and Potter counties.\n\n\"I was pleased to secure this funding for Bucktail to enhance the delivery of health care services to the community,\" Rep. Thompson said. \"I spent nearly 30 years working in rural health care before coming to Congress. I understand the benefit of increasing both patient safety and experience. I'm grateful for Bucktail and the care they provide to the surrounding communities.\"\n\n\u201cOur team at Bucktail Medical Center is very grateful that we have been chosen to receive this funding,\" said Bucktail Medical Center CEO Laura Murnyack. \"We will be able to improve the patient experience at our facility by making some key upgrades to our radiology equipment and inpatient rooms. Support of our rural healthcare facilities is vital to our rural communities to help ensure essential services and access to care are maintained.\"\n\nRep. Thompson secured the funding through Community Project Funding for Fiscal Year 2026, which was approved in the appropriations package the House passed to reopen the government this fall.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-times-tribune-bresnahans-bipartisan-plea-best-way-forward-health-care", "ICYMI: The Times-Tribune: Bresnahan\u2019s bipartisan plea best way forward on health care", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Yesterday, The Times-Tribune published an editorial recognizing U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) for his bipartisan leadership in pushing for action to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits that help keep health insurance affordable for thousands of families across Northeastern Pennsylvania.\n\nThe editorial highlighted Rep. Bresnahan\u2019s decision to join a bipartisan group of lawmakers in signing a discharge petition to force a House vote on extending the subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year.\n\n\u201cStill, it does give an issue that has long been a critical one for the American people a shot at a bipartisan fix that to this point seemed unlikely. For that, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp., deserves credit,\u201d wrote The Times-Tribune Editorial Board. \u201cBresnahan was one of the quartet of Republican legislators who went counter to the GOP\u2019s wishes and signed the Democrat-led discharge petition\u2026\u201d\n\n\u201cDoing nothing was not an option,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cFamilies in Northeastern Pennsylvania cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them. I urge my colleagues to put people first and work together on a bipartisan solution that keeps health care affordable.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is encouraging that Bresnahan backed up prior promises to protect health care for those in his district,\u201d continued The Times-Tribune Editorial Board. \u201cHopefully, bringing this to the floor of the House in January ultimately leads to the type of bipartisan discussion that can make health care affordable and available to those who need it. The only way to achieve that is to prioritize conversation over political motivations.\u201d\n\nRep. Bresnahan remains committed to working across the aisle to protect access to affordable health care and deliver results for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-deluzio-releases-end-year-report-highlighting-2025-accomplishments", "Congressman Deluzio Releases End of Year Report Highlighting 2025 Accomplishments, Priorities for 2026", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CARNEGIE, PA \u2013 Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released his 2025 End of Year Report, detailing many of his actions and accomplishments this year and overviewing his focus areas for 2026.\n\nSome of the highlights from the report include:\n\nHelped bring Marc Fogel home after more than three years of wrongful imprisonment in Russia\n\nSecured the most federal funding for district of any U.S. House Democrat in the Appropriations Committee-passed spending bills\n\nCongressman Deluzio's bill renaming the Sewickley Post Office in honor of local historian and author Bettie Cole unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives\n\nRep. Deluzio successfully fought back against the closure of Navy Reserve Centers in Moon Township and across the country\n\nPennsylvania\u2019s 17th Congressional District received $923 million in federal grantsand contracts in 2025\n\nSince taking office in 2023, Congressman Deluzio and his office have:\n\nReturned $10.3 million back to Western Pennsylvanians through things like helping get delayed tax refunds and earned benefits\n\nSeen more than $4.6 billion in federal funding come home to PA\u2019s 17th Congressional District\n\nClosed more than 3,200 constituent cases, helping people with problems with federal agencies\n\nIntroduced 40 bills\n\nCo-sponsored 854 bills\n\n\u201cDespite all the progress we\u2019ve made together, there\u2019s a lot of work left to do. With the skyrocketing costs of housing, utilities, health care, and groceries; corruption running rampant and rigging the system; and corporate monopolies putting the squeeze on small businesses and workers, the American Dream has been ripped away,\u201d wrote Congressman Deluzio in his report. \u201cToo many people who work hard and play by the rules are barely treading water, while huge corporations and the ultra-rich do better than ever. We\u2019ve got to take on corporate power and corruption and restore the American Dream.\u201d\n\nA copy of Congressman Deluzio\u2019s 2025 End of Year Report can be downloaded here.\n\nTo learn more about what he\u2019s been working on this year, check out recent announcements and press releases from Congressman Deluzio on his website.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-introduces-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-force", "Congressman Mackenzie introduces bipartisan, bicameral legislation to force Pharmacy Benefit Managers to act in employees\u2019 best interests", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressmen Ryan Mackenzie (R, PA-07) and Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04), alongside Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the bicameral PBM Fiduciary Accountability, Integrity, and Reform (FAIR) Act. This legislation would establish fiduciary responsibilities for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) \u2013 the middlemen of drug pricing \u2013 requiring them to act in the best interests of employees relying on employer-sponsored health plans, while keeping plan costs low.\n\nCurrently, PBMs that provide drug benefits for employer health plans often get away with price-gouging because they are not legally required to put employees\u2019 interests first. The PBM FAIR Act would ensure these middlemen are classified as fiduciaries under law, which will help curb hidden fees and practices that drive up what employees pay for their medications.\n\nPBMs are directly responsible for:\n\nMarking up generic drugs at prices hundreds of times higher than actual cost,\n\nLimiting patient choice, and\n\nDenying claims with no or misleading explanations.\n\nThis bill reins in bad PBM practices and helps ensure employer-sponsored health care plans are affordable and accessible to all families.\n\n\u201cPharmacy benefit managers play a major role in determining what patients pay for their prescriptions, yet they often operate with little accountability,\u201d said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. \u201cThe PBM FAIR Act brings transparency to the system by requiring PBMs to act as fiduciaries under ERISA, ensuring that patients come first. By holding middlemen accountable we can also deliver lower healthcare costs to policyholders.\"\n\n\u201cInstead of looking out for the best interests of employees, pharmacy benefit managers have been hitting them with prescription drug mark-ups, inconvenient pharmacy options, and wrongful denials,\u201d said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. \u201cThis legislation puts force of law behind the best interest standard. The PBMs either improve access and affordability, or they'll pay out in lawsuits.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, middlemen have used opaque pricing and misaligned incentives to line their own pockets at the expense of employers,\u201d said Senator Marshall. \u201cPBMs shouldn\u2019t profit by steering plans toward higher\u2011cost drugs or practices that drive up prices. This bill holds them accountable and ensures that every decision they make prioritizes the health and financial interests of the plans and people they serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cPharmacy benefit managers should be held accountable for their role in raising costs of prescription drugs,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation is critical to ensuring that PBMs are doing what\u2019s best for Americans who rely on lifesaving medication.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is supported by the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC).\n\n\u201cEmployers, workers, and families should be able to rely on those who provide services to employer-sponsored group health plans, such as pharmacy benefit managers, to adhere to the same fiduciary duties the employer is held to. That means working to save money for patients, and doing what is right for the plan\u2019s beneficiaries. Today\u2019s unregulated, \u201chonor system\u201d approach is not working. When PBMs are performing services on behalf of the employer, they are standing in the shoes of the plan sponsor and should be held accountable. ERIC applauds Representatives Auchincloss and Mackenzie, and Senators Marshall, Kaine, Grassley, and Hassan for leaving politics at the door and taking a bipartisan approach to clarify this important extension of current law,\u201d said James Gelfand, President and CEO, ERIC.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-summer-lee-announces-winner-of-the-2025-congressional-app-challenge-for-pa-12", "Rep. Summer Lee Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for PA-12", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Summer L. Lee", "L000602", "summerlee.house.gov", "summerlee", "https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 DECEMBER 22, 2025 \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) announced Upper St. Clair High School student Jeffery Zhang as the 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winner for Pennsylvania\u2019s 12th Congressional District for his innovative computational-chemistry application, Isomer Enumerator.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge, the largest student computer science competition in the nation, saw record-breaking participation this year:\n\n394 Members of the House hosted competitions \u2014 the most in program history.\n\n13,830 students participated nationwide, an increase of nearly 1,200 over last year.\n\n4,650 original applications were submitted \u2014 almost 800 more than the previous record.\n\nMore than 56% of all submissions integrated Artificial Intelligence, marking a transformative leap in student-driven innovation.\n\nStudents reported resoundingly positive impacts: 91% are now more likely to pursue STEM careers, 89% plan to keep coding, and 86% would recommend the program to a friend.\n\n\u201cJeffery\u2019s work is such a powerful reminder of the brilliance and creativity we have right here in Western Pennsylvania,\u201d said Congresswoman Lee. \u201cWhen our young people are given the support and opportunities they deserve, they show us new ways of thinking and they redefine what is possible. Jeffery took a complex scientific challenge and turned it into something extraordinary, something that can genuinely help researchers and scientists. That kind of curiosity, hard work, and imagination is exactly what gives me hope for the future. We are so proud of him here in PA-12, and we cannot wait to cheer him on as he represents us at the House of Code event next spring.\u201d\n\nAbout the Winning App: Isomer Enumerator by Jeffery Zhang\n\nZhang\u2019s web-based application, Isomer Enumerator, is designed for use in computational chemistry and cheminformatics, helping researchers and developers analyze molecular structures in the search for new materials and drugs.\n\nUsing Python and JavaScript, Zhang built a highly sophisticated backend from scratch\u2014designing original classes to model chemical bonds, electrons, and structural rules without relying on external packages. His app:\n\nGenerates and enumerates all possible linear, constitutional isomers of a given molecule.\n\nApplies chemically realistic constraints to exclude unstable or nonviable structures.\n\nProvides key chemical insights \u2014 including polarity, hybridization, and molecular geometry.\n\nImplements optimized combinatorial algorithms and graph-theory logic to reduce compute time from hours to seconds for many molecules.\n\nZhang shared that the project was inspired by a question raised in AP Chemistry: \u201cWhy is there no simple way to count molecular isomers?\u201d His exploration led him deep into combinatorics, graph theory, and chemistry \u2014 ultimately producing a tool capable of generating hundreds of chemically feasible structures in minutes.\n\nZhang completed the project independently at home and plans to continue developing the app, including creating a more advanced 3D visualization engine and exploring faster computations using C++ and parallel processing. He has also elected to pursue Congressional Certification through Hack Club.\n\nJeffery Zhang will be honored at #HouseOfCode in April 2026, where students will present their apps to lawmakers and leaders in technology and innovation on Capitol Hill.\n\nA video demonstration of the winning project is available AT THIS LINK.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/congress-passes-whole-milk-healthy-kids-act", "Congress Passes Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act", "2025-12-21", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) co-sponsored the bill that was led by fellow Pennsylvanian, Rep. G.T. Thompson (PA-15). It has since passed the Senate and awaits being signed into law by the President.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act provides schools with the flexibility to offer whole and 2% milk options, helping ensure children receive the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and succeed in the classroom and beyond.\n\n\u201cParents should have the freedom to choose what kind of milk their kids get at school,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cBut current federal programs do not allow kids to have whole or 2% milk at school lunch programs. I\u2019m proud that the Congress acted to fix this and give the full range of milk options to families in Pennsylvania and across the country.\"\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is supported by many groups including the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Milk Producers Federation, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the American Dairy Coalition.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-deluzio-goldman-introduce-legislation-lower-cost-stadium", "Congressmen Deluzio, Goldman Introduce Legislation to Lower Cost of Stadium Concessions", "2025-12-20", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congressmen Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a nationwide study of concession pricing practices at sports venues.\n\nDespite the significant public investment into sports venues, the cost of many concessions is too expensive for the typical American family. The average lowest price for a hot dog across MLB\u2019s 30 ballparks in 2024 was nearly $6. Hardworking families should be able to afford to take a break and see a game\u2014at venues supported by their tax dollars\u2014without massive price markups.\n\nHardworking families are already struggling to pay rising prices because of Donald Trump's reckless \u201ctrickle-down\u201d economic policies, and being charged inflated prices for concessions at publicly funded stadiums adds insult to injury. The HOTDOG Act would shine a much-needed light on exploitative pricing practices and allow the FTC, lawmakers, and, most importantly, hardworking families to gain more transparency into potential price gouging by venues and determine best practices for affordable pricing.\n\n\"One of life\u2019s great joys is a hot dog and a cold beer or pop watching the Black and Gold. But concessions at pro stadiums across the country have become a ripoff, with so many teams pricing out fans and families,\" said Congressman Deluzio. \"Congressman Goldman and I are introducing the HOTDOG Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to find ways to stop this price gouging. People should be able to go enjoy a game and grab a bite or a drink without breaking the bank.\"\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to ensure that hardworking families can afford to enjoy nights out at ball games - especially when their hard earned tax dollars are supporting big sporting projects across the state and country.\u201d Congressman Dan Goldman said, \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m leading legislation to push to ensure that we have a better understanding of how stadiums and sports organizations are pricing concessions. Federal dollars should be used for the benefit of the people, not just the benefit of the corporations or the owners.\u201d\n\nThe HOTDOG Act would direct the FTC to evaluate pricing practices at professional sports stadiums that were constructed or are operated with public subsidy funds. The FTC would examine the prices of comparable food and drinks inside and outside stadiums; pricing practices such as dynamic pricing, service fees, and promotions; transparency of concession prices to consumers, and other types of pricing policies. The bill requires the FTC to issue a report to Congress detailing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or industry action to improve affordability and transparency.\n\nhe HOTDOG Act is endorsed by Groundwork Collaborative, Sports Fan Coalition, and Public Citizen.\n\n\u201cAny American who's been to the ballpark or a concert recently knows that, too often, a stop by the snack counter can feel like a shakedown,\u201d said Alex Jacquez, Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative. \u201cWorking families are already struggling to pay rising prices thanks to Trump's reckless economic agenda, and being charged inflated prices for concessions at publicly-funded facilities adds insult to injury. Rep. Goldman\u2019s legislation would bring much-needed transparency to pricing practices at stadiums and other venues so Americans can enjoy their favorite pastimes without feeling ripped off.\"\n\n\"For too long, fans have been gouged at the concession stand in the same venues built with their own tax dollars,\u201d said Brian Hess, Executive Director, Sports Fans Coalition. \u201cThe HOTDOG Act will shine a much-needed light on exploitative pricing practices and help identify solutions that make attending games affordable for working families again. When taxpayers invest hundreds of millions into stadiums, they deserve transparency about why a hot dog costs three times what it does on the street outside. We applaud Representatives Goldman and Deluzio for taking this important first step toward holding venues accountable and making game day affordable for American families.\"\n\n\"Public Citizen is singularly focused on fighting for everyday Americans\u2014especially during an affordability crisis that is stretching family budgets to the breaking point,\u201d said Joshua Miller, Director of Congress Watch at Public Citizen. \u201cWhen taxpayers help finance stadiums and arenas, working families should not be priced out of attending games or gouged once they walk through the door. This bill is about fairness, transparency, and basic respect for the public.\"\n\nOriginal cosponsors of the bill include Reps. Troy Carter (LA-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Chuy Garc\u00eda (IL-04), and Robert Garcia (CA-42).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2025/12/dean-warren-democrats-urge-commerce-department-watchdog-to-investigate-lutnick-family-s-conflicts-of-interest-impact-on-ai-data-center-decisions", "Dean, Warren, Democrats Urge Commerce Department Watchdog to Investigate Lutnick Family\u2019s Conflicts of Interest, Impact on AI Data Center Decisions", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led Members of Congress in pressing U.S. Department of Commerce Acting Inspector General Duane Townsend to open an investigation into Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and his family\u2019s apparent conflicts of interest involving artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.\n\n\"Because the billionaire Lutnick family has significant financial investments in data centers\u2014and the electricity needs of those data centers drive up utility bills for families across the country\u2014there is a substantial public interest in ensuring that Secretary Lutnick is not violating federal ethics law to propel data centers that will be profitable for his family while making life more expensive for working Americans,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nFor decades, Secretary Lutnick owned and led the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald. After signing an ethics agreement requiring that he divest his stake in Cantor and months after his deadline for divesting, he transferred much of his stake to his adult sons. They now lead Cantor and have a controlling ownership stake in it, creating an extraordinary situation in which the office of the Commerce Secretary intersects significantly with the financial interests of the Secretary\u2019s own family.\n\nCantor is heavily invested in the AI data center industry, with \u201cunprecedented data center expansion\u201d reportedly helping fuel the company\u2019s most profitable year on record. Recent reports reveal that, as head of the Commerce Department, Secretary Lutnick helped boost AI data centers in ways that may enrich his own family. In addition to public appearances promoting projects \u2014 including at least one his family\u2019s company has worked on \u2014 Lutnick has also reportedly pressured foreign governments to invest in the U.S. data center industry, and money from those deals could flow to a Lutnick-linked firm.\n\n\u201cWhile the rapid growth of data centers is proving to be lucrative for the Lutnick family, it is also making it harder for American families to pay their monthly utility bills,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nData centers are pushing energy costs up to record highs across the country, pulling American households into paying the price. When utility companies spend billions on new electricity infrastructure to support data centers, they may charge more to local households connected to the grid to offset that cost. In some communities, bills have skyrocketed by more than 250 percent over just the past five years.\n\n\u201cIn short, we are concerned that Secretary Lutnick\u2019s official actions to boost AI data centers could be influenced by his conflicts of interest \u2014 and that these actions come at the expense of everyday Americans who are forced to bear the higher energy costs of the data centers that are inflating the Lutnick family\u2019s wealth,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe members urged the Acting Inspector General to carefully review the ethics concerns surrounding the Lutnick family, including whether or not Secretary Lutnick has violated his obligations as a public official.\n\nThe following members also signed on: Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.), Gilbert Ray Cisneros (D-Calif.), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.).\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-democratic-veterans-raise-alarm-after-internal-documents-reveal-trump", "Deluzio, Democratic Veterans Raise Alarm After Internal Documents Reveal Trump VA\u2019s Plan to Slash Healthcare Jobs", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Co-Chair of the Democratic Veterans Caucus and Iraq War veteran Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) was joined by his fellow Co-Chair and veteran Pat Ryan (NY-18) and other members of the Democratic Veterans Caucus to raise the alarm on the Trump Administration VA\u2019s efforts to cut around 35,000 healthcare jobs at the VA. This will hurt veterans\u2019 healthcare, likely drive up wait times, and force veterans into less accountable, more expensive, and worse healthcare with private providers who lack veterans\u2019 expertise. The Democratic members of Congress attending the event included Representatives Seth Moulton (MA-6), Mike Thompson (CA-4), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Bobby Scott (GA- and Eugene Vindman (VA-7).\n\nAt an event at the U.S. Capitol today, the group of Democratic veterans shared information from recently obtained internal VA documents that reveal the regional breakdown of job cuts at VA Medical Centers across the country. Congressman Deluzio also shared takeaways from internal Pittsburgh VA materials that specifically show that the VA serving his region in Western Pennsylvania plans to cut 481 jobs under the Trump Administration\u2019s plan.\n\n\u201cI believe in the sacred promise that those who sign up and serve our country will have a VA that is able to deliver on the promise of care that veterans earned,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cNow, internal documents are showing that the Trump Administration VA is cutting around 35,000 VA healthcare jobs across the country, and just under 500 jobs in VA Pittsburgh. This includes clinical healthcare roles like doctors and nurses and will of course hurt veterans\u2019 care. This effort to gut healthcare jobs and sell off the VA is a betrayal. The Democratic Veterans Caucus came together today to raise the alarm to urge Secretary Collins to back off from these dangerous job cuts. In Pennsylvania, people\u2014especially veterans\u2014are getting fired up about this dumb plan, and I\u2019m going to keep fighting to get my fellow veterans the care they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\nCongressman Deluzio is a fighter for his fellow veterans and a fully staffed and funded VA. He previously took on the Trump Administration VA for stalling cancer trials and hurting veterans\u2019 healthcare, and has written several opinion pieces in The Hill and Military.com on the Washington GOP\u2019s effort to sell off and privatize VA healthcare.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-statement-passage-hr-4776", "Deluzio Statement on Passage of H.R. 4776", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThis country needs permitting reform and we needed it yesterday. We need to step up and make the system work better to make sure we can reliably power the country and build it to be stronger and cleaner in the future.\n\n\u201cWhile I voted yes today in support of this labor-backed bill, I have concerns with the final version that passed the House today. I hope the Senate will act to fix the bill that threatens clean energy industries and the union jobs that they create. I have often said we need an all-of-the-above approach to energy to deliver cheaper and cleaner power, and the current version of this bill puts its thumb on the scale to favor non-renewables. I urge the Senate to strip the anti-energy competition language from the bill, and I hope that the Congress can pass a substantive, bipartisan permitting reform bill into law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/monopoly-busters-caucus-chairs-call-investigation-instacarts-personalized", "Monopoly Busters Caucus Chairs Call for an Investigation into Instacart\u2019s Personalized Price Gouging", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Monopoly Busters Caucus Chairs, Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Angie Craig (MN-02), released the following statement calling for an investigation into Instacart\u2019s reported use of AI-driven surveillance pricing to charge different customers different prices for the same items:\n\n\u201cWe are deeply alarmed by reports that Instacart is using AI to hike prices on unsuspecting customers based on their shopping habits. People shouldn\u2019t be charged higher prices than their neighbors for the same milk or eggs because their grocery app is profiling them. This is personalized price gouging, plain and simple.\n\n\u201cWhile hardworking Americans struggle to afford groceries, corporations like Instacart are inventing new ways to rip them off. Surveillance pricing is a blatant abuse of power by big tech \u2014 automating greed and making consumers pay the price.\n\n\u201cEnough is enough. With Instacart processing hundreds of millions of orders yearly, these practices warrant urgent action. The FTC and state regulators must immediately investigate Instacart and hold it accountable for ripping off its customers. And we need to ban personalized price gouging to ensure that everyone pays a fair price.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nInstacart\u2019s pricing tactics are detailed in a new report from Groundwork Collaborative and Consumer Reports, \"Same Cart, Different Price.\" The report describes how Instacart uses AI-driven \"price experiments\" to maximize margins by charging different customers different prices for identical items at the same store. According to the report, Instacart deploys software from its subsidiary Eversight to identify the highest price an individual is willing to pay. This results in observed price swings as high as 23% and a potential \"Instacart Tax\" of $1,200 per year for a typical family. The investigation found that 74% of items tested were subject to these secret experiments.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-effort-to-advance-new-peace-through-strength-sanctions-on-russia-toward-january-floor-action", "Fitzpatrick, Meeks, Bipartisan Colleagues Advance New \u2018Peace Through Strength\u2019 Sanctions on Russia Toward January Floor Action", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-5), led a broad bipartisan coalition of House Members to introduce the Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025, comprehensive legislation that translates ongoing negotiations into decisive congressional action and advances the bill toward House Floor consideration in January.\n\nCo-leads on the bill include Representatives Don Bacon (NE-2), Mike Turner (OH-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-3), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Bill Keating (MA-9), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), reflecting broad, bipartisan agreement that Congress must lead with resolve as diplomatic efforts continue.\n\n\u201cNegotiations do not relieve Congress of its responsibility to act,\u201d said Fitzpatrick. \u201cThat responsibility has been clear for some time, and waiting is no longer an option. Peace through strength is the discipline of negotiating from strength\u2014of standing with Ukraine, making unmistakably clear that Russia\u2019s campaign of aggression will not be normalized or rewarded, and affirming that America still enforces the rules that keep peace possible. This is not just about ending one war. It is about setting the rules for a world that is watching whether America still enforces them. We can end this war. We can end Putin\u2019s tyranny. And we must lead the American way\u2014through peace, through strength. I am grateful to be working hand in hand with Ranking Member Meeks to push any and all solutions forward to the House Floor, including the Ukraine Support Act. We can end this war. We can end Putin\u2019s tyranny. And we must lead the American way\u2014through peace, through strength.\u201d\n\n\u201cRussia won't negotiate an end to its war unless real pressure is applied on the Kremlin to stop its brutality. I'm proud to have worked with Rep. Fitzpatrick on a compromise Russia sanctions bill that would impose real costs on Russia and those fueling its war effort, while avoiding further harmful global tariffs. I thank Rep. Fitzpatrick for also signing my discharge petition for the Ukraine Support Act, helping work towards both measures reaching the House floor for a vote. There is strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the House, and this agreement makes clear that Russia cannot wait it out or continue its war of aggression without facing significant consequences,\u201d said Meeks.\n\n\u201cThe only viable path to peace in Ukraine is putting pressure on the Kremlin. It is beyond important that both sides of the aisle have come together on compromise legislation to impose strong sanctions on Russia for its illegal war of aggression as well as to take additional steps to move the bipartisan discharge petition for the Ukraine Support Act forward in the House,\u201d said HFAC Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Keating. \u201cAs Ukraine continues to defend itself from Russian aggression, the Ukrainian people must know that Ukraine has strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. The Kremlin must also know that we will not rest until a durable Ukraine-supported peace deal is achieved.\u201d\n\nWe must take firm action against the Russian Federation. This bill sends a clear message: any refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations for peace or any violation of agreements will not go unpunished. We stand with Ukraine and affirm our commitment to ensuring that they are protected from further aggression. It's time for diplomacy,\" said Turner.\n\n\u201cPutin\u2019s regime only responds to resolve and takes advantage of weakness and vacillation. During these failed negotiations, Russia has continued bombing Ukrainian cities with increasing intensity. We must play hardball by sending Ukraine the weapons it needs and imposing tough sanctions on Russia that cripple his war economy, an approach Americans overwhelmingly agree with,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to join Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in co-leading the bipartisan Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act to impose sanctions and other measures if Russia refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cRussia\u2019s unprovoked war against Ukraine is a direct assault on sovereignty, democracy, and the international rules-based order. The United States will not reward aggression or allow Vladimir Putin to stall, violate agreements, or prepare for another invasion without serious consequences. Peace will only come when Russia understands that continued violence carries real costs. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this legislation to strengthen sanctions, hold bad actors accountable, and stand firmly with the Ukrainian people,\u201d said Lawler.\n\n\u201cPeace through strength means standing up to dictators through actions, not just words,\" said Suozzi. \"The Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act does exactly that by cracking down on those responsible for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, increasing sanction pressure on Russia, and expanding sanctions to Russian partners in North Korea. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to say that the United States will not tolerate Putin's murderous war in Ukraine, and will defend our democratic allies across the world.\"\n\n\"Through force, Dictator Putin aspires to rewrite the structure of Europe and end democratic practice across the continent. America\u2019s foreign policy must promote Liberty, not bow to Tyranny,\" said Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. \"With this new bipartisan bill, we are putting forward the most significant legislation introduced this Congress to place economic sanctions on Russia for its war crimes against Ukraine.\"\n\nThe Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025 builds on Fitzpatrick\u2019s constant efforts since the beginning of the conflict in 2022 to advance designed to force meaningful negotiations, deter further aggression, and ensure any peace agreement is real, durable, and accepted by the free and independent Government of Ukraine.\n\nUnlike piecemeal sanctions, the legislation establishes a comprehensive structure that directly links Russia\u2019s economic isolation to its willingness to pursue\u2014and honor\u2014peace. It reflects overwhelming bipartisan support for empowering the United States to use strong economic pressure as a tool to help bring this war to an end.\n\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n\nMandate sanctions on senior Russian officials, oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, and entities supporting Russia\u2019s defense, energy, and transportation sectors\n\nSever Russia\u2019s access to the global financial system, including blocking transactions with Russian financial institutions, prohibiting U.S. investment in Russia, banning trading of Russian entities on U.S. securities exchanges, and targeting financial messaging systems used to evade sanctions\n\nClose loopholes fueling Russia\u2019s war economy, including ending refined oil import workarounds and prohibiting U.S. purchases of Russian sovereign debt\n\nTarget Russia\u2019s energy leverage, prohibiting new U.S. investment and sanctioning foreign actors who enable Russian oil, gas, LNG, and uranium production\n\nImpose sanctions for war crimes, including the kidnapping and wrongful deportation of Ukrainian children and Russia-North Korea cooperation supporting Russia\u2019s illegal war\n\nIncrease duties up to 500 percent on goods imported from the Russian Federation to further isolate Russia economically\n\nThe legislation also establishes a clear and enforceable off-ramp: sanctions may only be terminated if Russia signs a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and fully ceases hostilities\u2014subject to congressional review to prevent premature or politically motivated rollbacks.\n\nWith negotiations ongoing, Fitzpatrick and his bipartisan colleagues will continue building support with the goal of bringing the Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025 to the House Floor in January\u2014ensuring Congress does its part to match diplomacy with decisive action.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4866", "Bio-partisanship and Leadership at Launch of Congressional Biotechnology Caucus", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Hoover Institution (Stanford, CA, December 2025) \u2014 Hoover Science and Senior Fellow Drew Endy joined leaders from government, industry, charities, and academia in Washington, DC, for the public launch of the Congressional Biotechnology Caucus on December 2, 2025. Nearly 200 members of Congress, staffers, and biotechnology leaders convened for the event. The strong participation showcased growing bipartisan support for strengthening America\u2019s leadership in biotechnology.\n\nEstablished earlier this year, the caucus already includes roughly 40 members from both parties. The mission of the caucus is to equip policymakers and staff with the knowledge and networks needed to ensure the United States leads responsibly and effectively in biotechnology. The caucus\u2019s initial work includes advancing biosecurity, enabling innovation, growing the domestic bioeconomy, and expanding opportunities for biotechnology to solve problems at all scales.\n\nThe launch event, themed \u201cBiotechnology means <fill in the blank>,\u201d highlighted the expansive possibilities of biotechnology, not only in medicine but also in materials science, information technology, manufacturing, and more.\n\nEndy, who leads Hoover\u2019s Bio-Strategies and Leadership (BSL) initiative, spoke after Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX).\n\n\u201cWe think we know what biotechnology is but, when I reflect on biotechnology today, it feels like when I was a kid in the 1970s; we thought we knew what computers were back then,\u201d Endy said \u201cBiotechnology today is poised to become routine, pervasive, networked, and generative; more wondrous than most imagine.\u201d\n\n\u201cBiotechnology can also be scary,\u201d Endy added. \u201cThat\u2019s not bad news, rather an extraordinary opportunity. Fear\u2019s gift, if invited out into the open, is a chance to become courageous together.\u201d\n\n\u201cBiotechnology is also about freedom. Biotechnology gives us options for making the things we need when and where we need them. Biotechnology gives the American people options for having good lives.\u201d\n\nEndy also celebrated the bipartisan nature of the caucus, noting that all-hands support for advancing biotechnology responsibly should be known as \u201cbio-partisanship.\u201d\n\nOther speakers highlighted the critical importance of biotechnology education for lawmakers and their staffs. Among them, caucus cochair Houlahan noted that only a small fraction of members of Congress have STEM backgrounds and that many have not taken a science class since high school, making bio-literacy efforts by the caucus and groups like Hoover\u2019s BSL all the more essential.\n\nHoover\u2019s BSL serves as a founding member of the Biotech Caucus\u2019s Advisory Coalition, building on BSL\u2019s broader work to improve bio-literacy among decision makers and to advance the Hoover Technology Policy Accelerator\u2019s work more broadly. In recent months, BSL team members have met with senators, representatives, administration officials, and staff across Washington and beyond for briefings on biotechnology and biosecurity as well as discussions of emerging policy recommendations. BSL\u2019s public education mission continued on this most recent trip, with the team meeting several senior lawmakers from both parties and chambers.\n\nTogether, these and other BSL activities reflect the program\u2019s commitment to helping leaders recognize biology as a strategic domain and to act in ways that advance flourishing and democratic futures soon enough to matter.\n\nFor more information about BSL, visit victory.stanford.edu or email Sarah Moront (smoront@stanford.edu).", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4867", "Houlahan, Democratic Veterans Raise Alarm After Internal Documents Reveal Trump VA\u2019s Plan to Slash Healthcare Jobs", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) joined Co-Chair of the Democratic Veterans Caucus and Iraq War veteran Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17), his fellow Co-Chair and veteran Pat Ryan (NY-18) and other members of the Democratic Veterans Caucus to raise the alarm on the Trump Administration VA\u2019s efforts to cut around 35,000 healthcare jobs at the VA. This will hurt veterans\u2019 healthcare, likely drive up wait times, and force veterans into less accountable, more expensive, and worse healthcare with private providers who lack veterans\u2019 expertise. The Democratic members of Congress attending the event included Representatives Seth Moulton (MA-6), Mike Thompson, Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Bobby Scott (GA- and Eugene Vindman (VA-7).\n\nAt an event at the U.S. Capitol today, the group of Democratic veterans shared information from recently obtained internal VA documents that reveal the regional breakdown of job cuts at VA Medical Centers across the country. Congressman Deluzio also shared takeaways from internal Pittsburgh VA materials that specifically show that the VA serving his region in Western Pennsylvania plans to cut 481 jobs under the Trump Administration\u2019s plan.\n\n\u201cI believe in the sacred promise that those who sign up and serve our country will have a VA that is able to deliver on the promise of care that veterans earned,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cNow, internal documents are showing that the Trump Administration VA is cutting around 35,000 VA healthcare jobs across the country, and just under 500 jobs in VA Pittsburgh. This includes clinical healthcare roles like doctors and nurses and will of course hurt veterans\u2019 care. This effort to gut healthcare jobs and sell off the VA is a betrayal. The Democratic Veterans Caucus came together today to raise the alarm to urge Secretary Collins to back off from these dangerous job cuts. In Pennsylvania, people\u2014especially veterans\u2014are getting fired up about this dumb plan, and I\u2019m going to keep fighting to get my fellow veterans the care they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\nCongressman Deluzio is a fighter for his fellow veterans and a fully staffed and funded VA. He previously took on the Trump Administration VA for stalling cancer trials and hurting veterans\u2019 healthcare, and has written several opinion pieces in The Hill and Military.com on the Washington GOP\u2019s effort to sell off and privatize VA healthcare.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-introduces-bipartisan-holiday-bonus-tax-relief-act", "Congressman Mackenzie Introduces Bipartisan Holiday Bonus Tax Relief Act", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, introduced the Holiday Bonus Tax Relief Act of 2025 alongside Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23). This bipartisan legislation would make up to $2,500 in holiday or end-of-year bonuses completely tax-free for American workers by exempting them from federal income tax.\n\nThe bill aims to support working families during the holiday season by delivering targeted, inflation-adjusted tax relief. Specifically, it excludes up to $2,500 per employee of a qualified November, December, or January bonus from gross income, and includes strong safeguards to prevent misuse.\n\n\u201cThe holiday season can create financial strains for families, especially as so many work to recover from the price increases of recent years,\" said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cThe Holiday Bonus Tax Relief Act will help workers keep more of what they earn and reward the extra effort so many put in at the end of the year. It\u2019s a commonsense way to put more money back in people\u2019s pockets and reduce holiday stress.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf your employer gives you a holiday bonus, Washington, D.C., shouldn\u2019t take a cut,\u201d said Rep. Moskowitz. \u201cThis bipartisan, pro-worker, pro-family legislation makes sure workers can keep more of their year-end bonus when they need it most\u2014around the holidays. This is the anti-Grinch bill, and we should pass it immediately.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Holiday Bonus Tax Relief Act of 2025 include:\n\nExcludes up to $2,500 of a holiday or year-end bonus from federal income tax.\n\nApplies to bonuses paid in November, December, or January of the taxable year.\n\nIncludes anti-abuse protections and authorizes the Treasury to issue guidance to prevent wage reclassification.\n\nAdjusts for inflation after 2026.\n\nRequires reporting of holiday bonuses on employee W-2s for transparency.\n\nThe legislation would take effect for bonuses paid on or after November 1, 2025.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases/smucker-sanchez-lead-bipartisan-letter-expressing-concern-canadas-digital", "Smucker, S\u00e1nchez Lead Bipartisan Letter Expressing Concern with Canada\u2019s Digital Trade Barriers", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lloyd Smucker", "S001199", "smucker.house.gov", "smucker", "https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) and Linda S\u00e1nchez (CA-38) led a bipartisan letter from 27 of their colleagues from the Committee on Ways and Means, expressing grave concerns about Canada\u2019s digital trade barriers. The letter was addressed to Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Canada\u2019s Ambassador to the United States Kristen Hillman.\n\n\u201cWhile we are strong supporters of the bilateral relationship with Canada, discriminatory policies, like the Online Streaming Act, undermine the value of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA),\u201d the lawmakers write.\n\nCanada\u2019s Online Streaming Act \u201cis actively restricting access, disadvantaging U.S. companies and artists, and undermining the shared commitment to fair competition that is essential as our countries prepare for the USMCA review,\u201d the letter states.\n\nThe Online Streaming Act is a discriminatory tax that requires American streaming companies operating in Canada to contribute part of their revenues to funds that produce local Canadian content. Estimates show that this law could cost American companies up to $7 billion by 2030.\n\nRead the full letter. Full text below.\n\nDear Minister LeBlanc and Ambassador Hillman,\n\nWe write to share our deep concerns with Canada\u2019s Online Streaming Act (formerly Bill C-11)\n\nand the subsequent Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)\n\nimplementing decisions. We urge the Canadian Government to rescind this digital trade barrier\n\nimmediately, including by terminating the collection of fees. This is especially important as our\n\ntwo countries undertake the six-year review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement\n\n(USMCA). While we are strong supporters of the bilateral relationship with Canada,\n\ndiscriminatory policies, like the Online Streaming Act, undermine the value of the United States-\n\nMexico-Canada Agreement.\n\nAs you know, the Online Streaming Act requires foreign streaming services to contribute five\n\npercent of gross revenues to Canadian production funds as a condition of market access. A\n\nforthcoming CRTC decision may extend these obligations further, adding direct spending\n\nrequirements tied to what the Canadian government deems to be \u201cCanadian content.\u201d This\n\nconstitutes a clearly discriminatory and burdensome levy on cross-border trade that violates the\n\nspirit of the USMCA.\n\nThe USMCA was built upon principles of fair and cooperative trade, and decisions that impose\n\ndiscriminatory regulations on American platforms create a clear distortion in the digital\n\nmarketplace. Under this law, Canada is actively restricting access, disadvantaging U.S.\n\ncompanies and artists, and undermining the shared commitment to fair competition that is\n\nessential as our countries prepare for the USMCA review.\n\nAdditionally, streaming services are a vital part of the Canadian economy, but the\n\nimplementation of the Online Streaming Act threatens to chill foreign investment. In 2022,\n\nglobal studios and streaming platforms invested $7.58 billion1 in production in Canada, while\n\nmusic streaming specifically generated more than $422.7 million in recorded music revenue in\n\nCanada in 20242. Global studios increased their production levels in Canada by 285 percent\n\nbetween 2011 and 2021, with an average of 97 percent of cast, crew, and production personnel\n\nworking on those projects in Canada3. Heavy-handed regulations from the Canadian government\n\ncould jeopardize these foreign investments through the Online Streaming Act and CRTC\n\ndecisions.\n\nThis law not only endangers cross-border investment but also risks undermining confidence in\n\nCanada\u2019s commitment to a fair and open digital marketplace at the precise moment when our\n\ncountries should be working to strengthen cooperation ahead of the USMCA review. We\n\nrecognize the importance of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship and appreciate Canada\u2019s decision\n\nto rescind its Digital Services Tax Act. This was the right call, and it certainly improves\n\nopportunities for bilateral cooperation. However, the Online Streaming Act poses an equally\n\nsignificant threat to this relationship. As we begin our work to prepare for the USMCA review\n\nnext year, we urge you to rescind the Online Streaming Act to show a true willingness to end\n\ndiscrimination against American companies and artists.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/bresnahan-signs-discharge-petitions-extend-aca-premium-tax-credits", "Bresnahan Signs Discharge Petitions to Extend ACA Premium Tax Credits", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) signed Discharge Petition No. 10, offered by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). The petition would force legislation to the House Floor to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of this year. He was one of four Republicans to do so, signing with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).\n\n\u201cDespite our months-long call for action, leadership on both sides of the aisle failed to work together to advance any bipartisan compromise, leaving this as the only way to protect the 28,000 people in my district from higher costs,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cFamilies in NEPA cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them. Doing nothing was not an option, and although this is not a bill I ever intended to support, it is the only option remaining. I urge my colleagues to set politics aside, put people first, and come together around a bipartisan deal.\u201d\n\nLast week, Rep. Bresnahan signed two additional discharge petitions to force votes on similar legislation to extend the tax credits. Rep. Bresnahan was the fourth signer of Discharge Petition No. 12, offered by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and the 11th signer of Discharge Petition No. 13, offered by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05).\n\nRep. Bresnahan is a cosponsor of several pieces of legislation to extend the ACA premium tax credits, including:\n\nH.R. 5145, the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act\n\nH.R. 6501, the Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Act\n\nH.R. 6575, the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act\n\nA discharge petition is a seldom-used House procedure that allows a majority of members (218) regardless of party to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote. Find out more about the discharge petition process here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-statement-on-aca-negotiations", "Fitzpatrick Statement on ACA Negotiations", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cWe have worked for months to craft a two-party solution to address these expiring healthcare credits. We\u2019ve worked for months with both parties, in both chambers, and with the White House, all in good faith, to balance all equities and offer a responsible bridge that successfully threaded the needle.\n\nOur only request was a Floor vote on this compromise, so that the American People\u2019s voice could be heard on this issue. That request was rejected. Then, at the request of House leadership I, along with my colleagues, filed multiple amendments, and testified at length to those amendments. House leadership then decided to reject every single one of these amendments. As I\u2019ve stated many times before, the only policy that is worse than a clean three-year extension without any reforms, is a policy of complete expiration without any bridge. Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.\n\nI continue to believe any extension must be targeted, fiscally responsible, focused on lower- and middle-income families, include income limits, modernizes HSAs, and guards against fraud\u2014principles reflected in bipartisan work underway in the Senate.\n\nWhen the process breaks down, responsibility doesn\u2019t.\n\nOur job is to protect the people we serve, and I will not stand by while a preventable crisis unfolds.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4858", "Houlahan Leads Bipartisan \"IVF for Military Families Act\"", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 After IVF coverage for military families was stripped from the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act last week, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act to continue the fight to deliver this much-needed and deserved care for active duty service members and their dependents. This legislation mirrors text that was unanimously adopted on a bipartisan basis by the House Armed Services Committee and passed the House earlier this year.\n\nRep. Chrissy Houlahan said: \u201cMilitary families already sacrifice so much in service to our country, and they should not be forced to put their dreams of starting a family on hold because TRICARE fails to cover medically necessary fertility care. Servicemembers should never have to choose between serving their country and building a family. This bipartisan bill recognizes infertility as a real medical condition and ensures servicemembers and their families have access to fertility care without unnecessary barriers. Supporting military readiness means supporting the people who serve.\u201d\n\nRep. Sara Jacobs said: \u201cLike I said last week, the fight isn\u2019t over. Our military families shouldn\u2019t be denied IVF access just because of politics while bearing the physical and emotional costs of service. Civilian employers are increasingly providing IVF coverage to their employees, and it\u2019s even accessible to every Member of Congress and their staff, but the military is still lagging behind. This is creating an acute readiness and retention crisis because our military families are forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for IVF, forgo having children, or leave the military to get private coverage instead. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce the Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act to give our service members every opportunity to build their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince 2023, Congress has rightly focused on strengthening military recruitment and retention by increasing troop pay, improving housing, expanding health care, and investing in quality of life for servicemembers and their families. Now, Congress should expand access to IVF, as many civilian employers already do, to build on that progress and help ensure America maintains the most lethal fighting force the world has ever known,\u201d said Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01).\n\n\u201cMilitary families already sacrifice so much in service to our nation. Access to IVF and fertility care shouldn\u2019t depend on financial means. The Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act of 2026 is about fairness and keeping faith with the men and women who serve by ensuring TRICARE covers the fertility treatments they need to build their families,\u201d said Rep. Kiggans.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-votes-lower-health-care-premiums-all-americans-act", "Kelly votes for Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, legislation that will lower health care costs, expand health care access, and provide more affordable, quality care.\n\n\"The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will lower health care costs across the board,\" said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), a member of the Ways & Means Health Subcommittee. \u201cRepublicans are focused on real, sustainable solutions to drive down out-of-control health care prices \u2013 all while saving taxpayer money. Meanwhile, Democrats would add hundreds of billions of dollars to our national debt while avoiding the root causes of skyrocketing health care coverage. Republicans are working to lower the burdensome costs of health care for all Americans not only for the next year, but for years to come.\u201d\n\nThe Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act would save $35 billion in taxpayer money over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation.\n\nThe Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act does the following:\n\nLowers Premium Costs Through Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments\n\nLowers premium costs by 11 percent and reduces out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays.\n\nAppropriates cost-sharing reduction payments to stabilize the broken system and individual market.\n\nEvery House Republican voted in support of this same provision in the House-passed version of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. House Democrats voted against it, and Senate Democrats killed it.\n\nIn 2017, 196 House Democrats \u2013 many remain current members \u2013 signed a letter in support of exactly what this provision accomplishes.\n\nBrings PBM Transparency and Removes Hidden Costs of Prescription Drugs\n\nProvides employers and employees with the PBM transparency they deserve to help lower premium costs and improve access to prescription medications.\n\nRequires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide employers with clear, detailed reporting on prescription drug spending, including rebates, pricing, and formulary decisions.\n\nAllows Small Business Owners and Independent Workers to Form Association Health Plans\n\nExpands access to Association Health Plans (AHPs) by allowing small employers and self-employed workers to band together across industries to access to more options to purchase more affordable, higher quality plans.\n\nStrengthens bargaining power for small business owners and independent workers by giving them access to group rates, more provider networks, and alternatives to costly small-group or individual marketplace plans.\n\nRestores and codifies a 2018 executive order by President Trump\u2014rescinded by the Biden Administration\u2014that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would enroll 3.7 million Americans in Association Health Plans and extend coverage to 400,000 previously uninsured individuals.\n\nProvides More Choices for Employees to Customize Their Health Care Plans\n\nCodifies and strengthens a 2019 final rule by President Trump that allows employees to use tax-free money from their employer to purchase the health care plan of their own choice.\n\nCHOICE Arrangements (formerly ICHRAs) give workers more flexible options with transferable, tax-advantaged dollars to purchase the coverage that works best for them and pay premiums with pre-tax dollars.\n\nProtects Small Business from Costly Regulatory Overreach\n\nPrevents unnecessary, costly state regulatory overreach that conflicts with federal law (ERISA) and clarifies that reinsurance is not traditional health insurance.\n\nAllows stop-loss insurance to protect against big, unexpected claims and clarifies it is not traditional health insurance so small businesses can offer flexible, affordable plans to their employees.\n\nEnsures self-insurance remains an affordable and accessible option to small businesses so they can provide quality health care benefits to employees that might otherwise be out of reach for them to offer.\n\nIn addition to lowering premiums, The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act more broadly addresses rising health insurance costs and health care costs.\n\nSince 2000, the price of medical care, including services provided as well as insurance, drugs, and medical equipment, has increased by 121.3%. In contrast, prices for all consumer goods and services rose by 86.1% in the same period, according to a 2024 Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation report.\n\nThe Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) were a COVID-19 pandemic-era policy scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2025, according to legislation included in the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Joe Biden.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kelly-thanks-departing-chief-staff-announces-successor-0", "Rep. Kelly Thanks Departing Chief of Staff, Announces Successor", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced the departure of Kevin Dawson, who has served as Kelly's Chief of Staff since 2023 and previously spent five years as a Legislative Aide to Kelly, will depart Capitol Hill to begin a new role in the private sector. Quinn Ritchie, Kelly's current Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, will be promoted to Chief of Staff.\n\n\"Kevin Dawson has been an exceptional leader whose dedication and unwavering commitment to serving the people of Pennsylvania\u2019s 16th Congressional District have strengthened our entire operation. I am deeply grateful for his years of service and the professionalism he brought to every challenge. While we will miss him greatly, I couldn\u2019t be more excited for Kevin as he embarks on his next adventure,\" said Rep. Kelly. \"I am proud to announce Quinn Ritchie as our new Chief of Staff. Quinn brings proven leadership, strategic insight, and a strong understanding of the issues that matter most to our constituents. I have the utmost confidence in Quinn\u2019s ability to lead our team with integrity and drive, and I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together in the coming years.\u201d\n\nAbove: Kevin Dawson with Rep. Kelly.\n\nAbove: Quinn Ritchie with Rep. Kelly.\n\nIn addition to Dawson's seven years with Kelly, he also spent two years in the U.S. Senate on the Senate Budget Committee and in the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).\n\nRitchie first began his career on Capitol Hill as Kelly's staff assistant and legislative correspondent in Kelly's office in 2021. He also served Rep. Kelly as a professional staff member during Kelly's chairmanship of the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump in 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-signs-discharge-petition-health-insurance-tax-credit", "Congressman Mackenzie Signs Discharge Petition on Health Insurance Tax Credit Extension", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2014 Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, has signed a discharge petition on a three-year extension of enhanced premium tax credits. Extending the credits would help provide price relief for the millions of Americans who purchase insurance on healthcare marketplaces, like Pennsylvania\u2019s Pennie.\n\n\u201cI am committed to helping working families, seniors, and everybody who wants to see lower costs,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cMany in our community, especially small-business owners and the self-employed, are concerned about the cost of healthcare for the coming year. This is a serious issue with real-world consequences \u2014 we must find commonsense, bipartisan solutions to protect access to health insurance for families in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.\n\n\u201cMy position has been clear throughout this process \u2014 we need both short-term relief to bring down prices and longer-term reforms to make healthcare in America more affordable for everyone. In order to achieve these goals, I have opted for the only remaining option in the House \u2014 a three-year extension of the enhanced credits, because this will keep the conversation alive.\u201d\n\nCongressman Mackenzie has spent several months working alongside members on both sides of the aisle to achieve a bipartisan healthcare compromise. He previously discussed his work on this issue during a September town hall and recently joined efforts to pass two bipartisan plans. Congressman Mackenzie previously called on Democrats to join these bipartisan efforts.\n\n\u201cThis cannot be the end of discussion on healthcare reform,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cThe Affordable Care Act remains broken, and our healthcare system is in urgent need of reforms that improve transparency, expand choice, and reduce costs. It is deeply disappointing that Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders have refused to consider a bipartisan compromise that fulfills their stated objective of extending these tax credits, while enacting commonsense, longer-term reforms that reduce costs. Their partisan gamesmanship is what is standing in the way of real, bipartisan healthcare solutions. Supporting this discharge petition is currently the only way to keep discussions about bipartisan reforms alive.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1988", "Congresswoman Scanlon\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Support Firefighters with Service-Related Cancers Heads to the President\u2019s Desk", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mary Gay Scanlon", "S001205", "scanlon.house.gov", "scanlon", "https://scanlon.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today applauded the final passage of her bipartisan bill that will expand access to federal death and disability benefits for families of firefighters and other first responders who contract service-related cancers. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, which now heads to the President's desk for signature, will expand the Public Safety Officer\u2019s Benefits Program (PSOB) to cover specific cancers linked to firefighting and emergency response, and make the expansion retroactive, so that families can claim PSOB benefits for deceased loved ones.\n\nToday, cancer is the leading cause of death for America\u2019s firefighters. Currently, firefighters are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line of duty or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11-related illnesses. But this program does not cover service-related cancer deaths, despite a wealth of evidence linking first responder service to developing cancer.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and 10 other organizations representing first responders. The bill is co-led by Representatives Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Gabe Amo (RI-01). Its Senate counterpart is led by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MG) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).\n\n\u201cEvery day, firefighters and police officers face exposure to deadly carcinogens that take a devastating toll long after the flames are out,\u201d said Rep. Scanlon. \u201cI have had many conversations with the families of fallen firefighters who not only have to deal with the pain of losing a loved one, but who also face the struggle of supporting themselves financially when the primary breadwinner is gone. When first responders develop cancer because of their service, they and their families deserve our full support. That\u2019s why I spent the better part of this year working to advance my bill to close this benefits gap. In the end, we brought together 175 Democrats and Republicans over shared values: respect for service, care for grieving families, and the belief that our country must honor sacrifice not just in remembrance, but through tangible support. I am grateful to my colleagues who joined me in building bipartisan consensus for this bill, which required setting aside partisanship and focusing on our fundamental obligations to one another as a nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cI also want to extend a special thanks to the International Association of Fire Fighters for bringing the experiences of firefighters and their families to the forefront, ensuring that this work stayed grounded in real lives and real sacrifice,\" Rep. Scanlon continued. \u201cLastly, I\u2019m deeply grateful to the families, advocates, and colleagues whose voices and perseverance helped turn loss into lasting change.\u201d\n\nOn December 3, 2025, Scanlon and Gimenez led a bipartisan coalition of 36 lawmakers urging congressional leadership to ensure the inclusion of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 1269 / S. 237) in the final Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A week later, on December 10, it passed the House, teeing it up for the Senate to clear and send to the President\u2019s desk today.\n\n\u201cThe IAFF is thankful for the leadership demonstrated by Representatives Scanlon and Gimenez in leading the House\u2019s passage of the Honor Act. When enacted into law, the survivors of fallen fire fighters will receive the benefits that they have been denied for decades,\u201d said IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly.\n\nFind the full bill text here.\n\nMore about the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act:\n\nThe Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would expand the Public Safety Officer\u2019s Benefits Program (PSOB) to cover certain cancers and cancer-related deaths. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and educational benefits to first responders who are killed or injured in the line of duty and their survivors. Firefighters are frequently exposed to carcinogens during their service and are more likely to develop and die from cancer as a result. Currently, the PSOB program does not cover cancer-related disabilities or death. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would expand the PSOB program to cover specific cancers linked to firefighting and emergency response, and it would make this expansion retroactive so that families can claim PSOB benefits for deceased loved ones.\n\nThe Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program provides benefits to the survivors of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders who are killed as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. The program also provides disability benefits for first responders who become permanently or totally disabled. The Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance (PSOEA) program, a component of the PSOB program, provides higher-education assistance to the children and spouses of public safety officers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The PSOB and PSOEA programs are administered by the Department of Justice\u2019s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).\n\nComplete list of endorsing organizations: International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Narcotics Officers\u2019 Associations\u2019 Coalition (NNOAC), and National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).\n\n\u201cBeing a law enforcement officer is a dangerous job, and our members not only expose themselves to physical threats, but threats from hazardous environments as well. This bill finally recognizes the dangers that our officers place themselves in every day. The FOP is grateful to our allies in the House and Senate who supported our efforts,\u201d said Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.\n\n\u201cThe Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is pleased to see the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act become law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Occupational cancer\u2014a leading cause of firefighter deaths\u2014will now be recognized under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, helping to align federal policy with the realities of the job and ensure that firefighters and their families receive the support they need,\u201d said CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb. \u201cCFSI thanks Senators Klobuchar and Cramer, Representatives Scanlon and Gimenez, and all members of Congress who helped to pass this legislation. This marks a critical step forward in addressing the occupational cancer risks faced by our nation\u2019s firefighters.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe IAFC is grateful to see the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act included in the NDAA and on its way to being signed into law,\u201d said Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. \u201cThis long overdue reform ensures that the families of fire, law enforcement, and EMS personnel who die or become disabled from occupational cancer receive the federal benefits they deserve. By including occupational cancers in the Public Safety Officers\u2019 Benefits program, Congress is honoring the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes and standing firmly with the families they leave behind. We commend the bipartisan champions, including Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon and Carlos A. Gimenez, the bill\u2019s House sponsors, and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Kevin Cramer, the bill\u2019s Senate sponsors, who advanced this critical measure and thank lawmakers in both chambers for their commitment to our nation\u2019s fire and EMS personnel,\u201d said Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, I applaud the House for passing this important bipartisan legislation. I especially would like to thank Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon and Congressman Carlos Gimenez for leading this effort,\u201d said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. \u201cFirefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep their communities safe. By recognizing fire service\u2013related cancers under the PSOB program, we ensure that those who risk their health for others receive the support they and their families deserve. I especially want to thank our brave Fire Hero Families who tirelessly advocated for the passage of this vital legislation. Their dedication, passion, and tenacity are why this bill will soon become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cI applaud the leadership of Representatives Scanlon and Gimenez along with Senators Klobuchar and Cramer in getting the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act signed into law. This vital legislation will do a great deal to help the families of first responders who are too often left struggling after their loved ones are killed or permanently disabled after battles with occupation related cancer,\u201d said Steve Hirsch, Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s law enforcement and public safety officers put their lives at risk each day. This certainly includes officers pulling families from polluted flood waters or rescuing children from house fires or responding to chemical spills. These acts of heroism often have long-term consequences for the officers, including exposure-related cancers. The passage of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act recognizes these cancers as line-of-duty injuries under the Public Safety Officers\u2019 Benefits Program and ensures that these officers and their families are protected. We thank Representatives Scanlon and Gimenez for championing this important issue and working with us in support of our nation\u2019s officers,\u201d said Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our law enforcement officers across the nation, I want to commend Representative Scanlon for securing the inclusion of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act in the NDAA,\u201d said National President Mathew Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). \u201cIts passage is a vital step in ensuring law enforcement officers who develop cancer due to their service receive the support and benefits they deserve. We are grateful for Representative Scanlon\u2019s leadership and proud to stand with her in advancing this essential protection for our nation\u2019s officers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe passage of the \u2018Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act\u2019 is a tremendous victory for the families of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel who succumb to job-related cancers,\u201d said President Vincent Vallelong of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association. \u201cThe 9/11 health crisis has made us well aware of the serious health risks that our members face from exposures to known carcinogens. The SBA is grateful for the leadership of Rep. Scanlon, and proud of our collaborative, bipartisan effort to ensure the inclusion of this important legislation in the final National Defense Authorization Act.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases/smucker-supports-lower-health-care-premiums-all-americans-act", "Smucker Supports Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lloyd Smucker", "S001199", "smucker.house.gov", "smucker", "https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) voted in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (H.R. 6703) and released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Democrats made empty promises to the American people a decade and a half ago. Their poorly named \u201cAffordable\u201d Care Act has been anything but affordable for my constituents who purchase their health coverage from the marketplace. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Act will do exactly what it says\u2014reduce premiums for all Americans, not just those on the Obamacare marketplace, and give them more options when choosing their health care,\u201dsaid Rep. Smucker.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Congressional Budget Office reports the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will \u201creduce gross benchmark premiums by 11 percent.\u201d\n\nThe Lower Health Care Premiums for All Act, courtesy of Speaker Mike Johnson:\n\nLowers Premiums for all Americans\n\nPharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency: Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing, and formulary decisions\u2014empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.\n\nAppropriates Cost Sharing Reduction Payments: Provides necessary funding for CSR payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums, and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed towards low-income enrollees that need them.\n\nImproves Health Care Options for America\u2019s Workers", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fetterman-mccormick-joint-statement-on-passage-of-whole-milk-for-healthy-kids-act-now-heads-to-presidents-desk/", "Fetterman, McCormick Joint Statement on Passage of Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, Now Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "PA", "John Fetterman", "F000479", "www.fetterman.senate.gov", "fetterman", "https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/press-release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After clearing the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, legislation to allow schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve whole and reduced fat milk. The bill passed on Monday and now heads to the president\u2019s desk. Pennsylvania\u2019s U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) released the following joint statement:\n\n\u201cWhole milk IS BACK in America\u2019s schools.\n\n\u201cThis is a commonsense bill that benefits everyone. PA farmers supply the country with some of the best milk year-round, and instead of limiting choices in our schools, this will expand the nutritious and healthy options for our kids.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/bresnahan-signs-discharge-petition-ban-congressional-stock-trading", "Bresnahan Signs Discharge Petition to Ban Congressional Stock Trading", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) announced he signed Discharge Petition No. 11 to provide for the consideration of H.R. 1908, the End Congressional Stock Trading Act. Rep. Bresnahan signed the petition on December 10, 2025, and was the 37th Member to do so. The petition currently has 67 signatures.\n\n\u201cThis will give Members and Americans alike the framework needed to offer transparency and accountability in Congress,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan.\n\nYou can read more about the legislation included in the discharge petition here.\n\nA discharge petition is a seldom-used House procedure that allows a majority of members (218) regardless of party to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote. Find out more about the discharge petition process here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-rulli-introduce-bipartisan-bill-protect-ssi-benefits-disaster-victims", "Deluzio, Rulli Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect SSI Benefits for Disaster Victims", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressmen Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Mike Rulli (OH06) introduced the Protecting Supplemental Security Income for Disaster Victims Act, legislation to ensure that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients do not lose or have their benefits reduced when they receive settlement payments after a tragedy.\n\nThe February 3, 2023, derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals led to a controlled burn that sent toxic fumes into the air, leaving families terrified and communities deeply shaken. In the chaotic aftermath, many residents were forced to pay out of pocket for emergency housing, medical care, and other immediate needs. Months passed as millions of dollars were spent on cleanup efforts and tons of contaminated soil were removed before a monetary settlement was finally reached to begin making residents whole for the harm they suffered through no fault of their own.\n\nThis past summer, constituents began reaching out about the unintended consequences facing Supplemental Security Income recipients who accepted those settlement payments. SSI serves older, blind, and disabled individuals living on fixed incomes with very limited resources, and for some, receiving settlement funds triggered a reduction or complete loss of their benefits. No disaster victim should be forced to choose between seeking justice and keeping their only source of income. The Protecting Supplemental Security Income for Disaster Victims Act addresses this injustice by taking actions such as exempting settlement funds from being counted as income or resources for SSI eligibility\n\n\u201cAfter a disaster or health emergency, people sometimes receive settlement payments\u2014that's what happened to a lot of folks who live close to the Norfolk Southern train derailment site in East Palestine,\u201d said Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17). \u201cPeople dealing with the fallout of a disaster like this should not see their Social Security earned benefits lowered because they unexpectedly got money in a settlement. I\u2019m proud to introduce the bipartisan Protecting Supplemental Security Income for Disaster Victims Act with my Ohio colleague Congressman Rulli to fix this.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhether the settlement comes from a train derailment, a personal injury, or another disaster, our most vulnerable citizens should not be forced to choose between necessary compensation and their fixed income,\u201d said Congressman Mike Rulli (OH-06). \u201cNo one should see their SSI benefits reduced, clawed back, or eliminated simply because they accepted funds intended to help them recover.\u201d\n\nThe Protecting Supplemental Security Income for Disaster Victims Act ensures that settlement payments are exempt from being counted as income or resources when determining SSI eligibility and benefit amounts. The bill is aligned with IRS guidance on the treatment of settlement funds for tax purposes and covers both the East Palestine settlement and any future settlements received for personal injury, physical sickness, or damage or depreciation of property.\n\nThis legislation will help safeguard stability and dignity for SSI recipients during the aftermath of disasters and emergencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4859", "Rep. Houlahan Introduces Legislation to Protect American Biotech Innovation from Communist China", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) introduced legislation to protect American proprietary research from Communist China. The Biological IP Protection Act will ensure that cutting edge American intellectual property is not given to our foreign adversaries. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nRep. Houlahan said, \u201cAs Co-Chair of the bipartisan BIOTech Caucus and a former entrepreneur, I know how valuable intellectual property is and why it must be protected. Many companies, including in Southeastern Pennsylvania\u2019s vibrant life sciences community, either don\u2019t realize or don\u2019t fully understand the risks posed by sending synthetic DNA and RNA sequences to Chinese labs, even though we can safely do this work at home. Safeguarding this information through strong IP protections is essential to maintaining American\u2019s leadership and competitiveness in biotechnology. I\u2019m proud to partner with Rep. Davidson on the Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act, which will keep America\u2019s cutting-edge biotechnology in the hands of U.S. researchers, patients, and businesses \u2013 not with foreign adversaries that may seek to do us harm.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s biotechnology industry drives innovation, fuels economic growth, and underpins our national security. Yet foreign adversaries that violate trade rules and steal U.S. intellectual property increasingly seek dominance over critical biotech supply chains. We lose billions in IP every year because we haven\u2019t taken the steps necessary to de-risk this sector. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Houlahan and Senators Cotton and Hassan in introducing the Biotechnology Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025,\u201d said Rep. Davidson.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s essential that we protect cutting edge American proprietary research from our chief foreign adversaries. Our bill will ensure that Communist China doesn\u2019t have access to the intellectual property that drives American biotech innovation,\u201d said Senator Cotton.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-honors-butler-native-2025-college-football-hall-fame-inductee-terry", "Kelly honors Butler native, 2025 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Terry Hanratty on U.S. House floor", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) recognized Butler, Pa. native and former University of Notre Dame Quarterback Terry Hanratty during a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Hanratty was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Las Vegas earlier this month.\n\n\"I\u2019ve known Terry for years. We played high school football together in Butler, and we later played football at Notre Dame together. Terry set the standard for college quarterbacks in the 1960s and quickly cemented his legacy as one of Notre Dame\u2019s all-time greats. Most importantly, I\u2019m proud to call him a friend. I want to congratulate Terry Hanratty for his induction in the College Football Hall of Fame, an honor that was long overdue and very much deserved,\" said Rep. Kelly. \"Terry has spent his entire life helping other people. More than being a tremendous athlete, I think it's more important to note he is a tremendous person. Young people have to have somebody to look up to. Terry Hanratty is one of those people.\"\n\nYou can WATCH and DOWNLOAD Rep. Kelly's full floor speech using the YouTube link here.\n\nRep. Kelly also recognized former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and World Series champion Vernon Law, who Kelly joined during Mr. Law's induction into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in August.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nTerry Hanratty set the standard as a precision quarterback in the 1960s, helping usher in an era of high-powered passing under Hall of Fame Coach Ara Parseghian and cementing his legacy as one of Notre Dame's all-time greats. The Butler, Pennsylvania, native now becomes the 50th Fighting Irish player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.\n\nA consensus First Team All-American in 1968, Hanratty led Notre Dame to a 24-4-2 record during his three years under center in South Bend, including a share of the national title in 1966. The Irish finished the 1966 season 9-0-1, tying Michigan State in the \"Game of the Century\" with Hanratty sidelined with an injury.\n\nThe Irish won 83.3 percent of their games with Hanratty as the starting signal caller, and the Irish boasted a final ranking of No. 5 or better during all three years of his tenure. Hanratty finished third in the Heisman voting in 1968, ninth in 1967, and sixth in 1966.\n\nHanratty was later drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, where he played seven years with the Steelers and one year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-votes-favor-whole-milk-healthy-kids-act-2025", "Kelly Votes in Favor of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-16), an original co-sponsor of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, applauded the House of Representatives\u2019 overwhelming passage of the bipartisan legislation this week. The bill restores flexibility for schools to offer whole and 2% milk options, ensuring children have access to the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and succeed in the classroom.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025,led by U.S. Representative Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, allows schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole and 2% milk as part of federally supported school meal programs.\n\n\u201cI have worked for a decade to restore whole milk to our school cafeterias, which have been limiting healthy choices for students, but that changes today,\u201d said Rep. Thompson. \u201cWhole milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, and students should have the option to choose the milk they love.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood nutrition is the foundation for a child\u2019s health, learning, and long-term success,\u201d said Rep. Kelly. \u201cFor years, misguided federal policies limited healthy choices in school cafeterias and pushed students toward less nutritious alternatives. I was proud to co-sponsor the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to give schools and families more flexibility and help ensure kids have access to the nutrients they need to stay healthy and focused in the classroom.\u201d\n\nThe legislation also earned bipartisan support from lawmakers and broad backing from health professionals, educators, farmers, and dairy organizations who emphasized the importance of providing nutritious, appealing options that encourage students to participate in school meal programs.\n\nFollowing House passage, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/mackenzie-vice-president-vance-highlight-economic-progress-working-families", "Mackenzie, Vice President Vance Highlight Economic Progress for Working Families in the Lehigh Valley", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Alburtis, PA \u2014 Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, joined Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer today at Uline in Alburtis to highlight economic progress delivered by Congress and the Trump-Vance Administration for working families, seniors, and small businesses.\n\nDuring the event, Congressman Mackenzie emphasized that improving affordability has been his top priority since taking office and pointed to recent progress in lowering costs, cutting taxes, and strengthening the economy.\n\n\u201cYou sent us to Washington to do the hard things, fix the damage, and deliver for the working people of America,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cWe aren\u2019t going to quit until the job is done, and we\u2019re going to get it done because we have a president, a vice president, and a Congress that is putting America first and the American people first.\u201d\n\nVice President Vance highlighted job creation, wage growth, and new private-sector investment in Pennsylvania, pointing to Uline, a major employer in the region, as an example of renewed domestic investment and economic momentum. He also praised Congressman Mackenzie\u2019s leadership and work on behalf of the district:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got our great Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. Ryan is doing a good job in Washington. He\u2019s got a great heart for the people of this district,\u201d said Vice President JD Vance. \u201cSometimes people go to Washington and forget who they serve, not Ryan Mackenzie. You are very lucky in Pennsylvania to have one of the good ones, and Ryan is helping us every single day fight for American workers.\u201d\n\nCongressman Mackenzie also highlighted the Administration\u2019s work to secure the border, restore American leadership abroad, and expand domestic energy production, priorities he said are directly tied to easing pressure on household budgets.\n\n\u201cThis administration has brought illegal border crossings to the lowest level on record, and we in Congress backed them up with funding to do that,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cUnder this administration, we\u2019ve done what America does best: lead.\u201d\n\nThe event also included remarks from Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who highlighted the Administration\u2019s pro-worker agenda and praised Congressman Mackenzie\u2019s efforts to support job growth and higher wages across the region.\n\nCongressman Mackenzie concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continue working with Vice President Vance and the Administration to build an economy that delivers lower prices, higher wages, and greater opportunity for families across the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.\n\nFollowing the event, Congressman Mackenzie joined Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance at the Allentown Rescue Mission in Allentown, where they served lunch to guests at the shelter. The Mission rescues, rehabilitates, and restores men in crisis across the Lehigh Valley. Founded more than a century ago, it is one of the oldest organizations in the region dedicated to addressing homelessness.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404465", "Congressman Scott Perry Co-Sponsors the Data Rights for Information and Vehicle Electronics in Real-time Act", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", "perry", "https://perry.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) and Congressman Randy Weber (TX-29) co-sponsored Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger\u2019s (TN-01) Data Rights for Information and Vehicle Electronics in Real-time (DRIVER) Act to codify vehicle data ownership rights.\n\nThe digitization of vehicles and subsequent extensive production of vehicle data, necessitates swift action from Congress. Previously, all essential vehicle information \u2013 i.e., mileage, diagnostics, fuel levels, location data, etc. - belonged to the vehicle owner. The DRIVER Act ensures the privacy of this data, bucking the trend of auto manufacturers to effectively erode property and privacy rights.\n\n\"Auto manufacturers are secretly tracking where, when, and how you drive - and it\u2019s an obvious threat to your Constitutional right to privacy,\u201d said Congressman Perry. \u201cOur DRIVER Act restores your property rights, ownership of your data, and revokes self-awarded, all-access pass to private property. When you buy a car, it's yours - to include your vehicle-generated data. The DRIVER Act is a win for common sense and drivers across America.\"\n\n\u201cIf you buy the car, you should own the data. It\u2019s that simple,\u201d said Congresswoman Harshbarger. \u201cAutomakers have quietly taken control of information that rightfully belongs to consumers. The DRIVER Act restores those property rights, strengthens privacy protections, and ensures no foreign adversary can access Americans\u2019 sensitive vehicle data. This bill puts Americans back in the driver\u2019s seat and protects our data and national security in the digital age.\u201d\n\n\"In a day and age where data collection is the new gold rush, Americans shouldn\u2019t lose control over their own personal information just by turning the key in their car,\u201d said Congressman Weber. \"Drivers deserve clear ownership of the data their vehicles generate and the peace of mind that it isn\u2019t being misused or sent overseas. I\u2019m proud to work with Congresswoman Harshbarger on the DRIVER Act to implement these common-sense protections, safeguard privacy, and ensure vehicle data stays in the driver's hands.\u201d\n\nThe American Vehicle Owners Alliance also endorses this legislation.\n\n\"For too long, automakers have held the keys not just to our vehicles, but also to the data we generate by driving them. This bill is a critical step to restore trust and ensure that American drivers\u2014not just manufacturers\u2014access and control the information generated by their own vehicles. When you buy a car, you should own both the machine and the data it produces. For individual drivers, this means stronger privacy and property rights. For fleet owners and operators, it means fair access to their data, which they need to maintain vehicles, manage safety, and keep their businesses competitive. AVOA urges Congress to pass the DRIVER Act to protect consumers\u2019 property rights, foster competition, and prevent unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on owners\u2019 access to their data.\" \u2013 Richard Ward, Executive Director of AVOA", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-summer-lee-sen-warren-lawmakers-push-fcc-doj-to-potentially-block-nexstar-acquisition-of-tegna-creating-media-giant-reaching-80-of-us-tv-households", "Rep. Summer Lee, Sen. Warren, Lawmakers Push FCC, DOJ to Potentially Block Nexstar Acquisition of Tegna, Creating Media Giant Reaching 80% of US TV Households", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Summer L. Lee", "L000602", "summerlee.house.gov", "summerlee", "https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Text of Letter (PDF)\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 December 16, 2025 \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), along with Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr and Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Department of Justice (DOJ), urging them to closely scrutinize Nexstar Media Group, Inc.\u2019s (\u201cNexstar\u201d) proposed acquisition of Tegna Inc. (\u201cTegna\u201d) and to block this deal if they determine that it violates federal telecommunications or antitrust laws.\n\nThe letter comes amid heightened attention to concerns about media consolidation, with lawmakers already sounding the alarm about large-scale media mergers, including the potential sale of Warner Bros. to Netflix or Paramount Skydance.\n\n\u201cRegulatory approval of the conglomerate would likely raise prices for consumers, accelerate job losses, and weaken the independence and news coverage of local TV stations,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nIn August, Nexstar announced its intention to purchase competitor Tegna in a $6.2 billion deal. Nexstar is the largest owner of local broadcast television stations in the United States, controlling 201 stations and serving more than a third of local TV households nationally. Tegna owns 64 TV stations in 51 markets. A merger between Nexstar and Tegna would create a media giant reaching 80% of U.S. TV households. Currently, federal communications law prohibits an entity from owning any number of TV stations that reach more than 39% of all U.S. TV households. If this deal is allowed, the new merged company would surpass that threshold.\n\n\u201cThe company\u2019s proposed acquisition of Tegna is presumptively illegal because it would allow Nexstar to exceed national caps on station ownership, creating a media giant that would far outstrip its competitors,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201dThe FCC should abandon its attempt to circumvent Congress to change broadcast ownership rules, and should refrain from issuing a waiver to give Nexstar and Tegna permission to disregard the cap.\u201d\n\nAs a TV market industry expert explains, \u201cownership rules were designed to ensure local voices and limit concentration. Broadcasters were expected to serve their communities because the airwaves are publicly owned.\u201d\n\nAlready, the circumstances around regulatory approvals, potentially including this deal, have been politicized. One month after Nexstar announced its intention to acquire Tegna, FCC Chairman Carr said, with regard to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, that media companies \u201ccan find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.\u201d He added, \u201c[w]e can do this the easy way or the hard way.\u201d Hours later, Nexstar preempted the distribution of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and only returned the show to the airwaves after public pressure.\n\nFor this reason, the lawmakers are pushing for a government process that clearly and transparently enforces laws that protect consumers, free from political influence or backroom deals. Notably, the public is feeling the stakes of media mergers more acutely as this is happening at the same time as the Warner Bros. bidding war, which has garnered a tremendous amount of attention.\n\n\u201cThe industry\u2019s attempt to boost profits for executives through consolidation ultimately comes at the expense of viewers across the country and independent, local TV journalism,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cWe urge the FCC to carefully review the deal, including by holding public hearings, and block it if Nexstar cannot affirmatively prove that the deal will benefit the public, not just its shareholders.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-boyle-leads-effort-restore-funding-and-advance-path-forward", "ICYMI: Boyle Leads Effort to Restore Funding and Advance Path Forward for Chinatown Stitch Project", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan F. Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", "boyle", "https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "PHILADELPHIA, PA \u2014 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) today brought together local officials, community leaders, and advocates at the Crane Center to outline a path forward for the Chinatown Stitch project following the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans\u2019 decision to rescind roughly $150 million in previously awarded federal funding.\n\nBoyle, who spent years lobbying senior officials in the Biden administration to secure the funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, reaffirmed his commitment to the project and announced that he is serving as a lead cosponsor of the Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient Infrastructure (REPAIR) Act, legislation that would restore billions in funding nationwide for projects like the Chinatown Stitch.\n\n\u201cI worked damn hard to get that $160 million grant, and I'm still upset that this president took this money from Philadelphia and took this money from those who live in and around this community,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cBut the good news is, and why we're standing here today is to say, this isn't the end of the project. We're not giving up, we're not quitting. I feel confident we have a very good plan B, and we're going to keep working at it until we are here celebrating in a few years.\u201d\n\nThe Chinatown Stitch project would cap the Vine Street Expressway (I-676), reconnecting both sides of Chinatown with new green space, safer streets, and a direct link to the Rail Park. The project was awarded nearly $160 million through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to repair damage caused by past transportation decisions that divided neighborhoods and harmed local economies.\n\n\u201cThank you, Congressman. You have been a huge supporter of Chinatown and this Chinatown Stitch project,\u201d said John Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. \u201cImagine what this community could be if we can get the Chinatown Stitch built and the cap to cover it. It reconnects this community, but also expands the opportunity for small businesses to grow economically and create new jobs for this community and the city of Philadelphia.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, that funding was rescinded as part of a partisan Republican reconciliation bill that zeroed out unobligated funds from the program to help finance tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy \u2014 costing Philadelphia a once-in-a-generation opportunity to heal a highway that has cut Chinatown in half for decades.\n\nBefore the press conference, Boyle convened an off-the-record meeting with city and state officials and community leaders to assess the project\u2019s current status and identify next steps. The discussion focused on continuing progress using remaining obligated funds, exploring additional funding sources, and coordinating efforts to restore the lost federal investment.\n\nParticipants at today\u2019s event included John Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation; State Senator Nikil Saval; Councilmember Mark Squilla; and additional state, local, and community leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases/evans-welcomes-house-passage-hospital-home-bill-urges-action-health-care-tax", "Evans Welcomes House Passage of \u2018Hospital at Home\u2019 Bill, Urges Action on Health-Care Tax Credits ahead of Dec. 31 Cost Spike", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON (Dec. 15, 2025) \u2013 Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) welcomed the House of Representatives\u2019 recent passage of a \u201cHospital at Home\u201d bill he\u2019s co-leading, and said the same type of bipartisan cooperation is needed to prevent a cost spike on Dec. 31 for 24 million Americans\u2019 health insurance.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased that we were able to get a bill to renew the vital \u2018Hospital at Home\u2019 program for five years through the deeply divided House. It\u2019s a common-sense bill that helps thousands of patients to receive better care from more than 200 hospitals around the country, including some patients in the Philadelphia area \u2013 and it saves money,\u201d Evans said.\n\nIn November 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a waiver to provide hospitals with increased flexibility to care for certain patients from the comfort and convenience of their homes, rather than in a hospital setting. According to the American Hospital Association, this model has been proven to \u201creduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience.\u201d A recent CMS report shows that allowing patients to be treated in a more familiar environment and routine accelerates recovery time, lowers the mortality rate and reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections and falls.\n\nEvans said, \u201cNow we need the Republican majorities in the House and Senate to bring that same spirit of cooperation to another health-care issue. We need them to share the sense of urgency that Democrats in Congress already have about preventing a massive cost spike about two weeks from now for health coverage that 24 million Americans count on.\n\n\u201cTax credits that make health insurance more affordable for those 24 million Americans expire at the end of the year. If Republicans let those tax credits lapse, an estimated 150,000 Pennsylvanians will have to drop their coverage, and about 350,000 other Pennsylvanians will be making tough choices to pay for a massive increase in their premiums. But this crisis is preventable!\n\n\u201cWe just need four House Republicans to join us in signing a discharge petition to force a House vote on extending these tax credits for working-class Americans. This is the same procedure we successfully used a few weeks ago to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Similarly, health care can\u2019t wait!\u201d\n\nEvans also released a short video about this urgent issue.\n\n\u201cWorking Americans need congressional Republicans to act on these health-care tax credits with the same speed they displayed earlier this year, when Republicans rushed a tax cut for the richest into law,\u201d Evans said.\n\nEvans also addressed two key reasons why some Republicans in Congress have opposed renewing the tax credits:\n\n\u201cThese tax credits aren\u2019t about Covid \u2013 President Biden proposed them in 2019, several months before the Covid crisis began in the U.S., and more than a year before he took office in January 2021.\n\n\u201cAnd claims of fraud appear to be overblown, especially in states that run their own health-insurance exchanges like Pennsylvania does with Pennie.com. The Trump administration does need to explain why it reinstated 850 agents and brokers who had been suspended from Affordable Care Act enrollment for suspected fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or plan switches.\n\n\u201cThe bottom line is: Congress needs to renew these health-care tax credits - NOW!\u201d Evans said.\n\nEvans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He recently announced that his office returned to or saved $4.5 million for constituents in 2024 in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2024 figure brings Evans\u2019 office\u2019s total to more than $45.5 million returned to or saved for constituents during his first eight years in Congress.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-condemns-trump-s-rhetoric", "Fitzpatrick Condemns Trump\u2019s Rhetoric", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Words matter. From the Oval Office, it matters most of all. Divisive rhetoric does not stop at words\u2014it sets an example. It signals what is acceptable, what is rewarded, and how others are encouraged to treat one another. When leaders choose mockery and contempt, they model cruelty, normalize dehumanization, and invite toxic and dangerous divisions to take further root into the fabric of our everyday lives.\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s statement regarding the murder of Rob and Michelle Reiner last night was deeply inappropriate and profoundly wrong. In the face of a horrific personal tragedy, he chose mockery and division over humanity and decency. That is unbecoming of anyone\u2014let alone the holder of the highest elected office in the United States.\n\nRegardless of political views or partisan disagreements, no one should ever be subjected to violence\u2014especially in circumstances as devastating as this. Moments like these should unite us in sympathy and compassion, not be exploited to score political points. Americans deserve words that reflect our shared humanity, reminding us that what binds us together, as one nation under God, is\u2014and will always be\u2014stronger than anything that divides us.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4906", "NDAA restores women\u2019s policy teams canceled in Pentagon DEI purge", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Originally published on MilitaryTimes.com\n\nWritten by Hope Hodge Seck\n\nDays after Pete Hegseth was installed as the Pentagon\u2019s top civilian, some all-volunteer teams of service women working to address obstacles and improve policy became casualties of his war on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. But a provision tucked into the $900 billion defense policy bill would bring them back.\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026, which passed the House Dec. 11, contains a provision that restores service-level women\u2019s initiative teams.\n\nThe bill would require the service secretaries to establish one of these teams for each of the five services under the Defense Department within a year after the bill becomes law.\n\nThese teams, composed of women in uniform representing \u201ca variety of ranks, backgrounds and occupational specialties,\u201d are to be tasked with identifying and addressing issues that hinder women\u2019s service; supporting recruiting and retention; recommending policy changes that support the needs of women in service; and fostering a sense of community, according to language in the bill.\n\nThe legislation requires the secretary of defense to submit an annual report for the next five years on the activities and progress of the women\u2019s initiative teams, including a summary of their activities, assessment of the policy impact they\u2019ve had and any recommendations for legislative or policy changes to further support their success.\n\nThe language restoring the women\u2019s initiative teams originated with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served as an Air Force officer on active duty and in the Reserves from 1989-2004.\n\nDespite a contentious political climate and suspicion around policy specific to women in the military, Houlahan said she hoped that \u201ccommon sense was the thing that won the day\u201d in allowing the women\u2019s initiative teams provision to make it into the final version of the NDAA.\n\n\u201cMore importantly, it\u2019s all about readiness for the military in general,\u201d she told Military Times in an interview. \u201cAs we are 51% of the population and about 20% of the folks who serve in uniform, it\u2019s important that that demographic, for lack of a better word, be supported.\u201d\n\nHoulahan said she believed that the teams were \u201cjust a convenient target from a new administration.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen cooler and calmer, more rational heads got in the game, and Congress did its job, we were able to bring it back to life,\u201d she said.\n\nThe legislation would also make the women\u2019s initiative teams consistent across the services.\n\nThe Air Force\u2018s team had been serving for nearly two decades when it was ordered to cease operations following President Donald Trump\u2019s inaugural raft of executive orders in January.\n\nThe Navy\u2019s team had been in service for less than a year and was not formally canceled by the service.\n\nIn the Marine Corps, female service members launched an unofficial WIT in 2020 to advocate for changes like better parental leave and adjustments to outdated body composition standards, always stressing they did not speak on behalf of the Corps or the Defense Department. This legislation would codify that team and put its membership and activities under the purview of the secretary of the Navy.\n\nIn the Air Force, WIT members have successfully advocated for uniform changes, including development of a two-piece flight suit and a system that allows women to relieve themselves more easily in the cockpit. The team also reduced restrictions that prevented shorter airmen of both genders from serving as pilots.\n\nOther issues the WIT worked on, such as child care availability and parental leave, are relevant to the total force.\n\n\u201cWhat I hope is that this administration really understands [that] this is ops and readiness for service women to do our jobs,\u201d former WIT member Alea Nadeem told this reporter in January. \u201cWe\u2019re asking for your help to make us more lethal and more ready, and give us the equipment and resources that we need to do that.\u201d\n\nIt\u2019s not clear to what extent a congressional mandate will force action by the Pentagon. Hegseth in April announced he had \u201cended\u201d the Defense Department\u2019s Women, Peace, and Security program, despite its creation by Congress.\n\nThe program continues today, but at the minimum staffing and activity level required by law.\n\nHoulahan said accountability was a key consideration in crafting the language of the WIT provision.\n\n\u201cIn this particular situation, we see the legal language of \u2018shall,\u2019 which is statutorily pretty powerful; legislatively, very powerful,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cAnd you also see in this NDAA some guardrails being placed on the administration and on the secretary of defense,\u201d she added. \u201cI am really hopeful that the armed services committees on both sides of the Capitol are awakened, and I\u2019m very hopeful that Congress itself is realizing that we really need to put our foot down in terms of our Article One responsibilities and obligations, and hold these guys to account in the laws that we pass.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-applauds-use-ai-legislation-conviction-thanks-local-law", "Congressman Mackenzie Applauds use of AI Legislation in Conviction, Thanks Local Law Enforcement", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Allentown, PA \u2014 An individual from Bethlehem is set to be sentenced on Monday, 12/15/25, on one count of possession of materials depicting child sexual abuse. His conviction follows the implementation of a new law, Act 125 of 2024. This law, introduced in its initial form by then-State Rep. Mackenzie in 2023 and later championed by State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick in 2024, bans the nonconsensual dissemination of AI deepfake images. The law further extends penalties for dissemination of child sexual abuse materials that are created using AI.\n\nCongressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, applauded the successful use of this new law and thanked Sen. Pennycuick, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan, and members of local law enforcement.\n\n\u201cAs technology evolves, abusers deploy new tools to harass, violate, and extort their victims,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cAs lawmakers, we have a duty to keep up with the changing tactics of abusers and ensure that victims have the necessary protection under the law. I\u2019m proud to have kicked off this effort during my time as a Pennsylvania state representative, and\n\nI\u2019m grateful to Sen. Pennycuick for championing this effort and delivering this critical reform to the people of Pennsylvania. We also thank District Attorney Holihan and the members of local law enforcement who used this legislation to secure justice in this case.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, AI technology can be used for good or evil. As Chair of the state Senate Communications and Technology Committee, I introduced Senate Bill 1213, now Act 125 of 2024 to address the alarming rise of AI-generated deepfake sexual images of children and non-consenting adults,\u201d said Senator Pennycuick. \u201cI\u2019m grateful law enforcement now has the tools they need to bring these depraved individuals to justice.\u201d\n\n\u201cBefore this law was passed, the use of AI to create child sexual abuse matieral went unpunished,\u201d said District Attorney Gavin Holihan. \u201cProsecutors like me need legislation like this to arrest and convict the criminals who use evolving technologies to victimize others. Thank you to Congressman Mackenzie and Sen. Pennycuick for working to strengthen these laws.\u201d\n\nAct 125 builds on past work by Rep. Mackenzie to support victims of abuse.\n\nAs a State Representative, Mackenzie wrote bipartisan legislation to ensure that domestic violence victims are able to receive unemployment compensation when they have to leave their jobs for their own safety. As a member of Congress, he recently co-sponsored the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025, which reauthorizes and strengthens federal programs that are designed to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders.\n\n\u201cAbusers target victims at every stage of life and use a wide range of tactics,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cPotential victims and survivors in our community deserve strong protections and forward-thinking legislation. I\u2019ll keep working with lawmakers on both sides to deliver safety for our communities, justice for victims, and resources for law enforcement.\u201d\n\nThen-State Rep. Mackenzie\u2019s 2023 bill can be found HERE\n\nText for Act 125 of 2024 can be found HERE\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-overwhelmingly-passes-thompsons-whole-milk-healthy-kids-act", "House Overwhelmingly Passes Thompson\u2019s Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved U.S. Representative Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson\u2019sWhole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act provides schools with the flexibility to offer flavored and unflavored whole and 2% milk options, helping ensure children receive the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and succeed in the classroom.\n\n\u201cI have worked for a decade to restore whole milk to our school cafeterias, which have been limiting healthy choices for students, but that changes today,\u201d said Rep. Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. \u201cWhole milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, and students should have the option to choose the milk they love. I am proud that my bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, passed the House today and now heads to President Trump\u2019s desk for his signature.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a pediatrician, I know how important a balanced and nutritious diet is for children\u2019s health and development, and I\u2019m thrilled that my bipartisan bill has passed the House and is heading to the president's desk,\u201d said Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act co-lead U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA). \u201cEnsuring that our children have access to a healthy diet is fundamental to their physical growth, academic performance, and overall well-being, and can set the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits. Milk is a significant part of many children\u2019s diets and contains essential nutrients that keep them full and healthy. This bill will improve children's nutrition by allowing schools to provide the types of milk most kids prefer to drink, and I\u2019m eager to see this legislation signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act marks a significant step forward in strengthening school nutrition and supporting America\u2019s dairy farmers and is another win in President Trump\u2019s efforts to Make America Healthy Again and to put Farmers First. This commonsense legislation restores the ability of schools to serve wholesome, flavorful options that children actually enjoy. For the past decade, limited choices and reduced flavor have discouraged kids from drinking milk at school. The passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is more than a policy change; it\u2019s a practical tool for promoting health nationwide and ensuring that America\u2019s next generation thrives.\u201d \u2014 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins\n\n\u201cGood nutrition is the foundation of a child\u2019s life, including his or her ability to learn and grow. Unfortunately, misguided policies removed whole milk from schools, stripping children of options to get important and essential nutrients\u2014driving students to caffeinated and sugary alternatives that often do more harm than good. As chronic illnesses like diabetes continue to skyrocket among our nation\u2019s children, it\u2019s clear we must do more to ensure students have healthier options. I was proud to join my colleagues in passing S. 222 to return whole milk to schools as part of Republicans\u2019 mission to improve our children\u2019s health.\u201d \u2014 U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee\n\n\u201cFor volunteers who carried this effort for more than a decade, it is deeply gratifying to see passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. We are grateful to the volunteer farmers, parents, health professionals, and educators who worked together and stayed the course \u2014 from raising awareness through painted hay bales, banners, yard signs, and 97 Milk education grounded in nutrition science, to gathering thousands of petition signatures, including a school whole-milk choice trial showing increased consumption and substantially reduced waste. We are especially grateful to Chairman GT Thompson for his leadership and persistence as the bill's champion, allowing children access to delicious, nutritious whole milk at school, where many receive two meals a day, five days a week.\u201d \u2014 Bernie Morrissey, Chair, Grassroots PA Dairy Advisory Committee and Glenn Hursh, Chair, 97 Milk\n\n\u201cPennsylvania Farm Bureau members have waited over a decade to see progress made on getting whole and two percent milk back in schools. Today, the House had a historic vote for the dairy industry by passing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. We are thrilled to once again offer students one of the most nutritious and wholesome beverages to support a healthy childhood development. We look forward to restoring nutritious beverage options in schools and growing the current pool of fluid milk consumers. We urge President Trump to swiftly sign this bill into law.\u201d \u2014 Chris Hoffman, President, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau\n\n\u201cReturning whole milk to schools is a win-win for children and dairy farmers. Students will have more access to important protein and vitamins, and it is a step toward helping the struggling farm economy. Farm Bureau has long advocated for this commonsense legislation, and we appreciate the House for passing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. We look forward to the president quickly sign this bill which will benefit families across America.\u201d \u2014 Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation\n\n\u201cThe House of Representatives\u2019 strong bipartisan backing of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act brings us a single signature away from strengthening nutrition for America\u2019s students. By restoring schools\u2019 ability to serve whole and reduced-fat milk, dairy farmers and their cooperatives can further expand their positive impact in school lunchrooms and provide more nutritious outcomes for the next generation. Chairman GT Thompson has been a steadfast leader on this issue since it began. We commend him and his staff for their unwavering efforts to move this bill through Congress. We urge a swift presidential signature for this transformative nutrition policy and stand ready to work with the Administration in bringing the full spectrum of school milk choice back into our schools.\u201d \u2014 Gregg Doud, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation\n\n\u201cThe long wait is over! Whole milk is coming back to schools! Today\u2019s House passage marks a defining victory for children\u2019s health and for the dairy community that has fought for more than a decade to restore whole and 2% milk for our nation\u2019s students. We ask for the President to sign the bill into law, so U.S. Department of Agriculture can begin working with state governments and school districts across the country to make this law a reality. IDFA is deeply grateful to U.S. Reps. Glenn \u2018GT\u2019 Thompson and Kim Schrier, and U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Peter Welch for sponsoring and leading the charge to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.\u201d \u2014 Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of International Dairy Foods Association\n\n\u201cWe are pleased to see the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act gain passage. As dairy farmers, we produce a wholesome product that our nation\u2019s children should be free to choose at school. We thank Chairman GT Thompson for his diligence in making this day possible with legislation that ensures schools can offer whole milk without risking federal meal or education dollars. Scientific evidence supports fuller-fat milk and dairy products as an excellent source of essential nutrients. When students can choose milk with real flavor, they are able to benefit from all the nutrition it has to offer them.\u201d \u2014 Walt Moore, President, American Dairy Coalition", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fetterman-budd-introduce-legislation-to-create-first-national-network-of-ai-enabled-automated-labs/", "Fetterman, Budd Introduce Legislation to Create First National Network of AI-Enabled, Automated Labs", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "PA", "John Fetterman", "F000479", "www.fetterman.senate.gov", "fetterman", "https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/press-release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act to create a national network of six remotely accessible programmable cloud laboratories (PCLs) for academic research, led by the National Science Foundation (NSF). By knitting together existing laboratory data processing power, this bill would help researchers use their time and financial resources more effectively through automation and integration of large data sets.\n\nIn 2024, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA launched a major initiative to establish a programmable, automated laboratory environment on a university campus. This effort positions CMU as a pioneer in advancing remote, software-driven experimentation and is already generating encouraging early results in areas such as chemical and materials research. The legislation builds on this emerging model and supports the development of similar capabilities at a national scale.\n\n\u201cPennsylvania is home to thousands of academic and industry researchers that are expanding the boundaries of human knowledge and developing the products of the future,\u201d said Senator Fetterman. \u201cWe can help cut barriers researchers face and supercharge America\u2019s innovation engine with a national network of PCLs. This has never been built before, and I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Budd to make this a reality.\u201d\n\n\u201cIntegrating our nation\u2019s world class laboratories will increase the rate of breakthroughs, streamline and better automate the research process, and reduce the barriers and costs that throttle experimentation. North Carolina is at the cutting edge of innovation, and I am glad to work with Senator Fetterman to help our great institutions push the boundaries of discovery even further,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nThe high cost of building and maintaining laboratory infrastructure creates barriers for smaller, less endowed academic institutions and small businesses to conduct cutting-edge scientific research or develop innovative products. A national PCL network would allow fee-paying users to remotely access laboratory space to conduct experiments, instead of building and operating their own lab equipment or traveling to another institution to conduct experiments in-person.\n\nThis legislation would codify existing NSF proposals to create a network of up to six PCL nodes through competitive selection process open to academic, private sector, non-profit research institutions, or partnerships between any of the prior three types of institutions. Applicants for PCL node designation would be evaluated on:\n\nThe level of existing laboratory infrastructure with automated capabilities and data integration;\n\nCapacity to support cloud-enabled workflows for multiple users;\n\nAbility to sustain long-term operations without continuous federal funding;\n\nAbility to collaborate with partners in academia, industry, or federal research entities;\n\nProtocols for research security, cybersecurity, and responsible access;\n\nDemonstration of user interest and research needs.\n\nFollowing the designation of the nodes, standards for interoperability, data sharing, cybersecurity and technical requirements would be developed by NIST, NSF, and selected PCL node participants. Reports to Congress on non-designated laboratories would also be required to map out developing PCL research infrastructure, assess the capabilities of non-designated laboratories, and identify opportunities for collaboration with the selected nodes.\n\nThe bill is supported by Carnegie Mellon, SeedAI, and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators John Fetterman and Ted Budd meets the urgency of the moment \u2013 accelerating scientific innovation, sparking entrepreneurship and fueling economic growth in nearly every sector. It is vital to realizing the full potential of American progress for generations to come,\u201d said Farnam Jahanian, President of Carnegie Mellon University.\n\n\u201cThe National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act is a green light for the future of American science. Investing in AI-enabled automation and cloud-connected laboratories will accelerate discovery timelines, bring our research infrastructure into the modern era, and ensure that federal science investments translate into tangible benefits for the American people,\u201d said Joshua New, Director of Policy at SeedAI and organizer of the Accelerate Science Now coalition.\n\n\u201cWith the introduction of this bill, Senator Fetterman is demonstrating a true commitment to the future of innovation in Pennsylvania and American competitiveness,\u201d said Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. \u201cBy advancing automated science and establishing the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network, this legislation ensures Pennsylvania is positioned as a leader in next-generation industries that are core to our region\u2019s growth: robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing. These efforts will not only drive economic growth in our region but will also make everyday life better by leveraging automation to create safer, more reliable and affordable products while strengthening our supply chains and energy security.\u201d\n\nA summary of the bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-bresnahan-votes-authorize-68-million-tobyhanna-army-depot-military-pay", "ICYMI: Bresnahan Votes to Authorize $68 Million for Tobyhanna Army Depot, Military Pay Raises", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: This week, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) voted in favor of S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA), which passed the House by a vote of 312-112.\n\n\u201cPeace through strength starts right here at home,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cThe NDAA strengthens America\u2019s military and delivers real wins for Northeastern Pennsylvania. It supports pay raises for our troops, boosts America\u2019s military readiness, and protects good-paying defense jobs right here in NEPA. From Tobyhanna Army Depot to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, this bill reinforces our national defense and our steadfast dedication to peace through strength.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA fully authorizes more than $900 billion in national defense spending and codifies several key national security executive orders signed by President Trump. Additionally, the NDAA authorizes:\n\n$68 million for Tobyhanna radar test range expansion\n\nContinued funding for long range artillery shells to keep Scranton Artillery Depot running at full capacity\n\nA 3.8% pay rise to our service members and improved benefits for military families\n\nFull funding and expanded authorities for the Department of Defense to support DHS border security efforts\n\nFundamental reforms the DoD acquisition process speeding up the delivery of innovative new technologies to the warfighter\n\nNew programs to revitalize the defense industrial base, grow defense manufacturing jobs in America, and onshore our defense supply chains\n\nSupport for President Trump\u2019s top priorities, including the Golden Dome, F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems\n\nFunding to revitalize American shipbuilding\n\nEnhanced capabilities to prepare our military for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific\n\nPromotion of energy independence through the use of new nuclear power technologies\n\nThe NDAA now heads to the Senate for final passage before being sent to President Trump for signature.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-deluzio-announces-230000-federal-grant-improve-health-safety", "Congressman Deluzio Announces $230,000 Federal Grant to Improve Health & Safety Services for Older Veterans in Western PA", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CARNEGIE, PA \u2013 Today, Congressman and Navy veteran Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that the Veterans Health Foundation is receiving $231,589 in federal grant funding to support the development of a new partnership model for Western Pennsylvania Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers.\n\nWestern PA is home to a large population of older veterans, and advocates for older veterans are concerned that when threats to their health and safety are reported to a local AAA, weak coordination and collaboration mechanisms with the local VA Medical Center can result in missed opportunities for care. The grant will help address those concerns and also support work with VA Medical Centers in Butler and Pittsburgh to pilot an innovative new program for the VA to better support patients experiencing elder mistreatment. The program is being led by VA Pittsburgh researcher Lena Makaroun, MD.\n\n\u201cEvery veteran who served wrote this country a blank check, and in return we have a sacred obligation to get them the best care possible,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cI\u2019m glad we're finding new ways to better coordinate to improve health and safety for older veterans in our region. My fellow veterans defended the freedoms we enjoy today and earned this care.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant enables the Veterans Health Foundation, in partnership with VA Pittsburgh and Butler, to lead the development of a first-of-its-kind elder mistreatment intervention for older Veterans,\u201d said Alanna Caffas, CEO of the Veterans Health Foundation. \u201cThrough the THRIVE program, we\u2019re building a national model to improve care, safety, and quality of life for nearly 5 million older Veterans\u2014starting right here in Pennsylvania. With congressional support, this project has the potential to transform how VA Medical Centers and local agencies protect and empower aging Veterans across the country.\u201d\n\nThe funding was provided through the Administration for Community Living and the Administration on Aging, sub-agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as part of their Elder Justice Innovation Grant program.\n\nCongressman Deluzio\u2014a U.S. Navy veteran who deployed to Iraq and at sea, and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy\u2014is a leading voice in support of his fellow veterans. In Congress, he is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a founding member of the Democratic Veterans Caucus, and has introduced legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to WWII Nurses, among many pro-veteran initiatives.\n\nThe Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to freeze funding and pause federal grants has created significant uncertainty for grantees, varying by agency and program. As of now, the courts are involved in determining whether many of these funding freezes will continue permanently or go on pause. Congressman Deluzio's office will continue to monitor these developments and fight to make sure federal funding keeps flowing to projects that make life better for Western Pennsylvanians. Recipients of federal grants with issues accessing lawfully appropriated funds, should reach out to Congressman Deluzio's office at PA17Grants@mail.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kelly-votes-pro-growth-cost-cutting-permitting-reform-legislation", "Rep. Kelly votes for pro-growth, cost-cutting permitting reform legislation", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of permitting reform bills that will help to secure America's electrical grid, lower energy prices, and unleash reliable and affordable power for American families.\n\nRep. Kelly is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus and a Co-Founder of the Congressional Propane Caucus.\n\n\"To lower energy costs and expand American energy production, an all-of-the-above energy approach must not forget about all that is below,\" said Rep. Kelly. \"Today, we voted to cut red tape, strengthen our nation's electrical grid, and lower costs for American families.\"\n\nThe legislation includes:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-summer-lee-joins-jayapal-norcross-and-omar-in-introducing-landmark-bill-to-protect-and-empower-app-based-workers", "Rep. Summer Lee Joins Jayapal, Norcross, and Omar in Introducing Landmark Bill to Protect and Empower App-Based Workers", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Summer L. Lee", "L000602", "summerlee.house.gov", "summerlee", "https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 DECEMBER 12, 2025 \u2014 Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) in introducing the Empowering App-Based Workers Act, groundbreaking legislation to bring transparency, fairness, and accountability to digital labor platforms such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Amazon Flex.\n\nThe bill establishes critical guardrails to ensure that automated decision-making systems do not result in discrimination, wage theft, or price-gouging \u2014 and that the workers who keep these companies running have the information and protections they deserve.\n\n\u201cApp-based workers in Western Pennsylvania and across this country power our economy, yet far too many are left without basic transparency, stability, or fair pay,\u201d said Congresswoman Summer Lee. \u201cThese companies use hidden algorithms and unpredictable pay structures that make it nearly impossible for workers to support their families. The Empowering App-Based Workers Act brings long-overdue accountability by requiring companies to be transparent about how they determine pay and assignments. Workers deserve protection from unfair and exploitative practices, and they deserve to receive their fair share of the value they create.\u201d\n\nOther lead sponsors emphasized the urgent need for reform.\n\n\u201cApp-based workers work long hours, often with no consistency or predictability of how much they will make,\u201d said Rep. Jayapal. \u201cThey are at the whim of algorithms that make automated decisions about who gets to work, and where, and when. Workers and consumers deserve a better system, where workers are protected, employment laws are followed, and where consumers have a transparent price.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Empowering App-Based Workers Act is a long-overdue step toward fairness and transparency for the millions of rideshare drivers and delivery app workers who keep our economy running,\u201d said Rep. Norcross. \u201cBy guaranteeing transparent payment information and higher wages, these workers will finally receive a fair day\u2019s pay for a hard day\u2019s work. App-based workers deserve a good-paying job where they are treated with dignity, compensated fairly, and protected from exploitation.\u201d\n\n\u201cGig workers like Uber and Lyft drivers in my home state of Minnesota deserve a fair share of the wealth they create. App-based corporations have hidden behind AI algorithms and predatory take rates while drivers\u2019 pay shrinks and executive profits soar,\u201d said Rep. Omar. \u201cThe Empowering App-Based Workers Act will pull back the curtain on how these companies use data, set wages, and make decisions that shape people\u2019s livelihoods. Gig workers should be part of a transparent system that values their labor.\u201d\n\nApp-based workers face increasingly exploitative conditions. In 2024, both Uber and Lyft regularly paid drivers less than minimum wage \u2014 even while raising prices for consumers. Corporate take rates frequently hover around 40 percent and can reach as high as 70 percent on individual rides.\n\nThe Empowering App-Based Workers Act will:\n\nRequire weekly pay statements and itemized receipts so workers know exactly how their earnings are calculated;\n\nRequire transparency on electronic monitoring and automated decision-making, including how algorithms determine job assignments;\n\nGuarantee ride-hail drivers receive at least 75% of the total amount paid by the consumer;\n\nProhibit pay discrimination by ensuring equal pay for equal or comparable work.\n\nIn addition to Reps. Jayapal, Norcross, Omar, and Lee, the legislation is sponsored by Reps. Dan Goldman (NY-10), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/bresnahan-breaks-party-line-defend-union-rights", "Bresnahan Breaks Party Line to Defend Union Rights", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) voted in favor of H.R. 2550, the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act, which will nullify a March executive order and restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees. H.R. 2550 passed the House by a vote of 231-195, after Rep. Bresnahan helped secure floor consideration through a successful discharge petition, which he signed on September 2, 2025.\n\n\u201cThe right to collectively bargain is the cornerstone of fair labor and a strong middle class,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cThis is not just a policy idea; it\u2019s a lifeline that ensures fair wage, safe workplaces, and the basic dignity every worker deserves. I am proud that we fought to restore and protect the rights of the hardworking men and women of Northeastern Pennsylvania.\u201d\n\nRep. Bresnahan spoke in favor of the legislation on the House Floor earlier this afternoon.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would reverse an executive order that stripped collective bargaining protections from union workers across several federal agencies, including the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Bureau of Prisons, the Social Security Administration, and more. The order affected roughly 67% of the federal workforce, many of whom are veterans or career public servants in non\u2013national security roles.\n\nA discharge petition is a seldom-used House procedure that allows a majority of members (218) regardless of party to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote. Find out more about the discharge petition process here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2025/12/congresswoman-dean-and-senator-gillibrand-reintroduce-bill-to-empower-victims-of-significant-pfas-exposure-to-sue-manufacturers", "Congresswoman Dean and Senator Gillibrand Reintroduce Bill to Empower Victims of Significant PFAS Exposure to Sue Manufacturers", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) alongside Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12) and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), reintroduced the PFAS Accountability Act to create a federal cause of action and allow courts to award medical monitoring for victims of PFAS exposure.\n\nThe PFAS Accountability Act would allow courts to award medical monitoring for PFAS contamination victims to prevent premature morbidity, disability, or mortality. The legislation would also ensure victims of significant PFAS exposure can bring civil claims against manufacturers of PFAS and incentivize funding for PFAS safety research.\n\n\u201cVictims of PFAS exposure deserve to know how their health and well-being have been compromised \u2014 and deserve the ability to demand justice from PFAS manufacturers,\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cClean water is a right, yet communities in my district have long-suffered from the consequences of PFAS. That is why our bill would create a legal pathway for accountability and also fund more research so we better understand the generations of harm caused by PFAS manufacturers\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, companies have knowingly manufactured toxic, carcinogenic chemicals that have devastated families and communities. Those companies must be held accountable for their actions,\u201d Senator Gillibrand said. \u201cOur PFAS Accountability Act would help ensure that those exposed to dangerous PFAS chemicals have legal recourse and are able to access the long-term medical monitoring they need. I\u2019m determined to deliver real justice for the victims of PFAS pollution in New York and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cToxic forever chemicals are hurting communities across America. We know PFAS are linked to serious health issues including increased risk of several kinds of cancer, weakened immune response, and developmental effects in children. This legislation will give people who have been hurt by PFAS the opportunity to get justice, as well as incentivize further research into PFAS and efforts to prevent its further spread,\u201d Congresswoman Dingell said.\n\nThis legislation has been endorsed by Waterkeeper Alliance, American Association for Justice, Buxmont Coalition for Safe Water, Environmental Working Group, Green Science Policy Institute, National PFAS Contamination Coalition, Southern Environmental Law Center, NRDC, and Union of Concerned Scientists.\n\n\u201cPFAS exposure has been linked to a number of long-term health issues including cancer, reproductive harm, immune system harm, vaccine efficacy and more,\" Jessica Hernandez, Legislative Director for Environmental Working Group said. \"These PFAS-related chronic diseases develop over time, which is why medical monitoring is critical to securing justice for victims of PFAS pollution. EWG applauds Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Dean for reintroducing the PFAS Accountability Act, which will hold polluters accountable and help give victims the justice and support they deserve.\"\n\n\u201cFamilies across the country are bearing the heavy toll of PFAS pollution\u2014enduring long-term health risks and rising medical costs that threaten the fabric of our communities,\u201d Jean Zhuang, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center said. \"By reintroducing the PFAS Accountability Act, Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Dean are standing with impacted communities to ensure victims can seek medical monitoring and hold polluters financially accountable. This legislation will help ensure that polluters, not people, bear the responsibility for these toxic chemicals.\"\n\n\u201cDecades of production and use have led to widespread PFAS contamination,\" Arlene Blum, Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute said. \"These very persistent and often toxic chemicals are harming the health of people and ecosystems worldwide. This bill will hold manufacturers legally accountable and help stop future PFAS contamination at the source.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congressman-deluzio-hres-939", "Statement from Congressman Deluzio on H.Res. 939", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cImpeachment is one of Congress' most solemn responsibilities, and I take it very seriously.\n\n\u201cI join so many patriots who have deep concerns with the dangerous actions of the President and his Administration. Any impeachment process requires more thought and investigation than this sloppy and rushed resolution.\n\n\u201cConstitutional scholar Congressman Jamie Raskin leads Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, and today I joined him in voting not to table the motion to be able to send this resolution for full consideration in the Judiciary Committee.\u201c", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4860", "What Trump\u2019s latest dramatic Venezuela move means", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Originally published on CNN.com\n\nAnalysis by Stephen Collinson\n\nThe Trump administration\u2019s seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela is one of the most dramatic twists yet in a military pressure campaign against Venezuelan dictator Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.\n\nThe boarding of a foreign ship is an unusual step and expands a US operation already highlighted by strikes against more than 20 boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean that the administration claims carried drug traffickers.\n\nEarly reports suggest the swoop by US Coast Guard personnel, with the backing of the Navy and law enforcement agencies, poses fewer legal and constitutional concerns than the campaign against the boats and Trump\u2019s imminent threats of military action on Venezuelan soil.\n\nThe vessel, the Skipper, was seized in international waters and was carrying Venezuelan crude, a senior US official said. A federal judge had previously issued a warrant for its seizure because of alleged links to Iran-backed terror groups.\n\nStill, Trump\u2019s relish in announcing the take-over of the ship and Attorney General Pam Bondi\u2019s release of a video showing US personnel rappelling onto its decks from a helicopter underscore the political significance of the moment.\n\nWith his characteristic flair for the dramatic, Trump announced to the press that the US had boarded a \u201clarge tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually.\u201d\n\nWhile the tanker might not have been directly related to the current showdown between Trump and Maduro, its interdiction will be seen in the context of a massive US naval build-up in the Caribbean, which is part of an apparent attempt to force Maduro out of power or to convince his subordinates to oust him.\n\nWhat\u2019s at stake for Trump and Venezuela\n\nMillions of Venezuelans would welcome Maduro\u2019s departure after grim years under an authoritarian regime that has impoverished the country, imposed repression and forced millions of people to flee poverty and persecution.\n\nSo, the Washington controversy over Trump\u2019s intentions in Venezuela is less about whether Maduro\u2019s exit after ignoring his loss in a democratic election would be beneficial and more about whether the US president is acting legally. Critics fear Trump is preparing to embroil America in another prolonged foreign policy misadventure as he again seeks to flex unchecked executive power.\n\nLegal questions are most acute over the strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean that have killed 87 people. The administration insists that it is justified in using legal military force against what it brands as narco-terrorists that threaten American national security. But Venezuela is not regarded as a major fentanyl trafficking route into the US as the administration insists. And rights groups warn that the boat attacks infringe on the due process of the victims and amount to state sanctioned murder by the administration.\n\nOne of those strikes, on September 2, prompted Democrats and human rights groups to accuse the administration of a war crime, as it involved a follow-up strike that reportedly killed survivors of the initial US attack.\n\nDemocrats are intensifying a campaign to force Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to turn over video of the attack to Congress. Trump had earlier said on camera he had no problems with such a step but later denied making the comment.\n\nNews of the tanker seizure and deepening intrigue over the double-tap strike came as doubt still shrouded Trump\u2019s aims in Venezuela. The symbolic weight of the massive US naval force off the country, which includes the most advanced US aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, means any resolution to the crisis that does not lead to Maduro\u2019s ouster would be a rebuke to US power and Trump\u2019s prestige.\n\nTrump has meanwhile repeatedly warned that strikes against what he says are drug trafficking sites on land could start soon. But in an interview with Politico this week, he declined to discuss military strategy and said opaquely that he wanted the Venezuelan people treated well and \u201cto be respected.\u201d\n\nCNN reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration was working on plans for what would happen in Venezuela in the event that Maduro fell or left. Critics of the Trump approach have drawn comparisons to the US failure to prepare for regime change in Iraq in 2003 after the US invasion. Some analysts fear that Venezuela could descend into violence and instability if the Maduro regime falls, and that it could prompt a refugee crisis. But the situation there bears little comparison to post-war Baghdad.\n\nIn another development that could increase pressure on Maduro\u2019s regime, Venezuelan Opposition leader Mar\u00eda Corina Machado dramatically left hiding in the country and traveled to Oslo, where her daughter had earlier accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf.\n\nMaduro\u2019s government had warned she would be considered a fugitive should she leave Venezuela. But her emergence in the outside world may also present the Trump administration with new opportunities to highlight her cause.\n\nShip boarding \u2018normal,\u2019 former US intelligence official says\n\nThe US seizure of the tanker Skipper took place on the basis of a search warrant related to past activity transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X. She said FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the US Coast Guard were involved with support from the Department of Defense.\n\nThe capture of the tanker is certain to be seen throughout the region as an implicit warning to other tanker captains of the risks in loading up in Venezuela and operating around its waters, as well as a blow to the shadow fleet of tankers that traffic sanctioned oil for nations like Iran.\n\nVenezuela has some of the world\u2019s biggest reserves of crude oil, and its illicit sales are a key source of income for its regime. The first and second Trump administrations and the Biden administration maintained multiple layers of sanctions against the Maduro regime for its suppression of democracy, including against the state-owned oil and natural gas company PDVSA.\n\nThe government in Caracas condemned the seizure, arguing that it laid bare the true motivation of Trump\u2019s pressure campaign. \u201cIt is not migration. It is not drug trafficking. It is not democracy. It is not human rights. It has always been about our natural wealth, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people,\u201d a government statement said.\n\nBut Beth Sanner, a former senior US intelligence official, told CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper that the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tankers was \u201cabsolutely normal\u201d as part of an attempt to prevent the regime transporting sanctioned oil. \u201cIn the past, everybody has wanted to pick up these kinds of tankers, but we haven\u2019t had the assets in the region to do it,\u201d Sanner said.\n\nDemocrats on Capitol Hill are unwilling to take any of actions related to Venezuela at face value.\n\nAsked on CNN whether the US was now closer to a war with Venezuela, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said, \u201cHow could we possibly not be closer when we are rappelling men and women from our military out of helicopters and descending on civilian tankers flying the flag of another nation? It is definitely escalatory; there is no other way to put it.\u201d\n\nShe added that if Trump\u2019s aim was regime change through military force, he was constitutionally required to get an authorization from Congress \u2014 although she believed that such a step was not in US interests.\n\nSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer meanwhile told Tapper on \u201cThe Lead\u201d that Trump\u2019s rhetoric was so unclear that it was impossible to know what his true intentions are. \u201cPresident Trump throws out so many different things, in so many different ways, you don\u2019t know what the heck he is talking about,\u201d Schumer said. \u201cIf Maduro would just flee on his own, everyone would like that.\u201d But Schumer added: \u201cYou cannot say, \u2018I endorse this, I endorse that\u2019 when Trump is all over the lot.\u201d\n\nLike so much in Trump\u2019s second term, there is little public transparency about the president\u2019s goals that often seem to depend on his personal whims. Trump prizes unpredictability. He\u2019s thus made no attempt to explain to Americans why so many service personnel are on ships off the Venezuelan coast or what the expensive deployment is supposed to achieve.\n\nIf the president were to successfully oust Maduro and transition Venezuela to democracy, he could claim a significant political win. He\u2019d also cement his goal of exerting American power throughout the Western Hemisphere, an aspiration consistent with his recently unveiled National Security Strategy. This appears both an attempt to reshape Latin America in his own MAGA image and a more traditional US strategy to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the region.\n\nBut history shows that even in extreme circumstances, dictatorial regimes constructed over decades are often more durable than outsiders believe. The Venezuelan government has been compared to a many layered criminal operation \u2014 with key members having huge financial stakes in perpetuating their own power. And while many outsiders hope that Trump\u2019s pressure will lead to the rise of the country\u2019s rightful democratic rulers, nothing is certain.\n\nBut the seizing of the tanker cranked the pressure on Maduro up yet another notch. And it led Trump further down what is beginning to look like an inexorable path to a confrontation in which he is investing huge personal credibility.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-signs-discharge-petitions-bipartisan-healthcare-packages", "Congressman Mackenzie Signs Discharge Petitions on Bipartisan Healthcare Packages", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. - Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, has joined colleagues in signing discharge petitions on the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act and the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act. These are the two leading bipartisan healthcare reform bills in the U.S. House. Both bills include an extension of enhanced health insurance tax credits alongside commonsense reforms to prevent fraud, improve transparency, and rein in healthcare costs. Congressman Mackenzie is an original cosponsor on both bills.\n\nLast week, Congressman Mackenzie announced his support for CommonGround 2025, a bipartisan healthcare framework. A discharge petition allows a majority of House members to bring legislation directly to the floor for a vote outside of the standard process.\n\n\u201cThe people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve to see commonsense, bipartisan reforms to our healthcare system, not large price spikes,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cAs I have made clear for months, Congress should work in a bipartisan way to extend relief for those who need it and implement reforms that will prevent fraud, improve transparency, and rein in costs. As the American people work to recover from the inflation of the Biden years, we cannot ignore the burden placed on millions of families by high healthcare costs.\u201d\n\nAuthored by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), features of the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act include:\n\nA two-year extension of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) for those making less than 700% of the federal poverty line ($109K for individuals and $225K for families)\n\nSenator Ron Wyden\u2019s (D-OR) Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, which reins in rogue healthcare brokers who abuse taxpayer-funded benefits\n\nAn extension of open enrollment to March 1st, 2026\n\nReforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including a ban on spread pricing in Medicaid, and a requirement that 100% of rebates reach their intended beneficiaries\n\nExpanded access to healthcare savings accounts (HSAs)\n\nAuthored by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), features of the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act include:\n\nA one-year extension of EPTCs for those making less than 1000% of the federal poverty line with a phaseout beginning at 600%.\n\nSenator Ron Wyden\u2019s (D-OR) Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, which reins in rogue healthcare brokers who abuse taxpayer-funded benefits.\n\nAn extension of open enrollment until March 19th, 2026.\n\nReforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including a ban on spread pricing in Medicaid, and a requirement that 100% of rebates reach their intended beneficiaries\n\nSee the discharge petition for the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act HERE\n\nSee the discharge petition for the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act HERE\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meusers-access-act-included-invest-act-house-passes-landmark-package-expand", "Meuser\u2019s ACCESS Act Included in INVEST Act; House Passes Landmark Package to Expand Access to Public and Private Markets for Americans", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Incentivizing New Ventures and Economic Strength Through Capital Formation (INVEST) Act (H.R.3383), a comprehensive package of more than 20 bipartisan financial-services bills, including Rep. Dan Meuser\u2019s (PA-09) ACCESS Act (H.R. 3645). The inclusion and passage of the ACCESS Act mark a major victory for America\u2019s smallest businesses by modernizing outdated Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) requirements and reducing unnecessary compliance costs for early-stage entrepreneurs, allowing them to raise capital without filing punitive penalties\n\nRep. Meuser\u2019s ACCESS Act(Amendment for Crowdfunding Capital Enhancement and Small-business Support) updates long-stagnant financial-statement thresholds and helps streamline capital formation for start-ups, local manufacturers, neighborhood retailers, and other Main Street innovators.\n\nWhat the ACCESS Act Does\n\nCuts red tape for entrepreneurs: The bill raises the threshold at which issuers must obtain a costly financial-statement review by an independent public accountant from $100,000 to $250,000.\n\nBuilds in long-term flexibility: It allows the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon recommendation of the Office of the Investor Advocate and the Office of the Small Business Capital Formation Advocate, to increase that threshold up to $400,000, ensuring the rule keeps pace with inflation and market conditions.\n\nRight-sizes federal securities rules: The ACCESS Act corrects a longstanding mismatch; today\u2019s small issuers raising modest amounts of capital are often treated like companies conducting multi-million-dollar offerings.\n\n\u201cEntrepreneurs shouldn\u2019t have to burn their limited capital on compliance that\u2019s completely out of proportion to what they\u2019re raising. The ACCESS Act finally updates these outdated thresholds, allowing early-stage companies to raise the early capital they need without burning it on unnecessary accounting costs. Its inclusion in the INVEST Act is a significant, bipartisan step toward making capital formation more practical and more affordable. This legislation puts everyday Americans first and uses the strength of our capital markets to fuel growth on Main Street, not Wall Street,\u201d Meuser said.\n\nMeuser continued, \u201cThe INVEST Act does this on a much larger scale; it broadens opportunities for everyday Americans to invest in our public and private markets, expands access to capital, facilitates capital formation, promotes transparency, and helps charitable organizations build retirement security for their employees. The INVEST Act is a major win for workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, and I\u2019m pleased to help deliver it alongside Chairman Hill and Subcommittee Chairman Wagner.\u201d\n\nACCESS Act Background\n\nRegulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), created through the bipartisan JOBS Act of 2012, opened the door for everyday investors to support early-stage companies online. Many issuers that raise over $100,000, a small amount for a new business, are faced with costly financial statements required by law, often north of $10,000. A small business should not have to pay 10% of their capital raise because of an outdated law.\n\nThe ACCESS Act raises these thresholds to $250,000 for the first time in more than a decade and builds an adaptive framework that allows the SEC to adjust them going forward with inflation. These updates preserve appropriate investor protections while reducing burdens that have discouraged many start-ups, especially those in rural communities, from accessing early-stage capital markets.\n\nAbout the INVEST Act Package\n\nThe INVEST Act brings together more than 20 bipartisan measures designed to strengthen capital markets, expand access to financing, improve transparency, and support small businesses nationwide. The inclusion of the ACCESS Act demonstrates strong consensus around the need to revitalize early-stage capital formation and empower American entrepreneurs.\n\nNext Steps\n\nFollowing House passage by a vote of 302-123, the INVEST Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-deluzio-statement-house-passage-fy26-ndaa", "Congressman Deluzio Statement on House Passage of the FY26 NDAA", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cI voted NO tonight because the D.C. swampy machine did the bidding of the defense industrial complex by stripping out important bipartisan provisions that I secured in the annual defense bill to protect public money from price gouging and to make sure defense corporations cannot block our troops from fixing their own gear and equipment.\n\n\u201cThey took out provisions\u2014often that had support in both the House and the Senate from Republicans and Democrats alike\u2014that challenged corporate power, returned collective bargaining rights to workers, and protected public money from getting ripped off by defense contractors.\n\n\u201cWe need a military that has what it needs to keep us safe and win any fight that comes our way. And we need a Pentagon and a Congress that better protect public money, do not union bust patriotic civil servants, and are not afraid to push back against the defense industrial complex.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-led-fight-congress-keep-navy-reserve-centers-open-he-won", "Deluzio Led the Fight in Congress to Keep Navy Reserve Centers Open. He Won.", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After learning that the U.S. Senate snuck a provision into the annual defense bill to close America\u2019s Navy Reserve Centers (NRCs), Western Pennsylvania Congressman and Navy veteran Chris Deluzio (PA-17) successfully led the fight to remove the provision and keep Navy Reserve Centers open. This included the NRC in Moon Township, PA at the 911th Airlift Wing\u2014in Pennsylvania\u2019s 17th Congressional District\u2014and in Harrisburg and Avoca, PA. With these centers set to remain open, our nation's Navy Reserve will stay trained, supported, and ready to do our country\u2019s bidding\u2014anytime, anywhere.\n\n\"It's important that regions like ours have Navy Reserve Centers so that Sailors can keep their ties to the fleet if we need to mobilize them for active-duty service,\u201d said Congressman Chris Deluzio. \u201cI am proud that I won the fight to protect the Navy Reserve Centers in Western Pennsylvania and across the country\u2014these are important facilities to support our Navy reservists who stand at the ready to mobilize for service.\u201d\n\nNRCs perform administrative, training, and support to Navy Reserve Sailors, ensuring readiness for the country's Navy Reserve. Congressman Deluzio helped craft the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act\u2014or NDAA\u2014as a member of the House Armed Service Committee. The version that he voted for did not include the elimination of Navy Reserve Centers. However, the Senate-passed version of the NDAA added a provision to close the more than 100 Navy Reserve Centers across the country, including one in the district that Congressman Deluzio represents.\n\nCongressman Deluzio and his office worked for months to remove the provision from the final compromise text of the defense bill. Congressman Deluzio led a letter to the Armed Service Committee leadership signed by eighteen of his congressional colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats. The full text of the letter is available here and his efforts were covered by KDKA TV news in Pittsburgh. Ultimately, his efforts were successful. When the final defense bill text was released last weekend, the provision closing NRCs was removed.\n\n\u201cSound defense policy must be grounded in reality and evidence,\u201d said Colonel Chuck Sargent, USAFR (Ret.), Chairman, Military Affairs Council of Western Pennsylvania (MACWPA). \u201cCongressman Deluzio\u2019s willingness to engage, listen, and act\u2014supported by strong research and collaboration\u2014helped preserve military readiness while maintaining vital connections between our communities and the armed forces.\u201d\n\nByron King, Capt, USN/ret, President of Pittsburgh Council of the U.S. Navy League provided the following statement celebrating Congressman Deluzio\u2019s successful effort to keep Navy Reserve Centers open:\n\n\u201cIt is gratifying to learn that the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) no longer legislates the abrupt, nationwide closure of 107 Navy Reserve Centers. Certainly, we are pleased that Pittsburgh's own Navy Reserve facility will remain operational, located adjacent to the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport.\n\n\u201cA pithy old nautical saying advises that \"time and tide wait for no one.\" And with this in mind, and on behalf of the Pittsburgh Council of the U.S. Navy League, our members and friends of the Navy want to thank Rep. Chris Deluzio and his staff for their fast, responsive and decisive efforts. Promptly, efficiently and with great focus they coordinated a broad, national-scale and bipartisan coalition of U.S. House Members to eliminate this particular \u2018shutdown\u2019 provision from the 2026 NDAA, which is otherwise critical legislation for the defense of the country.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Navy Reserve was established in 1775, a year before the founding of the country, and for 250 years Reserve personnel have played key roles in every American military effort, and not a few peacetime missions that involved disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts. The current Reserve system is administered through Navy facilities located in every state. Shutting down these centers would be immediately detrimental to training and administering Reservists, with high likelihood of decreased readiness and negative impact on mission capabilities across the broad spectrum of Navy missions.\n\n\u201cThe Pittsburgh Council of the Navy League extends its sincere thanks to Rep. Deluzio and his staff, and to numerous other friends of the Navy who helped generate widespread public interest and support in this matter.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-files-discharge-petition-to-force-vote-on-bipartisan-bill-preventing-aca-premium-spikes", "Fitzpatrick Files Discharge Petition to Force Vote on Bipartisan Bill Preventing ACA Premium Spikes", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "If 218 members sign on, the House must immediately debate and vote on the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) released the following statement after filing a discharge petition to bring his Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act directly to the House floor for a vote, ensuring Congress takes action to prevent devastating health insurance premium increases when current protections expire at the end of the year:\n\n\u201cCongress cannot sit idle while American families face a preventable crisis. Our job is to protect the people we serve, and that responsibility demands immediate action.\n\nIf these protections expire, millions of Americans will be hit with premium increases they simply cannot afford, forcing impossible choices about their health, their finances, and their futures. They deserve a concrete solution now \u2014 not promises of one later.\n\nFor months, I have worked with Republicans and Democrats in both chambers, along with input from the Administration, to build a bipartisan solution that can actually pass\u2014not a political messaging exercise. This bill delivers the urgent help families need now, while giving Congress the runway to keep improving our healthcare system for the long term. Responsible governance means securing 80 percent of what families need today, rather than risking 100 percent of nothing tomorrow.\n\nFiling this discharge petition ensures the House will have the opportunity\u2014and obligation\u2014to vote. Every member must decide whom they serve: the people, or the politics. We can prevent this \u2014 and we must. If 217 of my colleagues are willing to join me in putting constituents first, we can protect working- and middle-class families from a catastrophic crisis.\n\nOur neighbors are counting on us. I\u2019m calling on my colleagues to sign this petition, bring this two-party solution to the floor, and deliver the security and certainty American families deserve.\u201d\n\nAbout the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act:\n\nFitzpatrick (PA-01) was joined by Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Tom Suozzi (NY-02), Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Donald G. Davis (NC-01), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) to introduce the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act, a two-party, targeted solution to prevent a sharp jump in healthcare costs as current protections expire and ensure millions of Americans can maintain affordable coverage.\n\nWithout immediate congressional action, the scheduled expiration of the Affordable Care Act\u2019s enhanced premium tax credits would result in steep, sudden cost increases and widespread loss of coverage\u2014destabilizing the healthcare markets working families rely upon.\n\nKey Provisions of the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act\n\nThe legislation advances five reforms designed to protect affordability, strengthen accountability, and ensure taxpayer value:\n\nPrevents premium spikes: Extends enhanced premium tax credits through 2027, to protect families from abrupt monthly cost increases.\n\nRestores Consumer Control: Stops unauthorized plan and subsidy changes by requiring consent and prompt notification before any modifications take effect.\n\nShines Light on Middlemen: Ends hidden spread pricing, severs PBM profits from drug prices, and requires full rebate pass-through to ensure savings reach patients.\n\nGives Families New Tools to Manage Costs: Expands access to Health Savings Accounts and simplifies premium payments to reduce disruptions in coverage.\n\nSmart Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars: Modernizes eligibility and introduces a reasonable minimum contribution to protect long-term affordability and responsible stewardship of federal dollars.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n####", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-golden-bipartisan-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights-clears-key-house-hurdle-teeing-up-final-votes-tomorrow", "Fitzpatrick-Golden Bipartisan Bill to Restore Federal Workers\u2019 Union Rights Clears Key House Hurdle, Teeing Up Final Votes Tomorrow", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "House approves Motion to Discharge after months of broad coalition-building\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to advance the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), bipartisan legislation led by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to restore and protect collective bargaining rights for nearly one million federal workers.\n\nWith this vote, the House affirmed a principle shared across party lines: supporting the dedicated public servants who keep our government running is essential to the nation\u2019s strength. The House is expected to vote on final passage tomorrow.\n\nFitzpatrick and Golden successfully built a bipartisan coalition of 226 cosponsors, securing the 218 signatures necessary to bring PAWA to the floor\u2014a procedural milestone that signifies strong cross-party support.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people\u2019s will to move forward. A bipartisan majority affirmed that protecting America\u2019s security and respecting America\u2019s workers are not competing priorities \u2014 they are inseparable,\u201d said Fitzpatrick. \u201cFederal workers, many of whom are veterans, are the backbone of our public service. When their voices are heard in the decisions that shape their work, our government is more stable, more capable, and better prepared to serve the American people. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Congressman Golden in leading this bipartisan effort. Tomorrow, let\u2019s carry this unity across the finish line and restore the rights that keep our federal workforce \u2014 and the nation they serve\u2014strong.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump said ending collective bargaining was about protecting our national defense. But in my District, many affected workers build our warships and care for our veterans. These workers make our country safer and stronger every day. America did not vote to silence these workers. But this bill gives all of us a chance to restore their voices,\u201d Golden said. \u201cIf the majority we built over the past few months sticks together, we can overturn this union-busting executive order, and we can show America that this body will protect workers' rights.\u201d\n\nLabor organizations representing public servants across the government praised the House\u2019s action:\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing,\" said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \"We commend Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms and livelihoods.\u201d\n\n\u201cTime and again, he has answered the call to defend the working men and women who keep this country safe and secure, healthy and prosperous. I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act offered by Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick and enact it into law,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).\n\nBackground:\n\nFitzpatrick and Golden introduced the bipartisan Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act in April.\n\nThe legislation would reverse the Executive Order titled \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs\u201d which aimed to eliminate collective bargaining rights across multiple federal agencies. Specifically, the order targeted employees in the Departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Energy, as well as certain employees in the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Agriculture. In total, the order impacted roughly 67% of the federal workforce, according to independent reports.\n\nFederal workers already face significant limitations in their labor rights. Unlike their counterparts in the private sector, they are prohibited by law from bargaining over wages, benefits, or job classifications and are barred from striking. Their collective bargaining rights are restricted solely to matters related to working conditions. Notably, approximately one-third of unionized federal employees are U.S. military veterans.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act reaffirms a core principle: a government that serves the people must also respect the rights of those who serve within it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4851", "New Report from Senator Warren\u2019s Office Reveals Trump Administration Siphoned At Least $2 Billion from Military Budget for Immigration Enforcement", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) released a new report detailing the Trump administration\u2019s diversion of funds and resources from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement, and its impact on readiness and morale.\n\nSenators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) co-authored the report.\n\nUnder a second Trump administration, the U.S. military has become heavily involved in immigration enforcement. Senator Warren\u2019s new report, the first detailed review of the Pentagon\u2019s spending on immigration, found that DoD has committed at least $2 billion to support immigration enforcement through mobilizing and deploying troops to American cities and the Southern border, deporting and transporting immigrants on military aircrafts, detaining individuals on U.S. military installations, and more.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an insult to our service members that Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem are using the defense budget as a slush fund for political stunts. Stripping military resources to promote a wasteful political agenda doesn\u2019t make our military stronger or Americans safer,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cCongress needs to step in and hold the Trump Administration accountable for mishandling billions of taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen President Trump recklessly diverts our military to support immigration enforcement, our armed forces pay the price. As this report shows, these disruptions come at a significant cost, in both dollars and readiness,\u201d said Representative Garamendi.\n\nDespite an unprecedented $170 billion budget allocated to DHS, it\u2019s unclear how much DoD has received in reimbursement for any of its spending on immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the military is funding these efforts in support of DHS with money allocated for other DoD projects including updates to barracks, maintenance hangers, and military construction projects in the Pacific. Concerningly, the Pentagon has requested an additional $5 billion for further immigration support in its budget request for 2026.\n\n\u201cDiverting the military from its existing missions and thrusting it into immigration enforcement does not make Americans safer. This multi-billion-dollar political stunt is an overt waste of taxpayer resources and undermines national security, military readiness, and resources for our servicemembers,\u201d said the members.\n\nThe members\u2019 report found that, in 2025, the Pentagon has committed:\n\nAt least $1.3 billion for the deployment of troops and resources to the border;\n\nAt least $258 million to support Trump\u2019s orders to deploy troops to Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges;\n\nAt least $420.9 million for detaining immigrants at domestic military installations and overseas bases like Guant\u00e1namo and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti; and\n\nAt least $40.3 million for military flights to deport and transport noncitizen detainees.\n\nThe report raised concerns that, in addition to the cost of the DoD immigration efforts, it has resulted in \u201cservicemembers\u2026being pulled from their homes, families, and civilian jobs for indefinite periods of time to support legally questionable political stunts,\u201d wrote the members. The deployments also unnecessarily put our servicemembers in harm's way: in November, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, was killed while her West Virginia National Guard unit was deployed to Washington, D.C, and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured.\n\nThe deployment of troops for immigration enforcement has also weakened the military\u2019s ability to respond to emergencies. For example, the 101st Airborne Division \u2014 the U.S. Army\u2019s only air assault division \u2014 deployed to the border instead of standing ready for national security missions. Additionally, leading into peak fire season, the California National Guard firefighting unit was \u201cunderstaffed because roughly half its members [were] deployed to Los Angeles.\u201d These deployments may also require units to miss key training exercises necessary to ensure combat readiness, as the Government Accountability Office found occurred during the first Trump administration.\n\nThe diversion of DoD funds is having a devastating effect on the military\u2019s ability to improve services for troops and their families. Among the projects impacted by the prioritization of border operations is a $1 billion renovation of military barracks. Secretary Hegseth also diverted funding from elementary schools at Fort Knox and a U.S. military installation in Germany, an ambulatory care center and dental clinic to service Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, a jet-training facility in Mississippi, and Marine barracks in Japan.\n\nDuring the first Trump administration, the DoD stopped deploying troops to the border after determining the deployments were hurting military readiness and morale. The border mission appeared to contribute to alcohol and drug abuse among service members, and may have even contributed to a number of tragic suicides among Texas National Guardsmen. The members raised concerns about similar issues arising again, particularly given the lack of clarity around how long deployments will last.\n\nThe report also slammed the administration\u2019s failure to adequately inform Congress and the public about the diversion of funds. \u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s secrecy leaves many questions unanswered. The administration has failed to provide clarity on basic questions about DoD\u2019s role in supporting DHS,\u201d said the members.\n\nThe coalition directed follow-up questions to Secretary Hegseth about the number of troops currently supporting immigration enforcement, how long military units will be supporting DHS, and whether DHS will reimburse the military.\n\nOn Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on deployment of the National Guard across the United States.\n\nCover Letter to the Pentagon (PDF) | Text of Report (PDF)\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4852", "Houlahan Champions Key Reforms and Readiness Investments in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, successfully secured 40 priorities in the bipartisan, bicameral compromise of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The conference report released last week reflects months of negotiations and delivers major reforms to strengthen military readiness, protect servicemembers and their families, and safeguard America\u2019s competitive edge at a time of rapid and unpredictable change within the Department of Defense.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA, which includes a 3.8 percent pay increase for all servicemembers, strengthens military readiness and reaffirms our commitment to the people who serve,\u201d said Houlahan. \u201cI\u2019m especially proud that we delivered landmark protections for military women by permanently codifying Women\u2019s Initiative Teams across every service branch, an achievement that was not included in the Senate bill but one I fought to keep in the final package. These protections strengthen our force, our families, and our national security, and are vital under an Administration working to sideline women and erase their contributions. I\u2019m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for helping us get this across the finish line.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-votes-national-defense-authorization-act-supports-pay-raise-service-0", "Kelly votes for National Defense Authorization Act, supports pay raise for service members", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual comprehensive package of legislation that supports American defense and military service members.\n\nThe FY2026 NDAA includes a 3.8% pay raise for all service members, supports President Trump\u2019s Golden Dome for America initiative, and authorizes President Trump\u2019s budget request of over $1 billion to fight drug trafficking, among other priorities.\n\n\"This year's NDAA once again fulfills our America First commitment to protect our homeland and support our service members,\" said Rep. Kelly. \"This comprehensive defense legislation ensures we are strengthening our military both for today and for years to come.\"\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe FY26 NDAA fully funds our national defense while cutting costs and improving efficiency, including:\n\nThe FY26 NDAA supports the Trump Administration\u2019s budget request for a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers and improves housing, education, and access to childcare for military families.\n\nAuthorizes $900 billion for national defense discretionary programs. The FY26 NDAA saves taxpayers over $20 billion, including DOGE-initiated savings assumed in President Trump\u2019s budget request.\n\nSaves taxpayers over $20 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary Pentagon bureaucracy.\n\nFully supports President Trump\u2019s top priorities, including the Golden Dome, F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-supports-fiscal-year-2026-national-defense-authorization", "Thompson Supports Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 10, 2025\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. Rep. Thompson released the following statement upon passage of the package:\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act makes a generational investment in America\u2019s national defense and ensures the U.S. military remains the strongest in the world. It gives our Armed Forces cutting-edge capabilities they need to be ready.\n\n\u201cImportantly, the bill improves the quality of life for all service members by increasing their pay, expanding their housing, and ensuring their children have access to quality education and childcare. I proudly support this NDAA, which implements President Trump\u2019s \u2018Peace Through Strength\u2019 agenda.\u201d\n\nNDAA Highlights:\n\nProvides a 3.8% pay raise for all service members and reauthorizes and expands military bonuses and special pay.\n\nIncludes Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, which expands access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. Rep. Thompson is a cosponsor of the standalone bill.\n\nExpands authorities and increases funding for the Department of War to conduct more investigations and return the remains of American POW/MIA service members.\n\nAuthorizes, funds, and creates new authorities to meet President Trump\u2019s goal of revitalizing American shipbuilding, growing defense manufacturing jobs in America, and onshoring our defense supply chains.\n\nExpands efforts to counter foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-trumps-visit-pennsylvania", "Boyle Statement on Trump\u2019s Visit to Pennsylvania", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan F. Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", "boyle", "https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "PHILADELPHIA, PA \u2013 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement ahead of Trump\u2019s visit to Pennsylvania:\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is returning to my state, where all throughout the campaign last year he promised to lower costs on \u2018day one\u2019. And now one year later? Prices are higher than ever thanks to his policies.\n\nIn fact, Donald Trump now calls the cost-of-living crisis a \u2018con\u2019 \u2014 but the real con was his promise to lower prices.\n\nDonald Trump cares more about building ballrooms and giving tax breaks to billionaires than he does about struggling Pennsylvania families.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-deluzios-bill-rename-sewickley-post-office-after-local-historian", "Congressman Deluzio\u2019s Bill to Rename Sewickley Post Office After Local Historian & Author Unanimously Passes U.S. House of Reps", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Tonight, Congressman Chris Deluzio\u2019s (PA-17) bipartisan legislation to rename the post office in Sewickley, PA at 521 Thorn Street after Mary Elizabeth \"Bettie\" Cole passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously by a voice vote. It is a significant step forward in commemorating the beloved Western Pennsylvania community leader, local historian, and author.\n\nIn 2000, Mrs. Cole published Their Story: The History of Blacks/African Americans in Sewickley & Edgeworth. This book documented a significant and often-overlooked part of the Sewickley Valley community, and was the culmination of 20 years of research, including more than 100 interviews with community members.\n\n\u201cPost offices are more than just a place to send mail and packages\u2014they are public institutions that should reflect the community\u2019s proud past,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cSewickley has a rich history, and community pillars like Mrs. Bettie Cole have been important to telling that shared story. Her community service should be honored. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to lead the effort to memorialize Bettie\u2019s contributions by renaming Sewickley\u2019s post office after her, and I thank my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for recognizing the importance of this acknowledgement.\u201d\n\nMrs. Mary Elizabeth \"Bettie\" Cole was born in Edgeworth, PA, on April 5, 1923. She moved to Sewickley in 1939, where she spent the rest of her life. She was a 1940 graduate of Sewickley High School. Shortly after graduation, she married and had two daughters who she raised and nurtured.\n\nIn 1988, she retired from Point Park College (now Point Park University) as the associate director of office services and director of the mailing department. While employed at Point Park, Mrs. Cole earned her Associate of Arts degree in Journalism and Communications, and was inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda (National Honor Society for part-time students) as one of the 13 charter members of Point Park\u2019s Gamma Epsilon Chapter. She boasted that at the time, she was possibly (and proudly) the chapter\u2019s eldest member and only grandmother. Mrs. Cole passed away in 2016 at the age of 92, leaving behind a family and community proud of her contributions.\n\nThe legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Congressman Deluzio will encourage his colleagues on the other side of the Capitol to pass this legislation and send it to the President\u2019s desk for signature into law as soon as possible.\n\nA video of Congressman Deluzio\u2019s floor speech is available here and a photo of the Sewickley Post Office is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-introduces-strengthening-trade-enforcement-and-evasion-limitations-act", "Deluzio Introduces Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations Act", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced the Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations Act, or STEEL Act. This is legislation that will enhance trade enforcement and prevent dumping, an unfair trade practice by foreign nations that sell subsidized goods in the United States and devalue the prices of American steel and other domestic products.\n\n\u201cWestern Pennsylvanians know how decades of wimpy trade law enforcement have hurt American workers and industry,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cWe need stronger enforcement, and that means stopping trade cheats from ripping us off. I was glad to work with Congressman Mike Kelly on this bill to put some muscle back into our trade enforcement laws and help level the playing field for American jobs and industries.\u201d\n\n\"For years, foreign steel producers have undercut American steel and tube producers by exporting their product at prices below the cost of production. These harmful -- and even illegal -- trade practices have hurt Pennsylvania steel producers, leading to job losses in communities across Pennsylvania and the United States,\" said Rep. Kelly. \"The Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations (STEEL) Act puts American companies first, and it fully rejects the idea that foreign companies can participate in the U.S. market against U.S. companies without playing by the same rules.\"\n\nThe full bill text is availablehere.\n\nThe STEEL Act is endorsed by many groups, including the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI).\n\nFor too long, bad actors have sought to evade U.S. trade laws through fraud, transshipment and other schemes. These actions have hurt American businesses and workers, including in the American steel industry. By allowing Customs and Border Protection to initiate investigations on its own initiative when it finds evidence of evasion of antidumping or countervailing duty orders, this bill will give CBP an additional tool to crack down on these illegal schemes,\" said Kevin Dempsey, President and CEO, American Iron and Steel Institute. \"AISI commends Representatives Mike Kelly and Chris Deluzio for their leadership in introducing this important legislation. AISI urges Congress to pass this and other trade enforcement legislation to ensure strict and vigorous enforcement of U.S. trade laws and to hold trade cheaters accountable.\"\n\n\u201cSteel pipe and tube producers across the country have long borne the brunt of unfairly traded imports that erode market share and put U.S. manufacturers and workers at risk. The Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) has been an essential tool for the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI) and its member companies in stopping bad actors from evading antidumping and countervailing duties intended to counter unfair trade practices. Unfortunately, gaps in the current statute have still allowed some importers to exploit loopholes and avoid lawfully imposed duties,\" said Roger B. Schagrin, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI). \"CPTI commends Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) for their leadership in the introduction of this legislation to strengthen the Enforce and Protect Act. By enabling U.S. Customs and Border Protection to proactively investigate duty evasion and by curbing frivolous appeals, this legislation will strengthen enforcement and deliver meaningful relief to American manufacturers and workers across the country who rely on fair and effective trade laws. We look forward to working with Representatives Kelly and Deluzio to support this critical legislation and the jobs it protects.\"\n\n\u201cThanks to the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA), the OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA) has seen more than $400 million in unpaid antidumping and countervailing duties assessed \u2014more than any other industry\u2014through this vital enforcement tool,\u201d said Guillermo Moreno, President of Tenaris US and Chairman of USOMA. \u201cStill, more must be done to stop bad actors from evading duly imposed AD/CVD orders. Our members applaud the leadership of Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) for introducing legislation that will strengthen CBP\u2019s ability to pursue duty evaders and curb frivolous litigation that wastes government and industry resources. We look forward to working with congressional leaders to enact these critical reforms and ensure that American manufacturers are fully protected from loopholes and delay tactics.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-action-to-prevent-aca-premium-spikes-and-protect-affordable-healthcare", "Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Action to Prevent ACA Premium Spikes and Protect Affordable Healthcare", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act delivers a practical, passable solution to avert year-end crisis\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) was joined by Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Tom Suozzi (NY-02), Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Donald G. Davis (NC-01), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) to introduce the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act, a two-party, targeted solution to prevent a sharp jump in healthcare costs as current protections expire and ensure millions of Americans can maintain affordable coverage.\n\nWithout immediate congressional action, the scheduled expiration of the Affordable Care Act\u2019s enhanced premium tax credits would result in steep, sudden cost increases and widespread loss of coverage\u2014destabilizing the healthcare markets working families rely upon.\n\n\u201cFrom the outset, I committed to delivering a bipartisan solution to prevent devastating premium spikes\u2014today, we are doing exactly that. Our bill keeps the ACA\u2019s premium tax credits in place, so families are not blindsided with unaffordable increases in the care they depend on,\u201d said Fitzpatrick. \u201cThis is a practical, people-first fix that protects families now, while preserving the space to keep working toward a stronger, smarter, more affordable healthcare system. When the stakes are this high, responsible governance means securing 80 percent of what families need today rather than risking 100 percent of nothing tomorrow. We built this the right way\u2014with input from across the aisle and across chambers\u2014with the clearest pathway to the President\u2019s desk. We\u2019re ready to get this done, and we call on our colleagues to step up, join us, and put American families, not political messaging, first.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act\n\nThe legislation advances five reforms designed to protect affordability, strengthen accountability, and ensure taxpayer value:\n\nPrevents premium spikes: Extends enhanced premium tax credits through 2027, to protect families from abrupt monthly cost increases.\n\nRestores Consumer Control: Stops unauthorized plan and subsidy changes by requiring consent and prompt notification before any modifications take effect.\n\nShines Light on Middlemen: Ends hidden spread pricing, severs PBM profits from drug prices, and requires full rebate pass-through to ensure savings reach patients.\n\nGives Families New Tools to Manage Costs: Expands access to Health Savings Accounts and simplifies premium payments to reduce disruptions in coverage.\n\nSmart Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars: Modernizes eligibility and introduces a reasonable minimum contribution to protect long-term affordability and responsible stewardship of federal dollars.\n\n\u201cWe have known for months that there is no way for either party to address the looming health care cliff alone. It\u2019s long past time that members and leaders in Congress come together to prevent catastrophic coverage price spikes for millions of Americans,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThe Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Act preserves the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for the families who need them most, implements sensible income caps to reduce costs and better target benefits and cracks down on prescription drug middlemen. This moment requires leaders to abandon their partisan corners and govern. Our bill provides a path out of gridlock and toward solutions.\u201d\n\n\"The expiration of the ACA Premium Tax Credits on 12/31/25 would create an avoidable crisis for millions of Americans who will face an explosion of their healthcare premiums. We need a bipartisan solution now, and we must battle against the petty partisan interests that put politics above people. Simply put, while this bill is not perfect, it is a short-term, reasonable solution that prevents catastrophic premium spikes. If enacted, we must use the reprieve to craft long-term reforms to lower healthcare costs in the long run: incentivizing preventative care, lowering drug prices, and cracking down on wasteful bureaucracy and abuse in our system. To get there, we must work together now, and act with the urgency this moment demands,\" said Suozzi.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad we\u2019re moving the debate forward on extending and reforming the Affordable Care Act subsidies. I\u2019ve made clear to my colleagues on both sides that Congress needs a smart, bipartisan agreement that prevents our constituents\u2019 health insurance premiums from skyrocketing,\u201d said Bacon. \u201cThat\u2019s why I worked with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Jared Golden, Tom Suozzi, Rob Bresnahan, and Don Davis to introduce the Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Act, another reasonable compromise that extends the enhanced premium tax credits for two years and applies new income caps and fraud protections. This may not be the final package Congress adopts, but it\u2019s a responsible compromise that can help break the gridlock and protect families from higher costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress must act swiftly to bring certainty and reduce anxiety. We must promote greater accountability and ensure families do not lose vital health coverage or face bankruptcy due to medical emergencies,\u201d said Davis.\n\n\u201cFamilies across Northeastern Pennsylvania have expressed that affordability is a key concern in our healthcare system,\u201d said Bresnahan. \u201cThis bipartisan effort to extend ACA tax credits has the potential to help working families keep more money in their pockets and maintain the coverage they rely on.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring down health care costs. Nobody wants to shell out more cash to insurance companies or PBM middlemen,\u201d said Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cAt the same time, we can\u2019t lose sight of the fact that national health doesn\u2019t come from insurance coverage \u2014 it hinges on people having good jobs, being able to sleep 8 hours a night, cook real food and see their kids at night. Affordable healthcare and medicine are imperative and worth the fight, but a strong nation is longer work.\u201d\n\n\u201cI join my colleagues to introduce the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act to protect nearly 80,000 individuals in my district who rely on Affordable Care Act plans from steep premium increases when the temporary premium tax credit subsidy expires at the end of this year,\u201d said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. \u201cThe Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama is simply not affordable as premiums have skyrocketed while insurance companies made record profits. Our bipartisan legislation is a balanced, centrist approach to protecting our constituents from steep premium hikes, making Health Savings Accounts more versatile, reducing \u201cObamacare\u201d fraud and cracking down on insurance companies, insurance brokers, and predatory \u201cMiddlemen\u201d Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Affordable Care Act established premium tax credits to help families afford coverage. To prevent sharp price increases during recent years of inflation, Congress temporarily enhanced those credits in 2021 and extended them through 2025 while broader reforms continued to be debated.\n\nThat extension now expires at year\u2019s end. Without a targeted fix, millions would see immediate and significant premium spikes on January 1\u2014jeopardizing household budgets and destabilizing the individual market.\n\nRecognizing both the urgency and the responsibility to deliver a real solution, Fitzpatrick has led months of bipartisan engagement to produce a plan that is responsible, passable, and ready to go. The Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act reflects that work, providing the protections families need now and a durable framework for continuing long-term efforts to bring down healthcare costs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4849", "Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, Democratic Senators, & House Democrats Blast Army for Sexual Misconduct Failures; Demand Accountability", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Monday, December 8, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), DWC Servicewomen, Women Veterans and Military Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), DWC Progressive Caucus Liaison Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and DWC members Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) led 58 members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, House Democrats, and Democratic Senators in a letter to the Department of Defense Inspector General demanding accountability for the Army\u2019s failure to stop widespread sexual misconduct.\n\nRecently, over 80 women joined a lawsuit alleging that Dr. Major Blaine McGraw made sexual advances, directed lewd comments towards them, and secretly recorded patients during exams while working at Ford Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center. Dr. McGraw was not suspended from his position until this October.\n\nIn their letter, the Members and Senators expressed their outrage over Army leadership\u2019s inaction despite numerous complaints from servicewomen and military wives that Dr. McGraw had sexually exploited women in his care for years. They also explained some of the unconscionable abuses women experienced, including details from the story of Jane Doe.\n\nIn their letter, the Members and Senators shared how the Army ignored Jane Doe\u2019s attempts to report her abuse:\n\n\u201cAfter reportedly being assaulted during a patient visit with Dr. McGraw, Jane Doe said she begged a desk attendant to make a report. Instead, she was told to \u2018call or send an email.\u2019 Jane Doe alleges she called the hospital seven different times, but she was dismissed and hung up on each time. The purported lack of response and urgency to respond to these complaints would clearly violate reporting policy and the Army\u2019s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program protocols.\u201d\n\nThe Members and Senators also expressed deep concern in their letter that this abuse is part of a recurring pattern of the Army failing to intervene in cases of sexual misconduct:\n\n\u201cIn the lawsuit, female servicemembers and patients noted that a recurring issue was the lack of adequate response from Army leadership. Reportedly, when victims and their loved ones tried to make complaints with Army leadership, they were \u2018refused meetings at every level.\u2019 If true, these women deserve better. The alleged dismissive response from the Army demonstrates an immense failure at every level to properly support survivors.\u201d\n\nThe Members and Senators concluded the letter by demanding a full investigation, explanations on how complaints were handled, and stronger protections to ensure no woman faces this abuse again:\n\n\u201cThe allegations against Dr. McGraw are extremely serious, and the Army\u2019s criminal investigation of this matter must continue unabated. That said, the separate concerns raised by survivors about members of the Army at many levels not timely acting on their complaints must be confronted immediately. Additionally, we request that DoD IG investigate to determine whether personnel within the Army properly followed procedures to timely report allegations of sexual misconduct to law enforcement and whether other SAPR procedures and existing protections were followed or not.\u201d\n\nLetter Lead Members and Senators expressed their outrage at the Army\u2019s blatant failure:\n\n\u201cWhat happened at Fort Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center is a profound betrayal of the women who trust the military with their care. For years, Dr. Blaine McGraw preyed on patients while leadership ignored warnings and allowed the abuse to continue. Survivors also begged for help and were met with silence, skepticism, or dismissal. That is not just a moral failure but a procedural one. No woman serving our country should ever fear being violated by those responsible for her safety. Our letter demands accountability and the reforms needed to make sure this never happens again,\u201d said DWC Servicewomen, Women Veterans and Military Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06).\n\n\u201cReports of the Army\u2019s failure to respond to sexual misconduct allegations and the many pleas raised by military women are appalling. The allegations in this case point to a deeply troubling breakdown in accountability and oversight. Sexual misconduct must never be tolerated, regardless of rank or position. Military servicewomen are essential to our armed forces, and they deserve to be heard, protected, and taken seriously. I am proud to co-lead this letter to demand answers, prevent future misconduct, and bring accountability and transparency for survivors who have been ignored for far too long,\u201d said DWC member Sylvia Garcia (TX-39).\n\n\u201cNo woman should feel unsafe receiving medical care, especially during sensitive and private health services. Yet far too many survivors have come forward with their experiences of exploitation and alleged abuse by a doctor who reportedly violated not just the basic principles of medical care and human decency, but also the expected conduct of a U.S. Army officer and physician,\u201d said Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI). \u201cThe Department of Defense and U.S. Army must take accountability for its failure to rapidly respond to servicemembers and patient complaints. While nothing can reverse the harm reported by patients, a comprehensive investigation into this alleged misconduct, resulting in stronger protections for patients, is necessary to ensure that no one experiences abuse by our military health system again.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe rise in physician sexual misconduct across the country has now permeated the U.S. military, leaving women servicemembers and the wives of servicemembers vulnerable,\u201d said DWC member Lori Trahan (MA-03). \u201cThe allegations against Dr. McGraw are horrific, and the Army\u2019s delayed response is unacceptable. These women deserve to know that when they report abuse, they will be protected, believed, and taken seriously. We\u2019re demanding answers because accountability cannot wait and the safety of those who serve our nation and their families cannot be compromised.\u201d\n\n\u201cServicemembers and their families make extraordinary sacrifices to keep our country safe. Yet the U.S. Army failed to protect them when they were at their most vulnerable,\u201d said DWC Progressive Caucus Liaison Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cI am disgusted by the allegations against Dr. McGraw and sickened that the Army\u2019s delayed response enabled further harm to these women, who will now carry lasting trauma and emotional scars. The repeated dismissal of complaints is an appalling breach of duty, which is why we are demanding accountability, meaningful reform, and assurance that this will never happen again.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\nIn addition to letter leads Mazie Hirono, Chrissy Houlahan, Jill Tokuda, Nanette Barrag\u00e1n, Lori Trahan, Veronica Escobar, and Sylvia Garcia, the letter was signed by Angela D. Alsobrooks,, Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Judy Chu, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Lizzie Fletcher, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Robert Garcia, Kirsten Gillibrand, Adelita Grijalva, Val Hoyle, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Timothy Kennedy, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, Betty McCollum, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nancy Pelosi, Nellie Pou, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Jeanne Shaheen, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Rashida Tlaib, Norma Torres, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nikema Williams, Frederica Wilson, and Ron Wyden.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/mackenzie-leads-hearing-strengthening-safety-and-opportunity-american-boxing", "Mackenzie Leads Hearing on Strengthening Safety and Opportunity in American Boxing", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, held a hearing titled \u201cIn Their Corner: Creating More Opportunities for American Boxers.\u201d The hearing examined how strengthening safety standards, improving medical protections, and creating clearer rules across the industry can help restore the competitiveness and integrity of American boxing.\n\nProfessional boxing once stood at the center of American sports culture, but witnesses noted that the sport has become increasingly fragmented, with inconsistent oversight, weak enforcement, and a lack of basic medical safeguards for fighters. The hearing explored H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which strengthens the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act and builds on the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 by adding new protections to improve the safety and well-being of boxers.\n\nWitnesses testified about opportunities to strengthen the sport through improved medical protections, clearer standards, and a more consistent regulatory framework. Witnesses included:\n\nRep. Brian Jack\n\nRep. Steven Horsford\n\nMr. Lawrence Epstein, Senior Executive VP and COO, Ultimate Fighting Championship\n\nMr. Andy Foster, Executive Officer, CA State Athletic Commission\n\nMrs. Lonnie Ali, Widow of Muhammad Ali and Co-Founder of the Muhammad Ali Center\n\nMr. Patrick English, Principal, Partner and Owner, Dines and English, LLC\n\n\u201cAs Chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, my focus is on ensuring that every American worker, including professional athletes, has a fair and safe workplace. Boxing has long represented grit, determination, and the American will to fight hard and overcome the odds, but today too many fighters are put at risk by uneven rules and inadequate protections,\u201d said Chairman Mackenzie. \u201cAs we evaluate proposals to strengthen the sport, our goal is simple: protecting fighters, restoring fairness, and building a stronger future for American boxing. And we are proud that one of the sport\u2019s greatest champions, Larry Holmes, comes from Pennsylvania\u2019s Seventh District.\u201d\n\n\u201cI was honored to testify before Chairman Mackenzie\u2019s subcommittee in support of my bipartisan legislation, H.R.4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act,\u201d said Congressman Jack. \u201cThis bill provides professional boxers with more career opportunities, better pay, and greater safety protections. As Lonnie Ali, the wife of Muhammad Ali, testified yesterday, \u2018Muhammad [Ali] would be proud to have his name associated with this legislation.\u2019 In that spirit, I look forward to making history with my colleagues to revive one of America\u2019s greatest sports in the name of one of America\u2019s greatest athletes.\u201d\n\n\u201cBoxers deserve options. For too long, professional boxing has been in decline as an outdated patchwork of regulations leaves fighters vulnerable to injury, exploitation, and limited opportunity. Today\u2019s hearing offered strong insights into how innovative solutions such as the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act would create new options and frameworks to enhance safety standards, expand opportunities, and restore integrity to the sport\u2014and revitalize one of America\u2019s most iconic sports.\u201d said Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI).\n\nMembers and witnesses discussed how proposed reforms would:\n\n\u2022 Establish unified boxing organizations to create consistent safety and fairness standards.\n\n\u2022 Require routine medical exams, MRI screenings, and enhanced protections for older athletes.\n\n\u2022 Ensure medical personnel are present at every match.\n\n\u2022 Create strict, transparent anti-doping rules.\n\n\u2022 Set minimum standards for insurance coverage and per-round pay.\n\n\u201cThese discussions are an important first step,\u201d Mackenzie said. \u201cAs the only sport regulated by Congress, we have a responsibility to examine ways to strengthen safety, transparency, and opportunity for American boxers.\u201d\n\nA full recording of the hearing is available HERE.\n\nChairman Mackenzie\u2019s opening remarks are available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-mcclain-delaney-introduce-legislation-bolster-health-care", "Thompson, McClain Delaney Introduce Legislation to Bolster Health Care Workforce", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA) and April McClain Delaney (D-MD) today introduced the Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act, which will exempt health care workers and first responders from Social Security\u2019s Retirement Earnings Test (RET) during public health emergencies.\n\nCurrently, the RET applies to individuals who have not reached full retirement age but want to claim Social Security benefits. If those individuals are still working and earning wages, their Social Security benefits are reduced. The bill would retroactively restore benefits for health care professionals and first responders who had them reduced or eliminated during the COVID-19 public health emergency and exempt these individuals from being subject to the RET in future public health crises.\n\n\u201cHaving spent nearly 30 years in rural health care before coming to Congress, I know firsthand the sacrifices made by frontline workers and first responders,\u201d Rep. Thompson said. \u201cIn a time of great need, many people came out of retirement without realizing their benefits would be impacted. This is unfair to those who stepped up to help their neighbors. Our legislation will correct this problem and will remove an unnecessary barrier to future service in case of a national emergency or public health crisis.\"\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s health care workers and first responders step up when our communities are in crisis,\u201d Rep. McClain Delaney said. \u201cIt is essential that we safeguard their financial security when they come out of retirement to help our communities during times of emergency. The bipartisan Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act is important and meaningful legislation Congress can pass to ensure these public servants are treated with fairness and not financially penalized for their service.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealth care workers across the country step up when we need them most during public health emergencies, and the Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act is a much-needed recognition of their sacrifice that safeguards their Social Security benefits. We appreciate the leadership of Congressman Thompson and Congresswoman McClain Delaney, and we support this commonsense effort to honor and protect those who protect us,\u201d said Charlene MacDonald, EVP Public Affairs, Federation of American Hospitals.\n\nThis legislation is supported by the National Rural Health Association and the Federation of American Hospitals.\n\nRead the resolution.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-statement-passage-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act", "Thompson Statement on Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Glenn \"GT\" Thompson issued the following statement after the House passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s House passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 is a major victory for communities settled in an around federal forests and lands. Reauthorizing this program is overdue and we must immediately provide vital support for schools, roads, emergency services, and other essential local needs.\n\n\u201cSince the program\u2019s expiration in 2023, many communities across the country, including within Pennsylvania\u2019s 15th Congressional District, have faced uncertainty and been forced to stretch already limited resources. I am pleased to see such strong bipartisan support for this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to continue delivering wins for rural America.\u201d\n\nThe Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.\n\nABOUT SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS\n\nSince 1908, federal law has required that 25% of the revenue generated through timber sales in national forests is returned to the local county to support services, including education, transportation infrastructure, and other community needs.\n\nIn the late 1980s, timber harvesting in national forests reached its peak then dramatically declined in the early 1990s. This decline led to significantly reduced payments to counties, notably impacting rural schools.\n\nIn 2000, Congress created the Secure Rural Schools Program to offset this lost revenue. The program expired in the fall of 2023, resulting in county payments reverting to the rate under permanent law, which equates to a nearly 70% reduction. Today\u2019s legislation extends Secure Rural Schools for three years and makes adjustments to payments already made for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2025/12/congresswoman-dean-demands-answers-from-secretary-rubio-on-abrupt-de-authorization-of-local-passport-acceptance-facilities", "Congresswoman Dean Demands Answers from Secretary Rubio on Abrupt De-Authorization of Local Passport Acceptance Facilities", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding clarity on why local passport acceptance facilities \u2014 including Boyertown, Pottstown, and Jenkintown libraries \u2014 were deauthorized from accepting passport applications.\n\nIn Fiscal Year 2025, the State Department received a record more than 23.3 million passport applications. Passport acceptance facilities alleviate the strain on the State Department to process new and renewed passports \u2014 and offer local sites for Americans seeking to travel for family, work, or recreation.\n\nYet across the country, the Bureau of Consular Affairs\u2019 Office of Acceptance Facility Oversight sent notices to public libraries to clarify whether the institution is \u201ca private, charitable, non-profit, or other type of non-governmental organization\u201d or is \u201cgovernment owned and operated\u201d by a local jurisdiction. Each institution had just 14 days from the receipt of the attestation to complete it.\n\nFollowing months of silence from the State Department, some of these institutions that are not government owned and operated were recently sent deactivation notices, ordering them to cease passport operations immediately.\n\n\u201cOur public libraries are a beacon \u2014 offering a breadth of resources right in our communities, including the ability to accept passport applications,\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cFrom Boyertown to Pottstown to Jenkintown, our district depends on the accessibility of passport acceptance facilities and our libraries rely on this program for crucial revenue. At at time when more Americans than ever are seeking passports, it is incomprehensible for the State Department to take away such a sensible, time-saving function.\u201d\n\nThe fees libraries receive for executing applications make up substantial portions of their operating budgets, in some cases as high as 12%. Changing their authorization status mid-year, without providing opportunities for institutions to wind down operations, will force many libraries to slash employee salaries or lay off staff.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-introduces-strengthening-trade-enforcement-and-evasion-limitations-act", "Kelly introduces Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations Act", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Thursday, Dec. 4, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) introduced the STEEL Act, Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations Act, legislation that will enhance trade enforcement legislation and prevent dumping, an unfair trade practice by foreign nations that sell subsidized goods in the United States and devalue the prices of American steel and other domestic products.\n\n\"For years, foreign steel producers have undercut American steel and tube producers by exporting their product at prices below the cost of production. These harmful -- and even illegal -- trade practices have hurt Pennsylvania steel producers, leading to job losses in communities across Pennsylvania and the United States,\" said Rep. Kelly. \"The Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations (STEEL) Act puts American companies first, and it fully rejects the idea that foreign companies can participate in the U.S. market against U.S. companies without playing by the same rules.\"\n\n\u201cWestern Pennsylvanians know how decades of wimpy trade law enforcement have hurt American workers and industry,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to make a change, and that means stopping trade cheats from ripping us off. I\u2019m glad to work with Congressman Mike Kelly on this bill to put some muscle back into our trade enforcement laws and help level the playing field for American jobs and industries.\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\nWHAT THEY'RE SAYING\n\n\u201cFor too long, bad actors have sought to evade U.S. trade laws through fraud, transshipment and other schemes. These actions have hurt American businesses and workers, including in the American steel industry. By allowing Customs and Border Protection to initiate investigations on its own initiative when it finds evidence of evasion of antidumping or countervailing duty orders, this bill will give CBP an additional tool to crack down on these illegal schemes,\" said Kevin Dempsey, President and CEO, American Iron and Steel Institute. \"AISI commends Representatives Mike Kelly and Chris Deluzio for their leadership in introducing this important legislation. AISI urges Congress to pass this and other trade enforcement legislation to ensure strict and vigorous enforcement of U.S. trade laws and to hold trade cheaters accountable.\"\n\n\u201cSteel pipe and tube producers across the country have long borne the brunt of unfairly traded imports that erode market share and put U.S. manufacturers and workers at risk. The Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) has been an essential tool for the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI) and its member companies in stopping bad actors from evading antidumping and countervailing duties intended to counter unfair trade practices. Unfortunately, gaps in the current statute have still allowed some importers to exploit loopholes and avoid lawfully imposed duties,\" said RogerB. Schagrin, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI). \"CPTI commends Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) for their leadership in the introduction of this legislation to strengthen the Enforce and Protect Act. By enabling U.S. Customs and Border Protection to proactively investigate duty evasion and by curbing frivolous appeals, this legislation will strengthen enforcement and deliver meaningful relief to American manufacturers and workers across the country who rely on fair and effective trade laws. We look forward to working with Representatives Kelly and Deluzio to support this critical legislation and the jobs it protects.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/bresnahan-welcomes-administrator-oz-scranton-healthcare-roundtable", "Bresnahan Welcomes Administrator Oz to Scranton for Healthcare Roundtable", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "SCRANTON, PA: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) welcomed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to Scranton for a healthcare roundtable with local stakeholders and officials. Prior to the roundtable, Rep. Bresnahan and Administrator Oz visited The Wright Center in Scranton to tour the facility and meet with staff and leadership.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s discussion with Administrator Oz and our local healthcare community was extremely productive,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cIt was a fantastic opportunity to sit down with local leaders to discuss how we can best implement the Rural Health Transformation Fund and the importance of high-quality healthcare. I want to thank Administrator Oz for coming to Scranton to hear firsthand from our community. We\u2019re committed to delivering real, practical solutions that improve access to care, lower costs, and ensure every community gets the support it needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe decisions CMS makes in Washington and Baltimore affect Americans in every one of the country\u2019s nearly 20,000 cities and towns \u2014 urban, rural, and everything in between,\u201d said CMS administrator Mehmet Oz. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so important for us to get out of the Beltway and hear directly from people in those communities. I\u2019m grateful to Congressman Bresnahan for bringing together local Northeastern Pennsylvania experts and stakeholders to work toward real, bipartisan solutions that can lower costs, increase access, and improve quality of care.\u201d\n\nDuring the roundtable, Rep. Bresnahan and Administrator Oz spoke with participants about Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform, medical modernization, insurance coverage, value-based care, and the Rural Health Transformation Fund. Following the roundtable, Rep. Bresnahan and Administrator Oz spoke with members of the press, along with Jim Pettinato, CEO of Wayne Memorial Hospital, Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, CEO of The Wright Center, Matt Osterberg and Ron Schmalzle, Pike County Commissioners, and Bob Durkin, President of Scranton Chamber of Commerce.\n\nMore photos from the visit to the Wright Center, roundtable, and press conference can be found here.\n\n\u201cWe are sincerely grateful to Dr. Oz, Congressman Bresnahan, and their staffs for visiting The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and for recognizing the essential role community health centers, community-based primary care, and physician and health care workforce development play in the health and vitality of our region and our nation,\u201d said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center. \u201cAs a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and nationally recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home, The Wright Center ensures accessible, whole-person-focused, team-based, and cost-effective care for about 38,300 individuals each year across Northeast Pennsylvania.\n\n\u201cOur scalable Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium (GME SNC) model intentionally integrates health care delivery, interprofessional workforce development, innovation, and community voice to provide high-quality, affordable, and compassionate primary and preventive whole-person health services, especially in rural and underserved communities, while training 430 residents, fellows, and interprofessional learners annually, with strong retention in those communities.\n\n\u201cAt a time when hospital mergers and closures, accelerating health care workforce shortages, and fragile rural health care infrastructures threaten timely access to care, our integrated primary care and GME-SNC model serves as both a stabilizing anchor for local health systems and a lifeline for patients and families. It is a profound privilege and honor to share our mission-driven work and the voices of our patients and learners with our distinguished guests.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-calls-on-cdc", "Fitzpatrick Calls on CDC Director O'Neill Regarding ACIP's Recent Hepatitis B Recommendation", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) called on CDC Acting Director O\u2019Neill to express his urgent concern regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision to change the hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for children.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below:\n\nDecember 5, 2025\n\nThe Honorable Jim O\u2019Neill\n\nActing Director\n\nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention\n\n1600 Clifton Road NE\n\nAtlanta, GA 30329\n\nDear Director O\u2019Neill:\n\nI write to you to express my urgent concern regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision to change the hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for children.\n\nSince 1991 the CDC has recommended all infants receive a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The decision made on December 5th to overturn this longstanding recommendation by ACIP endangers children across our country and is an affront to our scientific community. Dangerously, this decision will erode critical public trust in medicine and public health experts, putting lives at risk and ultimately failing our children.\n\nSince adoption of the recommendation of the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, overall cases of hepatitis B are down to 14,000 annually.1 This figure was previously between 200,000 to 300,000 cases annually.2 The strategy of recommendation at birth is effective. Fewer infant cases of hepatitis B importantly leads to fewer cases of chronic hepatitis B, cirrhosis, and fewer cases of liver cancer, for which there is no cure. Overturning this recommendation and changing the vaccine schedule would be mishandling safe, evidence-based public health information.\n\nI urge you to reject the recommendation from ACIP and retain the current evidence-based approach to the hepatitis B vaccine schedule. I am also requesting answers to the following questions by December 23, 2025:\n\n1. What are the anticipated increases in infant infections of hepatitis B, as well as chronic liver disease and cancer, with a change in recommendation?\n\n2. Can you provide details surrounding ACIP\u2019s decision-making process?\n\n3. What are the potential economic impacts to health systems who may increasingly face higher cases of infant hepatitis B and chronic liver disease?\n\nThank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt response.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4845", "Representatives Houlahan and Kiggans Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Communication and Readiness for our Servicemembers and their Families in Japan", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), along with original co-sponsors Representatives Steven Horsford (D-NV), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Rob Wittman (R-VA), introduced the Improving Notification for Operational Readiness and Families (INFORM) Act, a bipartisan bill directing the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a pilot program to deliver timely, mission-critical information directly to servicemembers and military families stationed at Marine Corps Installations Pacific in Okinawa, Japan.\n\nUnder the bill, DoD will automatically enroll eligible servicemembers and adult dependents to receive text messages providing updates on spouse employment opportunities, childcare availability, TRICARE benefits, and Department-wide policy changes. The initiative, which provides the option to opt out, aims to streamline communication and reduce reliance on fragmented channels such as social media, newsletters, and installation-specific platforms.\n\nThe bill also directs DoD to report to Congress by October 1, 2027, on participation, outcomes, costs, and whether the program should be expanded Department-wide. By consolidating routine updates into a single, efficient push-text system, the initiative is expected to reduce duplicative outreach efforts and improve long-term communication efficiency.\n\n\u201cMilitary families deserve clear, consistent, and reliable communication, especially those stationed overseas,\u201d said Representative Chrissy Houlahan. \u201cOur bill ensures that servicemembers and their families on Okinawa get the information they need directly to their phones, without having to dig through multiple systems or outdated channels. As a former Air Force officer and daughter of a naval officer, I know how much this simple, modern approach to getting timely information can improve quality of life and readiness.\u201d\n\n\"Having served overseas with my own family, I know firsthand that clear and timely communication can make all the difference. Whether it\u2019s childcare availability, TRICARE updates, or family resources, our servicemembers stationed in Okinawa deserve information they can rely on. The Push-Text Initiative will deliver that support directly to their phones, strengthening both family stability and mission readiness,\u201d said Congresswoman Kiggans.\n\n\u201cOur servicemembers and their families are relying on increasingly diverse sources of information, and they deserve to be met where they are at. Clear and dependable communication is essential for military families stationed abroad,\u201d said Congressman Bacon. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to co-lead the INFORM Act with Rep. Houlahan, to establish a DoD pilot delivering timely and relevant text updates to servicemembers and dependents in Okinawa. I am hopeful that the success of this program will lead to adoption across the force.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen America\u2019s servicemembers answer the call to serve our country overseas, military families serve right alongside them. They need and deserve clear, reliable communication they can count on, especially when they are thousands of miles from home,\u201d said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. \u201cOur military readiness depends upon our operational readiness, and this commonsense bipartisan bill will strengthen both.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen military families receive the right information at the right time, they stay resilient, informed, and mission ready,\u201d Rep. Horsford said. \u201cIf we can track flights, packages, and banking in real time, families should be able to track TRICARE deadlines and childcare openings just as easily. The pilot program we\u2019re proposing today does just that, proving that smart, modern communication doesn\u2019t have to be complicated, and that small changes can have big quality-of-life benefits for service members and their families. I\u2019m proud to partner with Representatives Houlahan, Bacon, Kiggans, Goodlander and Wittman to help give military families the consistent, direct, and timely communication they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring that our service members have access to reliable, consistent communication is essential for military readiness. For those stationed in Okinawa, timely updates can make all the difference in their day-to-day lives and provide stability for their families. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the INFORM Act, which will ensure that the brave men and women serving our nation, as well as their families, have access to the resources they need to stay informed and connected,\u201d said Congressman Wittman.\n\nThe proposal also carries significant national security implications. During major contingency scenarios, such as a crisis involving China, commercial communications systems in Okinawa could be disrupted. By building a controlled, state-side-managed communications capability, the bill lays the groundwork for a more resilient information pipeline that can operate even if local infrastructure is compromised. \u201cThis bipartisan pilot is a crucial step toward making sure no family is left without critical updates when it matters most. That\u2019s not just good communication policy, its readiness,\u201d Representative Chrissy Houlahan said.\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2025/12/reps-dean-and-mace-join-senators-booker-and-paul-to-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-promote-research-and-access-to-potential-life-saving-drugs", "Reps. Dean and Mace Join Sens. Booker and Paul on Bill to Expand Research and Access to Potential Life Saving Drugs", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Freedom to Heal Act to remove regulatory hurdles that inhibit research and access to potentially lifesaving treatments heavily restricted by Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) to introduced companion legislation.\n\nThe biparistan legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), and Morgan Luttrell (TX-08).\n\nThe federal Right to Try law permits patients who have been diagnosed with life-threatening diseases or conditions, and who have exhausted all approved treatment options, access to certain treatments that have not yet received final FDA approval. In general, a drug is eligible for Right to Try use after a Phase 1 clinical trial has been completed for that drug, but prior to the drug being approved or licensed by the FDA. Under the terms of the federal Right to Try law, states remain free to permit or prohibit Right to Try use under their own laws.\n\nIn recent years, two substances currently classified as Schedule I drugs\u2014MDMA and psilocybin\u2014have shown exceptional promise in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including treatment resistant depression and PTSD. In Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, these drugs have been shown to be safe and effective\u2014so effective that FDA has designated them \u201cbreakthrough therapies,\u201d meaning that they demonstrate substantial improvement over any currently available therapies. However, the DEA currently lacks a pathway under the Right to Try law to register and approve physicians to administer these potentially life-saving drugs.\n\nTheFreedom to Heal Act would create a Schedule I Right to Try physician registration process that would give people with severe, life-threatening conditions, including Veterans, a legal, supervised path to access these safe and effective therapies that have shown exceptional promise, while ensuring DEA oversight to prevent drug misuse or diversion.\n\n\u201cAs families across the country face the growing mental health and substance use disorder crises, we must expand their options for care,\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation reduces barriers for physicians to provide compassionate use of several innovative and potentially lifesaving treatments, including MDMA and psilocybin. Our loved ones, including our veterans who served and sacrificed, deserve to heal \u2014 Congress must work to make that recovery possible for more people.\u201d\n\n\u201cPatients facing life-threatening illnesses or severe mental health conditions deserve access to every possible treatment, including investigational therapies such as MDMA and psilocybin that have shown to be safe and effective in multiple clinical trials,\u201d Senator Booker said. \u201cThousands of Americans, many of them Veterans, are desperate for access to these therapies after exhausting all approved treatments in the United States. The Freedom to Heal Act is critical legislation that will remove unnecessary barriers and give physicians a pathway to legally administer these potentially lifesaving treatments.\u201d\n\n\"As a physician, I have seen how critical Right to Try can be for patients who are running out of options. Yet current law leaves doctors with no clear, legal way to administer investigational therapies that fall under Schedule I. This bill creates that pathway. I am glad to work across the aisle to ensure patients, and their doctors are not blocked by federal barriers who have exhausted standard options. This is a practical reform that honors both patient autonomy and medical judgment,\u201d Dr. Rand Paul said.\n\nThe Freedom to Heal Act is endorsed by: The Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition, Reason for Hope, The American Legion, American Brain Coalition, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Americans for Ibogaine, BrainFutures, Grunt Style Foundation, Irreverent Warriors, Veteran Research and Education Curation (VetREC), Wrestle Like A Girl, Texans for Greater Mental Health, Avesta Mental Health, Healing Breakthrough, Heroic Hearts Project, iXpressGenes, Inc., Mental Joe Apparel, The Menninger Clinic, Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines, Dr. Bronner\u2019s Magic Soaps, Mpower Counseling PLLC, Beckley Retreats PB, the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives, End it For Good, Marine Reconnaissance Foundation, Athletes for Care, The Mission Within, and Sunstone Therapies.\n\n\u201cWe believe Congress should act with urgency to pass the Freedom to Heal Act. It is clearly wrong and immoral that Veterans are leaving the country they selflessly served to access potentially lifesaving treatments that should already be available within our borders under Right to Try. Lives are on the line. Let\u2019s act now,\u201d Martin R. Steele, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.), President of the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition (VMHLC) said.\n\n\u201cI served during some of the heaviest levels of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and came home with significant trauma. After a decade of talk therapy, surgeries, and pharmaceuticals, I was out of options\u2014and was even denied access to an MDMA-assisted therapy trial because my condition was too severe. I ultimately had to leave the country to access psychedelic-assisted therapy, and it saved my life. While I was fortunate to have this experience, nobody should have to take such drastic measures. Yet there are thousands of other Veterans with similar experiences, including many of our coalition members. We\u2019re grateful to the leaders in Congress who are taking a stand with the introduction of the Freedom to Heal Act, seeking to put an end to this injustice,\u201d Gary Hess, Director of Advocacy and Peer Support, VMHLC said.\n\n\u201cAs someone currently leading a clinical trial of psilocybin to treat Veterans with PTSD, I know firsthand the significant number reaching out for help but who don\u2019t qualify for our trial for various reasons. Unfortunately, it is often those most in need who are excluded. We must do more to help those individuals with life-threatening conditions who are out of options. The Freedom to Heal Act is a common-sense way to restore the intent of Right to Try and give patients a safe, legal path to pursue promising investigational therapies under medical supervision,\u201d Dr. Lynnette Averill, Chief Science Officer, Reason for Hope, Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and Director of Research, The Menninger Clinic said.\n\n\u201cAs a palliative care physician, I\u2019ve had many patients reach out seeking access to psilocybin for severe end of life distress, but regulation has stood in the way of the Right to Try. The Freedom to Heal Act offers a pragmatic legal fix that can meaningfully help relieve suffering for our patients in greatest need,\u201d Drew Kotler, MD, Palliative Care, Main Line Health said.\n\n\"As a coalition representing leading professional and patient organizations concerned with brain health, we recognize the need to balance additional research with access to promising treatments for those most in need. The Freedom to Heal Act will ensure the compassionate policy underlying Right to Try extends to some of our most promising investigational treatments for mental and neurological health conditions,\" Katie Sale, Executive Director of the American Brain Coalition said.\n\n\u201cIt is hard to believe that federal law continues to block patients most in need - those with terminal or life-threatening conditions - from accessing our most promising investigational mental health treatments under Right to Try. The Freedom to Heal Act proposes a narrow, targeted solution to the Schedule 1 barrier, while ensuring DEA maintains its desired oversight. We thank the Congressmembers championing this issue, and hope Congress will work with the White House and DEA to quickly fix this obvious problem,\u201d Brett Waters, Esq., Executive Director, Reason for Hope said.\n\n\"Too many Veterans and patients with severe, life-threatening conditions must seek treatment abroad when options at home fall short. The Freedom to Heal Act helps close that gap. Sunstone supports this legislation because it delivers a safe, physician-guided path for those who have run out of alternatives. These patients deserve the very best of science, not additional obstacles to care,\" Leith States, MD MPH MBA FACPM, SVP - Strategic Military Initiatives, Sunstone Therapies said.\n\n\"We absolutely must continue to fund and conduct rigorous research on these emerging therapies, which are showing real promise in treating serious mental health and neurological conditions. But we cannot ignore the fact that many patients who are desperately seeking relief do not meet inclusion criteria for existing studies. The Freedom to Heal Act offers a regulated pathway for these patients to access investigational treatments legally and safely while research continues,\" Amy L. McGuire, JD, PhD, Leon Jaworski Professor of Biomedical Ethics, Director, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine said.\n\n\u201cThe Freedom to Heal Act is important because it gives patients facing life-threatening illnesses the ability to pursue every possible option when time is running out\u2014restoring autonomy, dignity, and hope at the moments when they need it most,\u201d Sarah Norman, Executive Director, BrainFutures said.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-bonamici-moylan-restart-push-protect-workers-ai-and-robot-bosses", "Deluzio, Bonamici, Moylan Restart Push to Protect Workers from AI and Robot Bosses", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Congressman James Moylan (GU-AL) reintroduced legislation to protect workers from AI-based discrimination and strengthen transparency in management and hiring decisions. The No Robot Bosses Act would fight back against discrimination from Artificial intelligence (AI)-based hiring tools by adding protections for job applicants and employees related to automated decision systems. The legislation also requires employers to train users on responsible system management and disclose when and how these systems are being used.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the Wild West out there for AI, and Congress should not twiddle its thumbs. It\u2019s time to take up proposals that will protect the humanity and rights of workers,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cThe No Robot Bosses Act would step in to put in place common-sense guardrails during the hiring, disciplinary, or firing processes, fighting back against the rising threat of misuse and abuse of AI technologies.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs more companies rely on artificial intelligence to make hiring decisions, we must establish safeguards to protect workers from potential discrimination,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cThere are numerous examples of flawed AI systems that produce biased outcomes for people of different backgrounds, especially for lower wage jobs. No one should be shut out of a future job because of a machine\u2019s decision. We must act now to keep the doors of opportunity open to all who are seeking employment.\u201d\n\n\"AI can improve the hiring process, but only if people can trust the systems behind it,\" said Congressman Moylan. \"This bill strikes the right balance by encouraging innovation while putting commonsense safeguards in place so workers aren\u2019t disadvantaged by untested or biased algorithms. At the end of the day, human judgment still needs to guide employment decisions, ensuring that the hiring process remains rooted in transparency and accountability.\"\n\nAI has advanced considerably even since the congressmembers first introduced this bill in 2024. While some states and municipalities are working hard to assess and regulate this technology, there is currently no federal policy that puts safeguards on AI in the workplace. This summer, Congressman Deluzio discussed this issue more broadly at an event with the Roosevelt Institute.\n\nThe No Robot Bosses Act:\n\nProhibits employers from relying exclusively on an automated decision system when making employment-related decisions;\n\nRequires pre-deployment and periodic testing and validation of automated decision systems for issues such as discrimination and biases before such systems are used in employment-related decisions;\n\nRequires employers to train individuals or entities on the proper operation of automated decision systems;\n\nMandates that employers provide independent, human oversight of automated decision system outputs before using the outputs to aid an employment-related decision;\n\nRequires timely disclosures from employers on the use of automated decision systems, the data inputs and outputs from these systems, and employee rights related to the decisions aided by these systems; and\n\nEstablishes the Technology and Worker Protection Division at the Department of Labor to regulate the use of automated decision systems in the workplace.\n\nA summary of the legislation can be found here. The full text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-effort-to-protect-patients-from-high-prescription-drug-costs", "Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Patients from High Prescription Drug Costs", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), along with Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), introduced the Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act\u2014bipartisan legislation to make life-saving prescription medications more affordable for patients with rare, serious, and chronic conditions. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate bill by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Tom Kaine (D-VA).\n\nThe bill would require insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to count the value of copay assistance they receive on a patient\u2019s behalf toward cost-sharing requirements. This reform guarantees that payments, whether made directly by a patient or with support from non-profit organizations or prescription drug manufacturers, contribute toward a patient\u2019s annual deductible and out-of-pocket limit as intended.\n\n\u201cFor people living with chronic and rare diseases, copay assistance is often the only path to staying on lifesaving treatment. Yet far too many are paying twice, while insurers and PBMs pocket that assistance without ever counting it toward a patient\u2019s costs. That\u2019s wrong\u2014and it\u2019s exactly what the bipartisan HELP Copays Act corrects. This is common-sense, patient-first reform to lower out-of-pocket costs and ensure every dollar intended to help a patient actually does,\u201d said Fitzpatrick.\n\nSpecifically, the HELP Copays Act would:\n\nClarify the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to require that health plans count payments made \u201cby or on behalf of\u201d patients, including financial assistance from non-profit organizations and prescription drug manufacturers, toward deductibles and out-of-pocket limits.\n\nClose the ACA's Essential Health Benefit (EHB) loophole to ensure that any prescription drug covered by a health plan is defined as \u201cessential\u201d, so that all related cost-sharing is counted towards a patient\u2019s annual cost-sharing protections.\n\n\u201cCopay assistance programs help make costly medications attainable for Americans who rely on them. Yet under current law, insurers and PBMs can pocket this assistance without lowering patients' cost-sharing obligations. Our bipartisan legislation will fix that problem by ensuring those savings are passed on to patients. This solution will protect access to essential prescription drugs, reduce overall healthcare costs for families, and hold these health companies accountable,\u201d said Kean, Jr.\n\n\u201cToo many patients are forced to walk away from the pharmacy counter because their out-of-pocket costs are simply too high. The HELP Copays Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that ensures financial assistance, from nonprofits or drug manufacturers, actually counts toward a patient\u2019s deductible and copay. As a physician, I know how devastating it is when a patient can\u2019t afford the medication they need. This bill puts patients first by lowering their real, day-to-day costs and stopping insurance companies from shifting more of the burden onto families,\u201d said Miller-Meeks\n\n\"Drug pricing middlemen want patients to pay deductibles twice. That\u2019s not how insurance should work. With this bill, those schemes stop,\u201d said Auchincloss.\n\n\u201cFor patients living with complex and chronic diseases, access to prescription drugs that help them manage their condition saves lives, plain and simple. But too many Americans are unable to afford the medications they need because the out-of-pocket costs are too high. This is unacceptable. Americans work hard every day to make sure they can feed their families and take care of their loved ones. They should not be priced out of receiving the life-saving medications they rely on. That is why I am proud to co-lead, the HELP Copays Act, with Congressman Kean. This bipartisan bill will help working American families afford their prescriptions by putting a stop to harmful practices by insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and ensuring that patients\u2019 copay assistance counts towards their cost-sharing requirements. Because drug affordability is not a blue-state issue or a red-state issue \u2014 it is an issue that affects tens of millions across the country and in every state,\u201d said Barrag\u00e1n.\n\nThroughout his service in Congress, Fitzpatrick has been a champion for affordable, patient-centered healthcare \u2014 leading bipartisan efforts to lower prescription drug costs, increase access to life-saving treatments, and stop insurers from shifting more of the burden onto families. The HELP Copays Act is the latest step in that ongoing commitment.\n\nThe full text is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4853", "Pentagon Claims It \u201cAbsolutely\u201d Knows Who It Killed in Boat Strikes. Prove It, Lawmaker Says.", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "Originally published in The Intercept\n\nWritten by Nick Turse\n\nAfter Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson declared the War Department was certain about the identities of supposed drug smugglers killed in boat strikes, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., had some questions about the intelligence. When Houlahan called on Wilson to appear before Congress, however, the outspoken and controversial spokesperson suddenly went silent.\n\n\u201cI can tell you that every single person who we have hit thus far who is in a drug boat carrying narcotics to the United States is a narcoterrorist. Our intelligence has confirmed that, and we stand by it,\u201d Wilson said on Tuesday during a pseudo Pentagon press briefing where attendance was limited to media outlets that have agreed to limits on the scope of their reporting.\n\n\u201cOur intelligence absolutely confirms who these people are,\u201d she said. \u201cI can tell you that, without a shadow of a doubt, every single one of our military and civilian lawyers knows that these individuals are narcoterrorists.\u201d\n\nIn exclusive comments to The Intercept, Houlahan expressed her doubts and demanded proof.\n\n\u201cIf there is intelligence that \u2018absolutely confirms\u2019 this \u2014 present it. Come before the House or Senate Intelligence committees and let Congress provide the proper oversight and checks and balances the American people deserve,\u201d said Houlahan, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. \u201cPut the whispers and doubts to rest once and for all. If there is intelligence to \u2018absolutely confirm\u2019 this, the Congress is ready to receive it. Until we all see it, you can surely understand why we are skeptical.\u201d\n\nBoth the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, both of which Houlahan serves on, routinely receive classified briefings from the military.\n\nWilson \u2014 who touted a \u201cnew era\u201d of worki to \u201ckeep the American people informed and to ensure transparency\u201d on Tuesday \u2014 did not respond to questions or requests for comment from The Intercept about Houlahan\u2019s remarks or appearing before Congress.\n\nIn past classified briefings to lawmakers and congressional staff, the military has admitted that it does not know exactly who it\u2019s killing in the boat strikes, according to seven government officials who have spoken with The Intercept.\n\nRep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that Pentagon officials who briefed her admitted that the administration does not know the identities of all the individuals who were killed in the strikes.\n\n\u201cThey said that they do not need to positively identify individuals on the vessels to do the strikes,\u201d Jacobs told The Intercept in October. \u201cThey just need to show a connection to a DTO or affiliate,\u201d she added, using shorthand for \u201cdesignated terrorist organizations,\u201d the Trump administration\u2019s term for the secret list of groups with whom it claims to be at war.\n\nTwenty-One Attacks\n\nThe military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September and killing at least 83 civilians. It has not conducted a strike on a vessel since November 15.\n\nSince the strikes began, experts in the laws of war and members of Congress from both parties say the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians \u2014 even suspected criminals \u2014 who do not pose an imminent threat of violence.\n\nThe summary executions mark a major departure from typical practice in the long-running U.S. war on drugs, where law enforcement agencies arrest suspected drug smugglers.\n\nA double-tap strike during the initial September 2 attack \u2014 where the U.S. hit an incapacitated boat for a second time, killing two survivors clinging to the wreckage \u2014 added a second layer of illegality to strikes that experts and lawmakers say are already tantamount to murder. The double-tap strike was first reported by The Intercept.\n\nWar Secretary Pete Hegseth has been under increasing fire for that strike. The Washington Post recently reported that Hegseth personally ordered the follow-up attack, giving a spoken order \u201cto kill everybody.\u201d\n\nHegseth acknowledged U.S. forces conducted a follow-up strike on the alleged drug boat during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday but distanced himself from the killing of people struggling to stay afloat.\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t personally see survivors,\u201d Hegseth told reporters, noting that he watched live footage of the attack. \u201cThe thing was on fire. It was exploded in fire and smoke. You can\u2019t see it.\u201d\n\nHe added, \u201cThis is called the fog of war.\u201d\n\nHegseth said Adm. Frank M. Bradley, then the commander of Joint Special Operations Command and now head of Special Operations Command, \u201cmade the right call\u201d in ordering the second strike, which the war secretary claimed came after he himself left the room. In a statement to The Intercept earlier this week, Special Operations Command pushed back on the contention that Bradley ordered a double-tap attack.\n\n\u201cHe does not see his actions on 2 SEP as a \u2018double tap,\u2019\u201d Col. Allie Weiskopf, the director of public affairs at Special Operations Command, told The Intercept on Tuesday.\n\nBradley and Gen. Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are slated to go to Capitol Hill on Thursday to answer questions about the attack amid an ongoing uproar. Congressional staffers say that Bradley is currently slated to only meet with House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., along with the Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.\n\n\u201cThe Seditious Six\u201d\n\nHoulahan was one of six Democratic members of Congress who appeared in a video late last month reminding members of the military of their duty not to obey illegal orders. President Donald Trump called for the group to face arrest and trial or even execution, saying the video amounted to \u201cSEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS.\u201d\n\nWilson, during her faux press briefing \u2014 delivered to mostly administration cheerleaders after outlets from the New York Times to Fox News relinquished their Pentagon press passes rather than agree to restrictions that constrain reporters\u2019 First Amendment rights \u2014 called out Houlahan and her fellow lawmakers in the video.\n\n\u201c[T]he Seditious Six urged members of our military to defy their chain of command in an unprecedented, treasonous and shameful conspiracy to sow distrust and chaos in our armed forces,\u201d said Wilson. She went on to call the video \u201ca politically motivated influence operation\u201d that \u201cputs our warfighters at risk.\u201d\n\nHegseth described the members of Congress\u2019s video as \u201cdespicable, reckless, and false.\u201d Hegseth himself, however, had delivered a similar message recorded in 2016 footage revealed by CNN on Tuesday.\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re doing something that is just completely unlawful and ruthless, then there is a consequence for that. That\u2019s why the military said it won\u2019t follow unlawful orders from their commander-in-chief,\u201d Hegseth told an audience in the footage. \u201cThere\u2019s a standard, there\u2019s an ethos, there\u2019s a belief that we are above what so many things that our enemies or others would do.\u201d\n\nWilson did not reply to a request for comment about Hegseth\u2019s remarks.\n\nHegseth is also in the hot seat after the Pentagon Inspector General\u2019s Office determined that he risked the safety of U.S. service members by sharing sensitive military information on the Signal messaging app, according to a source familiar with the forthcoming report by the Pentagon watchdog.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mackenzie-joins-colleagues-calling-extension-aca-credits", "Congressman Mackenzie Joins Colleagues in Calling for Extension to ACA Credits", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Mackenzie", "M001230", "mackenzie.house.gov", "mackenzie", "https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, has joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in supporting a framework for extending Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs). The proposal, CommonGround 2025: A Bipartisan Health Care Framework, includes an extension of EPTCs for those making less than 600% of the federal poverty line (FPL) alongside commonsense reforms to reduce waste, eliminate fraud, and address insurance costs. The members backing the framework have also co-signed a letter urging House and Senate leadership to meet with them to discuss the framework and a constructive pathway forward in both chambers.\n\nKey features include:\n\nA two-year extension of EPTCs for enrollees earning less than 600% of FPL, with a phaseout for those making between 600-1000% of FPL.\n\nNew guardrails to crack down on fraud and prevent \u201cghost beneficiaries,\u201d including implementation of the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act and greater oversight of eligibility.\n\nAn extension of open enrollment until March 19, 2026.\n\nPharmacy benefit manager reform that promotes transparency and eliminates \u201cspread pricing\u201d in Medicaid.\n\nProposals for future reforms, including hospital billing transparency and support for healthcare savings accounts.\n\n\u201cEvery American understands that our healthcare system is failing to deliver the affordability and transparency that families deserve,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cAchieving critical changes requires bipartisan reforms \u2014 both in the immediate future and in the long term \u2014 that begin to correct Washington\u2019s mistakes and reduce the burden on the American people. This begins with an extension of enhanced premium tax credits for those who need them, coupled with commonsense reforms that reduce waste, eliminate fraud, and improve oversight. Today\u2019s framework brings us closer to achieving commonsense, bipartisan reforms to our healthcare system, and I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues on both sides to improve American healthcare.\u201d\n\nThe framework and letter, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), are also co-signed by Reps. Adam Gray (CA-13), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Darren Soto (FL-9), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), Josh Riley (NY-19), Tom Kean (NJ-7), Susie Lee (NV-3), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Jared Golden (ME-2), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Ryan MacKenzie (PA-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Robert Bresnahan (PA-8), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Don Bacon (NE-2), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Kevin Kiley (CA-3), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Nick LaLota (NY-1), Don Davis (NC-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), Hillary Scholten (MI-3), and Tom Suozzi (NY-3).\n\nRead the framework HERE\n\nRead the letter HERE\n\nWatch the press conference HERE\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-smucker-legislation-extend-successful-hospital-home-programs", "House Passes Smucker Legislation to Extend Successful \u201cHospital at Home\u201d Programs", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lloyd Smucker", "S001199", "smucker.house.gov", "smucker", "https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313), bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, and Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. This legislation would extend successful \u201cHospital at Home\u201d programs for an additional five years.\n\n\u201cHome health care options provide patients with high-quality care at lower costs, reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and increase recovery outcomes for patients,\u201d said Rep. Smucker. \u201cExtending this commonsense policy is a clear win for patients and taxpayers. I am proud to co-lead these efforts with Rep. Buchanan and thank my House colleagues for passing this legislation to give patients the ability to recover in the comfort of their own homes.\u201d\n\nThe Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act of 2025 (H.R. 4313)\n\nIn November 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver to provide hospitals with increased flexibility to care for certain patients from the comfort and convenience of their homes, rather than in a hospital setting. According to the American Hospital Association, this model has been proven to \u201creduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience.\u201d\n\nA recent report from CMS shows that allowing patients to be treated in a more familiar environment and routine accelerates recovery time, lowers the mortality rate and reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections and falls.\n\nRep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) cosponsored this bill. Sens. Tim Scott, Reverend Raphael Warnock introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nThe American Hospital Association endorsed this legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://bresnahan.house.gov/media/press-releases/bresnahan-reaffirms-commitment-improving-healthcare-nepa", "Bresnahan Reaffirms Commitment to Improving Healthcare for NEPA", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.", "B001327", "bresnahan.house.gov", "bresnahan", "https://bresnahan.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Rep. Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) announced his support 50 healthcare bills directly in response to the specific needs and challenges brought forward by families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. To better understand these needs, Rep. Bresnahan has sat down to meet with hundreds of local stakeholders, from patients fighting cancer, to parents of children with rare diseases, to the doctors, nurses, and hospital workers who care for them on the front lines every day.\n\n\u201cOver my first 11 months in Congress, families across NEPA have shared their struggles and their hopes for better access to care, lower costs, and stronger treatments and research. I promised them I would never stop fighting to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, especially our most vulnerable,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cThese bills are about keeping that promise. It ensures NEPA families can count on affordable, dependable care close to home. I look forward to continuing this work and doing even more in my second year.\u201d\n\nThe legislation Rep. Bresnahan cosponsored includes bills to increase access to early detection cancer screenings, enhance transparency in the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) industry, improve benefits for servicemembers and veterans, build on research efforts into rare diseases and cancers, expand insurance coverage for children and working families, boost Medicare coverage and resources for seniors, and more.\n\nAmong the bills cosponsored is H.R. 5145, the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, which would provide extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits established by the Affordable Care Act in order to develop a long-term solution.\n\nThe full list of legislation is pasted below in numerical order.\n\n1. H.R.138 Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025\n\nRep. Buchanan (FL-16): This bill would allow people to use their tax-free health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts on medical expenses for their parents. Currently, adult children may not take advantage of these tax-free accounts to cover expenses they incur on behalf of their aging parents, unless their parents are classified as dependents for tax purposes.\n\n2. H.R.539 The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act\n\nRep. Steube (FL-17): This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.\n\n3. H.R.783 Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act\n\nRep. Joyce (PA-13): This bill permanently allows services relating to cardiac rehabilitation programs, intensive cardiac rehabilitation programs, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs to be furnished via telehealth at a beneficiary's home under Medicare.\n\n4. H.R.842 Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act\n\nRep. Sewell (AL-7): The bill would allow for multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests to be covered by Medicare in a timely manner upon approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\n\n5. H.R.879 Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025\n\nRep. Murphy (NC-03): This legislation increases reimbursement rates under for services provided under Medicare. This is needed to counteract the effects of inflation and previous payment reductions that have significantly impacted physicians.\n\n6. H.R.946 ORPHAN Cures Act\n\nRep. Joyce (PA-13): This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would maintain existing incentives and boost research into new treatments for the 30 million Americans currently suffering from one of more than 7,000 rare diseases.\n\n7. H.R.955 Health Out-of-Pocket Expense (HOPE) Act\n\nRep. Moore (UT-01): This bill will create a tax-advantaged account that enables millions of Americans with most types of insurance coverage to save for healthcare costs through both individual and employer contributions.\n\n8. H.R.1153 Rural Physician Workforce Production Act\n\nRep. Harshbarger (TN-01): This bill allows certain hospitals to receive additional payment under Medicare for full-time equivalent residents who receive training in rural areas.\n\n9. H.R.1171 SAFE Act\n\nRep. Miller (WV-01): The stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act or the SAFE Act incorporates risk assessments and prevention services for falls into annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams under Medicare, as well as associated services provided by physical therapists and occupational therapists.\n\n10. H.R.1227 the Alternatives to PAIN Act\n\nRep. Miller-Meeks (IA-01): This bipartisan, pragmatic legislation will help prevent opioid addiction before it starts by leveling the playing field for non-opioid alternatives, ensuring seniors have uninterrupted access to non-opioid, non-addictive alternatives.\n\n11. H.R.1262 Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025\n\nRep. McCaul (TX-10): This landmark bill will accelerate pediatric cancer treatments and expand access to life-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases.\n\n12. H.R.1406 Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act\n\nRep. Buchanan (FL-16): This legislation authorizes Medicare coverage of additional types of lung cancer screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, regardless of whether they are recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.\n\n13. H.R.1509 Accelerating Kids\u2019 Access to Care Act\n\nRep. Trahan (MA-03): This bill requires states to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may temporarily treat children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) without undergoing additional screening requirements.\n\n14. H.R.1616 Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act\n\nRep. Lahood (IL-16): This bill allows a nurse practitioner or physician assistant to fulfill documentation requirements for coverage, under Medicare, of special shoes for diabetic individuals. Under current law, such requirements may be satisfied only by a physician.\n\n15. H.R.1703 Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025\n\nRep. Joyce (PA-13): This bill increases access to wheelchairs made with advanced materials by allowing Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to lighter, more functional wheelchairs without bearing the entire upfront cost.\n\n16. H.R.1708 Rebuild America\u2019s Health Care Schools Act\n\nRep. Lahood (IL-16): This bill allows hospitals to receive reimbursement under Medicare for certain costs associated with training nursing and allied health students in settings other than the hospital itself.\n\n17. H.R.1931 Access to Pediatric Technologies Act of 2025\n\nRep. Joyce (PA-13): This bill will facilitate patient access to certain pediatric technologies.\n\n18. H.R.2013 the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act\n\nRep. Smucker (PA-11): This bill will improve access to home health services by allowing occupational therapy to be ordered as a stand-alone service for Medicare beneficiaries.\n\n19. H.R.2048 The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act\n\nRep. Garbarino (NY-02): The bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.\n\n20. H.R.2199 Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act\n\nRep. Kelly (PA-16): The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act is a bipartisan bill which aims to ensure that individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) continue to have equitable access to private healthcare and to provide protection of the Medicare Trust Fund.\n\n21. H.R.2381 SCREENS for Cancer Act\n\nRep. Morelle (NY-25): This bill reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2030, expanding services to ensure more Americans\u2014especially those who are low-income or underinsured\u2014can receive early, potentially lifesaving care.\n\n22. H.R.2678 Ellie\u2019s Law\n\nRep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01): This bipartisan legislation that delivers urgently needed federal investment to combat the deadly and often overlooked crisis of brain aneurysms.\n\n23. H.R.2687 End Kidney Deaths Act\n\nRep. Malliotakis (NY-11): This bipartisan legislation that would provide a refundable tax credit to living kidney donors who donate kidneys to strangers, specifically those waiting the longest on the kidney waitlist.\n\n24. H.R.2767 BRAIN Act\n\nRep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01): This legislation advances the quest to defeat brain tumors, once and for all, by increasing research funding, fostering collaboration, promoting critical awareness efforts, and supporting innovations in and access to care.\n\n25. H.R.3037 Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2025\n\nRep. Dingell (MI-06): This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for diagnostic breast cancer tests, making them more accessible and affordable.\n\n26. H.R.3148 SALUTE Act\n\nRep. Jack (GA-03): This bill would provide military personnel with the option to easily enroll in a low-premium supplemental insurance plan to protect against out-of-pocket expenses resulting from a cancer diagnosis in the family, at no cost to the government. To do this, the bill would authorize a five-year pilot program to competitively select two vendors to provide cancer supplemental insurance policies to service members and their families across the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps.\n\n27. H.R.3164 Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act\n\nRep. Smith (NE-03): The bill would provide for Medicare coverage of pharmacist-administered tests for common respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), strep throat, and COVID-19. It would also allow pharmacists to prescribe treatments for these illnesses when properly indicated.\n\n28. H.R.3277 Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act\n\nRep. Dunn (FL-02): This bill would address these coverage denials and delays and ensure that children suffering from congenital anomalies or birth defects get the treatment they need and deserve.\n\n29. H.R.3503 Kidney Donation Anti-Discrimination Act\n\nRep. Van Drew (NJ-02): This bill would prohibit life insurance providers from discriminating based on a person\u2019s status as a living kidney donor.\n\n30. H.R.3514 Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act of 2025\n\nRep. Kelly (PA-16): This bill would establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments, increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use, and expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.\n\n31. H.R.3789 Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act\n\nRep. Taylor (OH-02): This legislation would require drug companies to include the list price of prescription drugs in all direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements.\n\n32. H.R.3808 Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act\n\nRep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01): This bill would improve America\u2019s Medicare beneficiaries access to licensed clinical social workers. By providing these mental health professionals with the opportunity to participate in the Medicare program, this bill expands the number of mental health providers available to our nation\u2019s seniors.\n\n33. H.R.3873 KO Cancer Act\n\nRep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01): This bipartisan legislation delivers one of the most significant proposed increases in cancer research funding in a generation and takes decisive action to address the national crisis of cancer drug shortages.\n\n34. H.R.3886 Veterans PTSD Screening Act\n\nRep. Murphy (NC-03): This bill will direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study to determine whether RNA sequencing can be used to effectively diagnose PTSD in veterans.\n\n35. H.R.4037 the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act\n\nRep. Kennedy (NY-26): This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to conduct outreach on Medicare coverage of occupational therapy services to treat substance use or mental health disorders.\n\n36. H.R.4101 Cancer Drug Parity Act\n\nRep. Grothman (WI-06): This bill would require a group health plan (or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan) to provide for cost-sharing for oral anticancer drugs on terms no less favorable than the cost-sharing provided for anticancer medications administered by a health care provider.\n\n37. H.R.4145 Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025\n\nRep. Murphy (NC-03): This bipartisan legislation makes technical changes that remove barriers in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 which will ensure veterans\u2019 claims are given fair and reasonable judicial review.\n\n38. H.R.4206 CONNECT for Health Act\n\nRep. Thompson (CA-04): The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make certain telehealth flexibilities permanent, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors.\n\n39. H.R.4317 PBM Reform Act of 2025\n\nRep. Carter (GA-01): This bill will enhance transparency, accountability, and fairness in the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) industry, addressing issues related to drug pricing and pharmacy access\n\n40. H.R.4583 Living Donor Protection Act\n\nRep. Bacon (NE-02): This legislation would prohibit life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums based only on donor status. It would also amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically allow private and civil service employees to use FMLA leave to recover from donation surgery.\n\n41. H.R.4606 Ally\u2019s Act\n\nRep. Neguse (CO-02): This legislation would ensure private insurance companies cover osseointegrated hearing devices (\u201cOIDs\u201d), including bone anchored hearing aids (\u201cBAHA\u201d) and cochlear implants.\n\n42. H.R.4731 Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act\n\nRep. Sewell (AL-07): This bipartisan legislation would combat the nation\u2019s doctor shortage and improve access to health care by expanding the number of Medicare-supported medical residency positions by 14,000 over seven years.\n\n43. H.R.4768 Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025\n\nRep. Ryan (NY-18): This legislation would extend health care coverage to TRICARE (Active Duty and Retired) beneficiaries who have adult children younger than 26 years old, lowering costs and ensuring access for hundreds of thousands of military families across the country.\n\n44. H.R.4981 Stamp Out Lyme Disease Act\n\nRep. Gottheimer (NJ-05): The bill would create a postage stamp to supplement congressionally-appropriated research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research treatments for Lyme and tick-borne diseases.\n\n45. H.R.5145 Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act\n\nRep. Kiggans (VA-02): This bill provides a temporary extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits established by the Affordable Care Act, protecting American families, seniors, and small business owners from massive health care premium increases.\n\n46. H.R.5252 Having Overdose Protection Equipment Act (HOPE) Act\n\nRep. Amo (RI-01): This legislation would ensure opioid overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, are readily available in public places like parks, schools, and public transportation.\n\n47. H.R.5269 Results Act\n\nRep. Hudson (NC-09): This bipartisan, bicameral legislation reforms Medicare\u2019s Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule to protect timely access to routine and lifesaving lab tests for seniors.\n\n48. H.R.5355 Ian Kalvinskas Pediatric Liver Cancer Early Detection and Screening Act\n\nRep. Costa (CA-21): The bill would direct HRSA (with CDC input) to lead a national education effort so families and providers can spot early signs of liver disease and require GAO to report on pediatric liver wait-list mortality and screening effectiveness.\n\n49. H.R.5469 SHINE for Autumn Act\n\nRep. Kim (CA-40): The bipartisan SHINE for Autumn Act to improve stillbirth research and data collection and help prevent stillbirth in the United States.\n\n50. H.R.5498 Small Business Health Options Awareness Act of 2025\n\nRep. Van Duyne (TX-24): The bill directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to actively disseminate information on Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) through Small Business Development Centers, district offices, and SBA\u2019s regular outreach channels.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-announces-28-million-federal-grants-support-14-western-pa-fire", "Deluzio Announces $2.8 Million in Federal Grants to Support 14 Western PA Fire Departments", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CARNEGIE, PA \u2013 Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that fourteen Western Pennsylvania fire departments are receiving more than $2.8 million in federal grant funding to support their public safety missions. This followed outreach from Congressman Deluzio\u2019s office to bring home grants like these back to Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District.\n\nThe funding was provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs. The majority of the funding will help fourteen Western PA fire departments purchase critical equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources through the AFG program. Just under $1 million will help one department with firefighter recruitment and retention through the SAFER program. A total of $2,831,964.22 in federal funding is coming to fire departments in Pennsylvania\u2019s 17th Congressional District.\n\n\"I am thrilled to announce that fourteen Western Pennsylvania fire departments are getting federal dollars to help them do the hard work to keep all of us safe,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cThese grants will help our local fire departments buy gear and equipment and better recruit and keep more firefighters on the force. Our first responders show up for all of us in our times of need\u2014I will always have their back and push to make sure our federal government does, too. I encourage other fire departments in Western Pennsylvania to apply for this funding\u2014my office stands ready to support your applications as best we can.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe would like to thank Congressman Deluzio and his staff for the assistance they provided in us obtaining our FEMA AFG grant,\u201d said Jim Essek, President of the Harmony Township Volunteer Fire Dept. \u201cWe know this grant is very competitive, and I\u2019m sure his letter helped us in purchasing the air compressor and cascade system. Not only will this grant assist our department, but also the Leetsdale and Fair Oaks fire departments.\u201d\n\nThe full list of grant awardees is as follows:\n\nAssistance to Firefighters Grants\n\nBeaver Falls Fire Dept. \u2013 $12,290\n\nBig Beaver Volunteer Fire Co. \u2013 $4,571\n\nCastle Shannon Firemens\u2019 Relief Association \u2013 $65,588\n\nCherry City Volunteer Fire Co. \u2013 $96,000\n\nDarlington Township Volunteer Fire Dept \u2013 $471,428\n\nHanover Volunteer Fire Dept. \u2013 $19,047\n\nHarmony Township Volunteer Firemen \u2013 $59,090\n\nHarrison Hills Volunteer Fire Co. \u2013 $47,419\n\nKennedy Township Independent Volunteer \u2013 $74,666\n\nMoon Township Volunteer Fire Co. \u2013 $43,636\n\nPeebles Volunteer Fire Co. \u2013 $52,436\n\nPresto Volunteer Fire Dept. \u2013 $330,604\n\nRoss/West View Emergency Medical Service \u2013 $363,181\n\nSouthern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services \u2013 $242,761\n\nStaffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant\n\nSouthern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services \u2013 $949,240\n\nAs a condition of AFG grants, the recipient fire department is required to contribute non-federal funds equal to or greater than five percent of the Federal funds awarded. Many other fire departments in Pennsylvania\u2019s 17th Congressional District are eligible and encouraged to apply for this grant. Interested departments should review Congressman Deluzio\u2019 office\u2019s one-pager and connect with Emma Dawson, Grants Coordinator, in his Carnegie Office by emailing PA17Grants@mail.house.gov.\n\nCongressman Deluzio will continue to support local first responders by advocating for federal funding like this and through legislation including his Bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Expansion Act.\n\nThe Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to freeze funding and pause federal grants has created significant uncertainty for grantees, varying by agency and program. As of now, the courts are involved in determining whether many of these funding freezes will continue permanently or go on pause. Congressman Deluzio's office will continue to monitor these developments and fight to make sure federal funding keeps flowing to projects that make life better for Western Pennsylvanians. Recipients of federal grants with issues accessing lawfully appropriated funds, should reach out to Congressman Deluzio's office at PA17Grants@mail.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases/deluzio-warren-lawmakers-renew-fight-honor-wwii-cadet-nurses", "Deluzio, Warren, Lawmakers Renew Fight to Honor WWII Cadet Nurses", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Christopher R. Deluzio", "D000530", "deluzio.house.gov", "deluzio", "https://deluzio.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Angus King (I-Maine), along with U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), reintroduced the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill honoring women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status. The bill would recognize former Cadet Nurses' service to the country and provide them with honorary veterans status, honorable discharges, a service medal, a burial plaque or grave marker, and other commendations.\n\nSenator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also joined in co-sponsoring the bill in the Senate.\n\nDuring WWII, a severe shortage of trained nurses threatened the United States\u2019 ability to meet domestic and military medical needs. As a result, Congress established the Cadet Nurse Corps, an integrated, uniformed service of the Public Health Administration, in 1943 to provide women with expedited nursing education in exchange for \"essential military or civilian nursing for the duration of the war.\" In 1944, the Federal Security Agency identified \"national recognition for rendering a vital war service\" as a privilege of service in the Corps.\n\nIn total, nearly 120,000 women completed the Corps' rigorous training and served in military hospitals, VA hospitals, Marine hospitals, private hospitals, public health agencies, and public hospitals until the program ended in 1948.\n\nOne of those women, Cadet Nurse Elizabeth \"Betty\" Beecher, trained to become a Cadet Nurse in Boston, Massachusetts, and then served as a nurse at a Staten Island, N.Y., marine hospital near the end of WWII.\n\n\"We prevented a total collapse of the health care system,\" she said. \"Had we not stepped up and volunteered and enlisted in the Corps, I'm afraid the country would have been demoralized and our boys would have come home to a sick country.\"\n\n\u201cCadet nurses help the United States and our Allies win World War II,\u201d said Congressman Deluzio. \u201cThey made enormous sacrifices and bravely put themselves in harm\u2019s way in their efforts to save lives. I am proud to join with my colleagues to reintroduce the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2023 to grant these nurses honorary veteran status and other benefits that these cadet nurses earned through their service.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s about time we recognize these women for their service to our country during World War II,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cThey stepped up to prevent our nation\u2019s health care system from collapsing and were crucial to our wartime efforts \u2014 that is the definition of patriotism.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe brave women of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, including Montanan Laura Koch-Natvig, served our nation selflessly during World War II,\u201d said Senator Daines. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to give the Cadet Nurse Corps the honor and recognition they deserve, so the legacy of these brave women will be forever remembered.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe cadet nurses of World War II are unsung heroes whose bravery and selfless service helped the United States and our Allies win the war,\u201d said Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees. \u201cAs our nation struggled to meet medical staffing levels and take care of its soldiers, young women across the country stepped up to help make a difference and save lives. It is a privilege to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, which will give long overdue recognition to these remarkable women of the Greatest Generation and further cement their important role in defending freedom and democracy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe women of the Cadet Nurse Corps kept our hospitals going at a moment when our country desperately needed them. Without their service, the outcome of the war, and the world we live in today, would be very different,\u201d said Congressman Mike Lawler.\n\nThe U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act would:\n\nProvide Cadet Nurses with honorary veteran status, with an honorable discharge from service where merited and;\n\nPermit the Secretary of Defense to provide honorably discharged Cadet Nurses with a service medal, a burial plaque or grave marker, and other commendations to honor their service.\n\nThe bill was included in the House version of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act. While the legislation would provide the appropriate military honors, it would not provide still-living Cadet Nurses with Veterans Affairs pensions, healthcare benefits, or other privileges afforded to former active-duty service members, such as burial benefits in Arlington Cemetery.\n\n\u201cThe Military Women's Memorial strongly supports this vital legislation to finally honor the more than 124,000 members of the Cadet Nurse Corps, whose service was indispensable to the success of the World War II effort. Replacing nurses who had joined the military, they served on the home front in military and civilian hospitals across the nation, eventually providing 80% of the nursing care in the U.S. These women personify the commitment and sacrifice of women in service, stepping up to fill a critical nursing shortage. Like their military brothers and sisters, their pledge to serve 'for the duration of the war, plus six months' is a sacred commitment that deserves the highest recognition, and we urge Congress to pass this long-overdue tribute to their legacy,\" said Phyllis Wilson, President of the Military Women\u2019s Memorial.\n\n\u201cAACN applauds the introduction of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act,\" said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. \u201cWe look forward to working with Congress to honor the members of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps who embodied the bravery of the \u2018greatest generation' and who nobly served our country during World War II.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Cadet Nurses answered the call of duty during a time of great need,\u201d said American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. \u201cBy addressing a critical shortage of nurses during World War II, the Cadet Nurse Corp ensured that Americans maintained access to health care throughout the yearslong conflict. ANA is proud to support this bill, which honors and recognizes the extraordinary contributions that the women of the United States Cadet Corps made to their country.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the Military Women\u2019s Memorial, the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4842", "Representatives Houlahan and Sessions Introduce the Independence Investment Fund Act to Strengthen U.S. Leadership in Biotechnology and Emerging Technologies", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", "houlahan", "https://houlahan.house.gov/press/documentquery.aspx", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) has introduced the bipartisan Independence Investment Fund Act, legislation establishing a dedicated investment fund within the Department of the Treasury to support U.S. based companies developing critical and emerging technologies, including biotechnology. She is joined in this effort by Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) as Co-lead, with Congressman Ro Khanna, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice serving as original cosponsors.\n\nThe bill creates a federal investment mechanism designed to bridge the funding \u201cvalley of death,\u201d where promising early-stage technologies often fail to reach commercialization due to limited access to capital. By providing strategic seed to mid-stage equity investments, the fund aims to de-risk innovation, counter adversarial foreign investment, strengthen national and economic security, and accelerate the development of technologies central to America\u2019s future competitiveness.\n\n\u201cToo many promising biotech and other emerging tech companies fall into the \u2018valley of death,\u2019 when critical early capital is hardest to secure. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party is investing billions, and the U.S. is falling behind. By creating a government-backed, privately run investment fund, our legislation gives small and mid-sized innovators, especially in biotechnology, the strategic capital they need to bring breakthrough technologies to market. I\u2019m proud to partner with Rep. Sessions on this effort and grateful for our joint leadership of the BIOTech Caucus as we work to strengthen America\u2019s technological edge,\u201d said Congresswoman Houlahan.\n\n\u201cOur national security depends on our ability to innovate faster and more effectively than our adversaries,\u201d said Congressman Sessions. \u201cThe Independence Investment Fund Act strengthens America\u2019s position by directing strategic investments into technologies that are essential for our prosperity and long-term security. This bill ensures that America\u2014not China\u2014sets the pace for the next generation of biotechnology and emerging technologies.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal investments in biotechnology and the fostering of stronger public-private partnerships will secure America its place as an innovative leader in the 21st-century economy. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor Rep. Pete Sessions Independence Investment Act and establishing a non-partisan Independence Investment Fund to strengthen U.S. national and economic security,\u201d said Rep. Ro Khanna.\n\n\u201cStrong public\u2013private partnerships keep American science and technology at the forefront of global innovation while creating good-paying jobs here at home. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the Independence Investment Fund Act, which will help ensure the United States leads in the critical and emerging biotechnologies needed to meet 21st-century challenges,\u201d said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cThis legislation helps strengthen and grow the United States biotechnology sector, ensuring we can remain a global leader. Without additional investment mechanisms, emerging technologies that are crucial to national security risk being outpaced by adversarial foreign nations, such as China. We must enhance our biotechnology sector and protect our national and economic security,\u201d said Congresswoman Bice.\n\nThe Independence Investment Fund Act is supported by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, ARCH Venture Partners, Ocugen Pharma, the American Alliance for Biomanufacturing, and the Science and Technology Action Committee. Their full statements of support are included below.\n\nStatement from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology:\n\n\u201cThe U.S. innovates better than anyone in the world, but new technologies important for national security can be too risky or uncertain for private investors,\u201d said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. \u201cIn our April 2025 report, the NSCEB identified this as a key area for government action. We are grateful to our congressional partners for introducing legislation to create a strategic investment fund that can make targeted investments in promising technologies that incentivize follow-on private capital, all in support of U.S. national security.\u201d\n\nStatement from ARCH Venture Partners:\n\n\u201cARCH supports efforts to ensure American innovation remains the global benchmark.\u201d\n\nStatement from Ocugen Pharma:\n\n\u201cThe massive gap between research and commercial readiness remains a significant barrier for emerging biotechnology companies,\u201d said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Ocugen. \u201cExisting financing mechanisms do not fully address the development challenges that prevent promising therapies from reaching patients. The Independence Investment Fund Act fills this gap by providing targeted investment support that will strengthen domestic bio innovation and manufacturing and enable companies like ours to progress critical technologies that contribute to national and economic resilience. We encourage all American industry stakeholders to support this legislation in order to maintain our dominance as the global leader in biotech.\u201d\n\nStatement from the American Alliance for Biomanufacturing:\n\n\u201cThe Independence Investment Fund Act provides the strategic investment the U.S. needs to stay ahead in biomanufacturing. By closing critical financing gaps, the fund will help ensure that critical biotechnologies break through and scale here at home, supporting high-quality jobs in rural and urban communities alike. This is the kind of forward-looking commitment required to secure American leadership in the bioeconomy.\u201d\n\nStatement from the Science and Technology Action Committee:\n\n\u201cThis brilliant bill will empower the U.S. biotechnology sector to translate new discoveries from academia into transformative products that build economic and national security while addressing challenges to health, energy, environment, and food,\u201d said Keith Yamamoto, Co-Chair of the Science and Technology Action Committee.", 1, "2026-04-08T14:14:11Z", "2026-04-08T14:23:06Z"], ["https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-chairs-ways-means-tax-subcommittee-hearing-highlights-american-workers", "Kelly chairs Ways & Means Tax Subcommittee hearing, highlights American workers & businesses", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", "kelly", "https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax Chairman Mike Kelly (R-PA) held a hearing on the importance of pro-growth international tax policy to promote capital investment and to create more high-quality jobs in the United States.\n\nThe hearing examined the benefits of the pro-growth, pro-worker Working Families Tax Cuts passed earlier this year, and the potentially harmful impact of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development\u2019s (OECD) global minimum tax \u2013 known as Pillar 2 \u2013 on U.S. businesses and corporations. In 2023, analysis by the Joint Committee on Taxation projected the U.S. would lose over $120 billion in tax revenues due to Pillar 2, which was negotiated by the Biden Administration.\n\n\"The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made this nation the best place in the world to build, invest, and create jobs. The new Working Families Tax Cuts law is building upon that success by protecting and creating over 7 million jobs,\" said Chairman Kelly. \"It\u2019s vital that international trade deals also provide certainty for U.S. companies and fair treatment for foreign companies who wish to invest in the United States.\"\n\nWATCH and DOWNLOAD Rep. Kelly's opening statement here.\n\nHearing witnesses included former Ways & Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1980", "Ranking Member Scanlon\u2019s Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing on Republicans\u2019 Misguided Balanced Budget Amendment Push", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mary Gay Scanlon", "S001205", "scanlon.house.gov", "scanlon", "https://scanlon.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on Republicans\u2019 misguided attempt to advance a balanced budget amendment, just as they add trillions of dollars to the national debt by gifting their billionaire buddies generous handouts on the backs of hardworking Americans.\n\nBelow are Ranking Member Scanlon\u2019s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today\u2019s hearing.\n\nWATCH Ranking Member Scanlon\u2019s opening statement.\n\n\u201cGood morning, and thank you to our witnesses for testifying today.\n\nThe decisions that Congress makes about the economy, about taxes, spending, and budgets, are, or should be, decisions about values\u2014who we\u2019re fighting for, what kind of country we are, or want to be, and the future we\u2019re trying to create for our children.\n\nThat brings us to the topic of today\u2019s hearing, a balanced budget constitutional amendment\u2014a misguided proposal about how to address the often competing values and interests that must be taken into account when crafting our national budget.\n\nOf course, we all share the goal of developing smart, efficient fiscal policy and budgets, but for decades, Republican presidents and members of Congress have talked a big game about \u201cfiscal responsibility\u201d while enacting policies that have exploded the federal deficit and the national debt.\n\nIt wasn't that long ago, about 25 years, when under the Clinton administration the US had a balanced budget, fueled in part by a combination of tax increases, spending cuts and reduced military spending. But since then, in the early 2000s and again during the first Trump administration, Republicans have handed the ultrawealthy huge tax breaks, eroding the federal government\u2019s revenue base and threatening our ability to fund essential programs that Americans rely on.\n\nTime and again, these policies have failed to produce the broader benefits for all Americans that the advocates of \u201ctrickle down economics\u201d have promised. And instead, they exploded the deficit, adding $10 trillion to the national debt.\n\nDespite this, this summer Republicans once again doubled down, permanently extending tax giveaways to the wealthy in their One Big Ugly Bill, further expanding the deficit and ballooning the national debt. Now, after voting for that policy, our Republican colleagues think it\u2019s time for them to turn around and make a show of caring about fiscal responsibility.\n\nBut, don\u2019t be fooled. Today\u2019s hearing is just part of a decades-long, orchestrated political effort to help corporations and the wealthiest people avoid paying their fair share, a theory that tries to convince people that reckless tax giveaways to corporations and billionaires somehow stimulate investment and economic growth for everyone, for the greater good\u2014a lie that\u2019s been debunked again and again for more than 50 years, and one that\u2019s led to sky-high income inequality and the enshrinement of a corporate oligarchy in our society.\n\nThese tax policies, these giveaways, have fueled the greatest rise in income inequality that our country has ever known, resulting in a continuing transfer of wealth from working and middle class Americans to the wealthiest people in our country. And we need look no further than the fact that the top 1% in our country pay a lower tax rate than all other Americans.\n\nThis pathological dedication to trickle-down economics is outrageous. It betrays the values that this country should stand for, and which our budgets should reflect.\n\nIf we want to shrink the deficit and lower the nation\u2019s debt, we should be talking about a tax policy that gives relief to working families and makes the rich and corporations pay their fair share, rather than allowing them to reap even more profits by imposing the costs of their businesses on the American people by paying substandard wages or poisoning the environment. This isn\u2019t a radical idea.\n\nA tax policy that makes sure that everyone pays their fair share should be the starting point of any serious discussion about bringing the two sides of the budget equation: taxes and revenue on the one hand and spending, including military spending on the other. But, it takes a different kind of politics than what we\u2019re hearing today\u2014one that believes the purpose of government is to serve all Americans, not just the wealthy and well-connected.\n\nAnd the programs that our Republican colleagues have been only too ready to slash, in their Big Ugly Bill and with political scam \u201cbalanced budget amendment\u201d they are pushing in this hearing, are critical to the health and well-being of the American people.\n\nThe majority of our yearly spending is mandatory\u2014that is, funds not subject to Congressional appropriations and which must be paid, including: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans\u2019 benefits, and retirement programs for military service members and federal employees. These are vital programs that help our government keep its promises to the American people.\n\nLess than half of our budget goes to discretionary spending, which is spending Congress appropriates each year, and half of that money goes to defense spending.\n\nWe can make sure our national debt is on a sustainable path by investing wisely in the American people and taxing fairly. We can work to build an economy that grows from the middle out, not the top down. We can provide affordable health care and child care, affordable housing, and make sure that every child in America gets a world-class public education.\n\nBut, that\u2019s not what our Republican colleagues want to focus on today. Instead, their solution to the deficit problem they helped create is to propose Constitutional amendments that force Congress to balance the budget on the backs of working and middle-class families\u2014forcing cuts to essential benefits like Medicare and Social Security.\n\nHouse Republicans have introduced at least six different proposed amendments. Though they don\u2019t all share the same features, they all have the same common goal: to continue to put their thumb on the scale to favor big business and billionaires over working and middle-class people, seniors, and our most vulnerable Americans.\n\nA balanced budget amendment would shackle Congress and limit our flexibility to respond to changing economic conditions or crises with appropriate fiscal and budgetary policies. Tellingly, many of our Republican colleagues\u2019 proposals would require a supermajority in Congress to raise revenue or the debt limit, but not to cut spending.\n\nThe framers of our Constitution rejected the principle of requiring a supermajority for basic government functions because they believed it would shift power away from the American people\u2019s popular will to a determined minority. Balanced budget proposals requiring a supermajority would allow an extremist minority to hold our nation\u2019s economy and financial stability hostage.\n\nYou only need to look at the chaos of the current Republican majority to see what might be in store under a proposed amendment.\n\nWe\u2019ve seen political brinksmanship over the debt ceiling and government funding. We\u2019ve seen Speakers dethroned and federal budgets that slash health care and food assistance for Americans, while giving more handouts to the ultrawealthy.\n\nA balanced budget amendment would only make things worse, and this dysfunction would be baked into our Constitution and democracy forever. That\u2019s not what the American people want, or need.\n\nThe bottom line is, we don\u2019t need to amend the Constitution to balance the federal budget. Our colleagues need to get their heads out of the sand and be willing to look at the revenue side of the equation. During the 1990s, under a Democratic president and a Republican controlled Congress, the federal government ran budget surpluses without a balanced budget amendment.\n\nOur Republican colleagues control the House, the Senate, and the White House. If they wanted to do this, they could.\n\nBut, instead, they\u2019ve chosen to make their number one legislative priority this term a trillion-dollar handout to their billionaire buddies. Our budget is not just numbers on a spreadsheet. It\u2019s the choices we make: To invest in our neighbors and communities, to provide opportunities for young people, to take care of the elderly and the most vulnerable, and to invest in American prosperity.\n\nIf we want a truly prosperous economy where everyone can get ahead, we need to abandon the misguided orthodoxy of trickle-down economics. Instead, we need to focus on policies that support children, families, communities, and working people.\n\nWe don\u2019t need a balanced budget amendment. We just need to do the job the American people sent us to do.\n\nThank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-smucker-offers-opening-remarks-budget-committee-member-day-hearing", "Rep. Smucker Offers Opening Remarks at Budget Committee Member Day Hearing", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lloyd Smucker", "S001199", "smucker.house.gov", "smucker", "https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Vice Chair of the House Budget Committee, offered opening remarks during the Committee's Member Day hearing held on December 3, 2025. His remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:\n\nGood morning and thank you to everyone for being here.\n\nMember Day is a great tradition. I\u2019m a big believer in it\u2013especially in the context of what we\u2019re highlighting here today. None of us has all the answers, and each of us brings a different perspective about the nature of the problems.\n\nIf there is one fundamental issue that continues to hold Congress back, it\u2019s that we simply don\u2019t have a healthy, functioning budget process. And the reality is, we haven\u2019t had one in a long time.\n\nDating back to the late 1990s, we\u2019ve averaged more than five continuing resolutions every single fiscal year. We are operating under one right now. No serious enterprise could operate this way and expect good outcomes. But for Washington, fiscal apathy has become routine, and the results speak for themselves. During the recent shutdown, our national debt surpassed $38 trillion.\n\nWe\u2019re spending $1 trillion a year on interest alone\u2014more than our entire national defense budget. Ray Dalio has warned that we are inviting a \u201cdebt-induced heart attack.\u201d And instead of treating the disease, we keep arguing about the symptoms\u2014partisan fights over 20 percent of the budget while the other 80 percent runs on autopilot.\n\nA process built for another era cannot carry the weight of today\u2019s fiscal challenges. Just think about how, as we discussed at our last hearing, in more than 50 years the Congressional Budget Office has never undergone a single external, operational audit. Not one.\n\nHow can we produce better outcomes if CBO has never been independently evaluated for accuracy, transparency, or performance?\n\nThere are numerous common-sense reforms like this on the table to breathe new life into this process, shake off the cobwebs, and shift the bias back toward action.\n\nLast Congress, our committee came together to pass 14 bipartisan reform bills. We can do more. We need better, more modern rules of the road, and clear, measurable targets to guide us\u2013which brings me to another idea that is gaining traction. We know that right now, deficits are averaging somewhere around 6 percent of GDP.\n\nAt that level, the debt grows faster than the economy, interest costs accelerate, and we risk drifting toward a sovereign debt crisis. Bringing deficits down to about 3 percent of GDP\u2014a target endorsed by both Ray Dalio and Secretary Bessent\u2014would stabilize the debt and begin to restore credibility. Mandatory spending, driven by Social Security and federal health programs, and interest on our debt now accounts for 90 percent of all future spending growth.\n\nIn the recent reconciliation bill, we began to move the needle, delivering historic mandatory spending reductions. Social Security and Medicare now face insolvency in 2032 and 2033, respectively. But no long-term fiscal plan is credible if it ignores the health care system.\n\nIn my view, this conversation must happen on two tracks: first, making Americans genuine consumers of health care\u2014able to shop, compare, and push the system toward value. And second, tackling the practices that inflate every medical bill\u2014excessive hospital markups, opaque middlemen, and patent games that keep drug prices artificially high.\n\nIn time, the broader challenges may have to be taken up by a fiscal commission. I\u2019ve expressed support for modeling one after the successful Greenspan Commission\u2014to confront these issues plainly and without regard for the politics of the moment. This is another area where I welcome the input and ideas of our members.\n\nBecause ultimately, we can\u2019t reverse the curse of public debt without exercising the political will to make the tough decisions we all talk about. And while we can\u2019t manufacture political will in a hearing room, we can create better conditions for it\u2013certainly better than the tough sod we have now.\n\nSo today, and in the months to come, I am hoping to appeal to the better fiscal angels of our nature.\n\nThere is still a part of this institution and in each of us that understands the responsibility we carry. We did not come here to preside over decline. We came here to leave the country stronger than we found it. And if we can summon those better fiscal angels\u2014discipline, transparency, stewardship\u2014we can begin to make choices that protect the next generation.\n\nThat, to me, is the mission of this Committee, and it is the urgency of this moment. I look forward to our discussion today.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/reps-summer-lee-joyce-beatty-introduce-bill-to-break-barriers-in-stem-and-strengthen-america-s-future-workforce", "Reps. Summer Lee, Joyce Beatty Introduce Bill to Break Barriers in STEM and Strengthen America\u2019s Future Workforce", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Summer L. Lee", "L000602", "summerlee.house.gov", "summerlee", "https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Text of Bill (PDF)\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 DECEMBER 3, 2025 \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) announced the introduction of the 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act, legislation designed to close persistent equity gaps in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and expand high-quality STEM education access for girls and students from underrepresented communities.\n\nAs STEM careers continue to drive economic growth and shape the future workforce, women and people of color remain significantly underrepresented. Recent declines in national mathematics performance have sharpened the urgency. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 22% of twelfth-grade students performed at or above the proficient level in mathematics in 2024. Black and Hispanic twelfth graders scored three and five percentage points lower than their 2019 averages, and female twelfth graders experienced nearly double the decline in math scores compared to their male peers.\n\n\"Pittsburgh is a growing beacon for the tech industry but resources and opportunities often do not extend to students in public schools right next door, particularly for our girls and underrepresented communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Lee. \u201cThe 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act brings us one step closer to closing the education equity gap and ensuring all of our youth can bring their talents to this thriving industry. I am proud to co-lead this bill to support the next innovative generation of students.\"\n\n\u201cOur nation cannot afford to leave talent on the sidelines,\u201d said Congresswoman Beatty. \u201cExpanding STEM opportunities for girls and underrepresented minorities is essential for our economic future, our national competitiveness, and the next generation of innovators. This bill is an investment in the students who will build the world we live in tomorrow.\u201d\n\nThe 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act will:\n\nDirect the Department of Education to make grants to qualifying local education agencies to fund STEM education activities for girls and underrepresented minorities.\n\nAuthorize $10 million to qualifying local educational agencies serving high-poverty students from fiscal years 2026 through 2029.\n\nThese investments are designed to expand access to rigorous coursework, hands-on learning, and pathways that lead to STEM degrees and high-growth careers.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks is introducing companion legislation in the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cExpanding opportunity in STEM is about more than equity or representation; it is tied to America\u2019s economic future. When we close these gaps for our young people, we give them the power to forge their own path and break generational barriers in science, technology, engineering, math, and the careers that will shape tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am laser-focused on finding opportunities for young women to succeed and thrive. Our 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act would provide grants to local school districts to encourage girls and underrepresented students to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields. This legislation would create real pathways for success and wealth for our girls and students of color while also fueling our economy and keeping the United States a global leader in STEM,\" said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nAdditional co-leads of this bill include Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Steven Lynch (MA-08), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), and Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07).\n\nThe original co-sponsors of this bill are Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large) and Wesley Bell (MO-01).\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-reauthorization-of-global-child-thrive-act", "Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Reauthorization of Global Child Thrive Act", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian K. Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", "fitzpatrick", "https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today led a bipartisan coalition\u2014including Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rich McCormick (GA-07), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02)\u2014in introducing the Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025, legislation that strengthens the United States\u2019 commitment to advancing early childhood development across U.S. foreign assistance programs.\n\nFitzpatrick played a key role in advancing the original Global Child Thrive Act of 2020\u2014 signed into law through the FY21 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act)\u2014 which for the first time required U.S. foreign assistance to prioritize early childhood development.\n\n\u201cOur of our greatest responsibilities in public service is to ensure every child begins life with a strong and stable foundation. I was proud to help champion the landmark Global Child Thrive Act in 2021, which for the first time placed early childhood development at the center of our foreign assistance strategy. Reauthorizing this critical program strengthens that commitment\u2014restoring the leadership needed to coordinate support for orphans and vulnerable children and updating the guidelines that drive this work across our agencies. Every child deserves the chance to thrive, and our policies must continue to reflect that fundamental truth,\u201d said Fitzpatrick.\n\n\u201cReauthorizing the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020 means continuing to support the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health of vulnerable children and their families,\u201d said Castro. \u201cThe early years of childhood are crucial, and U.S. foreign assistance programs provide critical support. Thank you to my colleagues for their efforts in supporting these important policies.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to cosponsor the reauthorization of the Global Child Thrive Act. This initiative enhances America's leadership on the global stage by ensuring that vulnerable children receive the support they need to grow and succeed,\u201d said McCormick. \u201cBy extending this program for another six years and establishing a Special Advisor to oversee it, we are making a smart investment that promotes stability and delivers a strong return for American taxpayers. I am grateful for the ongoing bipartisan support this initiative has received since it was first championed by leaders like Senator Marco Rubio.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and reach their full potential \u2014 no matter where they\u2019re born,\u201d said Olszewski. \u201cThe Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act puts that belief at the heart of America\u2019s work around the world. I\u2019m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to support early childhood development, protect vulnerable children, and strengthen families and communities. It\u2019s the right thing to do \u2014 and it helps build healthier societies, reduce poverty, and advance America\u2019s values and security for years to come.\u201d\n\nNational child advocacy organizations praised the bipartisan effort:\n\n\u201cWe applaud Representatives Castro, McCormick, Fitzpatrick, and Olszewski for their bipartisan leadership in ensuring that the world\u2019s most vulnerable children are able to grow up to their full potential, protected from abuse, neglect and trafficking. The Global Child Thrive Act is a bipartisan recognition that every child, regardless of where they are born, has the right to grow up safe, healthy, and supported. The Global Child Thrive Act ensures early childhood development is a priority, not an afterthought,\u201d said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children.\n\n\u201cThe earliest years of life are the most critical for healthy brain development.\u201d stresses Michael J. Nyenhuis, UNICEF USA CEO and President. \u201cEnsuring that early childhood development remains a strong component of U.S. foreign assistance will help to support the growth and development of hundreds of millions of children under the age of 5 globally who currently face extreme poverty and stunting. We\u2019re thrilled to support the bipartisan reauthorization of the Global Child Thrive Act so that these children have an equitable chance to not only survive, but thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Global Child Thrive Act is an important step to reach vulnerable children with the basics they need, like good nutrition and responsive family care. Prioritizing the needs of young children and their families leads to far-reaching benefits in health, education, and much more. The Global Child Thrive Act is key to making this impact possible,\u201d said Mishelle Rudzinski, Executive Director, SPOON.\n\nThe Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020, landmark legislation that was enacted in early 2021 that strengthened the prioritization of supporting early childhood development in foreign assistance.\n\nThe Global Child Reauthorization Act of 2025 would:\n\nRequire the Secretary of State to appoint a new Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, a position that coordinates all United States foreign assistance programs for orphans and vulnerable children.\n\nThis position has traditionally resided at the United States Agency for International Development and is currently unfilled.\n\nRequire the administration to issue new guidelines to implement the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020.\n\nThe 2020 legislation required the creation of a government-wide strategy for children in adversity.\n\nThis strategy, released in 2024, heavily relied on agencies like the United States Agency for International Development.\n\nGiven the significant changes to U.S. foreign assistance this year, the Global Child Reauthorization Act of 2025 would require a new set of implementing directives.\n\nReauthorizes appropriations to implement the Global Child Thrive Act of 2020 for an additional 5 years.\n\nRead the Global Child Thrive Reauthorization Act of 2025 here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meuser-announces-9-million-secured-pennsylvanias-ninth-district", "Meuser Announces $9 Million Secured for Pennsylvania\u2019s Ninth District", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Dan Meuser announced that he secured more than $9 million in federal funding to support six community projects across Pennsylvania\u2019s Ninth District. The funding, included in the FY26 Agriculture Appropriations legislation recently signed into law, is the result of close collaboration between Congressman Meuser, local officials, and community partners who identified high-impact needs across the region.\n\nOver the last year, Congressman Meuser worked alongside stakeholders across the district to advance projects that strengthen public safety, expand access to healthcare, improve educational opportunities, and enhance vital community services. These projects include:\n\nSchuylkill County\n\n$2,225,000 for Friendship Hose Co. No. 1 in Orwigsburg to construct a new fire station at the site of the existing facility, ensuring modern emergency response capability for the community.\n\n$2 million for the Temple Rural Dental College Campus in Tamaqua to construct a new dental education facility that will accommodate 20 dental students, increasing access to critical dental care across rural Pennsylvania.\n\n$750,000 for the Shenandoah Center for Health, Education, Business and the Arts to complete a new federally qualified health center and business incubator space in downtown Shenandoah.\n\nWyoming County\n\n$2,346,849 for Wyoming County Healthcare Center Improvements to renovate and modernize the facility, reestablishing and expanding healthcare access for residents of Tunkhannock and surrounding communities.\n\nMontour & Columbia Counties\n\n$1 million for the Danville Area Community Center to renovate program areas and construct new childcare and community spaces.\n\n$875,000 for the Bloomsburg Area YMCA Community Resource Hub to renovate and expand the facility, creating dedicated spaces and upgraded offices for its community hub that helps hundreds of residents access vital services.\n\n\u201cSecuring these federal investments for Pennsylvania\u2019s Ninth District is the result of working hand in hand with local leaders who understand the needs of their communities better than anyone,\u201d said Congressman Meuser. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to have helped secure funding that will expand healthcare access in Tunkhannock and Bloomsburg, improve emergency response in Orwigsburg, strengthen rural health education in Tamaqua, support revitalization in Shenandoah, and enhance childcare and youth services in Danville. I\u2019m grateful to our municipal, nonprofit, and community partners for their collaboration, and I look forward to seeing these projects deliver meaningful results for the Ninth District.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-smucker-legislation-strengthen-social-security-and-protect", "House Passes Smucker Legislation to Strengthen Social Security and Protect Families", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lloyd Smucker", "S001199", "smucker.house.gov", "smucker", "https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Legislation to help seniors maximize retirement benefits, protect children from identity fraud passed the House with near unanimous support.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 This week, the House of Representatives passed two important pieces of legislation introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee, the Claiming Age Clarity Act (H.R. 5284) and the Social Security Child Protection Act (H.R. 5348).\n\n\u201cThis legislation ensures the Social Security Administration (SSA) works better and more efficiently for American seniors and families,\u201dsaid Rep. Smucker. \u201cThe Claiming Age Clarity Act improves outdated language to help seniors understand and maximize their retirement benefits, and the Child Protection Act cuts bureaucratic deadlock to better assist families when a child is at risk for fraud when the Social Security number is lost or stolen in the mail.\u201d\n\n\u201cHelping protect children from identity fraud and assisting seniors in receiving the benefits they rightfully deserve is something all of Washington should agree with, and I am thankful that my House colleagues supported these straightforward solutions.\u201d\n\nThe Claiming Age Clarity Act (H.R. 5284)\n\nThis legislation would modernize outdated language used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help seniors better understand the timing of their decisions to claim retirement benefits.\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans are counting on their hard-earned Social Security benefits to help ensure they have the financial resources they need in retirement,\u201d said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). \u201cUnfortunately, under current practice, many Americans could end up forgoing some of those resources if they are unable to decipher the Social Security Administration\u2019s misleading or confusing terminology when it comes to deciding when to begin claiming benefits. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Smucker, Congress is advancing a solution that will bring needed simplicity to the language used by the Social Security Administration and help ease the stress of retirement planning.\u201d\n\nEarly Eligibility Age would become Minimum Benefit Age \u2013 This is age 62, the earliest age at which someone can begin receiving retirement benefits. Full Retirement Age would become Standard Benefit Age \u2013 This is age 66-67 depending on an individual\u2019s birth year. Delayed Retirement Age would become Maximum Benefit Age \u2013 This is age 70, the latest age at which someone can begin receiving retirement benefits.\n\nRep. Don Beyer (VA-08) co-sponsored this bill, and Sens. Bill Cassidy, Christopher Coons, Susan Collins, and Tim Kaine have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nAARP, BPC Action, and AMAC Action endorsed this legislation. Read the endorsement letter here.\n\nWatch Rep. Smucker\u2019s full remarks on H.R.5284:\n\nThe Social Security Child Protection Act (H.R. 5348)\n\nThis legislation would require the SSA to administer a new Social Security number to a child under 14 years of age if the card was lost or stolen in the mail, helping to prevent fraud before it occurs.\n\n\u201cA single act of identity theft can lead to a lifetime of financial harm,\u201d said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). \u201cThanks to Representative Smucker\u2019s leadership, the Social Security Child Protection Act of 2025 will ensure that families don\u2019t have to wait and can immediately secure a new Social Security number if their child\u2019s card is compromised, addressing a problem in government that has left too many families without recourse.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Smucker\u2019s full remarks on H.R.5348:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-summer-lee-calls-for-immediate-extension-of-aca-tax-credits-during-shadow-hearing", "Rep. Summer Lee Calls for Immediate Extension of ACA Tax Credits During Shadow Hearing", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Summer L. Lee", "L000602", "summerlee.house.gov", "summerlee", "https://summerlee.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "(Link to video)\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 DECEMBER 2, 2025 \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) participated in an Education and Workforce HELP Subcommittee Democratic shadow hearing titled \u201cRepublican Priorities: Billionaire Tax Breaks, Not Health Care for Working Families,\u201d where she called for the urgent extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits and renewed her push for Medicare for All.\n\nThe shadow hearing convened health policy experts, patient advocates, and small business owners to discuss rising health care costs and the devastating consequences of failing to extend the ACA\u2019s enhanced subsidies before the end of the year.\n\nDuring her remarks, Rep. Lee condemned Republican efforts to cut Medicaid and allow ACA tax credits to expire, warning that families across Western Pennsylvania and the country will see their premiums spike by thousands of dollars if Congress fails to act.\n\n\u201cPeople are rationing care in America like they had to ration food in the Great Depression. They are deciding if they can even afford to get the MRI, let alone the treatment for whatever the MRI uncovers,\u201d Lee said. \u201cWe are the only wealthy nation that has not figured out a universal healthcare system. We have so much research and data that shows a Medicare for all, single-payer system will not only allow more folks to get basic healthcare, but it\u2019s significantly cheaper than what we have now.\n\nRep. Lee highlighted that more than 24,000 residents in Pennsylvania\u2019s 12th Congressional District rely on ACA tax credits to afford coverage. Without congressional action, a 60-year-old couple in the district could see annual premiums rise by more than $12,000, while a working family of four could face increases exceeding $5,000.\n\nA central focus of Rep. Lee\u2019s participation was the testimony of her constituent, Tori Baggot, a small business owner from Pittsburgh who relies on Pennie, Pennsylvania\u2019s health insurance marketplace, to manage a chronic illness. Ms. Baggot currently pays $197 per month for coverage but would pay $2,400 more per year if the enhanced tax credits expire.\n\n\u201cOne of my constituents traveled all the way here from Pittsburgh today to let us know how important it is for Congress to fix healthcare. And in the immediate short-term, one of the things we must do is extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits so that folks don\u2019t lose their healthcare in January,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful you\u2019re here today, Ms. Baggot, and I wish my Republican colleagues had joined us so they could hear your story too. But my Republican colleagues decided they would rather shut down the government for 42 days, the longest shutdown in history, than ensure my constituents could afford healthcare.\u201d\n\nThe hearing also featured testimony from Justin Giovannelli, Associate Research Professor and Project Director at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, and Katie Berge, Director of Federal Affairs at Blood Cancer United.\n\nRep. Lee also pointed to a recent analysis by Center for American Progress, showing that 9 out of 10 low-income Americans enrolled in Marketplace coverage live in states that voted for Donald Trump in 2024\u2014underscoring that the harm of letting tax credits expire will disproportionately hit working-class families, including in Republican-led states.\n\n\u201cJust this summer, [Republicans] made the biggest Medicaid cuts in history to fund trillions in tax breaks for billionaires. When these cuts go into effect, over 17,000 people in my district will lose healthcare,\u201d Lee said. \u201cAnd when millions of people lose healthcare because republicans eliminate the ACA tax credits, cut Medicaid, and refuse the cheapest and most equitable healthcare model, Medicare for All, they will blame anyone and anything except for their failed policies.\u201d\n\nLink to video HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1493, "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": "PA", "p1": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 795, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 698, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1411, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 82, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "PA", "label": "PA", "count": 1493, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 1493, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-12-02,https~3A~2F~2Fsummerlee~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-summer-lee-calls-for-immediate-extension-of-aca-tax-credits-during-shadow-hearing", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2025&_next=2025-12-02%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fsummerlee~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-summer-lee-calls-for-immediate-extension-of-aca-tax-credits-during-shadow-hearing&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 660.6613956391811, "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"}