{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://crowley.house.gov/press-release/chairman-crowley-statement-new-year", "Chairman Crowley Statement on the New Year", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph Crowley", "C001038", "crowley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.)  HouseDemocratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) issued the following statement in celebration of the New Year:\nTonight, people across America will gather to celebrate new beginnings and a new year. This is a time to reflect and look ahead to a 2018 full of challenges and opportunities. I wish families in Queens, the Bronx, and across America a happy and healthy New Year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://davidyoung.house.gov/survey/top-priority-2018-60-second-survey", "Top Priority of 2018? :60 Second Survey", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "David Young", "Y000066", "davidyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "240 Cannon House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/degette-s-led-bill-clarifies-how-new-lighting-technology-is-regulated", "DeGettes LED Bill Clarifies How New Lighting Technology is Regulated", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that promotes energy conservation and encourages innovations in LED lighting, authored by Congresswoman Diana DeGette, D-Colo. The bill heads to President Trumps desk to be signed into law.\nThe holiday season will be all the brighter thanks to our bipartisan efforts to speed the nations progress in the use of energy-efficient lighting, DeGette said in a press release. Our countrys conservation standards must remain up to date with the latest developments in high-tech lighting and energy-efficient appliances. This bill will remove roadblocks to progress in LED development and help lower energy costs for American businesses and households.\nDeGettes office said the legislation, theEPS Improvement Act (H.R. 518), clarifies and modernizes energy conservation rules that were established after the Energy Policy Act of 2005. When the law was written, LEDs were not yet on the market; they later came to be classified by the Department of Energy as External Power Supplies (EPS).\nHowever, EPS drivers use a different kind of power conversion design than LEDs. In simpler terms, EPS are generally understood to be devices that connect electronics to plug-loads, such as the detachable cords that provide power to laptops, smart phones and tablets, according to the HouseSubcommittee on Energy and Power.\nLEDs require a constant voltage to work as theyre supposed to, conserving more power than traditional lighting.\nLED is a highly energy efficient lighting technology, and has the potential to fundamentally change the future of lighting in the United States, reports theDepartment of Energy. Residential LEDs  especially ENERGY STAR rated products  use at least 75 percent less energy, and last 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting.\nBy 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1000 megawatts each), and a total savings of more than $30 billion at todays electricity prices, the department said.\nAlong with saving energy, LED lights are safer. Take Christmas lights, for example. The department said up to 25 strings of LEDs can be connected end-to-end without overloading a wall socket.\nProponents of the measure said on the House floor that this is pro-manufacturing, pro-consumer legislation that clears up how the Department of Energy regulates the new technology.\nThe Center for Western Prioritiesranked Coloradoas a top state in energy conservation in October, followed by Utah and Wyoming.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hunter.house.gov/congressman-hunters-year-review", "Congressman Hunter's Year In Review", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Duncan Hunter", "H001048", "hunter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the year comes to a close, I want to share with you some highlights of 2017.\nWith tax reform in the news right now, its easy to forget the other successes Congress has had this year. To date, Congress has sent President Trump more than 92 bills that have been signed into law, including 15 under the Congressional Review Act, aimed at specifically overturning Obama-era rules and regulations. This regulatory reform has resulted in over $60 billion in cost savings. I also remain committed to strengthening immigration enforcement, national defense, and rebuilding our nations infrastructure.\nBack at home, my team remains dedicated to delivering high-quality constituent services, working to helpresidents of the 50th Congressional District cut through red tape at the VA, or assist with Social Security and Medicare issues.\nThank you for giving me that honor in 2017, and I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2018.\nJobs & Tax Reform\nAmong my top priorities is promoting job creation and economic growth so all Americans can prosper. For the first time in over 30 years, Congress passed comprehensive tax reform which will unleash economic growth and put more money back in the pockets of taxpayers like you ~ who can better decide how to spend it.\nThe tax legislation lowers rates for both individuals and businesses and eliminates loopholes and complex deductions to simplify the code and encourage job creation and economic growth. With this bill, a family of four earning a median income of $73,000 will receive a tax cut of $2,059.\nThis once-in-a-generation legislation was sent to President Trumps desk to be signed into law. It makes our tax code internationally competitive and simple to understand.\nIm confident the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will provide direct benefits to the constituents of Californias 50th Congressional District.\nCalifornia Wildfires\nOver the past two weeks, devastating wildfires have affected our district and communities across California. I have been working withHouse Leadership andmy colleagues to bring resources toourstate. I ampleasedto report that tax benefits for disaster victims and funding for the recovery was included in the tax bill and a supplemental appropriations bill considered by the House this week.\nConcealed Carry Reciprocity\n\tEarlier this month, the House passed H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. I proudly voted in favor of the bipartisan legislation, of which I am an original cosponsor. The long overdue legislation ensures that law-abiding citizens that have obtained a state-issued concealed carry license or permit for their firearm may carry a concealed handgun in any other state that allows concealed carry, as-long-as the individual is properly following the laws of that state.\nMilitary Readiness\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I was pleased to see President Donald Trump sign the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law earlier this month which reaffirms our nations commitment to a strong national defense. Specifically, this bipartisan legislation authorizes critical military programs and provides our warfighters with the tools they need to complete their mission and keep us safe at home.\nOther important provisions of the FY18 NDAA include:\n Increasing troop levels over FY17 levels of 15,700+ active duty personnel over the four services;\nEnhancing missile defense $4.4 billion over initial Presidential budget request;\nAuthorization for the first polar icebreaker to begin the recapitalization of the existing U.S. Coast Guard fleet;\nSupport for upgraded communication technology on the MV-22 Osprey, which has been called a game changer for our warfighters;\nEnsuring critical naval components are made by American workers and American businesses;\nSalary increase of 2.4% for service members.\n Enhancing Veteran Care\nCalifornia's 50th District is home to over 58,000 veterans and active duty service members. I am grateful and proud of their service. Earlier this month, the House passed S. 1266, the Enhancing Veteran Care Act, which authorizes the VA to contract with non-profits to investigate wrongdoing or substandard care practices. This bill would streamline the investigation process, ensuring that veterans get timely access to the quality care they deserve. Were almost there, next up: the presidents desk to be signed into law.\nCoast Guard and Homeland Security\nEarlier this year, the nation saw on full display what Ive already come to know as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. The Coast Guard saved 11,000 lives in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Crews have continued to provide relief to those affected by the hurricanes including the inspection of port facilities, transferring supplies such as food and water, and conducting search and rescues. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the subcommittee to ensure that the Coast Guard continues to look for ways to improve efficiency and improve maritime safety and security.\nThe Coast Guard also has an important role as the first line of defense in protecting our Maritime border. I strongly believe the first priority in immigration reform must be to strengthen border security and ensure verifiable enforcement. Without those two things being achieved, I will not support any immigration reform effort, including DACA, that does not address border enforcement and put national security first. Period. I have alsojoined several of my congressional colleagues in introducing two important pieces of legislation critical in the ongoing effort to curb illegal immigration; the Legal Workforce Act and the Immigration in the National Interest Act.\nEducation and the Workforce\nAs a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I understand that we need to modernize the Higher Education Act to meet the specific needs of students. It is an essential step to rebuilding Americas middle class and providing a new era of opportunity for students. It is for this reasonI introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4078, the Expanding Americas Workforce Act of 2017, whichwould establish various programs to ease the financial burden on workers who are seeking to further their education.I have also re-introduced the bipartisan Student Right to Know Before You Go Act, alongside a Senate version led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) in November. With the cost of higher education rapidly rising, this bill would allow students and their families to have access to more data to base their decision on where to pursue a higher education.\nSocial Security\nFinally, I want to remind seniors that the monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 2.0 percent in 2018. The 2.0 percent cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to Social Security beneficiaries in January 2018 and increased payments to SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 29, 2017. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). For more information about how COLA is calculated please visitwww.socialsecurity.gov/cola. Information about Medicare changes for 2018 will be available atwww.medicare.gov.\nSocial Media\nIf you would like to stay up to date on my work in Congress, please subscribe to my newsletter by clickinghere, likingmy pageon Facebook, or following me on Twitter at@Rep_Hunter.\nLooking Ahead\nAs we enjoy the Christmas season, I hope you will join me in remembering the men and women who serve in our nation's military, especiallythe service members who are deployed abroad and unable to spend the holidays with their families. I am so grateful for them and their service.\nI look forward to returning to Congress in the New Year, and I am eager to work with my colleagues to advance policies that will help keep America strong and competitive. As House Republicans prepare to begin the second session of the 115th Congress, I will continue to focus my effortsto move our country forward. Your concerns remain my priority.\nAs always, I hope to hear from you throughout the course of the year as Congress does its legislative work, in addition to providing effective oversight.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://seanmaloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maloney-applauds-investments-rebranding-at-new-york-international", "Maloney Applauds Investments, Rebranding at New York International Airport at Stewart Field", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Sean Maloney", "M001185", "seanmaloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Newburgh, NY Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) released the following statement after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that Stewart International Airport will receive $34 million in investments and be renamed \"New York International at Stewart Field.\" Investments will establish a permanent federal inspection station for international travel and provide funding for additional enhancements.\n\n \n\t\"Weve been working on renaming Stewart and making these other improvements for some time and I'm thrilled that the Governor is taking charge and making things happen. Renaming the airport will make it more attractive to travelers, and making keyinvestments in New York Internationalwill meet the increasing demand for travel options and help grow our regional economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-sewell-releases-2018-annual-report", "Rep. Sewell Releases 2018 Annual Report", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) has released her offices annual report for 2018. The report reviews Rep. Sewells work and accomplishments from 2017, both in the district and in Congress, and announces goals for the coming year.\nThe full 2018 Annual Report from Congresswoman Terri Sewell is available here\nMy annual report gives constituents an easy-to-follow guide to what we accomplished together this year in Alabamas 7th Congressional District, said Rep. Terri Sewell. Things got off to an early start in January, when President Obama signed a proclamation designating the Birmingham Civil Rights District as a national monument. This was also my first year serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, where I defended access to affordable healthcare and worked to refocus the GOP tax bill on benefits for working families.\nThis past year, my office remained focused on creating better opportunities and providing more resources to Alabamas 7th District. We hosted over 92 district events in 2017, including town hall meetings, forums, workshops, and industry tours. We also responded to over 10,750 pieces of constituent correspondence, completed over 470 case work files and sponsored our 6th Annual Job Fair, connecting over 600 job seekers with over 60 major employers.\nIn addition to providing details on Rep. Sewells fight to promote job growth, protect health care, and strengthen democratic institutions, the report provides statistics on Rep. Sewells constituent services. This years annual report shows that Rep. Sewells office secured over $650 million in federal grants for the district and helped constituents recover more than $1.3 million in benefits owed to them by the federal government.\nRead the full 2018 Annual Report from Congresswoman Terri Sewell\n###\nRep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabamas 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-terri-sewell-and-jeff-duncan-place-friendly-bipartisan-wager", "Reps. Terri Sewell and Jeff Duncan Place Friendly Bipartisan Wager on Alabama vs. Clemson Sugar Bowl", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  As the University of Alabama and Clemson University compete in the NCAA College Football Playoff, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03) made a friendly wager on which team would advance to the championship. At stake  Chic-fil-a and bragging rights. The game on Monday, January 1, will be the third postseason matchup of Alabama and Clemson in three years. Alabama beat Clemson for the 2015 season title, and lost to Clemson in the 2016 national championship.\nThere will be no better way to kick off the New Year than an Alabama win over Clemson, said Rep. Terri Sewell. My friend Rep. Jeff Duncan is no chicken  hes agreed to a wager of Chic-fil-A and to a picture wearing the crimson and white if Clemson loses. Given Alabamas unparalleled record of 16 national championships, the Crimson Tide is destined to bring home another title this season. There could be nothing sweeter than a victory over Clemson at this years Sugar Bowl. Roll Tide!\nIf the University of Alabamas Crimson Tide secures a victory, Congressman Duncan has agreed to wear the trademark Bear Bryant houndstooth hat and an Alabama necktie for a photo on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and will provide Chic-fil-A for the Congresswoman and her office.\nShould Clemson Universitys Tigers win, Congresswoman Sewell has agreed to treat Congressman Duncans office to Chic-fil-A and will pose for a picture on the U.S. Capitol steps dressed in Clemson apparel.\nThis is the third year that Reps. Sewell and Duncan have bet over the Alabama vs. Clemson game. Pictures of Reps. Sewell and Duncan following the 2015 season and 2016 season wagers are available here.\n###\nRep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabamas 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1751", "Year in Review: Constituent Services", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friends  -And just like that we concluded the first session of the 115th Congress. 2017 has been a year of many achievements, but more than that, it has been a record year for consituent communication. It is my priority as your Representative to be accessible to my constituents and to let you know what is happening in both D.C. and the district. Here is 2017 in review:  1.5 Million: That's the number of constituent contacts I made this year. These include opened emails I sent out, responses to mail and calls sent to the office, telephone town hall attendees, and attendees of meetings or constituent forums. 103,506: That's the number of incoming constituent correspondence we have received and responded to since January 1, 2017. This includes emails, letters sent through the mail, and phone calls. Each day the staff updates me on topics folks are contacting the office about and their sentiments. The top issues we have heard about this year are tax reform, health care, the environment, immigration, national security, and government reform. 10, 15,161, 264: That's the number of telephone town hall events I held; the total number of attendees who participated in those events; and the number of questions answered. 1,167: That number there is the number of cases my district staff has completed. If you are having trouble with a federal agency, contact one of my district offices! They are located in Stafford, Hanover, and Tappahannock.  71: That's the number of constituent forums I held in communities across the district. These forums, like the one pictured above in Fredericksburg, allow me to update folks on my work in Washington and answer questions from constituents. 14: That's the number of bills I introduced addressing topics like national defense, federal employees, the environment, veterans affairs, federal recognition for Virginia Indian tribes, and Congressional accountability. ONE: That number represents my top priority: listening to the people I represent and using your thoughts, concerns, and insights to better represent you in Washington. It's an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House. I look forward to hearing from you in 2018! Sincerely, Rob *Numbers as of December 21, 2017", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=00169A00-D350-8797-D8E0-43755EA598D9", "Bennet Statement on Douglas County Shooting", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DENVER, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today issued the following statement in response to reports of an officer-involved shooting in Douglas County:\r\n\"Our prayers are with the families of the deputy who was killed and the other officers injured in the line of duty. We are deeply grateful for the bravery of our law enforcement-and honor their sacrifice-as they work each day to protect our communities and keep us safe.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=232C6B2B-BA4C-422E-AFD1-AD108E397BF9", "eMissourian: Sen. Blunt Touts Tax Credits During Visit  Tours Historic, Renovated Businesses", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monte Miller \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tOn the heels of a historic federal tax cut, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, his wife Abigail and son Charlie, visited Washington Wednesday to tour two local businesses which have already benefited from federal tax credits.\r\nDuring the frigid visit Blunt told a gathering of city and business leaders Washington was one of his favorite cities to visit and it was great to see businesses taking advantage of historic federal tax credits to make projects work.\r\nBlunt made the comments at the recently renovated dentist office, which now houses the Bryan Haynes studio and gallery on Second Street. The 134-year-old building was recently renovated and Haynes opened his studio there in mid-November.\r\nBefore the warmth of the studio, Blunt visited a building on Front Street being renovated by Rick and Karen Marquart to eventually house a Mexican restaurant and other businesses and apartments.\r\nIn a past life, the building was home to one of the several corn cob pipe factories in the county and a hat company.\r\nMissouri uses more historic tax credits than any other state, Blunt said. There were even more tax credits placed in the big tax bill that was just passed.\r\nBlunt also addressed some of the criticisms the new tax bill has received from its opponents that it will only benefit a certain percentage of the population.\r\nThe more wrong people were, the louder they got, Blunt said. Half of the population is not paying any income tax. You cant get any better that.\r\nThe proof is in the pudding, he said. Beginning next year, people will have more money to take home. A family of four making $73,000 per year will see about a $2,000 more to take home.\r\nHe added opponents argued $200 per month was not much money.\r\nTell someone who doesnt have $200 that, Blunt said. We have to look at this more as a tax cut instead of tax reform.\r\nHe added the tax cuts will serve a twofold purpose by putting more money in individuals pockets and helping businesses create more jobs with the money they are saving in taxes each year.\r\nBudget Cuts/Spending\r\nTo pay for the recent tax cuts, President Trump, in his proposed budget, made $4.1 trillion cuts in entitlements and spending in every federal department while at the same time lifting thousands of restrictions and regulations.\r\nOne area of focused and increased spending is defense with a proposed 10 percent increase up to $574.5 billion.\r\nBlunt says the additional defense funds are overdue and more is still needed in other areas.\r\nThe increase in military spending needs to happen, Blunt said. We have to compensate the men and women who are risking their lives to defend our country and keep us safe.\r\nHe added in addition to direct military spending, many people are working domestically to keep citizens out of harms way and budget increases are warranted for Homeland Security as well.\r\nIn Trumps budget, the Department of Homeland Security would receive a nearly 7 percent increase up to $44.1 billion, and the Department of Veterans Affairs would see a nearly 6 percent increase, bumping its overall budget up to $78.8 billion.\r\nTransportation\r\nBlunt also touched briefly on upcoming legislation for 2018.\r\nWith the tax reform as arguably his biggest legislative success, Trump has hinted a massive transportation and infrastructure bill may be next.\r\nBlunt says any legislation that comes in the new year must be done in an efficient way and he again referred to how the tax credits allow the government to work directly with citizens to infuse the economy.\r\nIf an infrastructure bill does come, it may be similar in form to President Barack Obamas American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was designed to put federal money directly into shovel-ready projects to not only improve infrastructure, but to also stimulate job growth. We have to find ways to get the maximum out of the money, Blunt said. Maybe the answer is more private/public partnerships to best allow the states and citizens to use the money.\r\nBipartisan\r\nAs the Trump administration gains momentum in the next three years, Blunt says the need for bipartisanship and unity of his own Republican Party will be needed to benefit the American people.\r\nHe said recent rumors about fellow Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, running against Trump in the 2020 primary were just that, rumors.\r\nIf anyone did decide to do that, they certainly would have a forum, Blunt said. This is a time for Democrats and Republicans to work in a less partisan way. One step and one item at a time.\r\nClick here to read more", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=5265D485-A561-434E-8A3D-4013FFB54D2C", "eMissourian: Sen. Blunt Touts Tax Credits During Visit  Tours Historic, Renovated Businesses", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monte Miller \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tOn the heels of a historic federal tax cut, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, his wife Abigail and son Charlie, visited Washington Wednesday to tour two local businesses which have already benefited from federal tax credits.\r\nDuring the frigid visit Blunt told a gathering of city and business leaders Washington was one of his favorite cities to visit and it was great to see businesses taking advantage of historic federal tax credits to make projects work.\r\nBlunt made the comments at the recently renovated dentist office, which now houses the Bryan Haynes studio and gallery on Second Street. The 134-year-old building was recently renovated and Haynes opened his studio there in mid-November.\r\nBefore the warmth of the studio, Blunt visited a building on Front Street being renovated by Rick and Karen Marquart to eventually house a Mexican restaurant and other businesses and apartments.\r\nIn a past life, the building was home to one of the several corn cob pipe factories in the county and a hat company.\r\nMissouri uses more historic tax credits than any other state, Blunt said. There were even more tax credits placed in the big tax bill that was just passed.\r\nBlunt also addressed some of the criticisms the new tax bill has received from its opponents that it will only benefit a certain percentage of the population.\r\nThe more wrong people were, the louder they got, Blunt said. Half of the population is not paying any income tax. You cant get any better that.\r\nThe proof is in the pudding, he said. Beginning next year, people will have more money to take home. A family of four making $73,000 per year will see about a $2,000 more to take home.\r\nHe added opponents argued $200 per month was not much money.\r\nTell someone who doesnt have $200 that, Blunt said. We have to look at this more as a tax cut instead of tax reform.\r\nHe added the tax cuts will serve a twofold purpose by putting more money in individuals pockets and helping businesses create more jobs with the money they are saving in taxes each year.\r\nBudget Cuts/Spending\r\nTo pay for the recent tax cuts, President Trump, in his proposed budget, made $4.1 trillion cuts in entitlements and spending in every federal department while at the same time lifting thousands of restrictions and regulations.\r\nOne area of focused and increased spending is defense with a proposed 10 percent increase up to $574.5 billion.\r\nBlunt says the additional defense funds are overdue and more is still needed in other areas.\r\nThe increase in military spending needs to happen, Blunt said. We have to compensate the men and women who are risking their lives to defend our country and keep us safe.\r\nHe added in addition to direct military spending, many people are working domestically to keep citizens out of harms way and budget increases are warranted for Homeland Security as well.\r\nIn Trumps budget, the Department of Homeland Security would receive a nearly 7 percent increase up to $44.1 billion, and the Department of Veterans Affairs would see a nearly 6 percent increase, bumping its overall budget up to $78.8 billion.\r\nTransportation\r\nBlunt also touched briefly on upcoming legislation for 2018.\r\nWith the tax reform as arguably his biggest legislative success, Trump has hinted a massive transportation and infrastructure bill may be next.\r\nBlunt says any legislation that comes in the new year must be done in an efficient way and he again referred to how the tax credits allow the government to work directly with citizens to infuse the economy.\r\nIf an infrastructure bill does come, it may be similar in form to President Barack Obamas American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was designed to put federal money directly into shovel-ready projects to not only improve infrastructure, but to also stimulate job growth. We have to find ways to get the maximum out of the money, Blunt said. Maybe the answer is more private/public partnerships to best allow the states and citizens to use the money.\r\nBipartisan\r\nAs the Trump administration gains momentum in the next three years, Blunt says the need for bipartisanship and unity of his own Republican Party will be needed to benefit the American people.\r\nHe said recent rumors about fellow Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, running against Trump in the 2020 primary were just that, rumors.\r\nIf anyone did decide to do that, they certainly would have a forum, Blunt said. This is a time for Democrats and Republicans to work in a less partisan way. One step and one item at a time.\r\nClick here to read more", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-statement-on-douglas-county-incident", "Gardner Statement on Douglas County Incident", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Cory Gardner", "G000562", "www.gardner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the below statement following the officer-involved shooting in Douglas County:\r\n\r\nMy heart breaks for all of those affected by the terrible tragedy in Douglas County. Jaime and I are praying for the citizens and Deputies injured at the scene, and our hearts go out to the family of the Deputy who was fatally wounded. Our law enforcement officers work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe and today all of Colorado stands with our law enforcement community.\r\n\r\n###\r\n\r\nCory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and the Budget Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy and Subcommittee on Energy\r\n\r\n354 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20515\r\n(202) 224-5941", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=F44DB8C2-04DA-45B7-B41E-A14B9EA69740", "Hatch's Top 10 of 2017", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the year comes to a close, take a look at the top 10 things Senator Hatch did in 2017.\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n10. Senator Hatch's teen suicide prevention bill advanced:\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n9. Senator Hatch's RAPID DNA bill was signed into law:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8. Senator Hatch introduced a bill to help teachers pay off their student loan debt, so that the best teachers in our Utah schools can afford to stay there:\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n7. Senator Hatch showed where he stands on white supremacy in Charlottesville:\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n6. Senator Hatch convened a high-level meeting on human trafficking with Ivanka Trump, Operation Underground Railroads Tim Ballard, and a number of his Senate colleagues:\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n5. We came a step closer to extending Senator Hatch's Childrens Health Insurance Program for another five years. The Senate is likely to pass it in early January:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n4. Senator Hatch introduced a bill to make it easier to study the benefits of medical marijuana as a safe, non-addictive alternative to opioids:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n3. The President accepted Senator Hatch's invitation to come to Utah to strike a compromise on our national monuments:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2. We confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court:\r\n\r\n\r\n1.We delivered on a key promise by passing tax reform that will benefit the vast majority of working families in Utah:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=574BF67B-6DA7-4E6E-9DFA-12C2E377CC5B", "Senators Tillis & Coons Issue Joint Statement On Protests In Iran", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNews\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress Releases\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Human Rights Caucus, today issued the following joint statement on the continued protests in Iran:The Iranian people are bravely and peacefully taking to the streets to voice their rejection of a regime that has oppressed them and denied their basic human rights. The bipartisan Senate Human Rights Caucus stands in solidarity with the demands of the Iranian protestors and urges the Administration and Congress to continue supporting human rights in Iran.\r\n###\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t185 Dirksen Senate Office Building\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20510\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (202) 224-6342\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (202) 228-2563\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t9300 Harris Corners Pkwy \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 170 \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharlotte, NC  28269 \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (704) 509-9087 \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (704) 509-9162\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1694 E. Arlington Blvd\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite B\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGreenville, NC 27858\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (252) 329-0371\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (252) 329-0290\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (828) 693-8750\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (828) 693-9724\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1840 Eastchester Drive, Suite 200\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHigh Point, NC  27265\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (336) 885-0685\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (336) 885-0692\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t310 New Bern Avenue\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuite 122\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRaleigh, NC 27601\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: (919) 856-4630\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (919) 856-4053", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399054", "Waco Tribune: New tax bill paves way for era of prosperity in 2018 and beyond", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Bill Flores", "F000461", "flores.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By U.S. Rep. Bill Flores There has been an incredible amount of false rhetoric regarding tax reform recently. As a Texas Certified Public Accountant (CPA), former energy CEO and a former chief financial officer for three multi-national businesses, I have a comprehensive and deep real world understanding on the impact of tax policy on American wage growth, economic activity and international competitiveness. I rely on that expertise to write and set the record straight regarding tax reform. As we begin 2018, we have set the framework to usher in a new era of American prosperity. Relief is on the way for working-class American families, many of whom now live paycheck to paycheck. According to recent studies, a majority of these families have less than a $400 cash reserve to handle financial emergencies. In addition, many of these individuals and families have experienced little to no growth in their take-home pay during the 2006-2016 time period. During that time, income inequality grew at the fastest rate in decades, while these families were left behind and saddled with higher health-care costs and higher costs of living. When the House of Representatives started working on tax reform in 2011, these are the families and individuals that we kept in the forefront of our thinking. Our goals during the tax-reform process were twofold  first, to help working-class families keep more of their paychecks, and second, and most importantly, to provide a tax infrastructure that would grow jobs and economic opportunities for these families. History proves empirically that tax reform and tax cuts, when properly executed, will generate higher economic growth, more job opportunities and larger paychecks. A quick review of gross domestic product (GDP) growth, employment growth and wage growth following the tax cut/tax reform initiatives of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 (enacted in 1964); President Ronald Reagan in 1981-1982; and again under Reagan in 1986 shows that working-class families experience substantial economic benefits when America fixes its tax system. In particular, the last comprehensive overhaul of our tax code, during the Reagan administration in 1986, led to a significant boost in our nations economic activity. During that time, American GDP growth averaged about 3.9 percent and reached as high as 4.2 percent. This economic opportunity is substantially better than the 2009-2016 period when average GDP growth was an anemic 1.5 percent. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on Dec. 22, creates a tax code for the 21st century that will lead to more jobs, bigger paychecks and fairer taxes for these hardworking American families. Under the new tax code, which will start on January 1, a typical family of four earning the median family income of $73,000 per year would see a 58 percent reduction in their tax bill. For this family, it means they get to keep over $2,000 more of their take-home pay. A family of four with annual income of $59,000 will see their taxes drop about 75 percent from approximately $1,600 to about $400. While some on the left have criticized these cuts, it is important to think about the impact that this increased take-home pay will have on these families. This increased cash flow is particularly impactful when looking at the average $400 cash reserves held by these families who struggle to get by on a paycheck-to-paycheck basis. These families will begin feeling these benefits in February as the IRS adjusts tax withholding tables; and April 15, 2018, the last date they will have to file their tax returns under todays broken tax code. Their tax filings for 2018 and subsequent years will be much easier and simpler. These families are helped by four major reforms. First, by nearly doubling the standard deduction  to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for joint filers  their tax-free earnings are significantly larger. Second, doubling the Child Tax Credit will give parents extra money to meet their families living expenses. Third, lowering tax rates across the board allows every American to receive a long-overdue tax cut. Fourth, and most importantly, the tax reforms for American businesses will generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs and larger paychecks. Despite false claims to the contrary, this tax reform was NOT rushed through Congress. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the result of years of work that began in earnest in 2011 when Republicans regained the majority in the House. Since then, the Senate and the House have held more than 100 tax-related hearings to ensure that input from all stakeholders including families, individuals, small businesses and the largest American companies would be included in shaping tax reform. I am particularly proud that constituents from the 17th Congressional District participated in this process by letting their voices be heard. Hearings even included compelling Ways and Means Committee hearing testimony from the leader of a women-owned business in our Central Texas congressional district. After a number of years and thousands of hours of input, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was formally introduced. The House and Senate tax-writing committees each spent four days considering and improving the bill. After each chamber passed its version of the bill, the conference committee began working to reconcile differences and to make the final bill stronger so that more hardworking Americans could feel the benefit of comprehensive tax reform. Immediately after the bill was signed by President Trump, several American businesses announced that they are issuing special 2017 employee bonuses, raising wage levels, investing in job-training and investing in America to grow their businesses. It is obvious that tax reform is already having a significant, positive impact on American families. These effects will expand and, when combined with the increase in GDP to 3.3 percent under the first year of President Trumps economic policies, our economy will continue to grow and American families will benefit. Critics of Americas new, improved tax code have also falsely claimed that it will create Armageddon consequences, including increased deficits, cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, etc. These claims are categorically false. They are beyond the pale and, worse, they are designed to create fear among American families who are just trying to recover from the broken economic policies of the past. History shows us that well-designed tax reform and tax cuts generate more economic activity, more income and more revenues for the federal government. In this regard, a recent study by the Department of Treasury (the folks who implement tax policy) shows that our new 21st century tax code will generate reduced federal deficits of approximately $300 billion over the next 10 years. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, safety net programs, etc. will not be adversely impacted by the new tax code. There are numerous other positive provisions of the new tax code that we could discuss. However, I want to focus on one that is important to higher education in our Central Texas region  the tax treatment of tuition discounts and waivers for graduate students. In this regard, I am pleased to report that throughout the legislative process of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, my team and I worked diligently on behalf of graduate students to preserve provisions that protect beneficial tax treatment for waived and discounted tuition incentives. We were successful in our efforts and the new tax code includes the beneficial tax treatment currently enjoyed by graduate students. The newly signed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will pave the way for economic gains across all sectors of our economy, jump-start wage growth and allow all Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money in their paychecks. It is a much-needed, fresh opportunity for hardworking American families across Texas and throughout the United States. To view this column as publishedCLICK HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/age-trump-cicilline-plays-key-role-leading-house-dems-delivering-results-ri", "In Age of Trump, Cicilline Plays Key Role Leading House Dems, Delivering Results for RI", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "David Cicilline", "C001084", "cicilline.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PAWTUCKET  Both as a member of the House Democratic Leadership team, and as the top Democrat on the House Antitrust Subcommittee, Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-1) has spent the past year helping to shape the national discourse about the challenges facing working Americans. Even as President Trump ushers in an era of unprecedented uncertainty in Washington, Cicilline has continued to deliver results for the people he serves.\nBelow are the highlights of Congressman Cicillines work in 2017:\nLEADING DEMOCRATS IN THE AGE OF TRUMP\nShortly after President Trumps election, Congressman Cicilline was elected by the House Democratic Caucus to serve as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). In that role, Cicilline was one of three House members, along with U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), to craft a new Democratic economic agenda  A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future.\nA Better Deal outlines a series of proposals that Democrats will pass when they take back the majority next year, including plans to lower the cost of prescription drugs, break up corporate monopolies, protect the right to organize and form a union, and create 10 million new full-time, good-paying jobs. As the first Rhode Islander to serve in the House Democratic Leadership since Patrick Kennedy, Cicilline will continue using his seat at the table to ensure that Democrats address the most important issues facing men and women across our state.\nSEIZING AMERICAS MONOPOLY MOMENT\nThis year also marked the first time that Congressman Cicilline has served as the top Democrat on the House Antitrust Subcommittee. In this role, he has worked relentlessly to highlight the ways that corporate monopolies eliminate jobs, raise costs on consumers, and limit competition in the marketplace. At a time of runaway consolidation, its clear that America is in A Monopoly Moment.\nThats why, earlier this month, Cicilline joined U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison to introduce the 21st Century Competition Commission Act to create a new government agency charged with investigating the impact of corporate mergers and increasing market concentration. Cicilline has also spoken out and raised concerns about the impact of recent mega-mergers in the retail, entertainment, and telecommunications industries.\nFINALLY, PROGRESS ON PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE\nAs a longtime champion of gun violence prevention, Congressman Cicilline understands the importance of ensuring that children and families can live free from the threat of gun violence. This year, his Unlawful Gun Buyer Alert Act passed the House as part of a larger package of gun violence proposals.\nCicillines proposal requires that local law enforcement agencies be notified when an individual with a criminal record, or a history of serious mental health problems, is able to purchase a gun because of an error in the background check system. Now pending before the U.S. Senate, this marks the first time in years that either chamber of Congress has passed a bill to prevent gun violence.\nGREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT\nEarlier this year, Congressman Cicilline successfully led the effort to update how Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds are used. OCO funds are supposed to be used for war expenditures, but they have increasingly been used wastefully for non-war purposes, such as the F-35 program. The lack of oversight has led many critics to term the system a slush fund.\nAs a result of legislation proposed by Congressman Cicilline earlier this year, the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a new requirement that the Pentagon update provisions regarding the use of OCO funds for the first time since 2010.\nPROTECTING HEALTH CARE FOR RHODE ISLANDERS\nThroughout 2017, as Republicans attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Congressman Cicilline led the effort in Rhode Island to rally support for the law. Along with Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, and Congressman Langevin, Cicilline hosted a series of events throughout Rhode Island to highlight the benefits the law has provided for seniors, young people, parents, and many more.\nEarlier this month, as Republicans again attempted to unravel the framework of the law, Cicilline hosted an event to encourage Rhode Islanders to sign up for health insurance. No matter what Republicans in Washington try to do, Congressman Cicilline will continue working to ensure that all Rhode Islanders can access quality, affordable health care.\nGETTING SECRET CORPORATE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS\nWashington wont work for the people it serves until we end the influence that huge corporations and powerful special interests have in our nations capital. Earlier this year, Congressman Cicilline introduced the DISCLOSE Act, which is co-sponsored by 129 of his colleagues in the House, to require corporations to disclose their political spending, and to prohibit foreign corporations from spending any money to influence American politics.\nCicilline has also introduced the SUN Act to require that secretive political organizations be required to disclose their activities in an online database. As a co-sponsor of the Government by the People Act, he has also worked to empower small-dollar donors by working to establish a fund that will match contributions under $150 at a ratio of 6 to 1.\nMAKING IT IN AMERICA\nCongressman Cicilline knows that if we want to raise wages and create more opportunities for Rhode Islanders to get ahead, we have to support American manufacturing jobs. Thats why he has continued to lead the fight to pass the Make it in America Manufacturing Communities Act to provide federal resources to regions like ours to support the growth of manufacturing.\nAnd although Republicans cut taxes for huge corporations this year, Congressman Cicilline is continuing to lead the effort in the House to end incentives that encourage those corporations to move American jobs overseas. The Offshoring Prevention Act, which Senator Whitehouse is leading in the Senate, will rewrite the tax codes to put American workers, not CEOs, first.\nBY THE NUMBERS\n$241.6 million  Congressman Cicilline has worked hard throughout his time in office to bring back federal resources to Rhode Islands First District, including more than $240 million in federal grants and appropriations over the past year.\n910  Congressman Cicilline believes Rhode Islanders deserve a government that is smart, effective, and knows how to get things done for the people it serves. Over the past year, his office has completed 910 requests for assistance  helping Rhode Islanders cut through red tape at the VA, IRS and other federal agencies.\n65  As part of his aggressive outreach strategy, Congressman Cicilline hosted or arranged 81 events with constituents in Rhode Islands 1st Congressional District during the 114th Congress.  \n33  Nearly three dozen young Rhode Islanders had the opportunity to work as interns this year in Congressman Cicillines office.\n39,640  Congressman Cicilline prides himself on being responsive and attentive to his constituents, and his office has replied to 39,640 inquiries on policy issues over the past year.\n118  Cicilline arranged 118 tours of the U.S. Capitol for Rhode Islanders visiting Washington.\n41  Over the course of 2017, Congressman Cicilline introduced 41 bills and co-sponsored another 426, including three proposals that President Trump signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/commentary/qa-year-review", "Q&A: Year in Review", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Q: What was the most significant achievement of the U.S. Senate in 2017? A: When the first session of the 115th Congress gaveled to order last January 3, I took the oath of office to serve Iowans for a seventh term in the U.S. Senate. It is an honor I take very seriously. Thats why I work tirelessly to uphold the public trust, including face-to-face dialogue with Iowans at my 99 county meetings and holding government accountable to preserve the personal freedoms and individual liberties guaranteed by our constitutional republic. When the Republican Senate Majority organized its leadership assignments for the new Congress, I was selected again to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This permanent, standing committee has broad legislative jurisdiction over federal criminal law, victims rights, immigration, intellectual property, anti-trust policy and whistleblower protections. It serves as ground zero for proposed Constitutional Amendments and considers nominations for Article III federal judgeships, including the Supreme Court of the United States. In fact, steering judicial nominations through the U.S. Senate certainly is one of the signature accomplishments of the 115th Congress. Under my guidance as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the U.S. Senate approved 12 circuit court nominees to serve on the federal bench and confirmed Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. The federal judiciary leaves a lasting imprint on society, as it is called upon to interpret the laws passed by Congress and administered by the executive branch. Its rulings have a profound effect on our American way of life that stand to sever or secure the blessings of freedom for generations to come. As an outspoken advocate for transparency and open government, I continue my efforts to open the federal judiciary to allow cameras in the courtroom. Opening the courthouse to live audio-visual streaming would build better appreciation for an independent federal judiciary assigned to preserve the constitutional rights of the American people. Allowing cameras in the courts would provide a vital connection for people who arguably may feel disconnected from this branch of the federal government. Landmark decisions handed down by the Supreme Court, such as prayer in schools, segregation, abortion, free speech, privacy, personal property, affirmative action, due process and the right to bear arms have consequential impact on daily life in the United States. Supreme Court precedent also has established equal protection under the law and determined no one is above the law. The federal judiciary serves as the arbiter of the rule of law in the United States. For more than 200 years, it has paved the way for certainty, stability and opportunity in the free marketplace; public safety in the public square; and, freedom and liberty in a just and free society. Approving qualified, independent jurists to the federal bench is vital to the preservation of our republic and vital to secure freedom, liberty and justice for all Americans. Q: What was the signature legislative achievement for Congress in 2017? A: For the first time in more than 30 years, Congress successfully passed historic reforms to the federal tax code. The landmark tax overhaul enacted in December will restore a bigger share of taxpayers hard-earned money to their paychecks. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will simplify federal tax returns for millions of Americans and bring fairness to U.S. workers working paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. Long-sought reductions to burdensome corporate tax rates will revitalize the U.S. economy by making American businesses and job creators more competitive. It will allow companies to keep more revenue, empowering U.S. businesses to hire more workers, boost wages and grow, innovate and expand. Many Iowans wonder how the new tax law will affect their pay and their household budgets. These historic tax cuts will allow workers to keep more of their hard-earned money, putting more in their pockets to save, spend and invest. Starting in February, workers will see more take-home pay in their paychecks. For the 2018 tax year, American taxpayers will benefit from lower marginal income tax rates, doubling of the standard deduction, increased family tax credits, reduction of the alternative minimum tax, expanded estate tax relief and full repeal of the individual mandate created by the Affordable Care Act. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act keeps the charitable contribution and home mortgage interest deduction and retains the tax benefit for teacher expenses, deductibility for student loan interest and graduate student tuition waivers. Congress delivered on a promise to give Americans tax relief. Im glad we got the job done. Tax cuts will make a real difference for hard-working Iowans who play by the rules to earn a living, pay their bills, build a business and save for retirement. Reducing Uncle Sams share of their paychecks is the right thing to do.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-marks-policy-oversight-accomplishments-2017", "Grassley Marks Policy, Oversight Accomplishments in 2017", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa marked a series of policy and oversight accomplishments in 2017.  Serving the people of Iowa as their United States Senator is my first priority and its an honor that I take seriously, Grassley said. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and through my extensive oversight efforts, my work focuses on making government more transparent, efficient and accountable to Iowans and all Americans.  Grassley holds at least one meeting in each of Iowas 99 counties every year to hear concerns and answer questions on any subject fromIowans. In 2017, Grassleycompletedhisannual county meetings for the 37th year in a row. Grassley holdsmeetings in a variety of settingsto ensure that a broad cross-section of Iowans can participate, includingbusinesses, schools,townmeetings andfactory floors. Although the setting may differ from county to county, the format is the same: Iowans set the agenda.  In addition to his annual meetings, Grassley also attended or convened a variety of events and forums, including: county farm bureau meetings, a WOTUS roundtable with Administrator Pruitt, a meeting with biodiesel stakeholders, a tour of the Iowa Veterans Home, an agriculture roundtable with Secretary Perdue, a tax roundtable discussion with local business owners, the Partnership for a Drug Free Iowa Digital Literacy Conference and met with Iowans at the state fair.  When the Senate is in session, Grassley sets aside eight 15-minute meetings everyMondaythroughThursdayto meet with Iowans in Washington, D.C., including advocacy groups, associations, chambers of commerce and local business leaders, students and families. This Congress, Grassley metwith nearly 950 groups of Iowans visiting the nations capital and discussed a variety of policy issues affecting Iowans such as anti-opioid addiction legislation, the farm bill, infrastructure, juvenile justice,sentencing reform, expiring tax provisions, the Affordable Care Act and tax reform. Grassley also joined eight Iowa schoolsfor Q&As via video conferencing, including three college classes, threehigh school classes, and two middle school classes.  Highlights of Grassleys legislative and oversight work follow here: Accountability for sexual harassment and assault: After years of taking a backseat in societal debate, sexual misconduct has taken center stage and renewed an important conversation on Capitol Hill regarding sexual harassment. Grassley spearheaded the passage of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which established the congressional Office of Compliance (OOC). The OOC offers sexual harassment prevention training to Senate offices, however it was not mandatory. Grassley wrote a letter to the leaders on Rules and Administration asking that committee to make sexual harassment training mandatory for all Senate offices. Soon after, the resolution offered by Grassley passed unanimously in the Senate, requiring regular training for all senators and employees. Grassley also offered an amendment that recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which passed the Senate with unanimous consent. Agriculture:Changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would have a significant impact on Iowa farmers, the states economy and U.S. trade. Grassley emphasized his support of continuing NAFTA in abipartisan letterto Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, in which he pressed for an in-depth economic analysis to evaluate how changes to NAFTA would affect changes to the nations crop and livestock sectors.Grassley reintroduced the Family Farmer Bankruptcy Clarification Act of 2017 to reverse a Supreme Court ruling (Hall v. United States) that made it harder for family farmers to reorganize their finances after declaring bankruptcy. The bill was included as part of the supplemental appropriations package and was signed into law by President Trump.The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) withdrew two rules related to thePackers and Stockyards Act, commonly referred to as the GIPSA rules. As the only two farmers currently serving in the U.S. Senate, Grassley, along with Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.),wrote a letterto USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to express their disagreement over the agencys decision to withdraw these rules. Grassley also offered legislation toamend thePackers and Stockyards Actto make it unlawful for a packer to own, feed or control livestock intended for slaughter.Grassley introduced theFood Security is National Security Act of 2017, which would give top U.S. agriculture and food officials permanent representation on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). It would also include new agriculture and food-related criteria for CFIUS to consider when reviewing transactions that could result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign company, ensuring the U.S. has the tools and people it needs to safeguard the nations food security, food safety, biosecurity and bring security to Iowa farmers and the U.S. farm sector as a whole.As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Grassleywrote a letterto the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an update of its 2013 report on farm program eligibility in advance of the next farm bill. In 2014, Grassley led an effort to fix loopholes that allowed farmers to exploit the system by using non-farming family members to receive additional subsidies from the government. Both chambers of Congress passed his bipartisan amendment that included reforms to farm program eligibility, but the amendment was significantly watered down during conference and ultimatelybecame lawas part of the 2014 farm bill. Grassley continues work on this issue in order to help young Iowa farmers who cannot get started in farming because of non-farmers who receive substantial subsidies due to a rigged system.Antitrust: The Senate passed Grassleys Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, which would extend whistleblower protections for employees who provide information to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) related to criminal antitrust violations. This is part of Grassleys decades-long effort to protect and empower whistleblowers. The legislation passed the Senate the past two Congresses, but has not been taken up by the House of Representatives.Grassley, along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), called on the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to work with the U.S. Trade Representative to make strong competition provisions a central part of upcoming trade negotiations.In their letter, Grassley and Goodlatte encouraged the federal antitrust agencies to include a competition chapter in NAFTA to establish a high standard for competition chapters in future trade negotiations.Bureau of Prisons:In 2016, an inspector general review concluded that 157 inmates were erroneously released either before or after their scheduled release dates  sometimes by multiple years  between 2009 and 2014.In his role as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassleycalled onthe Federal Bureau of Prisons to explain why recommendations aimed at preventing untimely release of federal inmates remain unimplemented.Criminal and Juvenile Justice Reform:Grassley, along with a bipartisan group of senators, reintroducedthe landmarkSentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, which would recalibrate prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, target violent and career criminals and save taxpayer dollars.The bill would allow increased judicial discretion at sentencing for offenders with minimal criminal histories and help inmates successfully re-enter society. It would also tighten penalties for violent criminals and preserve key prosecutorial tools for law enforcement.Grassley introduced the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2017. This bill takes steps to reduce the unnecessary incarceration of youth by securing new protections for minors and improve accountability measures in the federal juvenile justice grant program. The Senate unanimously passed this bipartisan bill to improve protections for minors who come into contact with the justice system.Defense oversight:Grassleyled a bipartisan group of senators in aletterto Secretary of Defense James Mattis calling for the DOD to comply with mandatory audits, which are long overdue by the department.DOJ/ FBI: As a watchdog of the federal bureaucracy, Grassley continues staunch oversight of the various investigations being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in 2017, as well as his efforts to protect whistleblowers by pressing the FBI to explain why it has failed to update its whistleblower policies, employee trainings and internal communications to comply with theFederal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act(FBI WPEA). Grassley introduced the new protections last Congress to bring FBI whistleblower policies in line with other federal agencies. The bipartisan bill was signed into law on December 16, 2016. Additionally, Grassley pressed the DOJ regarding the implementation of whistleblower protections at the FBI, outlining a series of concerns about whistleblower protections that have gone unaddressed despite government reports drawing attention to these problems and recommending changes.Grassleycalled onthe FBI to explain its advance knowledge and any plan to thwart a 2015 terrorist attack in Garland, Texas andpressedfor answers on how an FBI translator wasreportedlyable to travel to Syria and marry the ISIS operative who she was supposed to be investigating.With Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.),John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sheldon Whitehouse(D-R.I.), Grassley introduced the Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Counterfeiting Act of 2017. The legislation would modernize and strengthen criminal laws againstmoney laundering, update criminal money laundering and counterfeiting statutes and promote transparency in the U.S. financial system.Grassley and Feinstein also introduced theStrengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2017.The legislation wouldauthorize for the first time the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI), which provides law enforcement with techniques and best practices for handling digital forensics evidence.Grassley introduced theLawsuit Abuse Reduction Act,legislation that would put in place stricter rules todeter harmful, abusive and frivolous litigation. Drug prices:Grassley continued his ongoing oversight efforts on drug pricing in 2017. He wrote several letters toFood and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb expressing concerns and advocating for legislative solutions to problems on drug pricing and availability of generic prescription medications. Along with Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Grassley wrote aletterto Gottlieb asking him to address anticompetitive practices currently used by some brand-name pharmaceutical companies to delay the manufacture and introduction of generic drugs in the market. In another letter, Grassley called on Gottlieb to examine legislative proposals and collaborate with other government agencies to increase consumer access to affordable prescription medications. He encouraged a review of two bills that he has cosponsored to address anti-competitive behavior by drug makers and enhance market access to less costly generic medications.ThePreserve Access to Affordable Generics Actand the CREATES Act.For months, Grassleypressedfor the accurate classification of prescription drugs under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. In January, hesought answersfrom the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on whether it sought to recoup tax dollars overpaid for EpiPens from drug maker Mylan and added a new request for two additional drugs reportedly misclassified under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program  Dilaudid and Prilosec. He sentanother letterto CMS later in January, reiterating his initial request for information.Grassleys work was prompted by the news that EpiPen maker Mylan was in discussions with the DOJ to settle a case and repay the taxpayers for over-charging for EpiPen. Grassleys letter to then-President-elect Trump urging appropriate classification under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program is availablehere.Grassleys January letter to the outgoing administration on the issue is availablehere.Grassley alsowroteto Iowa Attorney General Tom Millerseekingclarification regarding his offices ability to determine the value of reimbursement to the state necessary to make Iowa whole from EpiPens apparent misclassification under Medicaids Drug Rebate Program. A few months later, Grassley followed up with anotherletterseeking additional details and accompanying documentation regarding the states receiving $1.5 million as part of a DOJ settlement with Mylan.In February, Grassley, along with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.),urgedthen-Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price to use his statutory authority to fast track the importation of prescription drugs from Canada under certain circumstances as a remedy to recent drastic drug price increases in the United States.In April, Grassleyaskedhealth insurer CareFirst to explain an apparent practice of charging customers more for receiving a brand name prescription drug than a generic drug when the insurers own doctors explicitly prescribed the brand name drug for medical reasons. Grassley also noted due process concerns about this potential practice if the insurer was not complying with its own policies. He also wrote aletterto Kalo Pharmaceuticals, the maker of epinephrine injector Auvi-Q, to explain its pricing, including which entities in the health care system will pay the cited price of $4,500 for a two-pack when consumers without insurance will pay $360 for the product. Grassley said the pricing of Auvi-Q appears to draw parallels with concern about EpiPens pricing structure. Education:Grassley introduced a series of bills aimed at providing students and their families a better idea of the true costs of higher education and giving them the tools needed to make informed decisions based on tuition costs, financial aid and loan and repayment options. TheNet Price Calculator Improvement Actwould improve the effectiveness and access to net price calculators, tools that provide students with early, individualized estimates of higher education costs and financial aid figures before they decide where to apply.TheUnderstanding the True Cost of College Actwould create a universal financial aid award letter so that students could easily compare financial aid packages between schools. It would clarify what financial aid families would receive from a school and create standard terms for the aid offered so that students could accurately compare offers from different schools.TheKnow Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Actwould increase the amount of information students receive about federal student loans, including their potential ability to repay, before rather than after signing up for tens of thousands of dollars in debt to Uncle Sam.Additionally, Grassley and fellow legislators have worked with federal agencies to clarify that nonprofit lenders, including state-run or state-chartered organizations, can use tax-exempt bonds for student loan refinancing. Along with 14 fellow senators, Grassleyurgedthe IRS and Treasury Department to make technical clarifications to rules on refinancing options for student debt. Grassley also offered a resolution designating March 3, 2017 as\"National Speech and Debate Education Day,\" which passed the Senate by unanimous consent.  Energy:As a champion of renewable fuels and an all-of-the-above American energy policy, Grassley continued his extensive work to enact responsible energy policies in 2017. Grassley introduced theAmerican Renewable Fuel and Job Creation Act of 2017,legislation that wouldextend the biodiesel tax credit, a clean-fuel incentive, for three years and reform the incentive by transferring the credit from the blenders to the producers of biofuels. The switch would ensure that the tax credit incentivizes domestic production and taxpayers arent subsidizing imported fuel. Much of Grassleys 2017 energy agenda focused on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Grassley worked extensively with Senate colleagues, President Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to find ways forward on renewable energies and fulfill congressional intent on the RFS. Under new proposed rules, Americas commitment to biofuels would have been decreased,resulting in less renewable fuels being blended. In aletterearlier this year, Grassley and a bipartisan group of 23 senators urged President Trumpto maintain the point of obligation under the RFS and reject changes that would upend the current successful system. In November, EPA announced it would maintain the point of obligation.Grassley also sent aletterto EPA Administrator Pruitt asking him to supporta strong RFS as the agency worked toward finalizing its rule on biofuels volume requirements for 2018 under the RFS. The letter urged the continued implementation of the RFS as intended by Congress and the release of a strong final rule that would give consumers more choices at the pump, strengthen the economy and make the country more secure.Grassley continued to put pressure on the EPA by joining Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and a bipartisan group of 29 senators in aletterurging the agency to increase its proposed 2019 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for biodiesel. The move would encourage growth in the industry and diversity in the nations energy supply.Grassley joinedaletterled by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) to Pruitt asking him to examine a burdensome regulation that makes it more difficult to sell gasoline with ethanol content above 10 percent, such as E15, year-round. Grassley raised the issue to Pruitts attention when hosting a meeting with him and several senators from ethanol-producing states in January.Grassleyraised concernstoEnergy Secretary Rick Perry regarding a study he directed that appeared geared toward undermining the wind energy industry. The study was meant to explore issues central to protecting the long-term reliability of the electricity grid, including an investigation of market-distorting federal policies that create acute and chronic problems for maintaining adequate baseload generation and have impacted reliable generators of all types. Grassley asked a series of questions about the study, including which organizations that analyze grid reliability and security would be involved, whether a contractor would conduct it, the cost to taxpayers and whether stakeholders would be able to comment on a draft.Grassley and other Midwestern senatorsreceived several assurances in a letterfrom Pruitt ensuring that the EPA would not follow through on a proposal that would have undermined the integrity of the RFS. The letter from Pruitt can be foundhere.This came after Grassley led several letters and meetings on the issue. Grassley led a bipartisan group of senatorsurgingU.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to work with the Brazilian government to end a recently reinstated 20 percent tariff on ethanol imports in excess of 600 million liters (158 million gallons) annually. The United States is the primary exporter of ethanol into Brazil. U.S. producers called Brazils tariff plan a trade barrier that threatens over $750 million in U.S. exports and American jobs. Federal Judiciary:Grassley presided over a historic year of federal judicial nominations and confirmations. Beginning with the nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Grassley rigorously vetted and reviewed judicial nominations to ensure our federal judges will read the law as written, not legislate from the bench based on policy preferences. President Trump has endeavored to nominate strict constructionist and constitutionalist judges that understand the role of the judiciary. Under Grassleys leadership, the committee oversaw the nomination and confirmation of a record 12 appeals court judges in 2017, more than in any first of a presidency since the inception of federal appeals courts in 1891. These confirmations will have an important impact on our country not just for the rest of this Congress or presidency, but for decades to come.  Foster youth, adoption, missing children, families and elder care:Throughout his career, Grassley has been a staunch advocate for children and families. He continued his work on these issues in 2017 by introducing a number of bills aimed at protecting special needs children, preventing elder abuse, encouraging elder independence and funding programs to improve family health. Grassley introduced theStrong Families Act of 2017,legislation which would re-authorize the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, a program that provides grants to states, territories and tribal entities to develop and implement evidence-based, voluntary programs to improve maternal and child health, prevent child abuse and promote child development and school readiness.In honor of two boys with autism who perished after wandering from safety, Grassley reintroduced Kevin and Avonte's Law. The legislation would help families locate missing loved ones with Alzheimers disease, autism and related conditions. It would also support training for caregivers to prevent and respond to instances of wandering. This bipartisan bill unanimously passed in the Senate.Grassley introduced theACE Kids Act of 2017, legislation that would improve the Medicaid program by more efficiently coordinating care for children with complex medical conditions within the system, ensuring positive outcomes while reducing costs.A strong advocate for fostering and adoption programs, Grassley introduced theFoster Youth Independence Act of 2017,which wouldamend a part of theSocial Security Actto allow the chief executive officer of a state to certify that the state will provide assistance and services under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program to young adults who have aged out of foster care but are under the age of 23.Grassley also introduced theFostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2017,legislation which would grantpriority preference for federal housing assistance to foster youth who are aging out of care and allow youth in foster care to apply for housing assistance at the age of 16, prior to aging out.Focusing on the health and well-being of Americas senior citizens, Grassley introduced theCommunity-based Independence for Seniors Act, legislation that would allow older Americans to receive individualized care that would help them continue to stay in their own homes rather than nursing homes.Grassley also introduced the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, which became law in October. The law enhances enforcement against perpetrators of crimes targeting senior citizens. Specifically, it increases training for federal investigators and prosecutors and calls for the designation of at least one prosecutor in each federal judicial district who will be tasked with handling cases of elder abuse.It also ensures that the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection and the DOJ will both have an elder justice coordinator and increases penalties for perpetrators.Grassleysought informationfrom a Florida assisted living facility about criminal charges filed against an employee alleging she violated the privacy of two residents using Snapchat. The case is ONE OF the latest examples of exploitive videos or photos involving elder care facilities on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.Along with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Grassley sent aletterto the DOJ asking for an explanation regarding penalties against an Iowa nursing home that was ordered closed and to pay $100,000 to federal taxpayers over grossly substandard care that was essentially without value. Grassley and Ernst said the Abbey of Le Mars was on a federal watch list for two years during the Obama Administration because of concerns about care. Grassley also offered a resolutionrecognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the foster-care system, and encourage Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the foster-care system. It passed the Senate with unanimous consent. Fraud fighting:Grassley joined Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) in introducing the bipartisanSaving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act,legislation that was included in the recently passed NDAA legislation and signed into law by President Trump. The legislation will help prevent charge card misuse and abuse by requiring agencies to take a series of steps to strengthen accountability and oversight over purchases made using federal government charge cards.Good Government/Transparency:Grassley introduced the American Red Cross Transparency Act of 2017, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would give the congressional watchdog arm complete access to American Red Cross records for oversight purposes as well as respond to concerns that the Red Cross tried to quash a review by the GAO of its practices, successfully limiting the scope of the review.Grassley sent many oversight letters in support of whistleblowers and increased transparency in government. Grassley led a bipartisan group of 11 senators on the Whistleblower Protection Caucus in a letter to 19 federal agencies calling on government leaders to promote a culture that welcomes whistleblower disclosures and condemns attacks on whistleblower rights. Grassley also sent a letter to Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Christopher Giancarlo, requesting a formal briefing of CFTCs efforts to address the systemic weaknesses of internal data security policies and procedures, as well as efforts to eliminate whistleblower reprisal.In his continuing effort to drain the swamp, Grassley excoriated the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC)in its attempt to insulate unelected government bureaucrats from questions by the peoples elected representatives in Congress and called on President Trump to rescind the OLC opinion. In his letter, Grassley laid out the constitutional case for every member of Congress to exercise their powers of inquiry and oversight of the executive bureaucracy, regardless of committee membership or chairmanship. He emphasized the importance of oversight and inquiry regardless of partisan affiliation.GrassleyurgedtheOffice of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney to ensure that any executive branch ethics pledge waivers granted by the Trump Administration are immediately provided to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and made publicly available. Grassley made asimilar requestof the Obama Administration in 2009.Those waivers were ultimately published on OGEs website following Grassleys request. Grassley also sent letters to the Department of Health and Human Services, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross regarding issues relating to wasteful government spending by bureaucrats and government efficiency and accountability. Grassley introduced the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017, legislation which would end the practice of creating new federal red tape outside of the public rulemaking process, shine a light on sue-and-settle litigation and restore the transparency, public scrutiny and judicial review protections of the rulemaking process.Grassley also introduced the bipartisanCameras in the Courtroom Act of 2017, legislation whichwould require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the Court decides, by a majority vote of the Justices, that doing so would constitute a violation of the due process rights of one or more of the parties before the Court. Grassley offered two resolutions pertaining to documents about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which were being held by the National Archives and Records Administration. The first urged the National Archives and Records Administration to publicly release records detailing the assassination, the second commending the National Archives and Records Administration and its staff for working to comply with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 and release all records related to the assassination.  Grassley also offered a resolution designating the week beginning October 15, 2017, as \"National Character Counts Week,\" which passed the Senate with unanimous consent. Health care:Grassley introduced the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act, which became law as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act. The bicameral measure requires the FDA to write regulations ensuring that the new category of over-the-counter hearing aids meets the same high standards for safety, consumer labeling and manufacturing protections as all medical devices, providing consumers the option of an FDA-regulated device at lower cost.Along with Sens. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Grassley reintroduced thePharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation which would encourage pharmacists to serve older Americans in communities lacking easy access to doctors or where pharmacists are more convenient to visit for certain services than doctors.Grassley also reintroduced theProvider Payment Sunshine Act, legislation that would require drug companies and medical device makers to publicly disclose their payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants for promotional talks, consulting and other interactions. The disclosures already apply to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists and podiatrists under thePhysician Payment Sunshine Act, co-authored by Grassley and enacted in 2010.Along with Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Grassley introduced theReducing Drug Waste Act of 2017,bipartisan legislation which wouldrequire the FDA to coordinate with CMS to develop a joint action plan to reduce waste generated by single use drug vials and better manage costs with respect to drug vial sizes and other drug delivery systems, such as eye-drops.In his continued support for rural health care, Grassley introduced theRural Hospital Access Act of 2017,which would permanently extend key Medicare rural hospital programs critical to five Iowa hospitals and many others around the country. He also reintroduced theRural Emergency Acute Care Hospital (REACH) Act, which would help rural hospitals stay open while meeting the needs of rural residents for emergency room care and outpatient services.Grassley, along with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), reintroduced theMedicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that would apply accreditation and other standards for orthotics and prosthetics, such as prosthetic limbs, under Medicare, helping to guarantee access to quality products for beneficiaries.Housing:Grassleycontinued hisoversightof TARPs Hardest Hit Fund (HHF), a $9.6 billion program that began in 2010 to help homeowners who suffered during the housing crisis.Wasteful spending of these funds by state agencies persisted unchecked for many years of the Obama Administration, and the need for accountability remains. In a continuation of Grassleys request to audit state agency expenses, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) isreviewingstate agency spending on travel, conferences and other administrative spending. Grassley alsopressedthe Treasury Department on why it has recovered only one percent  $113,592 of $11 million  wasted on restaurant meals, employee gifts and a $500-per-month company Mercedes from the HHF.Grassleyaskedthe Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and newly-confirmed Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson to explain potentially excessive travel and conference expenses by the housing authority, including that the executive director reportedly has spent 158 days over four years attending conferences.Grassley alsocalled onthe HUD Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to complete its investigation into the mismanagement at the Alexander County Housing Authority (ACHA) in Cairo, Illinois, and make its findings public. Grassley met with Secretary Carson prior to his confirmation, at which time he raised concerns about millions of dollars of wasteful spending at HUD. In an effort to assist public housing authorities (PHAs), the federal government allows PHAs to establish nonprofit affiliates through which development activities are conducted. However, PHAs throughout the country often use taxpayer dollars to fund personal priorities and feather their own nests rather than to provide safe, affordable housing for those in need. Grassleywroteto Secretary Carson concerning the agencys two failed projects to update its financial management system. HUD spent 14 years and more than $131 million only to pull the plug on both projects prior to completion.Illegal and illicit drugs: Along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Grassley re-introduced the Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act, legislation that would increase the criminal penalties for marketing candy-flavored drugs to appeal to children.It would provide an enhanced penalty when a person manufactures, creates, distributes, dispenses or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance combined with a beverage or candy product, marketed or packaged to appear similar to a beverage or candy product, or modified by flavoring or coloring to appear similar to a candy or beverage product.Grassley and Feinstein also introduced theStop the Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues (SITSA) Act of 2017,which would allow substances that are substantially similar to controlled drugs to be rapidly regulated without additional time-consuming testing and analysis. Grassley also led a group of senators in a call for the Trump Administration to prioritize the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. The letter cited the previous success of the office in preventing use of illicit drugs in American communities. This important effort has only increased in light of the ongoing opioid epidemic across the country.As part of that ongoing effort to fight opioid abuse, Grassley joined a bipartisan group of legislators in a letter U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking him to provide Congress with information detailing how the DOJ is supporting and prioritizing forensic science service providers across the nation as part of a broader approach to combat the opioid epidemic.Along with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Grassley urged the Office of National Drug Control Policy to include an evaluation of drug take back programs in the final report of the Presidents Commission on Combatting Opioid Abuse, correcting a shortcoming in the interim report. At Grassley and Ernsts request, the GAO is studying the DEAs implementation of the law allowing local pharmacies to accept unused controlled substances for public convenience, amid concerns that regulations present barriers to participation.Immigration and Visas: Grassley introduced the Security, Enforcement, and Compassion United in Reform Efforts, (SECURE) Act, legislation which would protect and provide certainty to DACA recipients, and improve the lawful immigration system by targeting illegal immigration and criminal aliens. The bill contains provisions from several immigration proposals, including Senator Dick Durbins (D-Ill.) bipartisan BRIDGE Act, which would protect DACA recipients from deportation. Its also a significant step forward on the path to immigration reform.Grassley reintroduced the Taking Action Against Drunk Drivers Act, legislation that would require federal immigration authorities to take action against undocumented immigrants arrested for driving under the influence. Grassley first introduced the bill last year followingseveral tragediesinvolving immigrants who were arrested for drunk driving, including one incident that claimed the life of 21-year-old Iowan Sarah Root.Grassley wrote oversight letters to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson,acting director of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly,the Department of Labor and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a wide range of issues related to visas and immigration. Several letters focused on obtaining information regarding theDiversity Visa program,the process by which DHS reviews theTemporary Protected Status(TPS) designation, and theO visa program. Grassley also raised questions about theForeign Agents Registration Act(FARA) andH-2Bforeign worker andEB-5investor visa programs. Law enforcement: In honor of the service and sacrifice made by the men and women in law enforcement, Grassley introduced a resolution designating the week of May 15 through May 21, 2017, as \"National Police Week,\" which passed the Senate with unanimous consent. The Public Safety Officers Benefits Improvement Act, which became law in June, helps families of fallen first responders receive the survivor benefits theyd been promised. Congress established the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program in 1976 to provide death benefits to survivors of officers who die in the line of duty. Grassleys oversight revealed, however, that many of these survivors were waiting years to receive their benefits. His legislation will reduce this wait time and provide greater accountability in the process.Thousands of U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) officers tasked with hunting down dangerous fugitives are relying on expired protective and trauma gear and insufficient training, according to information obtained by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Despite repeated warnings about the increased risks to employees and public statements prioritizing safety, agency leadership has reportedly failed to follow through with critical steps to ensure officers are appropriately trained and equipped to carry out often-dangerous duties. In two separate letters to USMS leadership, Grassley called on the agency to explain how the lapses were allowed to occur.National Security:Along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Grassley urged the Trump Administration to put American victims of terrorism first by securing a binding commitment from Sudan to compensate for its historical support of international terrorism that has killed and injured Americans serving abroad. In a jointletterto Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the chairmen called on the Administration, as a condition of lifting any terrorism-related sanctions, to accept nothing less than a binding commitment from the government of Sudan to resolve or settle the terrorism judgments entered against it in U.S. courts and meet its obligations to compensate American victims. Taxes: Asa senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, Grassley was instrumental in the crafting and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was signed into law by President Trump. Two Grassley-led amendments were included in the bills final passage.  The first amendment regards increasing the time period in which taxpayers may seek to have proceeds from the sale of wrongfully levied property returned to them.The IRS is authorized to levy on property to satisfy a tax debt in certain instances. While the IRS is authorized to return property at any time, it is only authorized to return the monetary proceeds from a sale for up to nine months from the date of the levy. Similarly, if a third party believes the property levied or seized belongs to him/her and not the person against whom the tax is assessed, the third party generally only has nine months from the time of the levy to bring an administrative wrongful-levy action to seek the return of monetary proceeds. In many cases the nine-month period is insufficient for individuals and third parties to discover a wrongful or mistaken levy and seek to remedy it. This amendment extends from nine months to two years the time period that individuals and third parties have to seek the return of proceeds on the sale of wrongfullylevied property.  The second amendment included in theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017expands provisions relating to the nondeductibility of fines and penalties to prohibit a tax deduction for any amount paid or incurred to, or at the direction of, any governmental entity relating to the violation of any law or the investigation or inquiry into a potential violation of law. It exempts from such prohibition: (1) restitution or amounts paid to come into compliance with any law that was violated or otherwise involved in the investigation or inquiry, (2) amounts paid pursuant to a court order in a suit in which the governmental entity was not a party, and (3) amounts paid or incurred as taxes due. Grassley also reintroduced theTaxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act of 2017, comprehensive legislation which would improve customer service at the IRS, create new taxpayer protections and update and strengthen existing taxpayer protections.Trade:With Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Grassley introducedthe United States Foreign Investment Review Act,which would to review foreign investments in the United States to ensure they are in the long-term economic interests of the U.S.Grassley joineda bipartisan group of 37 senatorsurgingUSDA to push the Chinese government to end its ban on the sale of American poultry products. The ban was instituted by China in 2015 due to the detection of a wild duck with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influence (HPAI) and continues to be enforced today, in contradiction of World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards.Victims reform: Grassley introduced and the Senate unanimously passed, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017. The bipartisan legislation would renew existing programs that make federal resources available to human trafficking survivors and establish new prevention, prosecution and collaboration initiatives to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Grassley led 22 Senate colleagues incalling on the U.S. Supreme Courtto review a federal appeals court decision undermining the ability of U.S. victims of international terrorism to seek justice.The appeals courts decision effectively nullified theAntiterrorism Act of 1992, a law passed by Congressand championed by Grassleyspecifically to protect Americans abroad and to provide victims with a tool to bring terrorists to justice in U.S. courts.  Grassley offered two resolutions in support of victims reform. The first was a resolution supporting the mission and goals of National Crime Victims' Rights Week in 2017, which includes increasing public awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of, and services available to assist, victims and survivors of crime in the United States. The second was a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, commending domestic violence victim advocates, domestic violence victim service providers, crisis hotline staff, and first responders serving victims of domestic violence for their compassionate support of survivors of domestic violence, and expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to support efforts to end domestic violence, provide safety for victims of domestic violence and their families, and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable. Both resolutions passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Whistleblowers: Grassley, along with Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.),introduced theWhistleblower Protection Coordination Act. The legislation would permanently extend the program requiring a dedicated official in each inspector general office focused on whistleblower protection issues. Grassley sent several oversight letters to the DOJ and the DEA requesting information on issues such as why it took the DOJs inspector generals office nearly five years to complete an investigation into the Osorio and Barba trafficking rings. He pressed for answers regarding unaccountability in addressing sexual misconduct and harassment in the DOJ, and inquired about what steps the agency has taken to address the problem. With McCaskill, Grassley also pressed the Missouri National Guard for answers on what it will do to address findings that one of its contractors retaliated against contractor employee Michael Sandknop after he made disclosures that were protected under whistleblower statutes. Grassley, along with Wyden, introduced the bipartisanIRS Whistleblower Improvements Act of 2017,legislation that would improve IRS communication with tax fraud whistleblowers and protect those whistleblowers from workplace retaliation. The bill is based on the Grassley-Wyden amendment included in theTaxpayer Protection Act of 2016.The Taxpayer Protection Act, along with the Grassley-Wyden amendment, passed the Finance Committee in April 2016 but was never considered by the full Senate. In honor of the critical service whistleblowers provide for good governance and our nation, Grassley introduced a resolution designating July 30, 2017, as \"National Whistleblower Appreciation Day,\" which passed the Senate with unanimous consent.  -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/maine-veterans-supporting-fellow-veterans", "Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-december-podcast-king-highlights-maine-veterans-supporting-fellow-veterans", "In December Podcast, King Highlights Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In December Podcast, King Highlights Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, December 30, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the December edition of his Inside Maine podcast. In this edition, Senator King speaks with Travis Mills, a retired Army veteran, quadruple amputee and founder of the Travis Mills Foundation in Maine. Senator King then speaks with Jack Richards, a veteran and board member of the Veteran Mentors of Maine program. Senator King and his guests discuss how best help Maine veterans successfully transition into civilian life after service.\r\nMaine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the country; theyre our friends, our neighbors, and our heroes, said Senator King. These veterans deserve our utmost gratitude, and our continuous support  particularly as they transition back into civilian life. Thats why it was so great to talk with Travis Mills and Jack Richards, both veterans themselves who have gone the extra mile to help struggling veterans regain a sense of purpose and direction. Travis and Jacks efforts give these men and women an opportunity to realize their full potential  it was an honor to speak to them and learn more about their important and meaningful work.\r\nRetired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a motivational speaker and advocate for veterans and amputees. While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Travis lost portions of both his arms and legs in Afghanistan from an IED. He is only one of five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive the injuries. Since then, hes created the Travis Mills Foundation, a Maine-based non-profit aimed at supporting injured veterans and their families. The Foundations work includes the establishment of the Travis Mills Foundation Veteran Retreat, which brings injured veterans and their family to Maine in order to help the veterans overcome physical obstacles with the support of family members. Jack Richards serves on the board of the Veteran Mentors of Maine, a non-profit organization that supports and mentors Maine veterans in the justice system.\r\nSince arriving in Washington, Senator King has been a strong advocate for veterans issues. Earlier this month, Senator King announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health or substance abuse issues  a move which comes after his February letter to the Department urging additional resources on the topic. Over Veterans Day weekend, he joined members of the community toobserve Veterans Day at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Caribou, where he provided keynote remarks and participated in the wreath laying ceremony. He also spoke at the opening of the Maine Troop Greeters Museum at Bangor International Airport, and presented World War II Veteran and Penobscot Tribal Elder with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Last month, Sen. King also announced his support fortwo bills to protect and support American veterans.\r\nThese are just the latest examples of Senator Kings support for Maines veteran population. Through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has supported multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that support American veterans. In the Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA, Senator Kingcosponsored a bipartisan amendment authored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) that would encourage cooperation and integration between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense with their electronic health care record systems to improve the transition from active duty to veteran status and ensure that veterans wont have to wait to gain access to the health care services they have earned. He also supported an amendment authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that would encourage the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to assess the feasibility of establishing a joint office to house an interagency task force on suicide prevention. Senator King supports the coordination between the departments so that those who have served do not slip through the cracks. He is a strong supporter of theVeterans Choice Program, which helps veterans across Maine and the nation receive health care within their communities and allows veterans in Northern Maine to seamlessly utilize community care as they formerly did under the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot.In August, the President signed into lawVeterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act,legislation he cosponsored that would overhaul the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) appeals process.\r\nThe Inside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator Kings work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator Kings podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on almost every last Saturday of the month.\r\nA link to the December podcast can be found HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-recaps-this-years-results-previews-2018-on-fox-news", "Senator David Perdue Recaps This Years Results, Previews 2018 on Fox News", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "David Perdue", "P000612", "www.perdue.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to content\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t    \n\t      \n\t      \n\t        \n\t       \t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Meet David\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Connect\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Helping You\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  News", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CA831D75-7491-4FA2-82DB-63A441269720", "Rubio Statement on Protests in Iran", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today issued a statement on continuing protests in Iran:\r\nAll nations must hold the regime in Tehran fully accountable for any suppression of peaceful demonstrators in Iran. The Iranian people have a right to peacefully protest the regimes rampant corruption, and to call for a truly representative government that protects human rights, upholds the impartial rule of law, and seeks peace with all of its neighbors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5609", "Tester Announces Bozeman Sixth-Grader Will Light U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree [press_release]", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", ".(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he has selected Bozeman sixth-grader Ridley Brandmayr to light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree at the annual holiday ceremony in Washington, D.C., on December 6. As the senior Senator from the tree's state, Tester is tasked with selecting the tree lighter and helping organize this year's celebration.  \"Ridley has shown incredible strength, determination, perseverance, and passion,\" said Tester. \"Ridley will represent Montana well and I look forward to celebrating this Christmas season with the Brandmayr family and every Montanan.\"\nThe public is invited to celebrate the lighting of the \"People's Tree\" on:\nU.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting CeremonyDecember 6 | 6 p.m.West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol  Washington D.C.\nEarlier this year, Ridley tragically lost all of the fingers on his right hand in an accident.  Despite the accident, Ridley has continued swimming and playing music. Tester, a former music teacher, lost three fingers on his left hand when he was a child.\n\"I'm grateful for this opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and light the Capitol Christmas tree,\" said Ridley, 11, who enjoys hunting, fishing, swimming and playing his cello. \"I am honored that Senator Tester reached out to me, and I'm excited to represent Montana.\" The Kootenai National Forest and Choose Outdoors are sponsoring the ceremony, which is free, and open to the public. Montana supplied the nation's tree in 2008 and 1989.\nThe U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree kicked off its journey in Yaak, Montana on December 8. It will betraveling 3,000 miles from the Kootenai National Forest in northwest Montana to Washington, D.C. by way of Whitewood Transport, a Billings-based trucking company.And folks in Big Sky Country will have a chance to see the tree as it stops in 12 different cities across Montana this week. \nYou can track the tree HERE, the schedule of stops is below.\nMonday, Nov. 13:\n \nEureka, MT11:00 a.m. |Eureka Town Hall | 11 Dewey Avenue\nWhitefish, MT2:30 pm | Don K Whitefish Dealership | 6219 Highway 93 South\n \n   Tuesday, Nov. 14: \n \nLibby, MT9:00 a.m. | Libby High School | 150 Education Way\nTroy, MT11:30 a.m. | Troy Museum | 141 St. Regis Haul Rd. \nTrout Creek, MT3:30 pm | 11 Park Street\n \n   Wednesday, Nov. 15:\n   Thursday, Nov. 16: \n \nHelena, MT11:00 a.m. | 1301 E 6th Ave between Montana Ave | Roberts Street\nGreat Falls, MT6:00 p.m. | Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center | 4201 Giant Springs Road\n \n   Friday, Nov. 17: \n   Saturday, Nov. 18: \n \nGlendive, MT8:00 a.m. | Albertsons parking lot | 307 Harmon Street\n \nFor more information on the U.S. Captiol Christmas Tree, you can visit its WEBSITE or follow the tree on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warren.senate.gov?p=news&id=2125", "Springfield Republican: US Sens. Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren look to block GOP tax plan's Arctic drilling language", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Elizabeth Warren", "W000817", "www.warren.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, pushed back Thursday against language added to the Senate Republican tax plan that could open up Alaska's Arctic Refuge to oil drilling.\nMarkey accused Senate Republicans of trying to \"ram through\" the controversial provision as a rider to the GOP tax bill, noting that several lawmakers oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.\nWarren, who joined her Massachusetts Senate colleague in opposing the provision, urged Americans to help Democrats fight back against the proposal.\nRead more on the Springfield Republican website here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://zeldin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/operation-christmas-thanking-our-troops-afghanistan-kuwait-jordan", "Operation Christmas: Thanking Our Troops in Afghanistan, Kuwait, & Jordan", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Lee Zeldin", "Z000017", "zeldin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It was an honor to have just spent my third consecutive Christmas in the Middle East with our nations troops and diplomats stationed overseas. In 2015, I joined our service members in Iraq and Kuwait, and in 2016, I visited them in Afghanistan and Qatar. This past Christmas, I traveled to Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Jordan.\nIt is not easy for our deployed men and women to spend the holiday season several thousands of miles away from home, having great family and friends missing them around the Christmas Tree or Hanukkah Menorah. For many of our deployed military and diplomatic personnel, this isnt their first holiday season away from their loved ones.\nIt is my highest honor to be able to personally thank all of them for their tremendous sacrifice on behalf of a very grateful nation. Serving them their Christmas Day meals, letting them know how much they are appreciated, and receiving their critical feedback from the ground, is the absolute least I can do to make sure they know how much countless Americans are thinking about them, praying for them, and filled with enormous gratitude for their incredible sacrifice.\nEach and every time I visit our troops abroad, I return with some of the greatest memories of my life and critical knowledge to guide my decisions throughout the halls of Congress. It is the brave men and women I have had the honor to meet over the last three Christmases that further cement my commitment to ensuring our nations troops have everything they need to safety and effectively do their jobs and return home.\n  Congressman Zeldin celebrates Christmas with NY-1 resident and Marine Corporal Maria Ripis of Farmingville who is stationed at Al Jaber Airbase in Kuwait.\nIn this years National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I voted for a 2.4% pay raise for our troops, their biggest pay raise in 8 years. Additionally, this years NDAA included a much needed strengthening of cyber operations, funding Department of Defense (DOD) cyber operations at $8 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion from last year. Investing in cybersecurity tools ensures that our troops have the 21st century resources they need to combat ever-evolving terror threats at home and abroad.\nFurthermore, this year, I voted for the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, which provides a total of $658.1 billion for the DOD, including critical resources to defeat ISIS and other terrorist groups. Our nations servicemen and women on the ground put their lives on the line each and every day for the freedoms and liberties that make this country the greatest in the world and they deserve nothing less than our full support.\nHowever, our commitment to our troops continues after they leave the battlefield. When they return home, we must ensure they have our full support in transitioning back into civilian life. In September, I reaffirmed my commitment to ending veteran homelessness, by introducing legislation that helps decrease veteran homelessness through continued funding of the Supportive Services Veteran Families (SSVF) program. Ensuring our homeless veterans have shelter and a safe place to live should never be a partisan issue. Even one homeless veteran is too many.\nThroughout my time in Congress, one of my top priorities has been ensuring our nations disabled veterans receive the health care they have earned. In 2017, my legislation to expand care for disabled veterans on Long Island and across the country passed both the House and Senate and hopefully will soon become law. My legislation ensures disabled veterans receive the best and most efficient outpatient services to provide them with the assistance and special attention they need in their day-to-day lives, while still allowing them to maintain their independence through access to Adult Day Health Care. These programs allow veterans to lead a much more fulfilling life and helps keep families together and strong while simultaneously reducing overall health care costs for the veteran.\nThese brave men and women answered the call to service and repeatedly put their lives at risk to support and defend our Constitution and ensure the safety and security of our country. I will never stop fighting for our nations veterans, our troops on-the-ground, and the families back home who eagerly await their safe return. They have earned nothing less.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://zeldin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-zeldin-statement-iranian-anti-government-protests", "Rep. Zeldin Statement on Iranian Anti-Government Protests", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Lee Zeldin", "Z000017", "zeldin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the anti-government protests breaking out across Iran:\nThe Iranian people are fed up with Irans dictatorial regimes brutal domestic tactics, dangerous foreign policy, and non-existent economic progress. Instead of caring for its own people, the Iranian regime has dedicated itself to maintaining its title as the worlds largest state sponsor of terror, seeking to appease domestic hardliners that keep them in power. As everyday Iranians pour into the streets outraged over their governments misplaced priorities, the U.S. must support them in their inherent right and noble quest for a better future and free, peaceful nation. We have been down this road before. We must learn our lesson from 2009 and not repeat the same mistake. Millions of Iranians are desperate right now for American leadership to help them turn the tide in Tehran and all throughout Iran.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://billjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399319", "House Republicans made good on tax reform promise", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Bill Johnson", "J000292", "billjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Republicans promised we would send tax reform legislation to President Trumps desk for his signature in 2017. We delivered!\r\nDespite what you may have heard from the mainstream media, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will benefit all Americans and their families. For the first time since 1986  over 30 years  real tax relief and reform is being delivered to you, the American people. Many have asked me,What does this legislation mean to my family and me?Heres my answer  this legislation means: higher wages; lower taxes; bigger take-home paychecks starting in February; job growth; a simpler and fairer tax system; and, a stronger economy all across our nation. There are real, tangible benefits for the hardworking men and women of Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, and its one of the most important pieces of legislation that Congress has passed in decades.\r\nWhy did I support the Tax Cut and Jobs Act? Its simple  I believe you know how to spend your money better than Washington elites and bureaucrats do. So, were giving your money back to you. And, one reason so many Big Government politicians, bureaucrats and elites are upset about this tax reform legislation is that too many in Washington view it as their money.\r\nReducing taxes at all levels of income will stimulate the economy, both from the top down (allowing more investment in business and job creation) and from the bottom up (giving hardworking Americans more choices, more opportunities, and more purchasing power). Its a return to the same simple private sector, free enterprise, market driven philosophy that has built the greatest nation on the planet.\r\nWould you like to file your federal taxes on a single page? Now, most Americans will be able to do just that.\r\nIn Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, nearly 85 percent of families take the standard deduction. But, the new law nearly doubles the standard deduction, raising it to $24,000 for married couples and $13,000 for individual filers. That means more of your money is tax free. And, families will see their Child Tax Credit doubled to $2,000 per child  providing extra money for food, diapers, a car repair, and other unexpected expenses that pop-up. If you have expensive medical bills, the new tax law expands your medical deduction if your doctor bills exceed 7.5 percent of your income.\r\nAdditionally, important deductions for home mortgage interest, charitable donations, 401(k) contributions, and property, state, local, or sales tax remain. Its important to note that investments in education will also be protected. I heard from many of you regarding this issue and how vital it is. Student loan interest will continue to be deductible. Tax-free stipends for graduate students and tuition waivers will be maintained, and families will now be able to use up to $10,000 from 529 college savings accounts on primary and secondary education.\r\nEqually important, our tax reform legislation repealed Obamacares burdensome individual mandate. Across America, nearly 80 percent of the households that paid this tax last year had incomes less than $50,000. You may have been one of them. Well, no more  because this onerous individual mandate is gone. Plus, the tax burden in every individual tax bracket has been reduced. Everyone who pays taxes will be keeping more of their money.\r\nFor our job creators, small businesses will be offered a first-ever 20 percent tax deduction to all S Corps, Partnerships, LLCs and Sole Proprietorships. Where the old tax code punished their success, the new tax code will reward their success, and theyll be encouraged to expand and grow. Additionally, some American corporations left our shores over the last two decades because our old corporate tax rate of 35 percent  the highest in the industrialized world  made them non-competitive in the global economy. The new corporate tax rate of 21 percent thats effective immediately makes America competitive again  and we are open for business. Poorly conceived Washington policies of the past cost American jobs  but, not any more.\r\nTax reform was one of the main reasons why I decided to run for Congress in 2010, and this is something Ive been working for ever since. Its a new dawn in America, because The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will empower individuals, families, and businesses to invest and succeed in the American Dream.\r\nU.S. House of Representative Bill Johnson represents Ohios 6th Congressional District.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=398539", "Burgess Releases 2017 Year End Report", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Burgess", "B001248", "burgess.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lake Dallas, T.X.   Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after publishing his 2017 Year End Report detailing key accomplishments and services for the 26th District. \r\n\r\nI commenced the 115th Congress with great hope for what we could accomplish for North Texas families in 2017. Reflecting on the last year, it is clear we have achieved several legislative victories and made significant strides in areas where work remains. From committee hearings to town halls, case work to media interviews, I am committed to serving the 26th District to the best of my ability. Since the start of my service in Congress, I have prioritized communicating with residents of the 26th District. This report is one way to hold myself accountable to my constituents, and I hope they will review it and let me know how I can best serve them and their families as we look ahead to 2018.\r\nThe complete 2017 Year End Report is available here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://loebsack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395098", "LOEBSACK, CRAMER, EMMER, PETERSON, NOEM INTRODUCE BILL FIXING ARC COMMODITY SUPPORT PROGRAM", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Dave Loebsack", "L000565", "loebsack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A coalition of rural House members from the Midwest introduced a bipartisan bill to fix the flawed Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) Program. Reps. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) introduced H.R.4654, a bill requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) when computing average county yields for the purposes of the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) Program.  The 2014 Farm Bill included two new programs for covered commodities, Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), allowing the producer to choose once per farm bill which policy they believe would provide the most effective safety net. In implementing the program, USDA elected to rely on National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data from producer surveys to determine the yield variable for ARC rather than other more trusted data sources, most notably from USDAs Risk Management Agency (RMA). H.R.4654 would direct the Secretary to prioritize RMA data over all other forms in counties where RMA offers county-wide insurance products, while also allowing the Secretary of Agriculture flexibility for all other instances. Additionally, the legislation codifies USDAs earlier decision to operate the program based on the physical location of the base acres, rather than requiring producers to elect one county for all payments.  During my travels across the state and in meetings with farmers, I consistently hear about the difficulty they face with Agriculture Risk Coverage, said Loebsack. I am proud to have worked in a bipartisan way to address these problems as we move towards crafting the 2018 Farm Bill. Even though it is anticipated most producers will utilize the Price Loss Coverage going forward, our legislation provides a surgical fix to ARC in case the program is reauthorized in the next Farm Bill, said Cramer. Ahead of the 2018 Farm Bill, Im pleased to see our bipartisan coalition of rural members coming together again, like we did for the last farm bill, to find solutions that work for our producers. \"As Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Im working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve existing farm bill programs. While Ive never been a fan of ARC I do believe we can make improvements to its data sources that will give producers more confidence in the program. This bill is a good starting point for reauthorizing the farm bill next year, said Peterson.  The commodity program is critical for a number of reasons, said Noem. First and foremost, it provides an important safety net to producers. Additionally, by building safety-net programs, like ARC-County, into the budget rather than doing crisis-by-crisis emergency spending, we can better predict financial needs and avoid deficit spending. The 2014 Farm Bill made a number of important reforms to the program, but improvements are needed to make sure it functions as intended. Im optimistic the adjustments included in our legislation will make this critical safety net stronger and fairer. Click here to read the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399003", "Blaines Bulletin: Looking Back on 2017", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Blaine Luetkemeyer", "L000569", "luetkemeyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Looking back on 2017, I am reminded what an honor it is to serve as your voice in Congress and all of the incredibly memorable moments that took place here in the 3rd District and in Washington. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Looking back on 2017, I am reminded what an honor it is to serve as your voice in Congress and all of the incredibly memorable moments that took place here in the 3rd District and in Washington. \r\nThe year kicked off with President Trumps inauguration. It was great to see so many Missourians travel to Washington for the historic event. Shortly after, President Trump made one of his biggest announcements of the past year when he nominated Neil Gorsuch to serve as the next Supreme Court justice. I firmly believe Judge Gorsuch holds the same conservative values we in Missouri do, and he understands the role of the Supreme Court is to enforce the law, not create it from the bench. \r\nOn August 21, Missourians witnessed a once in a generation event: the solar eclipse. The last time the United States witnessed a total eclipse was in 1979. Now an entire generation of Americans have experienced this phenomenon and have their own stories to share with family and friends for years to come. The solar eclipse not only brought worldwide attention to Mid-Missouri, it also highlighted all that our state has to offer. \r\nOver the last year, the House has made historic use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a tool that gives Congress the power to invalidate a rule or regulation from the executive branch within 60 days of it being issued. I am pleased to report the House passed 15 CRAs and President Trump signed 11 of those into law. The White House estimated that by repealing those 11 regulations alone we will save $10 billion over 20 years. One example is the Social Security Services Second Amendment restrictions. Earlier this year, Congress overturned an Obama-era rule that would increase scrutiny on up to 4.2 million law-abiding Americans attempting to purchase firearms, potentially depriving people of their constitutional rights. \r\nJust recently President Trump visited St. Charles to speak directly to Missourians about the importance of tax reform and how it will directly benefit you. While he was here we saw just how much people  not the press or politicians, but everyday people  want and need to keep more of their money. It is that support that moved the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act through Congress to the Presidents desk and into law and capped off the year in a very positive way. As we go into 2018 Missourians will start seeing more money in their paychecks and growth in the economy across the country. If anyone has any questions regarding tax reform, please give any of my offices a call so we can assist you. \r\nClearly it was an exciting year, and these examples only scratch the surface of what took place over the 365 days. I look forward to getting back to work in 2018 and accomplishing more goals of the 3rd District. Serving the more than 750,000 Missourians in the 3rd District is an true honor. I look forward to hearing from you in the new year!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://royce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398684", "Rep. Royce Op-Ed in the OC Register: After taking Backpage money, Nancy Pelosi needs to make things right", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Edward Royce", "R000487", "royce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, penned the following op-ed for the Orange County Register calling on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to return campaign donations from a former owner of Backpage.com a website which knowingly facilitated prostitution and sex trafficking of children: \r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\nOrange County Register  \r\nAfter taking Backpage money, Nancy Pelosi needs to make things right  \r\nBy: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce  \r\nDecember 28, 2017\r\nAt best, Nancy Pelosis October 2016 acceptance of a $10,000 check from James Larkin, a co-owner of Backpage.com, was extremely careless. At worst, she knew and didnt care. Either way, its time for Pelosi to do the right thing and finally wash her hands of this dirty money. Backpage.com has long been one of the most evil sites on the internet. For years, it knowingly facilitated prostitution and sex trafficking of children. Backpage was purposely filtering out certain words in web ads to help traffickers evade authorities. Now, as this has come to light, Backpage is facing increasing pressure from law enforcement agencies across the country. In fact, just one week before donating to Pelosis Super PAC, Larkin was charged in California on conspiracy to commit pimping. Larkin still faces counts of money laundering, and is surely hoping Backpages $200,000 in contributions to Democrats will give him political protection. Thats why Pelosis refusal to unequivocally renounce Backpage by donating or returning this money is so troubling. There are many California victims rights groups that could do a lot of good with $10,000. Because the truth is were still far from putting an end to this form of modern slavery. Despite some important progress, human trafficking is still considered the fastest-growing crime in the world. Tens of millions of lives have been devastated around the globe  including far too many right here in Southern California. As representative to Californias 39th District, Im proud to help lead the fight to protect our most vulnerable. In 2013, I launched a human trafficking advisory committee comprised of victims rights groups, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and community advocates to better share information and coordinate on solutions. Later that year, we held a field hearing at Cal State Fullerton for the public to hear directly from victims. And our work continues. Two months ago, we again hosted a training seminar for local hotel managers and owners to help them better prepare their staff to identify the signs of human trafficking and to report it. Of course, each of us can play a role too. At airports, hotels and other transit hubs, human trafficking victims might lack clothing to match weather conditions, appear distressed and significantly younger than the individual they are traveling with. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, do not hesitate to call 911. In the Capitol, Im leveraging my role as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee to help empower our law enforcement agencies to stop these criminals cold in their tracks. Im an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017. This legislation, which recently moved one step closer to a vote on the House floor, provides prosecutors with new tools to bring online actors like Backpage who knowingly facilitate human and sex trafficking to justice. Additionally, my committee earlier this month passed legislation I authored targeting forced labor profits  estimated at $150 billion annually  that are being laundered far too easily in this digital age. H.R. 2219, the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act, provides law enforcement new tools to cut off human traffickers from our banking system, and joins a series of bills my committee has passed to combat these horrific crimes. Americans today are divided on many political issues. But human trafficking and sex trafficking shouldnt be one of them. We should all be able to agree that more needs to be done to help end human trafficking. And we should all be able to agree that keeping money from child sex traffickers is wrong. I hope Nancy Pelosi will choose to make things right.  \r\n  \r\nRep. Ed Royce, R-Yorba Linda, represents the 39th Congressional District.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/news-articles/could-2018-be-the-year-of-investigations", "Could 2018 be the year of investigations?", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Could 2018 be the year of investigations? \nIts hard to believe, but it hasnt even been a year since Donald Trump took the oath of office to become President of the United States.\nBut 11 months, ten days, and more than 2,400 tweets later, here we are.\nWell here we go. Put your seat belt on -- its been an interesting first year, said Rudy DeLeon with The Center for American Progress, looking back on Trumps presidency.\nBut its also time to look ahead to 2018 -- a year some believe could defined by investigations.\nSpecial counsel Robert Muellers isstill going strong, already resulting in charges against three former Trump campaign officials and a guilty plea by former National Security Agency Director Michael Flynn.\nDemocrats on Capitol Hill are hoping the investigation continues in as thorough a manner as possible.\nI am standing with Mueller. I am so comfortable standing with him, I signed on to a letter of support for him, said Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, in a recent interview.\nRepublicans are calling for many more answers as well.\nSen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in a tweet called for an investigation into Obama administration officials he says may have colluded to prevent a Trump election.\nOther GOP lawmakerswant to know whether Hillary Clinton got special treatmentby the FBI during the investigation into her emails.\nMy constituents say what is going on in the investigation into crimes of the previous administration, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., during a Capitol Hill hearing in July.\nWASHINGTON (SBG) Its hard to believe, but it hasnt even been a year since Donald Trump took the oath of office to become President of the United States.\nBut 11 months, ten days, and more than 2,400 tweets later, here we are.\n\nWell here we go. Put your seat belt on -- its been an interesting first year, said Rudy DeLeon with The Center for American Progress, looking back on Trumps presidency.\nBut its also time to look ahead to 2018 -- a year some believe could defined by investigations.\nSpecial counsel Robert Muellers isstill going strong, already resulting in charges against three former Trump campaign officials and a guilty plea by former National Security Agency Director Michael Flynn.\nDemocrats on Capitol Hill are hoping the investigation continues in as thorough a manner as possible.\nI am standing with Mueller. I am so comfortable standing with him, I signed on to a letter of support for him, said Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, in a recent interview.\nRepublicans are calling for many more answers as well.\nSen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in a tweet called for an investigation into Obama administration officials he says may have colluded to prevent a Trump election.\n \n\t\n \nMy constituents say what is going on in the investigation into crimes of the previous administration, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., during a Capitol Hill hearing in July.\nThe conservative watchdog group Judicial Watchis also behind multiple lawsuits looking into connections between the Democratic National Committee, The Clinton campaign and Fusion GPS,the group behind the infamous Trump dossier.\nThe more we have learned the more questions there are, said Judicial Watch Senior Attorney James Peterson\nTheyre questions that may spur even more investigations.\nDemocrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, seem to be united on at least one matter - they say they are all just trying to get to the heart of the truth.\nThis article was originally published by WJLA on December 29, 2017.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bera.house.gov/media-center/amis-updates/email-update-serving-you-in-2017", "Email update: Serving you in 2017", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ami Bera", "B001287", "bera.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I sent an email update earlier in December to give an update on how my office has been servin you in 2017. Join my email updates now so you don't miss any others in the future!\n    \n\tFriend  As 2017 comes to a close, I wanted to send an update on how my office has been Making Government Work for Sacramento County. My office has long prioritized helping you however we can by cutting through bureaucratic red tape. We can assist with backlogged veterans benefits, Social Security and Medicare issues, stalled tax refunds, and more. Im pleased to share that as of this December,weve helped more than 9,000 Sacramento County residentswith these issues andreturned more than $4.6 million dollarsowed to local taxpayers. Ive been honored to be able to help so many local residents. Here are some of their stories. If you need help, please feel free to call us at (916) 635-0505 or visit bera.house.gov/gethelp to learn more. Meet Courtney: A Local Mother Who Needed to Attend Her Grandmothers Funeral    Courtney lives in Folsom with her young family and came to my office looking for help. Courtneys grandmother had sadly passed away in Canada and she wanted to take her infant daughter along to attend the funeral. She had earlier applied for new passports, but now she needed them much more quickly to go on her trip and she was concerned they wouldnt arrive in time. Needless to say, it was an emotional time for her family. After hearing Courtneys story, my office got right to work. We followed up with the State Department and learned a mistake was made processing Courtneys request. We worked with the State Department to expedite Courtneys case and she received her passports just two days later. She and her family were able to make the trip and pay their respects to her grandmother. My staff is here to help constituents in their time of need, and I am glad we could help Courtney and her family. Meet Sal: A Vietnam War Veteran Undergoing Cancer Treatment\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSal circa 1970-1971, while serving in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.\n\t\t\t\nSal is a Carmichael native and an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Sal was diagnosed with prostate cancer related to his exposure to Agent Orange. He decided to use his Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to pay for his medicine and started responding positively to treatment. Unfortunately, Sal later received tests that his cancer had returned. It was a very stressful time for Sal and his finances. During this second treatment period, the VA had not yet provided Sal with his back-pay benefits, adding to his stress. As the bills mounted, Sal contacted my office to help with his VA disability claim  we got right to work. It turned out that while Sal was approved for his back-pay, the VA had never actually sent his benefits. My office contacted the VA about expediting Sals benefits and the situation was resolved within a month. As a doctor who has helped care for veterans, I know how much our vets sacrifice for our country  its critical we are there to support these heroes. Meet Steve: A local doctor who was owed thousands by the IRS Steve lives in Sacramento with his family and cares for people throughout our region as a doctor. This year Steve filed his taxes in March, well ahead of the filing deadline. He was owed a substantial tax refund, so he waited to hear back from the IRS. ButSteve was stonewalled by bureaucratic red tape. The IRS told him they wouldnt process his tax return until he provided a proof of identity, multiple past tax returns, and even more supporting documents on his claim. The IRS also told him that he had to come to the regional IRS building for an in-person interview. Steve is regularly called into surgery on short notice to help patients and couldnt take a day off. That was when Steve contacted my office, and my staff got to work. We followed up with the IRS and were able to help resolve the situation and send Steve his refund. As a doctor, Steve serves our community in many ways. We need to make sure that government is working for all taxpayers so that everyone can get ahead. Were here to help local families however we can. If you need help, please call us at (916) 635-0505 or visit bera.house.gov/gethelp. Be well,\n  Ami Bera, M.D.  Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/op-ed-rep-andy-biggs-i-kept-my-campaign-promises-introducing-or-sponsoring-these", "OP-ED: Rep. Andy Biggs: I kept my campaign promises by introducing or sponsoring these bills", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/buchanan-honored-fighting-cruel-animal-experiments", "Buchanan Honored for Fighting Cruel Animal Experiments", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Vern Buchanan", "B001260", "buchanan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tests Induce Painful Heart Attacks in Puppies and Nicotine Addiction in Baby Monkeys\nWASHINGTONCongressman Vern Buchanan has been honored as a Congressional Waste Warrior by a national group dedicated to ending inhumane taxpayer-funded experiments on dogs, cats and other animals.\nCongressman Vern Buchanan is an outstanding champion for taxpayers and animals, said Justin Goodman, vice president of advocacy and public policy at White Coat Waste Project. Were proud to recognize Rep. Buchanans strong leadership to end billions in wasteful government spending on animal experiments that are ineffective, cruel and most Americans oppose, including maximum pain heart attack tests on puppies and nicotine addiction tests on baby monkeys.\nWhite Coat Waste Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending cruel and wasteful taxpayer-funded experimentation on animals. The bipartisan coalition has nearly half a million grassroots members across the country.\nBuchanan received the award for his work to fight animal testing at government agencies as well as his support for theFederal Accountability in Chemical Testing (FACT) Act.\nSome of the most egregious examples of taxpayer-funded animal abuse Buchanan is fighting include:\n Injecting dogs with methamphetamine then killing the dogs so their brains can be dissected in order to study the response to the drug.\n\tStrapping baby monkeys to chairs and addicting them to nicotine, then studying the monkeys response to decreasing levels of nicotine.\n\tPerforming surgeries to intentionally damage puppy hearts, forcing the puppies to run on treadmills, then killing and dissecting the puppies to study the damaged hearts response.\n Buchanan said he was honored to receive the award, adding, Most Americans would be horrified to learn that their tax dollars are being wasted on cruel and inhumane experiments on animals.\nIn March 2017, Buchanan urged the inspector general at the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate the use of dogs in experiments at the VA. His request helped expose disturbing experiments on dogs, including inducing heart attacks and brain-damaging surgeries.\nHe is an original cosponsor of theFACT Act, which improves reporting by federal agencies such as the EPA, NIH and USDA on their progress in replacing animal testing with alternative testing methods. Federal law currently requires agencies to minimize animal testing in favor of alternatives like computer modeling, but the agencies are not required to report how many animals are being used in testing or what the animals are used for.\nBuchanan is the co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, a bipartisan group of more than 100 members of Congress dedicated to preventing animal cruelty, protecting endangered species and advancing animal welfare policies.\nThe congressmans strong record of defending animals includes opposing weaker protections for the Florida manateeand panther, as well as urging the Trump administration to maintain bans on importing trophies from the endangered African lion and elephant. He has also introduced theSafeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, bipartisan legislation that permanently bans the transport of horses to slaughterhouses in Mexico to be sold around the world.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-costello-announces-town-hall-residents-chester-county", "REP. COSTELLO ANNOUNCES TOWN HALL FOR RESIDENTS OF CHESTER COUNTY", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "West Chester, PARep. Ryan Costello (PA-06) today announced that as part of his public schedule for the upcoming week, he will host a town hall at the Downingtown West High School on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for check-in. Constituents from Chester County will be given the first opportunity to reserve tickets for the session. Everyone who wants to attend this town hall must registerhereor by calling Rep. Costellos West Chester Office at 610-696-2982 by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2.Confirmation will be issued by Wednesday, January 3.\nDetails:\nWhat:Town Hall with Rep. Ryan Costello\nWhen:Thursday, Jan. 4; doors open at 5:30 p.m. and event will begin at 6:30 p.m.\nWhere:Downingtown West High School Auditorium  \n\t 445 Manor Avenue  \n\t  Downingtown PA 19335", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-introduces-bill-to-fix-arc-commodity-support-program", "CRAMER INTRODUCES BILL TO FIX ARC COMMODITY SUPPORT PROGRAM", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "cramer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Download Audio Comments: Click Here\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kevin Cramer introduced a bill cosponsored by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), and Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) when computing average county yields for the purposes of the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) Program.\nThe 2014 Farm Bill included two new programs for covered commodities, Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), allowing the producer to choose once per farm bill which policy they believe would provide the most effective safety net. Unfortunately the design of ARC, and the manner in which USDA implemented the program has created problems for producers, particularly as it relates to inconsistent county yield data.\nRather than the current policy of prioritizing inconsistent survey data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Cramers three page bill (H.R.4654) would direct the Secretary to prioritize Risk Management Agency (RMA), or crop insurance, data over all other forms in counties where RMA offers county-wide insurance products, while also allowing the Secretary of Agriculture flexibility for all other instances. Additionally, the legislation codifies USDAs earlier decision to operate the program based on the physical location of the base acres, rather than requiring producers to elect one county for all payments. \nEven though it is anticipated most producers will utilize Price Loss Coverage going forward, our legislation provides a surgical fix to ARC in case the program is reauthorized in the next Farm Bill, said Cramer. One less headache for North Dakota producers.\nAs Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Im working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve existing farm bill programs. While Ive never been a fan of ARC I do believe we can make improvements to its data sources that will give producers more confidence in the program. This bill is a good starting point for reauthorizing the farm bill next year,said Peterson.\nClick here to read the bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dingell-clyburn-wilson-wager-outback-bowl-game", "Dingell, Clyburn, Wilson Wager on Outback Bowl Game", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Debbie Dingell", "D000624", "debbiedingell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  With bowl season in full swing, U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Jim Clyburn (SC-06) and Joe Wilson (SC-02) today wagered on whether the University of Michigan Wolverines or the University of South Carolina Gamecocks would win in Mondays Outback Bowl Game.\n\nDingell is wagering items from Zingermans Deli while Clyburn is wagering a basket of goodies from South Carolina and Wilson is offering up some South Carolina barbecue.\n\nCoach Harbaugh and the Wolverines are laser focused on bringing home a win on New Years Day, said Dingell. The Gamecocks may be playing closer to home, but Michigan fans are energized and ready for a rematch of the 2013 Outback Bowl. Were looking forward to celebrating a Michigan victory on Monday. Go Blue!\n\nWe are looking forward to enjoying some Zingermans Deli after another Gamecock victory in this years Outback Bowl, said Clyburn. Go South Carolina!\n\nWe are grateful for the Gamecocks continued success, we are excited to see them back in the Outback Bowl, and we look forward to another victory over Michigan, said Congressman Wilson.\n\nThe Outback Bowl will kick off at 12 p.m. EST on January 1st from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defazio-capuano-request-ptc-status-update-from-chao-plan-to-introduce", "DeFazio, Capuano Request PTC Status Update from Chao, Plan to Introduce PTC Legislation in January", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao requesting a detailed status update on where the railroads are in fully implementing critical Positive Train Control (PTC) technology and when railroads will meet the PTC implementation deadline.\nWe believe it is high time that the railroads implement PTC. It has been nearly a decade since passage of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which required freight, commuter, and intercity passenger railroads to implement PTC by December 31, 2015. That deadline was later extended to December 31, 2018. We understand that PTC is complex but there is no excuse for it taking this long and for some railroads to be lagging so far behind, as indicated in the progress reports submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration, wrote the Members.\nAccording to the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) website, only seven railroads will not meet the 2018 deadline. However, many railroads have failed to progress in equipping locomotives, completing track segments, installing radio towers, training employees, acquiring spectrum, installing back office servers, and submitting safety plans for FRAs review and approval.\nWhile the Rail Safety Improvement Act allowed DOT to extend the PTC deadline for up to 24 months if the railroads meet certain criteria that Congress insisted upon, the extension was intended to be used in limited circumstances. However, a new graphic on the FRA website seems to suggest that the Department of Transportation is tracking railroad efforts to meet the 2020 extension rather than holding them accountable for meeting the 2018 deadline.\nDeFazio and Capuano will introduce legislation in early January to address the significant funding gap for PTC and to push the railroads to implement PTC.\nA full copy of the letter is below.\n\n\n\n\nDecember 28, 2017\n\nThe Honorable Elaine Chao\nSecretary\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\n\nDear Secretary Chao:\n\nOn December 18, Amtrak Cascades Train 501, operating from Seattle to Portland, derailed south of Tacoma, killing three people and injuring numerous others. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the lead investigator of the accident, the train was traveling approximately 80 miles per hour into a 30 mile-per-hour curve.\nThe circumstances surrounding this accident are eerily similar to the tragic 2015 derailment of an Amtrak Northeast Regional train in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, killing eight people and injuring more than 200 others, 11 critically. Within days of the accident, the NTSB announced that it would not have occurred had Positive Train Control (PTC) been operational on the line. While we do not yet know whether the Tacoma accident was PTC-preventable, it once again demonstrates the need for implementing PTC now.\nSince 1969, the NTSB has investigated 151 accidents that would not have occurred had PTC been installed. These accidents resulted in 298 fatalities and 6,763 injuries (see attached). PTC has been on the NTSBs Most Wanted List of safety improvements since its inception in 1990.                                                                                \nWe believe it is high time that the railroads implement PTC. It has been nearly a decade since passage of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-432) which required freight, commuter, and intercity passenger railroads to implement PTC by December 31, 2015. That deadline was later extended to December 31, 2018. We understand that PTC is complex but there is no excuse for it taking this long and for some railroads to be lagging so far behind, as indicated in the progress reports submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration.\nAccording to your website, only seven railroads will not meet the 2018 deadline: Trinity Rail Express in Texas (2019), Canadian National (2020), Central Florida Rail Corridor (2020), CSX (2020), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (2020), Norfolk Southern (2020), and Metra in Illinois (2020)[1]. We find that hard to believe given the lack of progress by a host of other railroads in equipping locomotives, completing track segments, installing radio towers, training employees, acquiring spectrum, installing back office servers, and submitting safety plans for FRAs review and approval.[2] For example, Long Island Railroad, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Consolidated Rail Corporation, Maryland Area Regional Commuter MARC trains, New Mexico Rail Runner Express, New Jersey Transit, Altamont Corridor Express, South Florida Regional Transportation (Tri-Rail), Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Nashville Regional Transportation Authority are among a host of railroads that are significantly behind, but have projected a 2018 final implementation date in FRA-submitted reports.\nAlthough the law allows you to extend the deadline for up to 24 months if the railroads meet certain criteria that we insisted upon, Congress always intended this extension to be used in limited circumstances. Yet a new graphic on your website seems to suggest that the Department of Transportation is tracking railroad efforts to meet the 2020 extension rather than holding them accountable for meeting the 2018 deadline.\nGiven the confusing and seemingly out-of-date information on your website, we request a detailed status update on where the railroads are in fully implementing PTC and when they will finally meet the mandate. We also request a briefing from you and your staff on this issue in the early part of January.\nIn addition, we strongly urge you to include robust funding in any infrastructure or other package the Administration sends to the Hill to help the commuter and intercity passenger railroads implement PTC. In 2016, the American Public Transportation Association estimated that PTC implementation would cost the commuter rail industry more than $3.5 billion, yet only $25 million was requested in the Presidents FY2018 Budget for a rail safety and infrastructure program that we created in the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act, which includes PTC as an eligible project. Congress has also only appropriated $285 million for PTC, although we have long fought for more funding. We urge you to provide additional funding to help meet their needs. In the interim, we plan to introduce legislation in early January to address the significant funding gap and push the railroads to implement PTC.\n\nSincerely,\n\n\n\n\nPETER DeFAZIO MICHAEL CAPUANO\nRanking Member Ranking Member\nCommittee on Transportation and  Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and\nInfrastructure   Hazardous Materials\n\n\n\n--30--", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gottheimer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=502", "Gottheimer Works to Save NJ Taxpayers, Shares IRS Guidance on Property Tax Prepayment with Mayors, Council", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Josh Gottheimer", "G000583", "gottheimer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Earlier this week, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) urged New Jersey mayors to take swift action to help residents save on assessed taxes in the face of the oncoming Tax Hike Bill. Gottheimer will continue looking for any path to save taxpayers money and continues to look for ways to cut taxes.On Wednesday, he shared the following letter with Fifth District mayors and council members regarding prepayment of property taxes assessed for 2018: Dear Mayor -- I am proud to stand with you to save taxpayers money in every way we can  from fighting to get North Jersey a better return on the dollars we have already sent to Washington to preventing the Tax Hike Bills assault on our state and key deductions. Today, that means acting quickly to allow for property tax prepayments to help New Jersey taxpayers. As you know, the recently enacted Tax Hike Bill, P.L.115-97, significantly revises the Tax Act of 1986, and among its provisions, drastically diminishes the ability for states like ours to deduct state and local taxes (SALT). Its expected to hit our property values and other states are already trying to lure our businesses away. However, there is an important caveat: the changes, based on guidance weve received, specifically does not prohibit prepayment of state property taxes. Since many taxpayers will not be permitted to deduct all of their property taxes in 2018 and beyond, I urge you to act quickly,  so taxpayers in your town can prepay assessed property taxes this week  and potentially save significantly on their federal tax bill. As promised, as soon as the Tax Hike Bill was passed, I asked the IRS for guidance regarding prepayment.  My office just received a response from the IRS. Their guidance suggests  coupled with formally posted guidance  that New Jersey taxpayers can prepay their 2018 property taxes and temporarily avoid this disastrous provision of the Tax Hike Bill. The IRS advised that, In general, whether a taxpayer is allowed a deduction for the prepayment of state or local real property taxes in 2017 depends on whether the taxpayer makes the payment in 2017 and the real property taxes are assessed prior to 2018. A prepayment of anticipated real property taxes that have not been assessed prior to 2018 are not deductible in 2017. State or local law determines whether and when a property tax is assessed, which is generally when the taxpayer becomes liable for the property tax imposed. The IRS note to my office added, The new legislation specifically prohibits receiving a tax benefit in 2017 for the pre-payment of 2018 income taxes.  We were concerned this might apply to property taxes as well, but it does not. In New York State, Governor Cuomo issued an emergency executive order last Friday facilitating prepayments in that state. You can read more about New Yorks emergency order here. News reports indicate that Governor Christie is planning a similar executive action and I have contacted him to urge swift action and clarity for towns in North Jersey. Similarly, I am urging you to act quickly on behalf of our shared constituents. I strongly recommend that each town and county look at its rules to determine whether it can accept property taxes due in 2018 and take any steps necessary to authorize prepayment. I believe it is critical to inform and advise taxpayers to pay taxes they are allowed to pay before December 31, 2017, if they will be entitled to the benefit of the deduction. We need to save on taxes wherever possible, particularly in the face of this tax hike on our residents. Please let me know if you plan to take action on prepayment. My team is prepared to act quickly to help get the word out, as it is in many taxpayers best interest to prepay to preserve their ability to deduct these taxes on their 2017 federal tax returns. A couple  of caveats: some taxpayers may not benefit from prepayment  for example if they do not itemize their deductions. Some, but not all, taxpayers who pay alternative minimum tax (AMT) may also be denied the benefit for additional payments of state and local tax deduction. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you advise taxpayers to seek their own independent, professional advice on any issues related to the Tax Hike Bill. Thank you for acting quickly for the good of local residents and businesses. This is about fighting for North Jersey and leaving no stone unturned to save more money for our towns and taxpayers. Please feel free to call 201-***-**** with any questions or email me at *****@mail.house.gov. Happy New Year and thank you very much for all you do. Yours, Josh Gottheimer", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=495", "Grothman Supports Tax Cuts for American Families and Businesses", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act to modernize the tax code, make Americas business climate more competitive and deliver tax relief to American families and workers.\r\nThe Tax Cuts & Jobs Act is good for the American people and encourages a strong economy.\r\nI feel the tax cuts in this version of the bill are targeted at the working middle class  a change from original proposals  and I feel like my voice was heard in making these changes. Im especially happy that House and Senate leaders reinstated the medical expense deduction, a deduction used by folks in the most dire of circumstances.\r\nThe bill also shifted from a bill that benefited investors to one that more targets working people. The changes in the conference bill regarding state and local taxes will be of particular benefit to Wisconsin taxpayers, and virtually all taxpayers who make less than $100,000 should receive a tax cut.\r\nIm glad were standing up to Wall Street hedge managers in this bill by working to close the carried interest loophole. This change is needed in order to ensure that that these managers do not pay a lower rate on their commission income. I look forward to making further changes in this area.\r\nAdditionally, since I got this job, I have worked to reduce fraud in the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit  something this bill also addresses.\r\nAbove all, the goal of tax reform is to improve the economy by lowering business taxes to stimulate spending and job creation and modernizing our countrys international tax system. Everyone should remember that personal retirement accounts and pensions will also benefit from the passing of this bill  as we have already seen in the historic gains of the stock market over the past year in anticipation of passage.\r\nIt is frustrating that I tried to work with Democrats, especially on the estate tax, to ensure it was as bipartisan a bill as possible. But, I believe many members of the other party just decided to vote no and not be part of the process.\r\nIts also especially frustrating that Democrats are critical of lowering the corporate tax rate considering President Obama asked Congress to do just that in 2012, even including a preferential rate for manufacturing. Our current corporate tax rate is the highest in the industrialized world at 35 percent. By lowering it to 21 percent, we make the U.S. more competitive for business.\r\nIt just goes to show that Democrats are focusing on partisanship over American workers and families. I do hope my Democratic colleagues have a change of heart, and I look forward to working with them on the technical corrections bill which will be taken up in the spring.\r\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed the House by a vote of 227-203.\r\nBackground\r\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act benefits individuals and families by lowering individual taxes and expanding tax brackets; expanding the Child Tax Credit; eliminating the Obamacare individual mandate penalty tax so that families can make the health insurance decisions that are best for them; retaining retirement savings options like 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts; continuing to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes up to $10,000; and expanding the medical expense deduction, among other measures to make the tax code simpler and fairer.\r\nAdditionally, a typical family of four earning the median family income of $73,000 will receive a tax cut of $2,059 with this bill.\r\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act benefits job creators and stimulates the economy by lowering the corporate tax rate from the highest rate in the industrialized world and making the U.S. more competitive for business; protecting the ability of small businesses to write off interest on loans to help them to expand their businesses; modernizing our international tax system; and preventing American jobs, headquarters and research from moving overseas by eliminating incentives that reward companies for moving operations overseas, among other measures to put more money back in the pockets of small business owners and make the U.S. business climate more competitive globally.\r\nFor a detailed summary of whats included in the bill, please click here. To read the text of the bill in its entirety, please click here.\r\n\r\n###\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his second term representing Wisconsins 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wilson-to-announce-legislative-priorities-during-district-tour", "Wilson To Announce Legislative Priorities During District Tour", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "SC", "Joe Wilson", "W000795", "joewilson.house.gov", "joewilson", "https://joewilson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Joe Wilson will announce his legislative priorities for 2018 during a tour of the second congressional district on Wednesday, January 3. The schedule for Congressman Wilson's tour is as follows:\n\n10:00 AM: Midlands\n\nOffice of Congressman Joe Wilson\n\n1700 Sunset Blvd (US 378), Suite 1\n\nWest Columbia, S.C. 29169\n\n12:00 PM: Aiken\n\nAiken County Government Center\n\n1930 University Parkway\n\nAiken, S.C. 29801\n\nNOTE: 3rd Floor, Aiken County Council Chambers\n\n1:30 PM: North Augusta\n\nNorth Augusta Municipal Building\n\n100 Georgia Avenue\n\nNorth Augusta, S.C. 29841\n\nNOTE: 3rd Floor, Administration Lobby\n\n3:00 PM: Barnwell\n\nBarnwell County Courthouse\n\n141 Main Street\n\nBarnwell, S.C. 29812\n\nNOTE: Room #106 if raining", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://pearce.house.gov/press-release/pearce-putting-american-taxpayer-and-economy-first", "PEARCE: PUTTING THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER AND ECONOMY FIRST", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NM", "Steve Pearce", "P000588", "pearce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC (December 29,2017)Congressman Steve Pearce today released the following statement after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced its decision to rescind their hydraulic fracturing rule in an effort to reduce burdensome federal regulations that hinder energy development and economic growth:\nI applaud the BLM today for putting the American economy and taxpayer first by rescinding this unnecessary regulation. Many of these Obama-era environmental rules were duplicative in nature and made in order solely to cripple energy production on federal lands. This doesnt better preserve our environment, but cuts off sources of revenues for states like New Mexico who rely on the production and development of resources to support our teachers, infrastructure, and more. From the very beginning, federal courts declared that the BLM did not have the proper authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on public lands. By rescinding the rule altogether, the BLM upholds the rule of law and moves the nation closer towards becoming less reliant on foreign energy production. With that, New Mexico can once again have the opportunity to become a leader in energy development.\nBackground\nOn June 21, 2016, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a final rule blocking the hydraulic fracturing rule from being implemented, stating the BLM doesnt have proper authority to do so without congressional action. This decision by the BLM to publish a final rule rescinding the hydraulic fracturing rule follows Executive Order 13771 that requires agencies to reduce regulatory compliance costs. To view the announcement by BLM on the final rule, click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/media/in-the-news/view-national-shield-law-press", "A view of a national shield law for the press", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Some weeks back I decided to sit in on the House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General (AG) Jeff Sessions. Having attended previous Congressional hearings with the Attorney General as the key witness, I didn't expect much in terms of new or enlightening testimony regarding the Russian meddling in our election probe and I was certainly not disappointed or, rather, pleasantly surprised by his testimony or lack thereof.\nRead more here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/delivering-tax-relief-northeast-texans", "Why I Voted for the Biggest Tax Cuts Since Reagan", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BY REP. JOHN RATCLIFFE (R-TEXAS)\n\nThree decades ago, Ronald Reagan delivered our country tax reform that spurred such enormous economic growth and prosperity, that it would distinguish him as one of the greatest presidents in our nations history. But since that time, the size and complexity of our tax code have multiplied immensely, and with this, so have the burdens it places on hard-working American families.\nThis is just one reason why the people of Texas 4th District and folks all across the country rose up last year to install new leadership committed to reversing the economic malaise of the previous eight years. They believe  like Reagan did  that allowing folks to keep more of their hard-earned dollars is the right way to restore the economic competitiveness of our country and reopen the door to the American dream.\nAs a firm believer that more economic freedom is the key to more prosperity, I was proud to vote in Congress for the passage of the biggest tax cut package our country has seen since Reagan. More than 30 years in the making, the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act represents a huge win for the American people.\nOur legislation focuses on the middle- and lower-class Americans who are burdened most by our current tax code. It provides specific relief for American families, and it puts wind in the sails of small business owners striving to create new jobs. All of these provisions combined will act as jet fuel for our economy  truly making America competitive again.\nHere at home in the 4th District of Texas, these tax cuts will result in putting more than $700 million directly into the hands of the hardworking people I represent, instead of giving it to Washington bureaucrats. One of the primary ways well do this is by doubling the standard deduction from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and from $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples  effectively creating an expanded zero percent tax bracket. This will directly benefit and provide immediate relief to the 79 percent of tax filers in Texas' 4th Districtwho currently benefit from this deduction.\nWe will also repeal one of the most harmful Obamacare provisions: the individual mandate, which unfairly penalized middle- and lower-class families who just cant afford to pay for skyrocketing Obamacare premiums. Obamas individual mandate has been slamming folks with a tax equal to 2.5 percent of their household income  and 80 percent of those paying this unfair penalty make less than $50,000 a year. Our tax cut package puts this hard-earned money back into back into their hands where it belongs.\nAdditionally, our tax cut plan focuses on supporting families by expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000, so we can make sure families can cover their everyday expenses and prepare for the future. On top of this, I fought hard to maintain the Adoption Tax Credit, so we can continue encouraging families to open their homes to children in need.\nOur plan will also reduce burdens on small business owners who are responsible for creating two-thirds of our countrys new jobs each year. Specifically, well be lowering the tax rate on the hard-earned business income of Main Street job creators to the lowest level weve had in decades. By doing this, well bring 80,000 new jobs to the state of Texas.\nWell also make America more competitive on the world stage by lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent  the largest reduction in our nations history. This will finally stop businesses from being forced to move overseas to escape the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, which means more American jobs for the American people.\nBy tackling the challenges of an overly burdensome and overly complex tax code that have festered for more than 30 long years, were finally delivering Americans the relief theyve been asking for  the relief that Ronald Reagan advocated for when he said the American Dream belongs to you. Im grateful for the opportunity Ive been given to be engaged in this process on your behalf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-reps-ratcliffe-and-gowdy-discuss-doj-and-fbi-oversight-fox-news", "ICYMI: Reps. Ratcliffe and Gowdy discuss DOJ and FBI oversight on Fox News", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) appeared on Fox News' Ingraham Angle Thursday with Jason Chaffetz to discuss theirwork on the House Judiciary and House Oversight Committeesto look into the many abnormalities stemming from DOJ and FBI decisions in 2016  including the handling of the Clinton email investigation.\n  Click here to watch the interview with Ratcliffe and Gowdy\nRatcliffe and Gowdy recently interviewed FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe about the many outstanding questions surrounding these decisions.\nThe lawmakers said they are committed to conducting appropriate Congressional oversight to ensure the integrity of the DOJ and FBI is properly restored.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=213", "ICYMI: Reps. Ratcliffe and Gowdy discuss DOJ and FBI oversight on Fox News", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stephaniemurphy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=589", "Rep. Murphy Challenges Rep. Rogers to a Friendly Wager Over UCF-Auburn Peach Bowl Game", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Stephanie Murphy", "M001202", "stephaniemurphy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park, Fla., has challenged Congressman Mike Rogers of Anniston, Ala., to a friendly wager over the outcome of the 2018 Peach Bowl game between the undefeated University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights and the Auburn University Tigers. Murphy is the representative of Floridas seventh congressional districthome of UCFwhile Rogers represents Alabamas third congressional districthome of Auburn University. The Peach Bowl is scheduled to take place on New Years Day in Atlanta, Ga.When asked to comment on the challenge, Murphy exclaimed: Charge On! When contacted for a response, Rogers declared: War Eagle!  The terms of the wager are as followed: \tIf UCF wins, Rogers must deliver a bucket of Florida oranges to Murphys office while carrying a classic UCF football helmet. \tIf Auburn wins, Murphy must continue one of Auburn Universitys richest traditions and roll the small oak tree from the Toomers Corner oak lineage on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The loser of the wager must execute the wager upon his or her return to the nations capital in January 2018. The act will be filmed and shared on social media for all to enjoy (or endure). ###\r\nU.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy represents Floridas Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Small Business Committee. The district includes all of Seminole County and much of northern Orange County, including downtown Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park, and the University of Central Florida. Previously, Murphy was a businesswoman and college instructor who also served as a national security specialist in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where she received numerous awards for her distinguished service, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. Murphy lives in Winter Park with her husband and two children.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/would-you-trade-your-social-security-student-loan-forgiveness", "Would You Trade Your Social Security for Student Loan Forgiveness?", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Two of the biggest long-term financial problems facing the United States are Social Security funding and the growing level of student loan debt. One Republican congressman has introduced legislation that could help tackle both problems by allowing future retirees to trade some of their Social Security benefits for student loan forgiveness.\nAn outside-the-box solution\nIt's no secret thatstudent loan debthas become a serious problem in the United States. As of the most recent data, about 45 million Americans owe a total of $1.4 trillion in student loan debt -- this is more than all of the credit card debt, auto loan debt, and every other type of debt Americans hold besides mortgages.\nRep. Tom Garrett, a freshman Republican congressman from Virginia, has introduced new legislation known as the Student Security Act that would allow student loan borrowers to make an interesting choice. It would give borrowers the option to have some of their student loan debt forgiven in exchange for a higherSocial Security full retirement age.\nRep. Garrett's plan -- the details\nRep. Garrett, who is a student loan borrower himself, is introducing a unique solution to the student debt problem that could also help fix Social Security's expected financial shortfall.\nHere's how it would work. For every month a borrower agreed to raise his or her own Social Security full retirement age, they would receive $550 in student loan forgiveness. The plan would set a maximum amount of loan forgiveness of $40,150, which would result in a delay of six years and one month for the recipient's Social Security retirement age.\nAccording to the bill's text, it would also delay the early retirement age for the recipients, which is otherwise set at age 62 as the earliest age at which you can claim areduced benefit. For example, let's say that your full Social Security retirement age is 67 years, and you take advantage of $6,600 worth ($550 times 12 months) of student loan forgiveness under this program. Your full retirement age would now be 68 years old, and the earliest you'd be allowed to claim retirement benefits is now 63.\nWould you make the trade?\nThis would be a completely voluntary program, so student loan debtors would need to carefully weigh the pros and cons before choosing to accept the loan forgiveness.\nThere would certainly be some good reasons to choose to accept loan forgiveness under this plan. For example, reducing the debt burden on younger Americans could allow them to buy homes, get married, have children, and start businesses earlier than they otherwise could. Furthermore, if these individuals are spending less of their income on debt repayment, they could have more to save in a 401(k) or IRA, making them less dependent on Social Security benefits in retirement.\nHowever,Social Securityis a guaranteed, inflation-protected stream of income available to retirees, and it's important to realize that you may not be able to work until your new, older full retirement age. If you accept the maximum amount of loan forgiveness under the plan, it translates to a full retirement age of over 73 years. Are you willing to wait that long to collect your full retirement ... READ MORE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/year-in-review", "Year-in-Review: Greg Waldens top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Year-in-Review: Greg Waldens top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017 \nWASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today released a list of top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017. Walden authored important bills that have been signed into law and passed in the House of Representatives this year to support Americas military and veterans, protect Oregons public lands and grow family wage jobs in local communities, modernize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), improve forest management to prevent catastrophic wildfire, and helped pass major tax reform to bring much-needed relief for middle class families in Oregon.\nAccording to www.congress.gov, Walden leads the Oregon House delegation with 23 bills passed through the House of Representatives this year. Walden also leads the House delegation with five pieces of legislation sent to the President in 2017.\nWalden has assisted over 1,200 Oregonians this year with problems they were having with federal agencies, including 500 veterans and military service members, and over 120 Oregonians with their Social Security and Medicare benefits. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with a federal agency such as the Veterans Administration (VA) or Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you can all Waldens office toll free from Oregon at 800-533-3303.\n Walden bill to protect Mt. Hood, boost family wage jobs sent to Presidents desk \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nBipartisan legislation authored by Oregon Reps. Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer, and Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkleyto help protect the local water source for the City of Hood River and upper Hood River Valley, while promoting economic growth and family wage jobs for the local communities, is heading to the Presidents desk. The Mt. Hood-Cooper Spur Land Clarification Act passed the House of Representatives in February on a 415-1 vote, and passed the Senate in December. Walden has worked closely over the years with Rep. Earl Blumenauer to protect Oregons public lands around Mt. Hood and grow the local economy.\n\"Completing the Cooper Spur land exchange is key to protecting Crystal Springs, the water source for the City of Hood River and the upper Hood River Valley, while also encouraging economic and job growth around Mt. Hood,Walden said.These communities have waited nearly nine years for the Forest Service to complete the exchange Congress gave them 16 months to finish. This is long past due and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law so the job can finally get done.\n Mt. Hood land exchange heads to Trumps desk \nA long-delayed land swap on Mount Hood that sets out areas for commercial development and protected forest land has cleared Congress. The bill unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday night, Dec. 21, which means its headed to President Donald Trumps desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan legislation written by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representatives Greg Walden, (R-Ore.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) was aimed at protecting and enhancing Oregons land conservation and recreation priorities on the mountain.\nPlease click here to read more from the Hood River News.\n Greg Walden bill to ensure military access to lifesaving medical treatments signed into law \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nPresident Trump signed into law legislation introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to ensure the military has access to lifesaving medical treatments. Waldens legislation (H.R. 4374) passed the House and Senate unanimously, and will amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize additional emergency uses for medical products to reduce deaths and severity of injuries on the battlefield.\n''Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for this country, and they deserve to have the earliest possible access to medical products that could save their lives on the battlefield, said Walden in a speech on the House floor when the legislation passed the House in November. In short, H.R. 4374 addresses the critical issue of military access to the newest available products by expanding the circumstances under which emergency use authorizations can be issued, and by establishing an expedited pathway to full approval of products that the Secretary of Defense requests.\n Walden resolution passed \nPresident Trump signed House Resolution 4374, a piece of legislation introduced by Representative Greg Walden. The resolution amended a law that would allow for the use of unapproved medical products during a military emergency. It is intended to speed up development and review of medical products for military emergency use within 45 days.\nClick here for more from KTVL News Channel 10.\n Greg Walden bill to modernize Food and Drug Administration signed into law \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nPresident Trump signed Rep. Waldens FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) of 2017 into law in August. Waldens legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously, and will help deliver new medical devices, treatments, and therapies to patients in Oregon and across the country. This bill reauthorizes and modernizes the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) critical medical productuser fee programs, ensuring the agency has the tools it needs to more efficiently deliver safe and effective drugs, devices, and treatments to patients.\nThis law will encourage new medical innovations, bring lower cost drugs to market faster, improve the regulatory review process for devices and treatments and, most importantly provide certainty to patients and the health industry, said Walden.\nClick here to read more from the Energy and Commerce Committee, where Walden serves as Chairman.\nGreg Walden helps pass landmark legislation to bring tax-relief to middle class Oregonians\nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act\nContinuing his efforts to provide tax relief for middle-class families and boost job growth in Oregon, Rep. Walden voted to pass landmark tax reform through Congress in December. Walden applauded the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), as a win for hard-working Oregon taxpayers and job creators.\nThe measure Congress will send to the President this week means that a hardworking family of four in eastern Oregon that earns about $50,000 a year -- which is the median household income in my district -- will receive a tax break of about $1,300 compared to the existing law. Instead of a bloated federal government taking and spending your money, I want families to keep more of what they earn. Thats $10,400 in lower federal income taxes over the next eight years for that one family, Walden said.\nWalden has heard from constituents across Oregons second district about the importance of this tax reform legislation. To read more about what people in Oregon are saying about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, please click here.\n Oregon Farm Bureau: Tax reform will help agriculture \nThe Oregon Farm Bureau said the tax reform package passed by Congress and signed Friday by President Trump includes many provisions that will help Oregon's farm and ranch families. \"This bill lowers taxes for the vast majority of our agricultural families,\" said Oregon Farm Bureau President Barry Bushue. Bushue pointedout that the bill simplifies rate structures and eliminates the death tax for estates under $11 million while maintaining annual indexing for inflation, which covers nearly all family ag operations.\nClick here to read more from News Channel 21.\n Greg Walden leads forest management reform through House for fifth year in a row \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nFor the fifth time in five years, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) voted in November to pass legislation to improve federal forest management and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires that ravage Oregon and much of the West every year.The Resilient Federal Forests Act (H.R. 2936),which Walden helped craft, addresses the growing economic and environmental threats of catastrophic wildfire that scorched over 710,000 acres of land across Oregon this year.\nMy intensity on this issue is almost that of the fires we fight, said Walden. We can reduce the size and intensity of fire up to 70 percent, if we do the kinds of projects that thin out the forests and allow us to better manage and be better stewards of our federal forests that are contemplated as a result of this legislation.\n Forest reform bill passes House \nFor the fifth time in as many years, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would expedite certain forest thinning projects to lower the risk of destructive wildfires across the country. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon) hailed it as a big day for the Northwest during a conference call with reporters, saying the bill not only solves the issue of fire borrowing but gives agencies more leeway to thin overcrowded and diseased forests.\nClick here to read more from the East Oregonian.\n Greg Walden bill to improve care for Oregon veterans passes House unanimously \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks\nThe U.S. House of Representatives in June unanimously passed a plan co-authored by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to improve the care Oregons veterans receive at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Walden worked with House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, Dr. Phil Roe, to introduce the VA Medical Scribes Pilot Act of 2017. Waldens legislation would implement a pilot program for medical scribes at VA facilities, which will help unburden VA doctors and allow them to see more patients.\nGood news for Oregon veterans: the House passed legislation I co-authored with Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Dr. Phil Roe, that will allow veterans doctors to do what they do best -- spend more time taking care of veterans, said Walden. This legislation sets up a pilot program to try something that has worked successfully in the private sector -- having scribes work side-by-side with doctors, so that doctors can focus on the patient and scribes can focus on the paperwork.\n Guest Opinion: Bills would improve the VA for Oregon veterans \nVeterans in Oregon and across the country deserve quality care in a timely manner when they go to the VA. Unfortunately, long wait times at many facilities have resulted in delayed access to essential health services, especially in rural and underserved areas in Oregon. We can and must solve this problem, and Ive sponsored legislation to help. Lets start by making sure the VA is adequately staffed with qualified medical providers, and that these providers are able to devote their undivided attention to serving those whove served our country.\nClick here to read Rep. Waldens guest column in the Medford Mail Tribune.\n Walden paves the way for self-driving cars \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nRep. Walden, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, helped pass landmark legislation through the House of Representatives in September to pave the way for self-driving cars. Walden has led a bipartisan effort to advance self-driving vehicle technology to help make Oregons roads safer, create new economic opportunities, and help seniors and those with disabilities live more independently.\n\"Almost 40,000 lives were lost on our roads last year. This represents yet another yearly increase in traffic-related fatalities. In my home state of Oregon, traffic fatalities were the highest theyve been in 14 years, increasing by an alarming 20 percent from the year before, said Walden. Statistics show that 94 percent of accidents relate to human behavior. During our morning commute into work, just look around. We all see folks on their phones in the cars next to us. While National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cannot write a safety standard to make us all perfect drivers, it can work to advance life-saving technologies -- which is the underlying goal of todays bipartisan legislation.\n\n Rep. Greg Walden Is Oregon's Champion Of Self-Driving Cars \nThe U.S. House on Tuesday passed a bill to spur the widespread use of self-driving cars that was partly crafted by Rep. Greg Walden,R-Oregon. Walden used his chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to work with automakers and tech companies to hammer out a measure that allows testing of more self-driving cars on Americanroads. Today marks a really important milestone in our pursuit to make our roadways safer and support American leadership in self-driving innovation, Walden said on the House floor before the measure passed on a voice vote with noobjection.\nClick here to read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-waters-honors-legacy-della-reese", "Congresswoman Maxine Waters Honors Legacy of Della Reese", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Maxine Waters", "W000187", "waters.house.gov", "waters", "https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "LOS ANGELES \u2013 Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), released the following statement honoring the late Della Reese whose life and legacy will be celebrated in a memorial service on Saturday, December 30, 2017 in Los Angeles:\n\n\"I was deeply saddened to learn of my dear friend Della Reese's passing last month. Della was a living legend and a woman of extraordinary talent, blessed with one of the most iconic voices of our time and a career that spanned several decades. While of course it was that powerful and distinct voice that earned her acclaim very early in her career, it was Della's dynamic acting ability in various film and television projects, most notably the successful primetime series, \u2018Touched by an Angel,' that endeared her to millions of new fans who saw in Della's character their own loving mother, friend, or guiding mentor helping to navigate them through life's many trials and tribulations. Della's work on that series was very much aligned with her personal life and work as an ordained minister in my district at the Understanding Principles for Better Living \u2018UP' Church in Inglewood, California \u2013 a ministry she steadfastly maintained by taking frequent flights between Inglewood and Salt Lake City, Utah where \u2018Touched by an Angel' was filmed.\n\n\"I am very proud to have had the opportunity to know Della and experience firsthand her devotion to the church, her ministry, and ensuring our community's young people understood their place and history. Della was the beneficiary of strong women role models from her mother to Mahalia Jackson who mentored and gave Della her first big break when she was just 13 years old. Della therefore always understood the importance of mentorship and passing on knowledge to the next generation, and on that account, she was a profoundly engrossing storyteller. The lessons and pain she experienced were fundamental components of her ministry and testimony. To those who truly knew Della, her soaring voice and commanding persona onscreen was only eclipsed by her heart and sincere compassion for mankind.\n\n\"As we lay to rest the legendary Della Reese, it is my hope that we all reflect on her legacy this holiday season in sharing with one another the same love and compassion Della showed everyone she encountered. My sincere condolences are with Della's husband, Frank, her children, family, and loved ones in Los Angeles and across the country.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-urges-labor-secretary-to-protect-miners-safety-health", "Brown Urges Labor Secretary to Protect Miners\u2019 Safety Health", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, December 29, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), recently urged Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta to protect mine safety and miners health by protecting a recent rule aimed at limiting miners exposure to respirable coal mine dust. The Senators letter comes after the rule was listed among a number of rules to be re-examined for elimination. The rule was aimed at reducing work-related illnesses that miners face like black lung disease. Brown applauded the Department of Labors effort to limit coal dust exposure when it was announced in 2014.\r\nGiven this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule, wrote the Senators in the letter. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop. We are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect.\r\nRead the full letter below or click here.\r\nDear Secretary Acosta,\r\nOn December 14, 2017, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) published its fall Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, a semiannual list of federal regulatory and deregulatory actions.We write to express our concerns regarding the decision to list several rules under the purview of the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) for re-examination in the Unified Agenda.These rules are meant to protect the health and safety of our nations coal miners.\r\nThe Trump Administration has made clear its commitment to reducing regulatory burdens. We agree that unnecessary, outdated, or duplicative regulations should be examined for elimination or modification. However, we believe that worker safety is of the utmost importance and we unequivocally oppose rolling back the Respirable Dust Rule (the rule) which is meant to protect the safety, health, and  in effect  the livelihood of our coal miners.\r\nIn particular, the rule, which took effect in 2014, was promulgated by MSHA in an effort to reduce occupational lung diseases - namely coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly known as black lung disease.Black lung disease is a common but preventable disease that has plagued coal miners in Appalachia for decades. The impacts of black lung disease are debilitating and, in the most serious cases, fatal.\r\nIn 2010, the Secretary of Labor, acting under the authority of the Federal Mine Safety Health Act of 1977, proposed the rule. The rule lowers the acceptable threshold for concentrations of respirable coal mine dust with the goal of making the air that miners breathe in coal mines less toxic. The final rule decreased the dust limits from 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter to an improved level of 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter.\r\nUnfortunately, recent research, most notably a report from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has indicated the prevalence of black lung in Appalachian coalfields is worse than previously thought. Furthermore, black lung clinics in Appalachia report that younger coal miners are being diagnosed with the disease at increasing rates.\r\nGiven this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop.\r\nWe are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect.\r\nIn short, we believe in worker safety first and foremost. MSHAs mission is a critical one for the safety and health of our nations miners and the Respirable Dust Rule is vital to ensuring that MSHA succeeds in that mission. We urge you to retain the Respirable Dust Rule and prevent the unnecessary erosion of vital mine safety and health standards.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=45B750B4-47BE-42AF-8583-998B7C0419C6", "Delaware is at Refusal Speed", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Thomas Carper", "C000174", "www.carper.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In the Navy, we had the term Refusal Speed  the speed at which an aircraft heading down the runway can either take off, or slow down. While 2017 was a contentious year for our country, Delaware remained focused on the mission at hand, continuing our work to make the First State a great place to live, raise a family, and start and grow a business. Together, with my partners in Congress, Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, state and community leaders, and engaged Delawareans, we have made progress by following what I like to call the Three Cs: Communication, Compromise and Collaboration. Throughout 2017, Delaware had a number of wins to help sustain and grow our economy and set Delaware up for success in the years to come. I believe our collective hard work this year has brought Delaware to Refusal Speed, and we are ready to take flight in 2018.\r\nAfter the announcement that Dow and DuPont would merge, the entire state came together to make the best of a difficult situation. Highlighting Delawares unmatched workforce and generational ties to DuPont, we secured DowDuPonts new Agriculture Division and Specialty Products Division headquarters here in Delaware. We then found innovative ways to protect and foster one of Delawares most incredible resources  world-class scientists. In October, we secured a $3 million Economic Development Administration grant to secure the Delaware Innovation Space, combining Delawares scientists with the resources of DuPont and the University of Delaware to help our scientist-entrepreneurs build new businesses and foster a community of scientific innovation right here in Delaware.\r\nWe've also continued to foster science, technology and future manufacturing growth in Delaware. Plans are underway for two multi-modal rail stations in Newark and Claymont that will better connect Delaware to our surrounding regions and serve as a catalyst for development. At the University of Delawares STAR Campus, where thousands of workers once made cars and trucks at the old Chrysler plant, we broke ground on the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, and Chemours Discovery Hub. The development were seeing where shuttered manufacturing plants used to stand gives us hope for future job growth in the First State.\r\nAlong Delawares 21 miles of oceanfront, we have more 5-star beaches than any other state.Over the past few years, our beaches have seen terrible damage from Hurricane Joaquin in 2015, a number of Noreasters, and Winter Storm Jonas in January 2016. Our beaches are more than environmental treasures, they generate more than $6.9 billion in coastal tourism annually and support 10 percent of Delawares workforce. Thats why its so important to invest in building up our dunes and beaches so they can protect our homes, businesses and infrastructure along the coast from rising seas and more frequent, larger storm damage. This year, we secured federal funding to begin replenishing the beaches in Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island, all damaged from these powerful storms.\r\nIn the Delaware River itself, we secured the final $29 million needed to complete the decades-long project to deepen the waters around the Port of Wilmington. The Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project is scheduled to be completed next year and will allow larger ships from all over the world to utilize our port, and keep Delaware competitive in the 21st Century global economy. Completing the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project is expected to create thousands of new jobs in the Greater Philadelphia area.\r\n\r\nWeve also continued our constant efforts to support our men and women in uniform and our military community that calls the First State home. The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, (NDAA) authorizing funding for the Department of Defense, included much needed funding to support the National Guards air fleet across the country, including $96.11 million for C-130H modernization and $26.8 million for general upgrades. This is crucial funding to keep the Delaware National Guards C-130s on pace and ready to go at a moments notice. We also made progress in our never-ending duty to care for those who have borne the battle, opening a new 10,000-square-foot Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Georgetown, bringing health care closer to our veterans in Sussex County.\r\nAll across the First State, Delawareans worked together  regardless of politics  to support their communities, grow our economy and make 2017 a remarkable year. All of these accomplishments, and more, make me confident that Delaware is at Refusal Speed and ready to take flight in 2018.\r\nHappy New Year, and God bless.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/fiesta-bowl-festivities-senators-casey-cantwell-place-friendly-wager-on-fiesta-bowl", "Fiesta Bowl Festivities: Senators Casey, Cantwell Place Friendly Wager On Fiesta Bowl", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  With the Penn State Nittany Lions and the University of Washington Huskies set to square off in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have placed a friendly wager on the outcome. The senator with the losing team will deliver a home state product to the other. Casey has wagered an assortment of ice cream from Penn States Berkey Creamery. Cantwell has wagered smoked Pacific salmon from Pike Place Market and craft beer from Elysian Brewing Company.\r\nWhile Id love for my colleague to try some of Pennsylvanias finest ice cream, I have total confidence in the Nittany Lions ability to beat the Huskies, said Senator Casey. I look forward to watching Penn State complete their season with a win.\r\nMore information on Penn State Berkey Creamery here: http://creamery.psu.edu.\r\nMore information on Pike Place Market and Elysian Brewing Company can be found here: http://pikeplacemarket.org and http://elysianbrewing.com.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-list?ContentRecord_id=2F6524F3-0877-4182-B9E4-E404C65B4F87", "Corker Statement on National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Bob Corker", "C001071", "www.corker.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.  U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump proclaimed January 2018 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.\r\nWith the establishment of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery and matching $25 million contributions from the U.S. and United Kingdom, 2017 was a historic year in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking but much more work remains, said Corker. I applaud the Trump administration, especially Ivanka Trump, for a continued focus on combatting this scourge on humanity both at home and abroad, and I remain committed to working with them to make this issue a priority in 2018.\r\nToday, in 2017, an estimated 27 million people are enslaved around the world. Thats more than at any time in history. More than two and a half years ago, with input from leading stakeholders and industry experts, Corker proposed a bold, bipartisan initiative to end modern slavery worldwide. Not unlike the role PEPFAR has played in fighting AIDS worldwide, the End Modern Slavery Initiative, which is now operating as the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, was designed to leverage limited foreign aid dollars and galvanize tremendous support and investment from the public sector, philanthropic organizations and the private sector to focus resources responsibly where the crime is most prevalent. In September, both the U.S. and the United Kingdom announced matching $25 million contributions to the fund.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=3572", "Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Peaceful Protests in Iran", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "HOUSTON, Texas - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement in support of the peaceful protestors speaking out against the Iranian regime.\n\"I strongly support and stand in solidarity with the Iranian people who are bravely taking to the streets to speak out against their repressive, brutal government in Tehran. These protests reveal to the world that the Iranian regime would rather export and finance terror beyond its borders--especially to its terrorist proxies in Syria, Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen--than work to meet the basic needs of its own citizens. The Iranian people want freedom and an end to the ayatollahs' reign of terror. The sanctions relief provided under the disastrous Obama nuclear deal has done nothing but line the pockets of Iran's mullahs whose sole desire is to spread their hateful ideology and do everything they can to murder Americans, Israelis, and our allies across Europe and the Middle East. I urge the Trump Administration to do everything possible to support these courageous protestors, and I call upon freedom-loving nations everywhere to rally behind and publicly express their support for the Iranian people.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/senator-gillibrand-urges-german-ambassador-to-work-with-department-of-state-to-deport-nazi-era-guard-currently-living-in-queens", "Senator Gillibrand Urges German Ambassador To Work With Department Of State To Deport Nazi-Era Guard Currently Living In Queens", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2017\n\t\t\t Senator Gillibrand Urges German Ambassador To Work With Department Of State To Deport Nazi-Era Guard Currently Living In Queens \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Nazi-Era Guard Initially Entered the U.S. Under False Pretenses; Although His Citizenship Has Since Been Stripped, the Deportation Case Has Stalled Because No Country Will Accept Him, Government of Germany Should Come Together with State Department Now To Show The World We Learned From The Past And Stand Together Today Against Anti-Semitism, Bigotry, And Hatred In All Forms\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, DC  U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter urging German Ambassador Peter Wittig to work with the U.S. Department of State to immediately resolve the long-standing issue of the Nazi-era guard, Jakiw Palij, currently living in Queens, NY. Mr. Palij was allowed to enter the United States because he concealed his prior service to the Nazi regime. After determining that he had lied in order to enter the country, Mr. Palijs American citizenship was stripped and it was ordered that he be deported. However, since then, his deportation case has stalled because Germany, Poland and Ukraine refuse to accept him. Recently, Gillibrand led a letter with every member of the bicameral New York delegation in Congress to U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson expressing deep concern over this issue.\r\nThis letter is to add my strong support for the State Departments efforts to press on this issue, and to ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard. My constituents have made clear that Mr. Palij is not welcome in our state. They agree that he lost his right to remain here when the brutal past he tried so hard to hide was revealed in an American courtroom. They have no doubt that Mr. Palij must be deported immediately. Together, the United States and Germany can show the world that Mr. Palijs crimes have not been forgotten, Senator Gillibrand wrote in her letter to Ambassador Wittig. We can show that we have learned from the past and stand together today against anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hatred in all forms.\r\nA copy of the Senators letter to the German Ambassador is below:\r\nDecember 27, 2017\r\nThe Honorable Mr. Peter Wittig\r\nAmbassador of the Federal Republic of Germany\r\nEmbassy of the Federal Republic of Germany\r\n4645 Reservoir Road NW\r\nWashington, DC 20007\r\nDear Ambassador Wittig,\r\nI would like to draw your attention to the case of Mr. Jakiw Palij, a Nazi-era guard who is currently residing in Queens, New York. As described in a December 16 article in the Washington Post, a federal judge stripped Mr. Palij of his U.S. citizenship in 2003, after it was found that he entered the United States by concealing his prior service to the Nazi regime. A year later, a U.S. immigration judge ordered that Mr. Palij be deported from the United States. However, because no country  including Germany  has agreed to accept him, Mr. Palij has not yet been removed from the United States. Sadly, he remains, unwelcome, in the state I represent.\r\nRecently, every member of the bicameral New York delegation in Congress came together to send a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson expressing our deep concern over this issue. In response, we were told that senior State Department officials met recently in Berlin with their German Ministry of Interior counterparts to re-iterate the U.S. request for Mr. Palijs removal to Germany. I was dismayed to hear that Germany still refuses to accept this proven Nazi collaborator.\r\nThis letter is to add my strong support for the State Departments efforts to press on this issue, and to ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard. My constituents have made clear that Mr. Palij is not welcome in our state. They agree that he lost his right to remain here when the brutal past he tried so hard to hide was revealed in an American courtroom. They have no doubt that Mr. Palij must be deported immediately. Together, the United States and Germany can show the world that Mr. Palijs crimes have not been forgotten. We can show that we have learned from the past and stand together today against anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hatred in all forms.\r\nI ask that you do everything in your power to urge your government to work with our State Department to resolve this long-standing issue, and I thank you very much for your consideration.\r\nSincerely,\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=2E8FCA0E-4438-4DAD-9AF7-571BBEBD7C9C", "A Year of Progress: Record-Breaking Number of Circuit Court Judges Confirmed in 2017 with Hellers Support", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  In 2017, with help and support from U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), the U.S. Senate delivered on President Trumps promise to the American public by confirming a number of conservative judges to the federal bench. Among the total 19 conservative judges confirmed this year is Justice Neil Gorsuch, who filled the vacant U.S. Supreme Court seat of Justice Antonin Scalia following his death. Additionally, the U.S. Senate confirmed more circuit court judge nominees under President Trump than any other President in modern history has had confirmed during their first year in office. Under the leadership of President Trump and the Senate Judiciary Committee, this year the Senate confirmed a remarkable number of well-qualified conservative judges to the federal bench, said Heller. As a strong believer in the U.S. Constitution, I know that it matters who serves on these courts. The Constitution should drive all the decisions we make in this body, and the Constitution should be the focus of the judges on our federal courts. Im incredibly proud that in addition to putting Justice Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, the Senate also broke a record for the number of circuit court judge nominees confirmed during the first year of President Trumps Administration. This is exactly what the American people sent us to do  to deliver results  and thats why I look forward to working with my colleagues in the New Year to maintain this pace and fill the numerous judicial vacancies. In October, Heller pushed his colleagues to work full-time, 24/7 for the remainder of the year to combat Democrat obstruction and get results for the American people. At the time, the Senate had confirmed only seven judges. Since Hellers call to speed up the number of confirmations, the Senate has confirmed an additional 12 judges.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-secures-forklift-for-five-loaves-and-two-fishes-food-bank-in-kimball-", "Manchin Secures Forklift for Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank in Kimball", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2017\n\t\t\t Manchin Secures Forklift for Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank in Kimball  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCharleston, WV  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement following the delivery of a much needed forklift to Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank in Kimball, WV. Today Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia donated a forklift to Five Loaves & Two Fishes. After learning about the food banks need for a forklift, Senator Manchin was instrumental in securing the forklift for the food bank.\r\nSince I learned of the urgent need from Senator Richard Ojeda at Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank in McDowell County, Ive been working with Bob and Linda McKinney, local officials and businesses to help secure a forklift that will allow them to continue receiving shipments and feeding the people of this community.\r\nWeve since seen such a wonderful outpouring of support, starting with United Rentals of Beckley which allowed the Food Bank to have immediate use of a forklift that got them through such a critical time of year.\r\nA long-term solution was always the goal, and today I am so proud and grateful to announce that Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) has stepped forward, in great fashion, to donate a forklift to Five Loaves & Two Fishes.\r\nI know everyone is moved and humbled by this incredible act of community giving by Toyota, and also relieved to see a permanent forklift finally here in Kimball  where the need remains great, and the desire to help and serve remains strong.\r\nI would like to thank Tom Lego, Leah Curry and TMMWV for making this moment possible and especially for the individuals, families and children whose lives will be touched by this generous donation.\r\nI thank Dave Vincent and United Rentals of Beckley for stepping forward immediately to ensure that the Food Bank wasnt without a forklift over the past several weeks.\r\nAnd I thank Bob and Linda and everyone with Five Loaves & Two Fishes for working every day to lift up people in their greatest time of need. Its the kind of work that inspires. Its the kind of work that saves lives. And it represents who we are as West Virginians  neighbors who always help each other.\r\nThank you and may God Bless McDowell County, and our great state of West Virginia.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-statement-on-miner-death-in-fayette-county-", "Manchin Statement on Miner Death in Fayette County", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2017\n\t\t\t Manchin Statement on Miner Death in Fayette County  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCharleston, WV  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on the death of Thurman A. Watts, a coal miner who was working in Fayette County.\r\nAll of West Virginia is heartbroken to learn of the loss of Thurman A. Watts today. Yet again, we are reminded of the incredible sacrifices our coal miners and their families make every day. Gayle and I join the entire state in sending our thoughts and prayers to the Watts family during this difficult time.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-decries-new-trump-administration-speed-over-safety-offshore-drilling-rules", "Senator Markey Decries New Trump Administration \u201cSpeed Over Safety\u201d Offshore Drilling Rules", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Markey Decries New Trump Administration Speed Over Safety Offshore Drilling Rules \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 29, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMarkey was leading Congressional investigator into BP oil spill\r\n\r\nWashington (December 29, 2017)  Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after the Trump administration published its proposal today to roll back rules meant to prevent offshore drilling disasters. Senator Markey was the leading Congressional investigator into the BP oil spill, and the first to post the Spillcam online of the underwater spill.\r\n\r\nIt hasnt even been ten years since the Deepwater Horizon disaster dumped millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, yet the Trump administration wants to return to the speed-over-safety mentality that led to the BP spill in the first place, said Senator Markey. At the behest of its oil company cronies, the Trump administration wants to roll back rules meant to prevent offshore drilling disasters at the same time that they want to expand offshore drilling to new areas like the East Coast and put our coastlines, residents and wildlife at risk. This proposal targets rules meant to ensure that safety devices are functioning properly. Instead of making sure the oil and gas industrys last-resort protections work, the Trump administration resorts to putting protection last.\r\n\r\nCongress has yet to enact a single new significant law to improve the safety of offshore drilling, concluded Senator Markey. We owe it to the residents of the Gulf and to all those living along coastline where the Trump administration hopes to drill with abandon to ensure environmental tragedies like Deepwater never happen again. Congress must still act, and I will continue to fight in the Senate to ensure that we enact the strongest protections for our environment and workers in offshore drilling. \r\n\r\nIn April, Senators Markey and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) led a group of 27 senators in calling on the Trump administration to protect the coastlines of the United States from offshore oil drilling. The senators sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke urging him not to revise the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (Five-Year Plan) to eliminate protections for the East and West Coasts, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and for the sensitive marine ecosystems in the Arctic Ocean.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/edwards-county-listening-tour-kinsley", "Edwards County Listening Tour, Kinsley", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tour Stops \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas Listening Tour\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTour Stops\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tEDWARDS COUNTYFriday, December 29 at 11:30 a.m.Kinsley Drug CompanyKinsley", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/edwards-county-listening-tour-stop", "Edwards County Listening Tour, Kinsley", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/kiowa-county-listening-tour-greensburg", "Kiowa County Listening Tour, Greensburg", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tour Stops \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas Listening Tour\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTour Stops\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tKIOWA COUNTYFriday, December 29 at 1:15 p.m.City Council ChambersGreensburg", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/kiowa-county-listening-tour-stop-greensburg", "Kiowa County Listening Tour, Greensburg", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-2017-in-photos", "Senator David Perdue: 2017 In Photos", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "David Perdue", "P000612", "www.perdue.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to content\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t    \n\t      \n\t      \n\t        \n\t       \t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Meet David\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Connect\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Helping You\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  News", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/photo/17-photos-2017", "17 Photos from 2017", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Paul Ryan", "R000570", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "From bigpublic ceremonies to small personal moments, the Office of the Speaker takes approximately 30,000 photos each year. Narrowing those down to just a few of our favorites is no easy task, but in chronological order,these seventeen photos tell the story of 2017 for Speaker Ryan.\n1. Look your best -Speaker Ryan helps his oldest son, Charlie, get ready for Opening Day of the 115th Congress.\n2. The Speaker of the House -Speaker Ryan raises the gavel in gratitude to the 115th Congress.\n3.The Peaceful Transfer of Power- Speaker Ryanwaves goodbyefrom the steps of the U.S. Capitol as President Obama departs.\n4. Boots at the Border - Speaker Ryan tours the Rio Grande Valley to observe border security operations.\n5.Vice President Pence He may serve as the Vice President, as well as the president of the Senate, but he will always have a home in the House of Representatives.\n6. Reining in Regulations - Speaker Ryan signs a series of Congressional Review Acts, putting an end to some of the worst Obama-era regulations.\n7. Friends of Ireland- Speaker Ryan, Taoiseach Kenny of Ireland, and Rep. Peter King (R-NY) welcome President Trump and Vice President Pence to the Capitol for the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon started by President Reagan and Speaker O'Neill.\n8. As far as the eye can see - Speaker Ryan makes phone calls from his office overlooking the National Mall.\n9. Accountability for our veterans - Speaker Ryan signs and sends major bipartisan VA reform legislation to the president's desk.\n10.You were just released from the hospital today?! Special Agent Crystal Griner surprises the crowd, and the speaker, when she shows up at theCongressional Womens Softball Gameto throw out the first pitch, the very same day she was released from the hospital after taking a bullet in the Alexandria shooting.\n11. The Big Six - Speaker Ryan meets with Senator Hatch, Leader McConnell, Rep. Brady, Secretary Mnuchin, and Gary Cohn (on the phone), to discuss tax reform.\n12. Drone on - At one of his many tours of American manufacturing companies, Speaker Ryan flies a drone poweredby Intel. (Click here for video.)\n13. Hurricane Irma-Speaker Ryan looks out the back of a C-130 tosurvey Hurricane Irmas devastationalong the Florida Keys.\n14. Scalise Strong -Speaker Ryan greets Majority Whip Steve Scalise upon his return to the Peoples House after being shot in June while practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game.\n15. A Big Tree from Big Sky Country -This year's Capitol Christmas Tree comes all the way from theKootenai National Forest in Montana.\n16. A Promise Kept - Members of Congress gather at the White House to mark the passage the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\n17. Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Accompanied by Sen. Orrin Hatch, Senate president pro tempore,Speaker Ryan signs theTax Cuts and Jobs Act, sending the legislation to the presidents desk to become law of the land.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F98BD6DF-0EF0-4D2C-8988-74A8237FA9B4", "Thom Tillis: A Republican In Need Of Outcomes", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "VIDEO: Senator Tillis on why being an effective Senator and producing results means being willing to reach across the aisle.    CLICK HERE to watch the video.    CLICK HERE to download the video.    Im tired of talking heads and pundits and people who have never produced a conservative outcome trying to tell me how to get a result. Ive got a strong conservative record in North Carolina, whether its Second Amendment, property rights, life, I can go down a very long list. But that way Ive accomplished that is by not being mad about being conservative. Its by being productive and convincing Democrats to join with us on bills that make sense.    You have RINOs [Republicans In Need Of Outcomes] and DINOs [Democrats In Need Of Outcomes]. Ive told people I want HIPPOs: Highly Independent People Producing Outcomes. Weve got to be willing to turn to the people in both conferences who hold extreme views and say youre clearly not here to produce an outcome, youre here to make a point. Well, Im here to make a difference, and Im looking for other people who want to make a difference.    Senator Tillis has worked across the aisle to tackle problems and produce outcomes.   \r\nTillis, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, has worked across the aisle to support North Carolina military families and military installations:\r\n \r\nSenator Tillis secured provisions in the FY2018 NDAA to make much-needed improvements to the living quarters and other essential facilities at Camp Lejeune, including over $100 million for the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters and a Water Treatment Plan Replacement.\r\n \r\n \r\nSecured $40 million in the FY2018 NDAA for supplemental impact aid to local educational agencies with military dependent children and $10 million in impact aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities and $1 million for a pilot program on public-private partnerships for telework facilities to facilitate spousal employment on military installations outside the United States.\r\n \r\n \r\nSecured over $25 million that paves the way for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base so home a squadron of KC-46 Air Force Tankers.\r\n \r\n \r\nSecured $15 million for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point that guarantees the construction of the Vertical Lift Fan Test Facility and ensures the future home of F-35B Joint Strike Fighters in North Carolina.\r\n \r\n \r\nSenators Tillis and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced bipartisan legislation that is awaiting signature by the President that streamlines and eases the burden on the process whereby active-duty military, reservists and veterans apply for their commercial drivers license.\r\n \r\nTillis is leading on solutions to reform our nations broken immigration system:\r\n \r\nTillis introduced the SUCCEED Act, a fair and merit-based solution that allows the DACA-eligible population to earn and keep legal status as long as they work hard, give back to society, pay their taxes, and follow the law.\r\n \r\n \r\nSenators Tillis and John Cornyn (R-TX), introduced the Building Americas Trust Act, legislation that increases resources at our borders, boosts trade through ports of entry, and strengthens enforcement of existing immigration laws.\r\n \r\n \r\nTillis has followed through on his calls for bipartisanship and is currently engaged in a working group with both Democrat and Republican senators to reach a deal that would pair extensive border security and interior enforcement measures with a long-term solution for the DACA-eligible population.\r\n \r\nTillis has worked across the aisle to improve educational benefits and job opportunities for veterans. In 2017, Senator Tillis had several bipartisan bills he co-introduced incorporated into law:\r\n \r\nTheVeterans Education Experience Improvement Act of 2017,bipartisan legislation Tillis introduced with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) improves veterans experience when using GI Bill education benefits and provide resources and training for the officials at educational institutions who serve student veterans, helping them achieve positive education outcomes.\r\n \r\n \r\nTheVeterans Education Relief and Reinstatement Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation Tillis introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), which reinstates lost benefits to veterans whose Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits are affected by the permanent closure of certain educational institutions.\r\n \r\n \r\nTheVeterans Education Priority Enrollment Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation Tillis introduced with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) ensures that veterans, servicemembers, and surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty can take full advantage of their education benefits.\r\n \r\n \r\nTheYellow Ribbon Improvement Act of 2017,bipartisan legislation Tillis introduced with Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) extends Yellow Ribbon Program benefits to Fry scholarship recipients.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen he dies, he said, he wants his epitaph to read: Thom Tillis. Former speaker, former senator, RINO.\r\nNervous laughter went up from the crowd. RINO is a dirty word in GOP circles; it means Republican In Name Only and suggests someone who is too moderate to be a true member of the party.\r\nBut Tillis, who has been on the receiving end of such criticism before, said he invented a new meaning for the term. To him it means Republican In Need of Outcomes.\r\nIf a debate between Republicans comes down to choosing between an idea that is unrealistic but will sound good to the party base and one that needs a compromise but has an actual chance at creating change, he said its politically courageous to support the latter.\r\nWhat we need to do is be the party of results, Tillis said. (Raleigh News & Observer, 5/12/17)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/thom-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=81DEB4C5-B96B-4612-ACB3-E3155DAC267A", "Senator Thom Tillis Spends Christmas With New Granddaughter", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "North Carolina's junior Senator is experiencing the joy of being a granddad.    Senator Thom Tillisshared a Christmas photo with his new graddaughter, Sawyer Marie on Instagram.Tillis captioned the picture saying, \"Beyond blessed to be Sawyer's Papa Rollie.\"    The Republican is serving his first term in the U.S Senate. The voters of North Carolina elected Tillisin 2014. Tillis announced the birth of his first grandchild back in November.\r\n  Tillis also tweeted the following holiday message to the voters of the state. The Senator wrote, \"Susan and I want to wish you and your family a #MerryChristmas and #HappyHolidays. While you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, remember the men & women of our nations military and first responders for their service & sacrifice to keep us safe. Merry Christmas & God bless.\"\r\n\r\nRead the article here.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398560", "U.S. Rep. Castor Announces Over $1.2 million for Tampa area families", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that her office worked to obtain over $1.2 million for veterans, seniors, and families across the Tampa Bay area in 2017.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today that her office worked to obtain over $1.2 million for veterans, seniors, and families across the Tampa Bay area in 2017. Tampa areafamilies count on me and my constituent service team to be their advocate and cut through red tape regarding Social Security, IRS, passports, immigration, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, military matters and more. I am here to help, U.S. Rep. Castor said. Most of the $1.2 million in federal benefits recovered by U.S. Rep. Castor and her team were owed to local veterans. Hillsborough County is home to one of the largest military and veterans communities in the country with more than 98,000 veterans, the highest veteran population in Florida according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. Rep. Castor has held two 50th Vietnam War Veterans Commemorations to honor the service of local members of the Armed Forces for their service during the Vietnam War as part of an ongoing national effort to honor the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. U.S. Rep. Castor looks forward honoring more of our Vietnam War era veterans at future ceremonies in 2018. More information on U.S. Rep. Castors 50th Vietnam War Veterans Commemorations can be found at www.Castor.House.gov. U.S. Rep. Castor also worked to secure almost $200 million in federal grants this year to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, and bolster the important work of local partners. Among the federals grants won this year are nearly $5 million to the University of South Florida to support 2018 enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplace, $1.6 million to Moffitt Cancer Center in partnership with the Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico for interdisciplinary cancer research, $780,800 to strengthen Tampas economy by creating permanent jobs in East Tampa and grants to numerous social programs including $1.1 million for youth programs in disadvantaged communities.This year, U.S. Rep. Castor also held a Tech Training & Jobs InfoSession where many of her neighbors could connect with numerous local organizations that offer technical and vocational training programs and opportunities to help workers land our region's higher-paying jobs. I intend to be just as determined in 2018 to stand up for our community and fight for the benefits veterans and others have earned. My hard-working neighbors and students are my top priority, U.S. Rep. Castor added. Residents in Florida Congressional District 14 can call U.S. Rep. Castors Tampa office at 813-871-2817 or visit www.Castor.house.gov for assistance. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/gop-rep-says-mueller-must-end-his-witch-hunt-and-step-aside", "GOP Rep Says Mueller Must End His Witch Hunt and Step Aside", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/home-politics-tags-hillary-clinton-russia-probe-robert-mueller-fbi-special-counsel", "Rep. Biggs: Full Story of Mueller, Clinton Will Be 'Scandal of a Lifetime'", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-44-million-in-hhs-funds-for-luzerne-county-head", "Cartwright Announces $4.4 million in HHS Funds for Luzerne County Head Start", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luzerne, Pennsylvania  Today, Representative Matt Cartwright announced that Luzerne County Head Start received $4,448,810 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These funds are used for the continuation of high quality, comprehensive, early childhood education.\nHead Start is a federal program created in 1965 to address the educational and developmental needs of low-income, pre-school children.Head Starts comprehensive service system provides social, nutritional, and educational services for thousands of children and their families across the United States. Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child's first and most important teacher.\nHead Start and Early Head Start programs are an important investment in our community and our economy, said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Appropriations Committee. I applaud Luzerne County Head Start on their continued award and their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Luzerne and WyomingCounties.\"\nOver the past 51 years, Head Start programs have been operating at the local, grassroots level across the country. Through Head Start's comprehensive service system for both children and their families, thousands upon thousands of children have been given the chance to be and to do their best in order to achieve their potential in school.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://coffman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2418", "Coffman Returns From Visiting U.S. Troops in Middle East", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Mike Coffman", "C001077", "coffman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Aurora, CO Today, U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (CO-06), who serves as the Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee, returned to Colorado after spending Christmas with deployed U.S. service members in Afghanistan and conducting top-level military and diplomatic meetings in Kuwait and Jordan.\r\nIt was an honor for me to spend Christmas with our men and women in uniform, and to meet diplomatic staff deployed in the region said Coffman, a Marine Corps combat veteran. Any opportunity I have to thank those serving on the front lines for their sacrifices and service to our nation is an opportunity I cherish. Additionally, hearing first-hand from our commanders and regional allies is crucial when crafting policy back in Washington.\r\nThe bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) took place between December 23-28, 2017 and included U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), all Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Coffman was the only Member of Congress who serves on the House Armed Services Committee to participate.\r\nOn Dec. 24th, the delegation arrived in Kabul and received a classified briefing regarding ongoing U.S. military operations in the region. Following the briefing, the group was hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mr. John Bass, at his residence for a Christmas Eve working dinner. On Christmas Day, Coffman met with Colorado service members at the Resolute Support Dinning Hall for breakfast and met with Commander General John Nicholson, Jr., who is the support commander for operation Resolute Support. Later in the day, the delegation visited Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, and served lunch to service members at FOB Gamberi.\r\nOn Dec. 26th, Coffman along with U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, Lawrence Silverman, met with Kuwaits Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, and the Minister of Defense, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, at the National Assembly in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Topics discussed included mutual security and cooperation interests in the region.\r\nThat afternoon, Coffman joined deployed Colorado service members for lunch at Camp Arifjan and visited with leadership of the Combined Joint Task Force of Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S. Army Central. Later that evening, Coffman traveled to Al Jaber Air Base to receive a special briefing regarding the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force work. Following the briefing, he joined Marines stationed at Al Jaber Air Base for dinner.\r\nOn Dec. 27th, the CODEL proceeded to travel to Jordan. Upon arrival, the party was greeted and briefed by top diplomatic personnel from the U.S. embassy in Amman, Jordan. Scheduled stops included meeting with Syrian refugees at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and its Acting Representative Daniela Cicchella. Additional sites visited by Coffman included the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center and the Joint Training Center, both located in Zarqa, Jordan.\r\nThe Congressional Delegation and support staff departed Jordan, U.S. bound, at an undisclosed time on December 27, 2017. Rep. Coffman arrived back in Colorado on December 28, 2017.\r\nTo see pictures of the Congressional delegation during its travels, click HERE. \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-ryan-costello-talks-taxes-immigration-and-infrastructure-video", "Congressman Ryan Costello talks taxes, immigration and infrastructure (VIDEO)", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "READING, PA -- U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello talked about the politics and policy of recently passed tax reform, a pathway to citizenship and improving U.S. infrastructure during a meeting Wednesday with the Reading Eagle editorial board.\n\tThe Chester County Republican, who represents part of Berks County, is confident the new tax code will not lead to a deeper deficit. He believes the changes will stimulate enough growth over 10 years to offset the loss of tax dollars in the nation's coffers.\n\tCostello had expected the tax bill, which passed with no Democratic votes, to receive bipartisan support.\n\t\"There are those on the left that will say Republicans never let us in the room,\" Costello said. \"There are those on the right who would say Democrats never made any good-faith effort to engage on tax reform.\n\t\"Three weeks before the tax bill was even introduced, the Democratic Congressional Committee, the super PAC related to (House) Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, was in my district polling, figuring out what the two or three best attacks against the tax bill were, even though the bill had not even been introduced yet.\n\t\"Obviously, the Democrats want to win back the House. I think the Democrats have decided they are not interested in consensus-building.\"\n\tIndividual mandate's demise\n\tCostello said he supported the tax reform law's repeal of the individual mandate - a tax penalty in President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act that sought to force young and healthy Americans to purchase health insurance by imposing a tax penalty for failing to do so.\n\tAbout 80 percent of those who paid the minimum $695 penalty for not having insurance in 2017 earn less than $50,000 a year, Costello said.\n\t\"To me that is a tax on low-income Americans,\" he said Wednesday.\n\tMany Republicans thought the mandate was unconstitutional when the act was enacted.\n\t\"The reason was, you were taxing someone who chose not to purchase something,\" Costello said. \"The Supreme Court held that the reason the mandate was constitutional is because it was a tax.\"\n\tEliminating the mandate doesn't mean you can't purchase insurance, Costello said. It just drops the penalty for not doing so, he said.\n\tThe mandate's supporters say dropping it will drive premiums up, since insurers will lose the revenue once generated by those who now elect not to have coverage and who face no penalty for it.\n\tCHIP's survival\n\tCostello expects the Children's Health Insurance Program - which provides free and low-lost health insurance to 178,000 children in Pennsylvania - to be reauthorized in January for five years. The Pennsylvania CHIP office's website says that without federal funding, it will have to make plans to end the program.\n\tBefore leaving for its Christmas break, Congress passed a $3 billion short-term fix as some states were beginning to halt enrollment in the program.\n\t\"I think there are some politics being played on this,\" Costello said, adding that he believes the Republican funding proposal is a reasonable and responsible way to secure the program over the long term.\n\t\"Democrats in the House disputed the funding mechanism for it,\" he said. \"There is a fund created from the Affordable Care Act intended to be used for something such as CHIP. We were going to pay for it out of that, as well as - if you are a Medicare beneficiary who makes more than $500,000 a year, the premium would have gone up for you approximately $130 a month.\"\n\tBut Democrats expressed worry that the approach would undermine Medicare.\n\tCostello said that he believes Democrats' decision to oppose the House reauthorization plan sunk it.\n\t\"When you get a lot of Democrats in the House voting for something, that is a sign you are going get to Senate Democrats, too,\" he said, but that didn't happen.\n\tAnd the result is not good for anyone, he said.\n\t\"It undermines the authority of our government, when we can't reauthorize things that everybody agrees should be authorized,\" Costello said.\n\tImmigration reform\n\tCongress's ability to resolve the status of undocumented immigrants who came out of the shadows in response to Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program might depend on what the president says, Costello said.\n\t\"I think he has the ability to bring in a lot of conservative Republicans\" who might oppose legislation helping people stay in the only home they have known since childhood unless it's paired with border security, Costello said.\"I think he's a wildcard,\" he said of Trump after noting that including border security might sink a reform bill by losing the votes of liberal Democratic supporters.\n\t\"And then there are people like me, the middle-of-the-roaders,\" Costello said. \"Can we bring in enough votes? And is it a standalone bill or does it get thrown into another bill?\" Costello said that legislation is needed not just because Trump set a March deadline for Obama's program, but because he believes the courts were likely to strike down the DACA program.\n\tCostello is cosponsor of a bill introduced earlier this year, the Recognizing America's Children Act, which would make a program similar to Obama's DACA the law of the land. It would allow children who were brought to the U.S. as minors to move from temporary lawful status to lawful status within five years.\n\t\"It gets rid of that question mark of you lawfully being in the United States,\" Costello said, adding that he understands people being terrified that Congress will not resolve their legal status by March.\n\t\"If it doesn't get done, it is a real failure,\" he said. \"If it does get done permanently and it looks similar to DACA, then we will be better off as a country for years to come because it will have been done constitutionally and legislatively.\"\n\tInfrastructure optimism\n\tAs politically charged as the 2018 election year is expected to be, Costello believes an infrastructure package that includes passenger rail, rural broadband, modernizing the electrical grid, roads, bridges, highways, ports and airports could gain bipartisan support.\n\t\"Every congressional district in the county has at least five of those,\" he said.\n\tSome of the infrastructure projects Costello would like to see in his district include improvements to Route 222; making Route 422 safer from Lebanon through Norristown and beyond; improvements at Philadelphia International Airport and to Interstate 95; and upgrades to existing passenger railways and the power grid.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/muhlenberg-township-veteran-receives-medals-66-years-after-service-marine", "Muhlenberg Township veteran receives medals 66 years after service as Marine", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sixty-six years ago, Earl Swartz, a Marine Corps reservist from Reading called to active duty during the Korean War, returned to Pennsylvania by train from the West Coast, where a troublesome appendix kept him from going overseas.\n\tAfter a year at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he had waited to be shipped to Asia, he arrived at the train station in Harrisburg in 1951, greeted by his parents and wife-to-be, believing that he had earned medals for his service.\n\tHe never got them.\n\tYears went by and Swartz got married, got a job, bought a house in Muhlenberg Township and raised a family - children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. He told them stories about his time in the military, including the medals that he never received.\n\tBut though the war was long over, Swartz's family was determined to get him the medals that he was due. With help from the staff at U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello's office, they obtained them, then staged a surprise ceremony to give Swartz, now 88, the recognition he had earned decades ago.\n\tOn Wednesday, Swartz was led into Costello's Wyomissing office on the pretense that he had to tend to a health insurance issue. When the doors opened, he was surprised by relatives, several local Marines home on leave and Costello, who awarded Swartz the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal six decades after he served his country.\n\tHow did it feel to finally get his medals?\n\t\"I tell you, don't ask me or I'll start to cry about it,\" Swartz said, holding them after posing for photos with family. \"This is unbelievable.\"\n\tWearing a Marine Corps cap that's part of his casual attire, Swartz climbed out of a son's vehicle and was greeted at Costello's door by two saluting Marines from Recruiting Sub-Station Reading. He returned their salute.\n\tInside, more Marines stood with Swartz's family, and Swartz, short and gregarious, told them stories about his boot camp training at Parris Island, S.C. Costello presented the medals, and afterward Swartz was treated to dinner by his family.\n\t\"He'll talk about this the rest of his life,\" said a son, Stephen Swartz of Muhlenberg Township.\n\tA 1948 graduate of Reading High School, Swartz joined the Marine Corps Reserves while in school, knowing that he could be called to active duty, he said. He, served from October 1950 to October 1951.\n\tOne night at Camp Pendleton, waiting to be sent to Korea, he became sick with dry heaves and went to a military doctor, who diagnosed appendicitis and sent him to a hospital. He spent a week in the hospital, missing his first opportunity to go to Asia. Though his appendix was not removed then, it was once his service ended and he returned to civilian life, he said.\n\tHe missed another opportunity to go to Korea when the military changed its criteria: He didn't have enough time in training to go to war, the Marine Corps decided.\n\tHe's always been proud to be a Marine. Sometimes, when he wears his Marine Corps cap to the grocery store or on other errands, a fellow Marine will greet him, or a civilian will thank him for his service.\n\t\"I think it shows this country isn't all bad,\" Swartz said.\n\tCostello, a Republican who has represented Pennsylvania's 6th District since 2015, has presented long-overdue medals to veterans about 10 times a year and has enjoyed it.\n\t\"In this day, when there's so much divisiveness, any time you can find somebody who reattaches the fiber of patriotism, it's good for us all,\" he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://jones.house.gov/press-release/jones-calls-action-va-illegally-hiring-docs-revoked-licenses", "JONES CALLS FOR ACTION ON VA ILLEGALLY HIRING DOCS WITH REVOKED LICENSES", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Walter Jones", "J000255", "jones.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  This week Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) and 30 congressional colleagues called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly address recent reports that the VA knowingly hired doctors who lost their licenses for malpractice and providing poor care to patients. A follow-up report found that the VA has allowed hospitals to hire health care providers with revoked licenses for at least 15 years. In doing so, the VA is in violation of a federal law passed in 1999 which prohibited the agency from employing any health care worker whose license has been revoked by any state. In one case, the VA hired a neurosurgeon who racked up over a dozen malpractice claims in two states for surgical mistakes that left patients maimed, paralyzed or dead.\nWe need to ensure our nations veterans receive the highest quality care from the best providers possible, said Congressman Jones. For the VA to be illegally hiring doctors who failed to meet that standard in their previous jobs is very troubling and absolutely unacceptable.\nIn a letter sent to VA Secretary David Shulkin earlier this week, Congressman Jones and his colleagues urged the agency to take quick action to address the issue. The Secretary responded promptly. In an interview published yesterday, Secretary Shulkin said he had ordered a re-writing of the hiring guidelines and launched a nationwide review to identify and remove any health care workers with revoked licenses. \nI would like to thank Secretary Shulkin and the administration for jumping on this issue, said Congressman Jones. Veterans deserve the best care we can give them. When problems like this are identified, it is very important that they be rectified immediately so that no veterans health is jeopardized. \nThe following members of Congress joined Congressman Jones in signing the letter to Secretary Shulkin: John Rutherford, Jack Bergman, Mark Meadows, Barbara Comstock, Madeleine Bordallo, Ralph Norman, Ann McLane Kuster, Doug Collins, Tom OHalleran, Beto ORourke, Mimi Walters, Mike Bost, Mike Johnson, Darrell Issa, Thomas Rooney, Jim Banks, Doug LaMalfa, Kevin Yoder, David Valadao, Roger Marshall, Ted Yoho, Andy Biggs, Neal Dunn, Steve King, Daniel Donovan, Jr., Charlie Crist, Peter DeFazio, Steve Pearce and Ron DeSantis. The text of the letter is below:\nDecember 18, 2017\nThe Honorable David J. Shulkin, M.D.\nSecretary\nU. S. Department of Veterans Affairs\n810 Vermont Avenue, NW\nWashington, D.C. 20420\nDear Secretary Shulkin:\nWe write today to express extreme concern regarding recent reports that the VA has hired medical providers, including surgeons, who have histories of malpractice and disciplinary actions taken against them. These reports include the hiring of providers who have previously lost their medical licenses, providers who have a history of sexual misconduct, and providers who have a record of disciplinary actions that would preclude them from employment in the private sector.\nWe recognize and share your commitment to ensuring that our nations veterans receive the highest quality care from the best providers possible. Therefore, recent reports of these bad hires, along with the recent Government Accountability Office report that found VA failed to conduct appropriate reviews and report doctors who received adverse privileging actions to state medical boards and other databases, are of great concern to us as we conduct oversight of the Department.\nThe hiring of doctors who have had their medical licenses revoked in any state is already prohibited, and clinical hires must be cleared through professional standards boards. However, it appears the laws and regulations establishing that prohibition are not being followed by VA medical facilities.\nAs you are aware, the President signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act into law in June. This was a result of Congresss and the American peoples outrage at the lack of appropriate disciplinary action within the VA. We are encouraged by your exercise of these new authorities; however, these recent reports lead us to question if further action by Congress may be necessary.\nIn order to help us learn more about the VAs response to these reports, we request the following:\n Actions taken to terminate the employment of those listed in recent reports who should not have been hired by the VA;\n Actions taken to discipline the professional standards boards who cleared the hiring of those providers with histories of misconduct and malpractice;\n Any Department-wide guidance on how medical facilities review and conduct their hiring processes to prevent current hiring laws from being broken;\n Actions taken to identify other current providers within the VA who have had disciplinary actions taken against them.\nWe thank you in advance for your prompt response to our concerns. We appreciate your dedication to our veterans and look forward to working together to ensure they receive the highest quality medical care available. Please contact us with any further questions.\n                                    Sincerely,\nFor additional information, please contact Allison Tucker in Congressman Walter Jones' office at allison.tucker@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-3415.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://neal.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/neal-issues-statement-pre-payments-property-taxes-following-consultation", "Neal Issues Statement on Pre-Payments of Property Taxes...", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Richard Neal", "N000015", "neal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SPRINGFIELD, MA  Ranking Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Richard E. Neal, issued the following statement after receiving an explanation from the IRS regarding pre-payments of property taxes under the new limitations on the state and local tax deductions.\n\n\"Last week, I sent a letter to the IRS asking for clarification on pre-payments of property taxes as it relates to the new limitations on the state and local tax deduction under federal law, said Ranking Member Neal. Due to constituent interest, I asked the IRS how they would apply the new law to taxpayers who are considering pre-paying their 2018 property taxes before the end of 2017. Acting Commissioner David J. Kautter responded to my inquiry today and the IRS issued an advisory with guidance. The advisory generally provides that pre-paid real property taxes may be deductible in 2017 if assessed and paid in 2017. As there is still a tremendous amount of uncertainty around this issue, individual taxpayers should consider visiting IRS.gov so they are aware of what options are available to them.\"\n\nA copy of the Neal letter can be found here.\nA copy of the Kautter letter can be found here.\nA link to the IRS advisory is here.\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-congressional-budget-process-ironically-allows-dc-homeowners", "Norton Says Congressional Budget Process Ironically Allows D.C. Homeowners to Avoid New Property Tax Deduction Cap", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that in one of the great ironies of the onerous District of Columbia budget process, D.C. residents can prepay their 2018 property taxes by December 31, 2017, to avoid the $10,000 state and local tax deduction cap that takes effect next year. Congress requires the District to submit a complete budget before its fiscal year begins on October 1, which was set by Congress, for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes property assessments and property tax liabilities for the new federal fiscal year. According to the Districts Chief Financial Officer, Jeffrey DeWitt, D.C. taxpayers can now prepay property taxes online by going to D.C.s Office of Tax and Revenue website at www.taxpayerservicecenter.com. The official opinion of D.C. Chief Financial Officer comes at a time when many D.C. homeowners will face significantly higher taxes because the new Republican tax bill limits the state and local tax deduction to $10,000.\nFor the first time, we reap a sardonic advantage from the requirement that D.C. submit its entire budget to Congress for approval, Norton said. Congress has not yet approved the local budget (it only uses D.C. appropriations to try to attach anti-home-rule riders), but D.C. has done its property assessments for fiscal year 2018. I encourage all D.C. homeowners, who already pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the nation, to consider taking advantage of prepaying their property taxes in order to claim a deduction on their 2017 return, but only after consulting with a tax expert.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pearce.house.gov/press-release/icymi-pearce-daca-bill-picks-local-support", "ICYMI: PEARCE DACA BILL PICKS UP LOCAL SUPPORT", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NM", "Steve Pearce", "P000588", "pearce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC (December 11, 2017) Congressman Steve Pearce introduced legislation earlier this month to provide certainty to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Rep. Pearces proposal has gained traction throughout local news outlets in New Mexico.\nPearce DACA bill good faith compromise  \n\tLas Cruces Sun News  \n\tDecember 8, 2017\n having a bill ready to go that was introduced by a Republican member may be the best hope to ensure that those who signed up for this program in good faith dont suddenly have the information they provided to the government used against them.\nWe credit U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce for taking the initiative in introducing compromise legislation to deal with one of this areas most pressing legislative issue\nClick here to read the full article.\nPearce proposes compromise on DACA recipients  \n\tAlbuquerque Journal  \n\tDecember 1, 2017\n\nRep. Steve Pearce, a Republican who represents New Mexicos border with Mexico, filed legislation late Thursday that would allow the children of parents who came to the U.S. illegally a chance to remain in the country lawfully...\nThe move represents a proposed compromise between Democrats and President Donald Trumps administration, which has announced it would end the Obama-era DACA program...\nAn estimated 800,000 young peoples legal status is in limbo.\nClick here to read the full article.\nEditorial: Pearces Dreamers bill offers interim solution  \n\tAlbuquerque Journal  \n\tDecember 8, 2017\nIts a reasonable alternative to President Donald Trumps mandate that DACA expire on March 6.\nhis proposal takes the pressure off those immigrants facing Trumps March 6 deadline. It also gives Congress time to craft solutions to the nations unmanageable immigration system\nAs an interim solution to the numerous and vexing problems of immigration, Pearces bill has merit.\nPearces bill has merit. But the real work lies ahead.\nClick here to read the full editorial.\nPearce bill would protect DREAMers from deportation  \n\tLas Cruces Sun News  \n\tDecember 1, 2017\nU.S. Rep. Steve Pearce has introduced legislation to provide protection from deportation for young immigrants who qualify under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program\nPearce sent a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in September urging Congress to find a permanent solution for DACA recipients.\nThe bills introduction Thursday leaves a little more than three months before the March 5 deadline when DACA is set to expire.\nPearce's bill was introduced with the hope that his bill will be seen as a compromise between those who want to grant Dreamers full legal status, and those who just want to see the program ended.\nClick here to read the full article.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://radewagen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amata-welcomes-funds-asg-and-applauds-justice-department-decision", "Amata Welcomes Funds to ASG and Applauds Justice Department Decision", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "AS", "Amata Radewagen", "R000600", "radewagen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -- Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed an important decision by the Justice Department adding the American Samoa Government to the agreement between StarKist and federal agencies. This action, in response to inquiries by Congresswoman Amata and Governor Lolo, redirects $2.6 million in agreed upon funds back from Washington to American Samoa.\n\"This is great news for American Samoa, and keeps a substantial portion of these funds in the islands, as it should be,\" said Aumua Amata. \"I believe the Justice Department made the right decision to bring American Samoa into this agreement, and I applaud everyone involved for their willingness to consider all the facts and make this key change.\"\nThe new agreement retains the same total dollar amount, but the inclusion of ASG allows approximately one third of the funds to stay in American Samoa.\n\"All parties to this agreement should be complimented for their willingness to include these considerations of the impact on American Samoa, and come to an agreement including the local community,\" continued Congresswoman Amata. \"I'd like to add a particular thank you to Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga as we worked together to highlight these facts and bring about a resolution that makes a real difference for the territory. I would also like to thank Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale for his hard work and dedication with the Department of Justice and the EPA to ensure that ASG received these funds.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://reichert.house.gov/press-release/case-you-missed-it-reichert-op-ed-tacoma-news-tribune-daca", "In Case You Missed It: Reichert Op-Ed in the Tacoma News Tribune on DACA", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dave Reichert", "R000578", "reichert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - In case you missed it, Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA) published an op-ed in the Tacoma News Tribune on the pending deadline for DACA recipients.\n\"This issue transcends politics. It is about these children, their hope and their opportunity for a better life - a life free from uncertainty.\"\nRead the rest of the article HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://roby.house.gov/newsroom/columns/tax-cuts-new-year", "Tax Cuts for the New Year", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This time around, the new year is offers something extra exciting for the American people. Im pleased to reportthat Congress has finally passed our historic,pro-growthtax reformand Americans will soon being experiencing the benefits.\n\t\t\t\tAfter months of work, we have delivered on our promiseto cut taxes, bring balance to the tax code, and jumpstart job growth. While the House passed its version of tax reform months ago, differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill had to beworked out in a conference committee. I was proud to support the final product and vote alongside my colleagues to send the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the Presidents desk.\n\t\t\t\tThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Actlowers individual tax rates and roughly doubles the standard deduction for individuals and married couples. That means less of your paycheck is subject to taxes beginning this year. The average, median-income American family will see about $2,100 in tax relief  not just one year, but annually. For moms and dads working to make ends meet, having a few thousand extra dollars in the budget can make a big difference. Its your money to begin with and I believe you know how to spend it better than the federal government does.\n\t\t\t\tAnother important aspect of our tax reform plan is lowering business taxes. A lot of people dont realize that our effective tax rate for businesses is among the highest in the world. All that does is send jobs overseas and make it harder for small businesses to be successful. By lowering business taxes to a globally-competitive 21 percent, we can boost our economy and spur job growth here in the United States.\n\t\t\t\tWhile our bill eliminates many unnecessary and burdensomespecial-interest deductions, it also preserves a lot of the popular tax deductions people count on, including the student loan interest deduction, the deduction for teachers expenses, the medical expense deduction, the charitable giving deduction , the adoption tax credit, and the mortgage interest deduction. It doubles the Child Tax Credit to help working families, and it eliminates the Obamacare individual mandate tax penalty.\n\t\t\t\tAfter the bill passed, I joined my colleagues and the President at the White House to celebrate this monumental accomplishment. My children, Margaret and George were on break from school for the holidays, so they were able to be in Washington and attend the event with me. I am so thankful they were able to witness this historic moment. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce the tax burden on American families and grow our economy  and Im glad we could deliver on this promise weve been making for so many years.\n\t\t\t\tA lot of misinformation has been spread by those who oppose this plan, and its generated some confusion about what our bill does and does not do. Regardless, I am confident the results will speak for themselves. The American people will know who was telling the truth when they see more money in their pockets and experience a growing economy thanks to our historic tax reform plan. I am proud that we were able to come together and deliver this relief to families and businesses just in time for 2018.\n\t\t\t\tHappy New Year!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://soto.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-soto-good-day-orlando-fox-35-puerto-rico-visit", "Rep. Soto on Good Day Orlando, Fox 35 on Puerto Rico Visit", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Darren Soto", "S001200", "soto.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "451 3rd Street NW\n\nWinter Haven, FL 33881\n\n  Phones: (202) 600-0843  \n\t       (202) 615-1308\nOpenThursdayand Friday 9AM-5PM", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tipton.house.gov/media/in-the-news/tipton-giving-rural-colorado-opportunity-financial-success-through-mobile-banking", "Tipton: Giving Rural Colorado Opportunity for Financial Success Through Mobile Banking", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Scott Tipton", "T000470", "tipton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "There are many challenges facing hard-working families trying to maintain their way of life in rural America, but one of their greatest obstacles may be lack of access to a physical bank or credit union.\nBank accounts are an important tool for financial stability for Americans of all income levels in all parts of the country. Having a bank account helps families save money securely, pay bills in a timely fashion and better plan for their future financial needs.\nWhile many of us can drive a short distance, walk into a bank and open an account, there are rural communities across our state and the country where physical bank locations are few and far between. Luckily, mobile banking is increasingly improving access to financial services and has become especially important for customers in rural areas.\nUnfortunately, however, access to mobile banking products is not equal across the United States, as some state driver's license laws prevent imaging of driver's licenses, which, in turn, prevent banks and credit unions from offering their mobile account products in those states.\nFortunately, the House Committee on Financial Services recently passed myMaking Online Banking Initiation Legal and Easy (MOBILE) Act of 2017, which creates equal opportunity for every American to open a bank account on a mobile device. This bill passed the committee with broad bipartisan support.\nThe MOBILE Act will allow customers  if they so choose  to authorize a financial institution to make a scan or copy of their driver's license or identification card in order to open a bank account on a mobile device. Simply stated, this legislation will level the playing field across the United States for anyone who wishes to open a bank account online. Additionally, this legislation is careful to protect consumer privacy information by requiring a financial institution to delete all copies of a driver's license and personal identification after having used them for the permitted purpose.\nThe Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. estimates thatas many as 67 million adult Americans are unbanked or under-bankedand at heightened risk of exposure to monetary loss, fraud and the high costs associated with alternative financial services.\nHowever, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston found that 59 percent of unbanked individuals have access to mobile phones (50 percent of which are smartphones) and that 90 percent of under-banked individuals have access to a cell phone (56 percent of which are smartphones). By allowing those with smartphones to essentially have their bank accounts in their pocket, there are increased opportunities to improve access to bank accounts for customers across the United States and, by proxy, more opportunities to help families in rural America gain and sustain financial stability.\nEvidence from the Federal Reserve shows that mobile banking use is rising in the United States at relatively fast rates. In 2016, when the Federal Reserve studied mobile banking use, it found that 43 percent of all mobile phone owners with a bank account had used mobile banking in the past 12 months, up from 39 percent in 2014 and 33 percent in 2013. Following this trend, the use of mobile banking will continue to rise at a quick pace, and that access is only further supported by the MOBILE Act.\nAll families should have the tools they need to achieve financial stability and prosperity. The MOBILE Act will help bring these tools to communities that, by virtue of being located in rural areas, may not have access to the traditional brick-and-mortar banks that many of us take for granted.\nI'm glad this bill has gained the attention and support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I look forward to seeing it considered in the full House.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-gold-butte-s-one-year-anniversary", "Titus Statement on Gold Buttes One-Year Anniversary", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 28, 2017\nWashington, D.C.  Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevadas First Congressional District released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the Gold Butte National Monument designation by President Obama.\nOne year ago we celebrated the hard work of many local advocates and the rich heritage of Southern Nevada when President Obama designated Gold Butte National Monument. With the advent of the Trump Administration, we are back on the front lines fighting to protect the cultural and natural resources that are now enveloped by the monuments borders. Zinkes straw-man arguments about water are addressed within the monument proclamation. In addition, the Antiquities Act is clear: Presidents can create monuments but cannot take them away. Moving forward, I will continue to advocate for Gold Butte and support all efforts to ensure that the Trump Administration doesnt hack away at Nevadas piece of the Grand Canyon. An attack on one monument is an attack on all monuments.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/newsroom/news/congressional-leaders-call-for-faster-help-for-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico", "Congressional Leaders call for faster help for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Bill Nelson", "N000032", "www.billnelson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Some members of central Floridas congressional delegation are calling for more help for Puerto Rico.\n\nMore than a third of the island remains without power nearly 100 days after Hurricane Maria.\n\nThe devastation has prompted more than 250,000 Puerto Ricans to flee to Florida. More than half have settled in central Florida.\n\nSen. Bill Nelson and Congressman Darren Soto visited the island earlier this week. Nelson says he talked with Puerto Rican leaders about what Florida can expect.\n\nThe exodus will continue. If you cant get the stores open because you dont have electricity people arent going to have jobs, and they need to provide for their families.\n\nAfter the trip Nelson, Soto and Congresswoman Val Demings met with state and local leaders in Kissimmee, where they discussed issues like education, housing and health care.\n\nThey lamented what they described as inaction on the part of the Trump administration and Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/a-year-in-review_senator-brown-working-for-ohioans", "A Year in Review \u2013 Senator Brown Working for Ohioans", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 28, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tOver the last year, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown worked with Republicans and Democrats to introduce more than 165 bipartisan bills  more than 60 of which he introduced with Senator Portman. Brown successfully sent five bipartisan bills to President Trumps desk to become law, and secured priorities for Ohios military bases in the defense bill the President signed into law in December. Last Congress, Medill ranked Brown 4th on the list of Senators who had passed the most laws  thats because Senator Brown works with Republicans to get things done.\r\nBrown is the senior Senator from Ohio, having gained seniority on several of the Senates key committees where he has secured several wins for Ohioans. Brown is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees important issues like trade, healthcare, taxes and retirement. Brown also serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs and Agriculture Committees.\r\nHeres a look at Browns work on behalf of Ohio in 2017 and whats ahead next year, including fighting for a five-year extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program and securing the pensions of thousands of Ohio retirees.\r\nBROWN BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW\r\n\r\nBill to Keep Fentanyl Out of Ohio\r\nAfter months of Brown and law enforcement groups calling for passage of Browns INTERDICT Act, Brown successfully forced a unanimous vote on his bill before the Senate adjourned for the year. The bill will help law enforcement detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. and keep it from reaching Ohio streets. The bill had already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and now goes to President Trumps desk for his signature.\r\n\r\nBrownsINTERDICT Actwill provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with additional hi-tech screening equipment and lab resources to detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S. Senator Portman supported Browns INTERDICT Act, and Brown is supporting Portmans STOP Act. Both are endorsed by law enforcement. The two bills work together to help block the deadly synthetic opioid from reaching Ohio communities. Brown and Portman have also teamed up to expand treatment for Ohioans struggling with addiction. Brown has also repeatedly called for additional investment in the opioid crisis and fought attempts to gut Medicaid, Ohios number one tool in the fight against opioids.\r\n\r\nBill to Expand Opportunities for Ohio Veterans\r\nIn August, President Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation Brown helped author on the Veterans Committee to expand educational opportunities for post-9/11 student veterans, including direct relief for veterans who attended ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges, which failed and left veterans with meaningless degrees or without a degree at all.\r\n\r\nBill to Support Ohios Military Bases\r\nAs Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Air Force Caucus, Brown is uniquely positioned to fight for Ohios military installations and the jobs they support. Just this month, President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several Ohio priorities, thanks to Browns advocacy, including:\r\n \r\nWright-Patterson Air Force Bases Air Force Research Lab: Brown secured provisions to support jobs and research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases Air Force Research Lab.\r\nLimas Joint Systems Manufacturing Center: Brown secured nearly $2 billion make upgrades to the Abrams Tank and Stryker Brigade.\r\nToledos 180th Fighter Wing: Brown secured $15 million to make facility improvements for Toledos 180th Fighter Wing and install new hangars for F-16 aircraft needed to carry out the Aerospace Control Alert mission.\r\n \r\n\r\nBill to Hold North Korea, Russia, Iran Accountable\r\nThe Senate Banking Committee, on which Brown is the top Democrat, has jurisdiction over sanctions. In August, President Trump signed into law a package of sanctions Brown helped negotiate to crack down on Iran, Russia and North Korea. Brown recently introduced another tough, new sanctions package to continue holding North Korea accountable. This bill passed out of the Banking Committee with broad, bipartisan support.\r\n\r\nBill to Hire Veterans to Fill Law Enforcement Posts\r\nThe American Law Enforcement Heroes Act was also signed into law. The law, which Brown helped introduce, prioritizes federal grant applications for DOJs Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding for those departments and agencies that seek to use COPS funding to hire veterans.\r\n\r\nBill to Create Civil Rights Network at National Parks\r\nBrown worked with Republican Senator Lamar Alexander to pass a bipartisan bill to create an African American Civil Rights Network  a national network of historic sites, stories, research facilities, and educational programs connected to the African American Civil Rights Movement. The African American Civil Rights Network Act will establish a National Park Service (NPS) program to educate the public, and provide technical assistance for documenting, preserving, and interpreting the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The bill heads to President Trump to be signed into law.\r\nSERVING OHIOANS\r\nBrowns office is here to help Ohioans  whether it is seeking trade relief for Ohio companies, drawing investment and jobs to the state, or helping veterans get their medals. Browns office routinely works on behalf of Ohioans for help with federal agencies from the IRS to the VA. In addition, Brown and his office have developed new ways to hear from Ohio residents, leaders and business owners to support Ohio communities. \r\n\r\nHearing from Ohioans\r\nDuring Browns second term in the U.S. Senate, he has held more than 300 roundtables across Ohio and held public events in each of Ohios 88 counties. Brown and his office have also hosted the Ohio Womens Leadership Summit and the Propel Ohio Collegiate Leadership Summit for three years running. The Womens Leadership Summit brings together Ohio women to share ideas on their personal and professional development, and Propel Ohio helps inspire Ohio students to lead in their communities.\r\n\r\nHelping Ohioans with Federal Agencies                 \r\nMike Young of Woodsfield Ohio is the president of the Monroe County Firefighters Association, Inc. He filed for nonprofit status for the firefighters association with the IRS. After no response from the IRS for three months, Mr. Young contacted Browns office. Browns office, by working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, was able to advise Mr. Young on what additional information was needed to process his application. With the additional information, the IRS awarded the Firefighters Association the nonprofit status. This is just one example of the way Browns office assists Ohioans with federal agencies.\r\n\r\nGetting Ohio Students Interested in Manufacturing\r\nFor the fifth year in a row, Brown teamed up with local manufacturers, plants, community partners and schools to host 18 Summer Manufacturing Camps where young Ohioans learned about Ohios manufacturing sector. Campers visited local manufacturers, toured plants, and worked with their peers on hands-on projects specific to their communities. Browns office started organizing summer manufacturing camps in 2013, and since then, the number of camps throughout the state has grown every year. This year, Browns office helped organize 18 camps in 16 counties.\r\n\r\nSecuring Trade Relief for Ohio Workers Wronged By Unfair Trade\r\nBrown has worked with Senator Portman to seek relief for Ohio workers at Whirlpools plant in Clyde, Ohio. The two both testified on behalf of the company at the International Trade Commission, requesting relief for workers at the plant whod been hurt by unfairly traded washing machine imports. Following Browns call, ITC rule in favor of Ohio workers. Now, Brown is pushing the Administration to provide real relief in the case. The case builds on Browns work to provide trade relief to Ohio companies and workers, including Browns legislation, the Leveling the Playing Field Act, signed into law in June 2015.\r\n\r\nWHATS AHEAD\r\nNext year, Brown intends to build on his work in 2017 to pass legislation to extend CHIP, secure Ohioans pensions, make work more valuable for Ohioans on the job, and rebuild the nations infrastructure. Hell also continue efforts to work with President Trump to retool U.S. trade policy so it works better for working Ohioans, and continue his fight to protect Ohioans healthcare, and the Social Security and Medicare benefits theyve paid into for years. Brown will also help write the next farm bill, from his position on the Agriculture Committee.\r\n\r\nReauthorizing Childrens Health Insurance Program\r\nOne of Browns main priorities at the end of this year was to reauthorize CHIP for Ohio kids for five years. Unfortunately, Congress went home without giving Ohio children and families the certainty that theyll have healthcare. Brown is a sponsor of the bipartisan bill to extend the program for five years, and plans to work with his Republican colleagues to get it passed next year.\r\n\r\nSecuring Ohio Pensions\r\nBrown is leading efforts in Congress to ensure Ohio retirees can keep the pensions they have earned. Brown has introduced legislation named for late Ohioan Butch Lewis, a Teamster, that would put the plans on solid footing so they can meet their obligations to current retirees and workers for decades to come without cuts. Brown has successfully garnered strong support in both the House and Senate, where Leadership has indicated Browns bill is a top priority, increasing its chances for passage.\r\n\r\nMaking Work Pay\r\nIn March, Brown unveiled a plan to increase the value of work in America for all workers  whether they punch a time sheet, make a salary or earn tips. For more than a year, Brown and his office studied the challenges facing workers in Ohio and across the country to compile an agenda of solutions outlined in his plan, Working Too Hard for Too Little: A Plan for Restoring the Value of Work in America. Browns plan aims to make hard work pay off once again by doing four things: raising workers wages and benefits; giving workers more power in the workplace; making it possible for more workers to save for retirement; and encouraging more companies to invest in their workforces. As part of his plan, Brown has also introduced legislation to provide employees advanced notice of their work schedules, expand two anti-poverty tax credits that help put money back in the pockets of working Ohioans and families, provide paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave, expand overtime pay and strengthen collective bargaining rights.\r\n\r\nRebuilding Crumbling Infrastructure\r\nBrown has offered to work with President Trump on Trumps promise to invest $1 trillion in our nations infrastructure and put Ohioans back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges. In January, Brown unveiled a comprehensive infrastructure plan with his colleagues, and early next year, Brown will introduce legislation aimed at rebuilding our nations bridges, which are critical to the flow of Ohio-made products and the safety of Ohioans as they travel to work, school or the grocery store.\r\n\r\nPushing for Better Trade Policy for Ohio Workers      \r\nSince just days after President Trumps election, Brown has offered to work with President Trump and his team to retool U.S. trade policy to support Ohio jobs. Brown outlined his priorities in a letter, and President Trump responded with a handwritten note. Brown has built strong relationships with top trade officials, including fellow Ohioan U.S. Trade Rep. Bob Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Brown successfully requested the President withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Next year, Brown will continue to work with the Administrations trade team to renegotiate a strong NAFTA, crackdown on unfair trade and reduce Chinas steel overcapacity, which has hurt Ohios steel sector.\r\n\r\nProtecting Ohioans Healthcare\r\nBrown spoke out time and again in 2017 against attempts to take away care from more than 900,000 Ohioans who got coverage through the Affordable Care Act.\r\nBrown hasoffered specific legislation to make improvements to the Affordable Care Act including: legislation to add a public option to individual marketplaces so all consumers can access an affordable plan no matter where they live; legislation to repeal the so-called Cadillac tax on certain high-cost plans; legislation to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) to prevent arbitrary cuts to Medicare; and legislation to fix a glitch in the law that prevents spouses or children from accessing subsidies to help get coverage in the exchange if one spouse gets employer coverage.\r\nBrown has introduced a package of proposals to help bring down the cost of prescription drugs, including language he authored to increase access to biosimilar drugs and tax the windfall profits of drug companies when they drive up costs of drugs overnight. Browns bill has been described as just about every policy idea drug lobbyists hate. And thats something hes proud of.\r\nNow, as Congressional Republicans have set their sights on so-called entitlement reform, Brown will lead efforts in the Senate to protect the Medicare and Social Security Ohioans have paid into for years.\r\n\r\nWriting the 2018 Farm Bill\r\nIn 2014, Brown was part of the Farm Bill Conference Committee that successfully negotiated a five-year farm bill, helping secure key provisions for Ohio farmers. Over the summer, Brown kicked off a series of discussions with Ohio farmers and stakeholders to get input as helps write the 2018 Farm Bill. Brown is the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 50 years.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/statement-from-baltimore-congressional-delegation-on-the-fbi-refusal-to-lead-investigation-of-the-murder-of-bpd-detective-sean-suiter", "Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Benjamin Cardin", "C000141", "www.cardin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 28, 2017\n\t\t\t Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today released the following joint statement:\r\nWe are disappointed by the refusal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take the lead in investigating the murder of Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter. While we appreciate the FBI contention that no evidence exists to suggest that Det. Suiters homicide was directly connected to the corruption probe in which he was to testify, the reality remains that little-to-no progress has been made in solving the homicide. This means that his family, colleagues and community still lack the peace of mind and sense of justice that would accompany a successful resolution of this investigation, underscoring that the full resources and attention of the federal government remain required to solve this case. We expect that the FBI and other federal agencies that have been cooperating in this investigation will remain fully engaged until justice is delivered, and that the FBI will immediately reconsider its decision to assume leadership of the investigation should any new evidence suggest it is merited.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=859", "Cotton Statement on Iranian Protests", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 28, 2017\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tContact: Caroline Rabbitt Tabler (202) 224-2353\nWashington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on the protests against the Iranian regime in the city of Mashhad: \"Even after the billions in sanctions relief they secured through the nuclear deal, the ayatollahs still can't provide for the basic needs of their own people-perhaps because they've funneled so much of that money into their campaign of regional aggression in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. The protests in Mashhad show that a regime driven by such a hateful ideology cannot maintain broad popular support forever, and we should support the Iranian people who are willing to risk their lives to speak out against it.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CBBE033F-9C48-42B9-8B20-4DC43FFD4B3D", "Heitkamp Announces Federal Economic Development Funds for Standing Rock", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced $51,000 in federal funding for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe that will establish tribal economic development planning and a strategy to support long-term investment and job creation on the reservation.\r\nOn North Dakotas tribal lands, access to economic opportunity remains a critical challenge, especially for young people looking to start their careers and for those having difficulty finding steady work, said Heitkamp. We know that strong economic conditions grow existing tribal businesses, provide greater security to lower income families, and help build a roadmap to a better future. But too often tribes lack the support they need to plan for sustainable growth. Thats why this award is so important in helping to lay the groundwork for increased private investment and job creation on Standing Rock.\r\nThese federal funds are made available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This EDA funding helps communities establish economic development strategies that aid North Dakota economic development councils across the state in bringing together both public and private resources that will help small businesses, create jobs, and stimulate long-term growth.\r\nHeitkamp has long advocated for entrepreneurship and economic development on Standing Rock. In 2015, Heitkamp brought then-U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet to the reservation, where they spoke with tribal leaders and business students at Sitting Bull College about opportunities for training, technical assistance, and programs to spur job growth on the reservation.\r\nHeitkamp received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her work in the U.S. Senate to support startups in rural areas and small cities to help them get off the ground, and her support of small businesses through commonsense regulatory reform, making sure small businesses have a seat at the table when rules are made. The Chamber also gave Heitkamp a 100 percent rating for her voting record in the U.S. Senate in 2016 supporting North Dakota small businesses.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=45CA3448-AC0D-42D6-A7FC-828F5DCBC6E5", "A Year of Progress: President Signs into Law 15 Heller Bills", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONIn 2017, President Trump signed into law a total of 15 bills that U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) authored or helped introduce and move over the finish line. Of the more than 400 bills that the U.S. Senate passed, the President has currently signed into law 97of them. From legislation that holds the VA accountable to a bill that encourages women entrepreneurship, Im proud that the president signed more than a dozen bills that I helped introduce and pass,said Heller.As a senior member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I have worked to move legislation that improves care and strengthens education benefits for Nevadas veteran population. In 2017, we certainly made progress, but we have a lot of work to do next year and I look forward to continue fighting for solutions that will help Nevadans get ahead. The majority of Hellers bills that are now law are focused on helping the more than 300,000 veterans who live in Nevada. That includes legislation to expand veterans GI Bill education benefits and ensure veterans continued access to life-saving surgeries. The President signed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, legislation that Heller authored to give veterans more options when appealing their disability claims, in Reno, NV. Heller is the author or original cosponsor of the following bills that were signed into law in 2017:\r\n \r\nS. 1362, Guard and Reservists Education Improvement Act(authored by Heller): Restructures the G.I. bill eligibility tiers for certain Guardsmen and Reservists. Public Law 115-48 with H.R.3218 as the legislative vehicle.\r\nS.1024, Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017(Heller original cosponsor of the Senate substitute amendment to H.R.2288 that ended up becoming law): Reformed the VA appeals process for disability claims.Public Law 115-126, with H.R.2288 as the legislative vehicle for the final legislation.\r\n \r\n \r\nS.1094, Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (Heller original cosponsor): Provides the VA expedited firing authority for bad VA employees.Public Law 115-41.\r\nS.1598, Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Heller original cosponsor): Provides comprehensive reform of the Post9/11G.I. educational assistance program and includes three of Hellers provisions. Public Law 115-48 with H.R.3218 as the legislative vehicle.\r\nS. 42, INSPIRE Women Act(Authored by Heller): Directs NASA to encourage women to study STEM and pursue aerospace careers. Public Law 115-7 with H.R.321 as the legislative vehicle.\r\nS.114, VA Choice and Quality Employment Act(Heller bill used as vehicle):Provides $2.1 billion in funding to continue the Veterans Choice Program. Public Law 115-46.\r\nS.83, Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship(Heller a co-author):Authorizes the National Science Foundation to encourage its entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world. Became Public Law 115-6 through H.R.255.\r\nS. 1489, Veterans Education Relief and Reinstatement Act Guard and Reservists Education Improvement Act (Heller original cosponsor): Ensures veterans who suffer a permanent school closure are able to have their G.I. bill benefits reinstated. Included in Public Law 115-48, with H.R.3218 as the legislative vehicle for the final legislation.\r\nS. 1277, VET TEC Act (Heller original cosponsor):Establishes pilot program to allow veterans to enroll in non-traditional courses related to technology careers like coding. Included in Public Law 115-48 with H.R.3218 as the legislative vehicle for the final legislation.\r\nS.327, Fair Access to Investment Research Act (authored by Heller):Would give investors access to more research and information on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).Public Law 115-66.\r\nS. 3152, Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act (co-authored by Heller): Promotes employee ownership through stock options in privately held businesses. Public Law 115-97 with H.R.1 as the legislative vehicle.\r\nS 784, The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017 (Heller original cosponsor): Increases veterans disability benefits based on rising costs of living. Public Law 115-75 with H.R.1329 as the legislative vehicle.\r\nS. 583, The American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017 (Heller original cosponsor): Amends federal law to allow Community Oriented Policing Services grantees to use grant funds to hire veterans as law enforcement officers. Public Law 115-37.\r\nS.782, PROTECT Our Children Act of 2017 (Heller original cosponsor): Reauthorizes the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies that combat online child exploitation across the country. Public Law 115-82.\r\nS.2183, CHIP Stability Act (authored by Heller): Provided states with certainty for the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for December 2017. Public Law 115-90 with H.J. Res. 123 as the legislative vehicle.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/jewell-county-listening-tour-mankato", "Jewell County Listening Tour, Mankato", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tour Stops \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas Listening Tour\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTour Stops\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tJEWELL COUNTYThursday, December 28Mankato City LibraryMankato", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/jewell-county-listening-tour-stop", "Jewell County Listening Tour, Mankato", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/smith-county-listening-tour-smith-center", "Smith County Listening Tour, Smith Center", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tour Stops \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKansas Listening Tour\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTour Stops\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSMITH COUNTYThursday, December 28 at 4 p.m.Smith County CourthouseSmith Center", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/smith-county-listening-tour-stop-smith-center", "Smith County Listening Tour, Smith Center", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-bipartisan-group-of-colleagues-call-for-help-committee-hearings-on-impact-of-hurricanes-on-puerto-rico-and-us-virgin-islands", "MURPHY, BIPARTISAN GROUP OF COLLEAGUES CALL FOR HELP COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON IMPACT OF HURRICANES ON PUERTO RICO  U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY, BIPARTISAN GROUP OF COLLEAGUES CALL FOR HELP COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON IMPACT OF HURRICANES ON PUERTO RICO & U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSenators ask Chairman Alexander to hold hearings on health and education challenges facing islands following Hurricanes Irma, Maria\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 28, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHARTFORD  U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), and 6 of their colleagues on the HELP Committee in sending a letter to HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to request that the Committee hold hearings to assess the challenges facing the health and educational systems of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.Noting the extensive damage caused by the hurricanes to the islands' education and public health infrastructures, the senators urged Chairman Alexander to hold hearings to address these issues and to evaluate the relief provided by the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education, both of which fall under the HELP Committee's jurisdiction.\r\n\"Given the extent of the damage inflicted upon both territories, as well as the important roles of the departments under this committee's jurisdiction in ongoing hurricane relief efforts, we believe such hearings would be an important part of the Committee's oversight related to hurricane recovery,\"the senators wrote. \"Hearings could help ensure that the Senate has a detailed understanding of the health and education challenges facing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as an understanding of how Departments under the Committee's purview have provided relief, and how they can improve relief efforts.\"\r\nThe HELP Committee has not yet held any hearings on how the two territories have been affected by the storms.\r\nThe full text of the letter is available here. \r\nMurphy, Warren, and Cassidy were joined by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in sending the letter.\r\nImmediately following Hurricanes Maria and Irma, Murphy called on Senate leaders to work with Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosell to formulate and pass an emergency bill to rebuild Puerto Rico and restore stability to the island. Murphy has held several meetings with the Puerto Rican community in Connecticut to receive feedback on federal relief efforts. He also joined other senators in demanding that the Trump administration take eight specific actions to assist Puerto Rico and in urging FEMA to immediately greenlight the federal funds Puerto Rico needs to rebuild. Murphy has also called out Congress and the Trump administration for systematically denying Puerto Rico a voice and adequate support in the wake of devastation left by Hurricane Maria, and demanded that Congress give Puerto Rico and its residents the equal political and economic status they deserve.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-highlights-president-trumps-year-of-accomplishments", "Senator David Perdue Highlights President Trumps Year of Accomplishments", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "David Perdue", "P000612", "www.perdue.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to content\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t    \n\t      \n\t      \n\t        \n\t       \t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Meet David\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Connect\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  Helping You\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t  News", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F21DC2AB-6B24-4BAB-9E76-9B453AA85F52", "Tillis Leads on Immigration Reform Solutions", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has quickly established himself as a bipartisan leader on immigration reform, working on commonsense solutions to secure our borders, provide long-term certainty for undocumented children, and reform temporary worker visa programs that small businesses across the nation depend on to survive and support American jobs. Senator Tillis on why immigration reform is important to him.    CLICK HERE to watch the video.    CLICK HERE to download the video.    Senator Tillis on why he introduced the SUCCEED Act, a solution for the DACA-eligible population.    CLICK HERE to watch the video.    CLICK HERE to download the video.    Senator Tillis on why border security is critical.    CLICK HERE to watch the video.    CLICK HERE to download the video.    Senator Tillis on why the H-2B Visa Program is needed to help support American jobs and businesses.    CLICK HERE to watch the video.    CLICK HERE to download the video. Senator Tillis is laying the groundwork for broad immigration overhaul.  Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Tillis is laying the groundwork for a methodical, step-by-step approach immigration reform that pairs immigration solutions supported by both parties.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA Republican senator is trying to break years of congressional gridlock over immigration with a new plan that would pair changes sought by Democrats with those pushed by his own party. At a time when President Donald Trumps promise to build a wall along the southern border is dominating the immigration discussion, Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) has been talking with a handful of Democrats and Republicans to build support for a broader overhaul. His plan would aim to tighten border security and toughen enforcement of immigration lawsgoals often cited by Republicanswhile addressing the fate of the roughly 11 million immigrants currently in the U.S. illegally, a Democratic priority. (Kristina Peterson & Laura Meckler, GOP Senator Lays Groundwork for Broad Immigration Overhaul,Wall Street Journal, 1/24/17)\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator Tillis has led efforts to reform the temporary working program.\r\nSenator Tillis has also been at the forefront of efforts to reform temporary worker programs, including the H-2B visa program, which is vital to small and seasonal small employers in North Carolina and across the country who depend on temporary workers to sustain their businesses. Senators Tillis and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that provides more long-term certainty for seasonal employers. Tillis also successfully urged the Department of Homeland Security to provide 15,000 additional H-2B visas to assist seasonal small businesses facing labor shortages this year.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTillis has shown deep interest in immigration policy. He placed a hold on one of Trumps nominees for the Department of Homeland Security in July in an effort to pressure the department to approve more visas for guest workers. He removed the hold on Lee Francis Cissna to be director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after DHS and then-Sec. John Kelly approved an additional 15,000 visas for workers who aid North Carolinas landscaping, tourismandseafood-production industries. (Franco Ordonez, N.C. senator tosses Trump a conservative life raft for Dreamers,McClatchy, 8/31/17)\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  Senator Tillis is committed to finding a solution for the DACA population.  Senator Tillis has been a national leader in finding a solution to provide long-term certainty for undocumented children who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own. Following President Trumps announcement in September that he was phasing out the DACA program in six months, Tillis introduced the SUCCEED Act, a fair and merit-based solution that allows the DACA-eligible population to earn and keep legal status as long as they work hard, give back to society, pay their taxes, and follow the law.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAs Donald Trump was pressing his hard-line immigration platform en route to the GOP nomination last year, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis decided to go in a different direction entirelyThe freshman senator from North Carolina is now making his biggest immigration play yet, unveiling a plan to provide permanent relief to the undocumented immigrants who came here as minors.If a deal can be done to win over the warring parties and a president who has swung back and forth on the issue, it might start with Tillis, who has methodically carved out a profile as a pro-immigration Republican at a time when the GOP has swerved sharply to the right. (Seung Min Kim, Meet the Republican who might cut a Dreamers deal,Politico, 10/10/17)\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  Tillis has also been an outspoken advocate for securing our nations borders.   Following a week-long visit to the Texas-Mexico border earlier this year, Tillis, along with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), introduced the Building Americas Trust Act, legislation that increases resources at our borders, boosts trade through ports of entry, and strengthens enforcement of existing immigration laws. Tillis has warned about the continued consequences of insecure borders  including humanitarian risks to adults and children and the rise of narcoterrorist organizations that have contributed to the Americas opioid addiction crisis. Tillis has called on Republicans and Democrats to seek common ground and work on solutions.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI believe that a practical and effective approach to border security can gain the support of the Trump administration and both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Moving forward, border security should initiate the first phase of a methodical, step by step process to immigration reform that will also strengthen interior enforcement, reform our legal immigration system, and address the undocumented population in the United States in a fair and compassionate way. Securing our border and reforming our broken immigration system will require all sides to demonstrate a willingness to work together and refuse to allow the perfect to become the enemy of good solutions. (Thom Tillis, Securing our border must befirststep in immigration reform,The Hill, 4/18/17).\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  Senator Tillis has followed through on his calls for bipartisanship and is currently engaged in negotiations with both Democrat and Republican senators to reach a deal that would pair extensive border security and interior enforcement measures with a long-term solution for the DACA-eligible population.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe North Carolina senator has emerged as one of the key lawmakers working across the aisle to compromise on immigration legislation. A key issue Tillis is trying to find consensus between Democrats and Republicans on providing legal protections to the nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.Tillis is trying to find the sweet spot. The North Carolina Republican is part of a group of lawmakers who have been negotiating on how to pair legal protections for the Dreamers with enough increased border security to satisfy Republicans, but not be too extreme as to turn off Democrats. (Eliza Collins, On DACA, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis wants to find middle-ground,USA Today, 12/13/17)\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/thom-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=14538582-B860-4F22-90A6-6D5507DB022E", "Sen. Thom Tillis celebrates 2017 successes for service members and veterans", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As many prepare to toast to Auld Lang Syne, elected officials are taking the end of the year to celebrate successes and plan for 2018.    North Carolinas U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is no exception.    In a series of emailssent since Tuesday, Tillis has discussed his 2017 accomplishments as a senator as well as his legislative goals for the new year.    On Tuesday and Wednesday, Tillis focused on his work on two of the five Senate committees on which he serves, Armed Services and Veterans Affairs. He cited these successes for veterans and service personnel:    He co-sponsored the bipartisan Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, which included provisionsto improve veterans experience when using GI Bill education benefits; reinstated lost benefits; and ensured education benefits for veterans, service members and surviving spouses and children.    Tillis said he also secured supplemental impact aid to local education agenciesfor military dependent children.    He co-sponsored the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, which protects whistleblowers and allows the VA secretary to fire employees.    Tillis said he fought for medical coverage and compensation for Camp Lejeune Marine Corps veterans suffering from medical conditions caused by exposure to contaminated water.    His efforts and those of other officials led to theVA allocating $2.2 billion for compensation payments for exposed veterans. Tillis team also sought compensation for exposed family members and contractors.    Tillis said he also secured money or much-needed improvements to Lejeune living quarters.    A provisionin bipartisan legislation co-introduced by Tillis was included in the Department of Defense budget for 2018.Itcreated a center of excellencein the Department of Veterans Affairs to better understand health effects of burn pits and treat those affected by them.    Tillis also announced plans to improve trauma care at Camp Lejeune early this year and held a hearing about researching, diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury and concussions among service members.    Tillis co-sponsored the Veteran Apprenticeship and Labor Opportunity Reform Act that was signed into law in November. The bill increases veterans access to apprenticeship programs by streamlining the certification process for nonfederal apprenticeships based in more than one state.    Similarly, Tillis co-introduced legislation that could streamline the processin which service members and veterans can apply fora commercial drivers license.    The senator held a hearingon service member and military family readiness programs, investigating the need to improve military child care services and expand employment opportunities for military spouses.    He secured $1 million for a pilot program on public-private partnerships for telework facilities on military installations outside the United States, enabling spousal employment.    Tillis looks to the future    In 2018, Tillis said, hewill seeek toprovide military men and women with support services as they move from active duty to reserve and onward.Support services include job training and acquisition as well medical and psychological care.    Thats something thats missing, Tillis said. Theres a big gap between your active service and your veteran service, and I want to work on bridging that gap.    Tillis said the first step is evaluating current programs.    Its really taking a look at programs that were well-intentioned but not working and getting more funding and more authorities for programs that are working, he said.    For the Armed Services Committee, Tillis saidthe evaluation of programs needs to occur nationwide, not just in North Carolina.    Some current shortcomings, he said, are caused by two factors: layered and inefficient policies in the Department of Defense and congressional impediments.    Tillis cited near-peer competitors to the U.S., China and Russia and their ability to develop next-generation capabilities much faster than the U.S.    There are a lot of inefficiencies  that the (Department of Defense) deals with because it was a good idea and a bad implementation, he said. Weve got to recognize weve got to act to free up the Department of Defense to have its full potential.\r\n\r\nRead the article here.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 79249, "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 \"year\" = :p0 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", 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