{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402257", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Lattas Bipartisan Bill to Combat Robocalls", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Robert Latta", "L000566", "latta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Americans will have the security of knowing their incoming calls are legitimate because yesterday, the President signed into law a bipartisan bill, the TRACED Act, to combat the illegal robocalls that are hounding Americans across the country. The TRACED Act is a collaborative legislative package authored by members of the Senate and the House, including Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5), Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA).\r\nOur phones that connect us to the world should be used for good, not for manipulative and illegal spam calls that have tricked countless people out of time and money. The TRACED Act takes significant steps to protect consumers from scams and fraud. This is a shining example of when Members of Congress are committed to working together in order to solve real problems facing our country, progress can be made that will better the lives of Americans in every state,said Congressman Latta.\r\nRobocalls are continuing to harass Americans in Ohio and beyond, and last year alone, there were almost 48 billion robocalls made to people across the country, compared to just over 30 billion robocalls made the year before in 2017. In 2016, 22 million Americans, including senior citizens who are some of our nation's most vulnerable residents, lost $9.6 billion in robocall scams.\r\nWith the TRACED Act signed into law, phone companies will be required to verify and authenticate incoming calls so consumers can identify which calls are legitimate.\r\nAccording to the FCC, they receive over 200,000 complaints a year from residents receiving predatory robocalls.Congressman Latta worked with Energy and Commerce Members and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Ajit Pai, to focus on possible solutions in order to best combat these unwanted scam calls.Congressman Latta introduced the STOP Robocalls Act and shortly thereafter, theFCC voted to allow phone companies to block illegal robocalls.Read about their work in an op-ed they wrote in the Plain Dealer.\r\nOne of the bills included in the TRACED Act is the STOP Robocalls Act, which gives phone companies andtheFCCthe tools they need to fight back against robocalls. The STOP Robocalls Act ensures consumers can identify which calls are being blocked  similar to the spam filter in email  and create a pathway to stop wanted calls from being blocked.This would ensure consumers' access to desirable, and at times, life-saving calls and text messages are preserved while also protecting them from bad actors who fraudulently spoof caller ID information to make illegal robocalls.Italso improves information sharing to enhance the FCC's ability to track and stop illegal robocall and spoofing operations. As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics that bad actors use to illegally spoof numbers to make fraudulent robocalls. It is important to allow these companies and the FCC to keep pace.\r\nCongressman Latta is the Republican Leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology where he worked with his colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, in order to get the TRACED Act through the legislative process in order to provide relief to Ohioans who received 1.7 billion robocalls in 2018.\r\nTo read an op-ed in the Washington Examiner authored by Congressman Latta in 2018 focused on the need for Congressional action in order to combat robocalls,click here.\r\nCongressman Latta has served on all six Energy and Commerce subcommittees. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C99FE82B-1C71-4DE7-8B63-0920209FE4C3", "Feinstein on Embassy Attack in Iraq", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad:\r\nI am deeply concerned by the breach of our embassy in Baghdad. I have followed the situation closely; the American presence in Baghdad is based on the Iraqi government and security forces' ability and willingness to ensure the safety of our personnel there. This is a crucial test, and we will carefully evaluate the security situation in the coming days.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EAE0A8B1-6A3C-4F2E-908A-D66632AB226C", "Members Oppose Proposal to Increase Fees for Citizenship, Asylum Seekers", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonYesterday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined several House and Senate colleagues in submitting comments to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services opposing the agency's latest proposed fee rule that would dramatically hike fees for immigration benefits, including those for asylum seekers and DACA recipients, and eliminate nearly all fee waivers and exemptions.\r\nIn addition to Senator Feinstein, the comments were submitted by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), House Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.), House Homeland Security Appropriations Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Senate Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL).\r\nAs noted by the members, the proposed fee increase is based on an incomplete and flawed cost analysis, undermining Congress' ability to conduct oversight. It would also prevent poor families and vulnerable individuals from obtaining immigration benefits, including naturalization, and would make no measurable improvement to USCIS's historically high case backlog.\r\nA full version of the comments can be found here.\r\nBackground:\r\nOn November 14, 2019, the Trump administration proposed to increase fees for immigration benefits by a weighted average of 21 percent and eliminate almost all fee waivers and exemptions. When viewed as a whole, this proposal appears to be a pretext to make the U.S. immigration system inaccessible to working class families. The administration seeks to impose a new fee for asylum applicants, making the United States one of only four countries, alongside Iran, Fiji, and Australia, to charge a fee for this important form of humanitarian protection.\r\nThe proposal would also raise the naturalization fee by 83 percent and eliminate reduced fee options for low income applicants. USCIS justifies the fee increase by projecting a $1.2 billion funding shortfall, but fails to explain over half of this shortfall and includes an unauthorized transfer of funds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\r\nBefore DHS can implement the administration's proposal, DHS must provide the public with a complete and accurate assessment of its budget and a reasonable justification to increase fees.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-applauds-his-bipartisan-anti-robocall-bill-signed-into-law", "Senator Markey Applauds His Bipartisan Anti-Robocall Bill Signed into Law", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Markey Applauds His Bipartisan Anti-Robocall Bill Signed into Law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 31, 2019\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nNew law will boost call authentication, call blocking, and penalties for robocall scammers\r\n\r\nBoston (December 31, 2019)  Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author ofthe Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act(S.151) with Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), today praised the signing into law of his bipartisan legislation. On December 19, the Senate approved amodified versionof their bill by a simple voice vote. The Senatefirst passedS.151 by a vote of 97 to 1 on May 23, 2019, and the House of Representativespasseda modified version of the bill by a vote of 417 to 3 on December 4, 2019.\r\n\r\nIn 1991 Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the law that ensures that consumers should not be subject to intrusive and unsolicited calls from telemarketers. Senator Markey is the House author of the TCPA.\r\n\r\nAs Americans ring in the New Year, we now know that our phones will soon ring a lot less with annoying robocalls,said Senator Markey, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.I'm pleased that the TRACED Act has been signed into law, and I appreciate Senator Thune's partnership on this important effort. It's time to close the book on the era of illegal robocall madness.\r\n\r\nTheTRACED Act, which the Washington Post editorial board recentlysaidis what good, old-fashioned legislating looks like, gives regulators more time to find scammers and levy fines for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption,and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.menendez.senate.gov/news-and-events/press/ranking-member-menendez-statement-on-attack-on-us-embassy-compound-in-baghdad", "Ranking Member Menendez Statement on Attack on U.S. Embassy Compound in Baghdad", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M000639", "www.menendez.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ranking Member Menendez Statement on Attack on U.S. Embassy Compound in Baghdad \n\t\t\t\n\t Ranking Member Menendez Statement on Attack on U.S. Embassy Compound in Baghdad \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 31, 2019\n\t\n\t\r\nNEWARK  U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement following the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq:\r\n \r\nI condemn in the strongest and most forceful of terms these violent attacks against the American Embassy in Baghdad, and the Iranians who are backing this siege. The toppriorityfor the United States must remain ensuring that our American diplomats and personnel at Embassy Baghdad are protected and secure. The Iraqis are also obligated to protect the United States diplomats and our embassy. I call on all Iraqis, including the government and security forces, to continue our partnership with American security forces and diplomatic personnel to restore security and order.\r\nThese protests are also destabilizing Iraq. For weeks, the Iraqi people have taken to the streets demanding accountability from their government and rejecting Iranian influence. From Iraq to Lebanon to Syria, people are rising up against ongoing, unacceptable, malign Iranian activity responsible for violence and instability across the region. The United States should remain committed to working with our partners in Iraq in support ofa stable, independent country that is resilient to terrorism and nefarious interference. While the Trump Administration has touted its maximum pressure campaign against Iran, the results so far have been more threats against international commerce, emboldened and more violent proxy attacks across the Middle East, and now, the death of an American citizen in Iraq.\r\nI call on the Administration to immediately provide Congress a detailedexplanation of how this security failure happened anda plan of action for protecting our diplomats, including:\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\nCurrent staffing levels at Embassy Baghdad and any other U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, including both diplomatic, security, and other personnel;\r\n\r\n\r\nCurrent security posture at Embassy Baghdad and elsewhere in the region;\r\n\r\n\r\nPlans for the safe and secure evacuation, if any, of embassy and other U.S. personnel;\r\n\r\n\r\nPlans for the safety and security of locally employed staff; and\r\n\r\n\r\nThreat indicators leading up to the attack, embassy and Department of State consideration of any threat indicators, and any changes to security posture in response to such indicators.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/sen-jeff-merkley-plans-three-town-halls-in-central-oregon", "Sen. Jeff Merkley plans three town halls in Central Oregon", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Jeff Merkley plans three town halls in Central Oregon \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, December 31, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Michael Kohn\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOregon Sen. Jeff Merkley will host 12 town halls to start the new year, including appearances in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties on Saturday.\r\nMerkley's first appearance in Central Oregon is scheduled for 9 a.m. at Ridgeview High School in Redmond. At noon he will speak at Madras Performing Arts Center . He will finish his visit to the area in Prineville with a 3 p.m. town hall at Barnes Butte Elementary School.\r\nMerkley, a Democrat, will update Oregonians on his work in Washington, D.C., respond to questions and invite suggestions from the public on how to handle state and national issues affecting their lives.\r\nHearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job, Merkley said in a statement. The ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\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\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-us-embassy-attack-in-iraq", "Reed Statement on U.S. Embassy Attack in Iraq", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12/31/2019WASHINGTON, DC  Today, after an attack by Shiite militia on the United States Embassy compound in Iraq, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:\r\nPresident Trump's disjointed, chaotic, ad hoc approach to foreign policy and failure to closely coordinate with our allies comes at a real cost.\r\nI'm thankful that no Americans were harmed today at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Since the Bush Presidency, U.S. personnel are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi Government and Iraq must do more to ensure their safety.\r\nOur relationship with Iraq is at a critical moment. Iraqi political leadership is in a state of turmoil with the recent resignation of the Prime Minister, and Iran will seek to capitalize on the instability to further its own goals. U.S. air strikes earlier this week were roundly criticized by the Iraqi Government and seem to have reignited the strong nationalistic tendencies that have been directed at the U.S. in the past.\r\nThe Trump Administration appears to be losing political leverage in Iraq which could complicate our continued military presence there  presence which is key to our counterterrorism efforts in Iraq, Syria, and the broader region. Unfortunately, this is an entirely predictable byproduct of the President's decision to dismiss the advice of senior military and diplomatic professionals and unilaterally withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, thereby isolating the U.S. from our European allies and complicating our relationships with regional partners, including Iraq.\r\nNo recent U.S. President has exhibited such disdain for our career military, diplomatic, and intelligence professionals. The continued turmoil and lack of continuity within the Trump Administration is making America less safe.\r\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\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\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=056031B1-6AE8-49D6-8CB9-35A076D14F4F", "VIDEO: Rubio to Build off 2019 Victories for Florida in New Year", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \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\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\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\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNewsroom\n\t\t\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\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPress Releases\n\t\t\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 \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\tMiami, FL  U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a short video touching on some of his major accomplishments of 2019. A detailed report on Rubio's 2019 accomplishments will be released in early 2020.Broadcast quality video can be found here.In 2018, Rubio released a report called Fighting for Florida detailing his legislative accomplishments during the 115th Congress. GovTrack's non-partisan analysis ranked Rubio 4th out of 100 Senators in both 2017 and 2018 for the number of bills he authored that became law.Video Highlights:\r\n\r\nMay 30, 2019: The Congressional Management Foundation recognized Senator Rubio as a national leader in constituent services and a winner for the 2019 Democracy Awards.\r\n\r\nIn 2019 Rubio's casework team helped nearly 9,000 Floridians with casework issues.\r\n\r\nDecember 19, 2019: Rubio secured $200 million for Everglades restoration and a dedicated New Start for the Central Everglades Planning Project.\r\n\r\nRubio also secured report language for reef restoration through the NOAA Coral Reef Program that provides $29.5 million, which is $2 million above the previous year's funding level;\r\nReport language on harmful algal blooms (HAB) that provides $19 million for HAB research and $1 million to establish a new regional pilot for HAB monitoring and detection; and,\r\nA $1.64 million increase for planning and monitoring activities associated with the Everglades and Florida Keys Coral Reef ecosystems, the second straight year of significant funding increases.\r\n\r\nNovember 27, 2019: Rubio's Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump. The Senate unanimously passed the bill on November 19th, with the House following on November 20th by a vote of 417 to 1, sending the bill directly to President Trump.\r\nDecember 19, 2019: Rubio's Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development (VERDAD) Act of 2019 was passed by Congress. The legislation included $400 million in humanitarian aid to support Venezuelan refugees and codified crucial sanctions against the corrupt Maduro regime.\r\nAs chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Rubio named 25 Florida-based small businesses as U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.\r\n\r\nOceana Coffee of Tequesta\r\nIndian Pass Raw Bar of Port St. Joe\r\nBailey's General Store of Sanibel Island\r\nCaroll Bradford Incorporated of Orlando\r\nHaynes Security of Miami\r\nJL Marine Systems, Inc. of Tampa\r\nMagellan Transport Logistics of Jacksonville\r\nHog Technologies of Stuart\r\nMiami Tour Company of Miami\r\nSouthern Craft Creamery of Marianna\r\nSunshine Peanut Company of Jacksonville\r\nThe Big Cheese of Miami\r\nRising Tide Car Wash of Parkland\r\nGT AirInject of Jacksonville\r\nRoyal Furniture and Design of The Keys\r\nTwo Peas Caf of La Belle\r\nCapital Shoe Fixery of Tallahassee\r\nLevatas of Palm Beach Gardens\r\nRethreaded of Jacksonville\r\nMelao Bakery of Kissimmee\r\nMother Kombucha of St. Petersburg\r\nAmelia Island Kayak Excursions of Fernandina Beach\r\nMisha's Cupcakes of Coral Springs\r\nTomato Express of Kissimmee\r\nGranny Cantrell's Restaurant of Panama City", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cole.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns/real-benefits-and-real-results", "Real Benefits and Real Results", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Tom Cole", "C001053", "cole.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Just over two years ago, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. Since then, Americans are not only getting to keep more of their hard-earned money as promised, but the economy is clearly booming as a result of the president's continual focus on pro-growth policies. Indeed, there are numerous signs that the country is better off and that the best is still ahead.\nThanks to historic tax reform delivered by a Republican-led Congress and President Trump, wages continue to rise, unemployment has reached its lowest level in nearly 50 years, millions of jobs have been created and the economy is growing by leaps and bounds. Holiday shopping sales in recent weeks are perhaps the most telling indicator that tax reform is working for the American people. Following strong sales of $31.2 billion on Black Friday, it was just before Christmas on Super Saturday that U.S. retail sales reached $34.4 billion  exceeding any single sales day on record in the United States. Craig Johnson, who leads retail research firm Customer Growth Partners, said it best: Job growth and fatter wallets, along with stronger household finances, have put consumers in a buying mood this season.\nTax reform isn't the only economic policy promoted by the Trump Administration that is delivering real results. Throughout his time in office, the president has focused a lot on improving America's ability to compete and thrive in the international trading sphere. Just a couple weeks ago, I was proud that the House finally passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was skillfully negotiated and secured on America's behalf by President Trump more than a year ago. Considering that the United States trades with Mexico and Canada more than any other countries in the world, it is certainly worthwhile to strengthen that relationship and to modernize the outdated terms of trade outlined by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, USMCA goes beyond reinforcing the relationship we have with our North American neighbors. This trade deal is a tremendous win for the American people  for millions of manufacturers, entrepreneurs, farmers and ranchers. Along the path to full ratification in the United States, I look forward to the Senate taking up USMCA in the coming days and similarly passing it with strong bipartisan support.\nBeyond negotiating USMCA, President Trump continues to work out better trade deals for the United States. Just before Christmas, the White House announced that Phase One of a comprehensive trade agreement has been reached with China after more than a year of challenging negotiations. The resulting Phase One agreement reduces some existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods  and cancels one scheduled to start this month  in exchange for China buying at least $200 billion in U.S. goods and at least $40 billion in agricultural products. This news delivers yet another win for American job creators and workers.\nAs another year ends and a new decade begins, I applaud President Trump for his dogged commitment to improving economic policies and delivering real benefits and results to American job creators, workers and consumers. Indeed, the American people are thriving, our economy is growing and business is booming.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2019/12/reflecting-busy-2019", "Reflecting on a Busy 2019", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "As we move into the new year, I\u2019ve been reflecting on what we have accomplished in 2019 on behalf of the 1st Congressional District. Every time I returned to Kentucky throughout 2019, I heard loud and clear the priorities of my constituents, which have been to enact policies that put working Americans first. While this year has offered unique challenges in a time of rising partisanship, many of my congressional colleagues and I have still made meaningful progress.\n\nThe year ended with equal parts accomplishment and frustration. On a positive note, the House finally acted on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), President Trump\u2019s new and improved trade deal aimed at helping farmers, manufacturers and America\u2019s middle class. My Republican colleagues and I have worked consistently to pressure House Democrats to bring the USMCA up for a vote, marking a major trade victory for President Trump. As a farmer and Kentucky\u2019s former Commissioner of Agriculture, moving forward on the USMCA was highly important to me so that our farmers could have access to new markets.\n\nUnfortunately, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats chose to delay and block all kinds of important legislation in order to rush through their partisan, baseless impeachment of President Trump. Ever since the President was inaugurated, their goal has been to impeach him. House Democrats impeached the President not because he committed impeachable offenses, of which there are none, but simply because they dislike him and do not think they can beat him in the 2020 election. I strongly opposed the impeachment charade, speaking against the articles of impeachment on the House floor.\n\nHowever, there were some significant accomplishments in 2019 that I was honored to play a role in. As the Republican Leader of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, I took advantage of new opportunities to delve into issues that affect some of our most vulnerable members of society \u2013 children and senior citizens. I worked with my colleagues on the House Committee on Education and Labor (E&L) to hold hearings and strengthen federal efforts to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. In May, the Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Stronger CAPTA) passed the House of Representatives, which is aimed at limiting child abuse and neglect in the United States. It was a great privilege of mine to work on this consequential piece of legislation that helps protect our nation\u2019s children.\n\nI also worked with colleagues on E&L to pass the Dignity in Aging Act (H.R. 4334), which reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA). From strengthening meal delivery programs and preventing elder abuse and exploitation to supporting family caregivers and community service employment opportunities \u2013 the OAA ensures older Americans have access to services which allow them to live and thrive in their own homes. Based on my numerous travels throughout the 1st District, I know that access to programs like these are critical for seniors to thrive independently.\n\nI also worked on a bipartisan bill that ended up in the final OAA, which would eliminate the cap on the percentage of funding that Area Agencies on Aging can use to provide services to relatives raising children. This provision will be especially beneficial in Kentucky, where many older relatives have taken on the responsibilities of raising children whose parents are unable to take care of them.\n\nBeing active and accessible remains a top priority of mine. That\u2019s why I made 121 visits throughout our district for community visits, town hall meetings, \u201cCoffees with your Congressman,\u201d business tours, and much more. My staff and I took over 670 meetings and helped over 945 constituents with casework. I am especially proud that my field representatives held 136 community office hours, consistently bringing our constituent services to every county.\n\nWhile I\u2019m disheartened that the divisive and partisan impeachment inquiry into President Trump has dominated the spotlight in Washington in recent months, many of my congressional colleagues and I remain steadfast in our efforts to deliver for the American people. As 2019 comes to close, I have confidence that we are moving in the right direction with the policies put forward by the Trump Administration. For seniors, children, students, entrepreneurs and families, this year has brought about victories and opportunities for the American people, and I look forward to delivering even stronger results in 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/doyle-welcomes-new-robocall-law", "Doyle Welcomes New Robocall Law", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pittsburgh, PA  December 31, 2019  U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) welcomed the enactment of bipartisan legislation to cut down on spam robocalls (S. 151, the TRACED Act).\nIt's nice to end 2019 on a positive note, and the enactment of bipartisan legislation to make millions of Americans' lives a little bit better certainly fits that description, Congressman Doyle said.\nNearly every American has experienced the annoyance of repeated interruptions by unwanted robocalls, and many have been victimized by robocalls from scammers who spoofed their phones' Caller ID systems. If there was one thing that people in this politically polarized country agreed about, it was that something ought to be done to stop unwanted robocalls and phone scams that trick our Caller IDs  and I'm pleased to say we did it.\nAs Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, I worked for much of this year with my colleagues in the House and Senate as well as outside stakeholders to find a realistic solution to this problem and move it through Congress, so I'm very pleased to see it signed into law, Congressman Doyle added. Once the FCC implements this new law, Americans should get fewer annoying robocalls  and they will know whether the phone number shown on their Caller ID is really the phone number of the person calling.\nS. 151, the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, now:\n Requires carriers to offer call-authentication technology to consumers and small businessesin rural and urban Americaat no additional charge;\n\tAllows phone carriers to opt consumers into robocall blocking services with no additional charge;\n\tGives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to step up enforcement actions against unlawful robocalls with a longer statute of limitations and increased fines in certain cases;\n\tPushes the Department of Justice to bring more criminal prosecutions against criminal robocallers;\n\tRequires the FCC to work to stop one-ring scams;\n\tHelps the FCC and responsible carriers trace back and cut off suspect phone companies that are responsible for sending vast numbers of unlawful robocalls; and\n\tProtects patients, doctors, and hospitals from unlawful robocalls.\n The TRACED Act includes many provisions of H.R. 3375, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, which Congressman Doyle, the Chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, introduced with Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH).\nClickHEREfor the text of the new law.\nClickHEREfor a section-by-section summary.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-protecting-free-trade-mexico-and-canada", "Hurd on the Hill: Protecting Free Trade with Mexico and Canada", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House has done its job: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been passed and is on its way to the U.S. Senate. Those of us who live and work in South and West Texas know well that the United States and Mexico share a very special economic relationship. We count on cross-border commerce to serve as an economic engine across local communities. Our neighbors export goods and services or rely on imports to perfect and market to American consumers.And American companies are building in Mexico and creating jobs on both sides of the border. This system is not without its challenges  but it works.\nUSMCA gets a lot right. It improves the enforcement mechanism for all aspects of the agreement so that American workers and American innovation can be protected. This may seem like legal talk, but when American workers are undercut by foreign actors, we all know it's the Americans who end up out of work.\nFree trade with Mexico and Canada impacts just about every aspect of our lives, from the food on our tables and the clothes on our backs to the fuel in our cars. The United States, Mexico and Canada build things together, and this landmark trade deal makes sure that we continue our important trilateral relationship built from NAFTA into the 21st Century and beyond.\nWe also live in a world where our nation's military and economic dominance is no longer guaranteed, and the USMCA is vital for us to maintain our quality of life as we know it. This trade agreement will allow continued economic prosperity and North American competitiveness as China tries to replace the United States as the most important economy in the world. The USMCA also helps us continue to lead the way in advanced technology by modernizing NAFTA to account for technological change over the last quarter century.\nTheagreement also includes recapitalization of the North American Development Bank, or NADBank, which helps fund local infrastructure projects in border communities. We on the border know the specific efforts it takes to keep region thriving. Our land and its perseveration is its own currency and I am pleased NADBank is expressly a priority in the agreement.\nWhile this month's passage is a huge win for American workers, we must make sure that we are not at this same position 25 years from now. Let's learn from the mistakes of NAFTA and address emerging problems in real-time. The technological change in the next quarter century will make the changes over the last quarter century insignificant, and we need our friends in Mexico and Canada in order to be prepared for this global disruption.\nI am pleased to highlight these key statistics. Among other benefits, the USMCA will provide:\n Estimated investments of over $68 billion in new economic activity;\n 176,000 new jobs in America;\n Estimated investment of $34 billion in new auto plants; and,\n 76,000 new American automotive sector jobs.\nThis measure took entirely too long to come up for a vote. We cannot allow major, bipartisan measures like this to get caught up in political games. I'm glad it's done and I am proud USMCA will deliver for Texas. Now it's time for the Senate to deliver the measure to the President's desk.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kinzinger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402225", "Office of Congressman Kinzinger: 2019 Snapshot", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Adam Kinzinger", "K000378", "kinzinger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As 2019 comes to a close, the Office of Congressman Kinzinger looks back on the year of visits, meetings, tours, and service to the 16th Congressional District of Illinois.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Washington, DC  As 2019 comes to a close, the Office of Congressman Adam Kinzinger looks back on the year of visits, meetings, tours, and service to the 16th Congressional District of Illinois. Below is a snapshot of the constituent services covered in 2019, as well as a video compilation of the Congressman's year in review.\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\nVideo compilation can be found by clicking this image, and visiting the Congressman's Facebook pagehere.  \r\nLegislatively, the Congressman introduced several pieces of legislation and pushed for funding to help communities across the 16th District. In addition to securing funding for expanding broadband and helping recovery efforts in towns that need it most, Congressman Kinzinger also saw his legislation become law. Here are just a few of those legislative wins in 2019: \r\n \r\n    The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Amendment Act added Livingston County, the City of Freeport in Stephenson County, and the City of Jonesboro in Union County to the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA) to ensure all sites of Lincoln's legal career and the Lincoln-Douglas debates would be included. This bipartisan, Kinzinger-led provision was included in the final Lands Package and signed into law in March.\r\n    Congressman Kinzinger co-authored bipartisan legislation on fair-drug pricing that quickly passed the House with overwhelming support and was signed into law on September 27, 2019. TheFair and Accurate Medicaid Pricing Actclosed a loophole that allowed pharmaceutical companies to charge higher prices for medications and send the bill to the taxpayers.\r\n    Last week, the President signed into law the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Congressman Kinzinger was a co-sponsor of the House version of the anti-Robocall legislation, and spoke in favor of its passage on the House floor. The bipartisan, bicameral bill authorizes the FCC to impose fines on violators and require phone companies to verify callers and help push back on the bombardment of robocalls.\r\n    In the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, Congressman Kinzinger secured several legislative wins like the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act and the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act, among others. The FY 2020 NDAA was signed into law on December 20, 2019.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-issues-2019-year-end-progress-report", "LAMB ISSUES 2019 YEAR END PROGRESS REPORT", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Conor Lamb", "L000588", "lamb.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)  Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) issued a report highlighting the work of his office in 2019 for the constituents of Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District.\nIn 2019, Lamb worked in a bipartisan manner to deliver results on local priorities, introducing 10 bills and co-leading nine bipartisan bills  six of which passed the House of Representatives. In addition to the legislative work in Washington, Lamb's office has successfully returned more than $1.297 million owed to constituents in 2019, putting money back in the pockets of families in western Pennsylvania.\nWhile we have made progress this year, there is much more to be done, said Lamb. In 2020, I remain committed to working with anyone in Washington to get things done for the 17th district.\nClick here to view the full report of Lamb's work for PA-17 in 2019.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1756", "Larsen Announces Winner of 2019 Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "EVERETT, WA \u2013 Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced William Humarang, a student at Mariner High School in Everett, as the Second District winner of the 2019 Congressional App Challenge.\n\nHumarang was inspired to create his app, \u201cHacker Game: A Puzzle Game of 3 Stages,\u201d after revisiting previous efforts to design and develop apps. Humarang\u2019s winning entry features three interactive mini-games \u2013 a passcode game, a clicker game and a guessing game \u2013 that challenge the user to unlock a series of puzzles.\n\nHumarang encouraged students to explore how rewarding coding can be: \u201cCoding can seem daunting at first, but it makes you look at not only computers, but the whole world in another way.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Congressional App Challenge has again shown the creativity of students from across Northwest Washington. I congratulate all of the students who competed and our winner, William Humarang, who developed a fun, interactive \u201chacker\u201d game to engage students of all ages in coding,\u201d said Larsen.\n\nAs the Second District winner, Humarang will receive $250 in Amazon Web Services credits, and his app will be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol building and on the House of Representatives website.\n\nIn 2018, Burlington-Edison High School student Will Garrison won with an app designed to help users practice and learn math skills in a fun and engaging way.\n\nWashington state continues to be a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with more than 313,000 high school students and 165,000 two-year college students enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition that aims to help maintain U.S. competitiveness by inspiring youth to pursue crucial STEM skills.\n\nFor more information about the Congressional App Challenge, visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-announces-winner-2019-congressional-app-challenge", "Larsen Announces Winner of 2019 Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "EVERETT, WA  Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced William Humarang, a student at Mariner High School in Everett, as the Second District winner of the 2019 Congressional App Challenge.\nHumarang was inspired to create his app, Hacker Game: A Puzzle Game of 3 Stages, after revisiting previous efforts to design and develop apps. Humarang's winning entry features three interactive mini-games  a passcode game, a clicker game and a guessing game  that challenge the user to unlock a series of puzzles.\nHumarang encouraged students to explore how rewarding coding can be: Coding can seem daunting at first, but it makes you look at not only computers, but the whole world in another way.\nThe Congressional App Challenge has again shown the creativity of students from across Northwest Washington. I congratulate all of the students who competed and our winner, William Humarang, who developed a fun, interactive hacker game to engage students of all ages in coding, said Larsen.\nAs the Second District winner, Humarang will receive $250 in Amazon Web Services credits, and his app will be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol building and on the House of Representatives website.\nIn 2018, Burlington-Edison High School student Will Garrison won with an app designed to help users practice and learn math skills in a fun and engaging way.\nWashington state continues to be a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with more than 313,000 high school students and 165,000 two-year college students enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs.\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition that aims to help maintain U.S. competitiveness by inspiring youth to pursue crucial STEM skills.\nFor more information about the Congressional App Challenge, visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lawrence.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/debbie-wasserman-schultz-congressional-caucus-black-jewish-relations", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations Condemn Hanukkah Attacks", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Brenda Lawrence", "L000581", "lawrence.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. House members from both sides of the aisle who lead the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations, including a congresswoman from Florida, weighed in on the recent attacks made at a rabbi's home in Monsey, New York. The leadership of the caucusU.S. Reps. Will Hurd, R-NY, Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., John Lewis, D-Ga., Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Lee Zeldin, R-NYissued a joint statement on Sunday about the attacks. On Saturday, five people were stabbed at a Hanukkah event at Rottenberg's home. An hour later, police arrested Grafton Thomas in connection to the attacks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lowey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lowey-ramapo-leaders-and-ajc-ceo-harris-honor-josef-gluck-hero-monsey", "Lowey, Ramapo Leaders, and AJC CEO Harris Honor Josef Gluck, Hero of Monsey Attack", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Nita Lowey", "L000480", "lowey.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lowey honors Gluck for his bravery during anti-Semitic attack at rabbi's home in Monsey.\nRAMAPO, NY  Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, joined Michael Specht, Town of Ramapo Supervisor, and American Jewish Committee's (AJC) chief executive, David Harris, to honor Josef Gluck for his bravery and quick response during Saturday evening's attack in Monsey at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibowitz Rottenberg.\nJosef Gluck was at the Hanukkah party when a man entered wielding a machete. After attempting to move people towards the back of the house away from the attacker, Gluck threw a coffee table to end the heinous stabbing. As the attacker left, Gluck followed him outside and took down his license plate. Gluck is likely the reason the suspect of Saturday night's attack was caught so quickly.\nThank you, Josef, said Congresswoman Lowey. Without you, we would have never caught him as quickly as we did. What New York is experiencing can only be called an epidemic. In the past year, anti-Semitic crimes in New York City have increased by 21 percent. The attack here in our backyard was the 13th anti-Semitic crime in the New York City area just last week. We must seek long-term solutions to this age-old problem.\nThe Town of Ramapo is honored to have Congresswoman Lowey join us in support of our community, to oppose anti-Semitism and to honor Joseph Gluck, our American hero, on his bravery, said Michael Specht, Town of Ramapo Supervisor.\nI'm honored to join Congresswoman Nita Lowey today in paying tribute to Josef Gluck, who exemplified such heroism in the face of the horrific antisemitic attack in Monsey on December 28, said American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris. In the face of a veritable epidemic of antisemitic assaults, all people of goodwill must stand together to affirm our shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity and shared common destiny.\nLowey is the co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. The Task Force is made up of 176 members of Congress who come from across the country, from all religions, and from both sides of the aisle. Since 2015, the Task Force has worked to ensure that Congress plays an integral role in condemning and spearheading initiatives to combat anti-Semitism, both domestically and abroad.\nAdditionally, as Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, Lowey led the Congress in increasing vital security funding. In 2018, she established a nonprofit security grant program for those outside of UASI regions, and in the most recent federal spending package, she successfully increased funding for that program by 300 percent from $10 million to $40 million. That federal spending agreement also included $10 million to reestablish the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grants program at DHS and an additional $7.5 million to fund the grants.\nI condemn in the strongest words the anti-Semitic attack at Rabbi Rottenberg's home, said Congresswoman Lowey. I continue to keep the victims of the attack and their families in my prayers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mckinley.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2741", "McKinley Highlights 2019 Accomplishments", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "David McKinley", "M001180", "mckinley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McKinley Highlights 2019 Accomplishments\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 31, 2019\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      Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va.) recorded several legislative victories on behalf of the people of West Virginia this year, including a permanent fix to protect pension and healthcare benefits for retired coal miners, and legislation that will help reduce the cost of prescription drugs.                      \r\nBeing in the minority brings a whole new set of challenges to getting things done. We no longer set the agenda, and that can be very frustrating. The only way to get anything accomplished is by working in a bipartisan fashion,McKinley said.Our office has always focused on building relationships across the aisle and finding common areas of agreement. This philosophy has helped us ensure that West Virginians' voices are heard, and the needs of our state are met, even while serving in the minority.\r\n\r\nThis year, we have been able to achieve some major legislative victories thanks to the bipartisan nature of our work. From addressing our top priorityprotecting pensions and healthcare for minersto ensuring West Virginia gets it fair share of resources, we are proud of our work this year,McKinley added.Below is a breakdown of his Congressional work over the past year:\r\n\r\n\r\n    The 2019 year-end spending bill included apermanent fix for the pension and health care benefits of retired miners.(Roll Call #689 &amp; #690, 12/17/19; Became Public Law No: 116-94, 12/20/19)McKinley has led the fight in the House on this issue for many years.\r\n    \r\n    The 2019 year-end spending bill also included the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act (H.R. 965) which will reduce drug costs by encouraging generic competition.\r\n    \r\n    The 2019 year-end spending bill included several wins on priority issues for McKinley(Roll Call #689 &amp; #690, 12/17/19; Became Public Law No: 116-94, 12/20/19)\r\n    \r\n        More than $5.7 billion to fight the opioid crisis. The bill continued the 15% set-aside McKinley and others created in 2018 thattargets State Opioid Response Grants to the hardest-hit states, including West Virginia.\r\n        \r\n            The funding includes$5 million for alternatives to opioids in emergency roomsettings, which come as a result of legislation (ALTO Act) McKinley offered in the 2018 opioid bill (H.R. 6).\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n        A $10 million increase for Fossil Energy Research and Development bringing it to $750 million, thehighest level in a decade. McKinley has been the leader in the House advocating for additional funding in fossil research and development.\r\n        \r\n            The funding includes over $490 million for the Coal CCS and Power Systems Program.\r\n            The bill included language requested by McKinley to protect jobs in Morgantown bypreventing the closure or consolidation of NETL.\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n        An additional $2.6 billion for research at NIH, bringing the total funding at NIH to $40.2 billion. This funding will lead to innovation and cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.McKinley has led a bipartisan coalition to increase NIH funding for years.\r\n        \r\n        The first ever dedicated funding ($6 million) for Pancreatic Cancer research, through the Department of Defense.McKinley has led the effort in the House to establish this funding stream for several years.\r\n        \r\n        $100 million for the Appalachian Development Highway System(ADHS), which will help complete Corridor H. McKinley signed a letter to House appropriators requesting this funding.\r\n        \r\n        Promoting the Appalachian Storage Hub project, by directing the DOE to play a leading role in coordinating the project.\r\n        \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    McKinley's bill the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Act of 2019(H.R. 1147)was added to S.47, the Natural Resources Management Act. The bill placed Barbour, Braxton, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Morgan, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur, and Webster Counties, as well as Allegany County, Maryland and Garrett County, Maryland into a national heritage area.(Roll Call #95 &amp; #22,; Became Public Law No: 116-9, 3/12/19)\r\n    \r\n    This year's National Defense AuthorizationAct included McKinley's amendment regarding domestic sourcing of dinnerware. The amendment will help American manufacturer of stainless steel flatware and dinnerware, such as that produced at Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell, West Virginia. (sec. 854).(Roll Call #672 &amp; #490, Became Public Law No: 116-92, 12/20/19)\r\n    \r\n    In December of 2019, the United States and China agreed to a phase one trade deal. As part of the agreement, China agreed to significant purchases of American agricultural products, including hardwood lumber                         \r\n    \r\n        McKinley has led efforts in the House to ensure that hardwood was included as part of the trade negotiation with China.\r\n    \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced in August that it would move forward withestablishing a three-digit number that would enable callers to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline\r\n    \r\n        McKinley has advocated for a three-digit suicide prevention hotline for several years after hearing about the concept in roundtable meetings with veterans. McKinley was the lead cosponsor of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 (H.R. 2345).(Roll Call #336, Became Public Law No: 115-233, 8/14/19)\r\n    \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://neal.house.gov/press-releases/year-accomplishments-ways-and-means-committee", "A Year of Accomplishments from the Ways and Means Committee", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Richard Neal", "N000015", "neal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  After assuming the majority in the House of Representatives in January, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Richard E. Neal worked tirelessly with his colleagues to advance measures that support Americans' financial security, health, and wellbeing. A few of the Committee's notable achievements in 2019 include: LEGISLATION:\n  Lowering Drug Prices and Leveling the Playing Field  \n\t After years of congressional inaction on the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, the Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which allows the HHS Secretary to negotiate lower prescription prices and caps Medicare beneficiaries' out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs at $2,000. The legislation also fills a significant gap in Medicare, adding hearing, dental, and vision coverage to the program. The House of Representatives passed the legislation on December 12.\n  Supporting U.S. Workers, Patients, and Families through a Transformative Trade Agreement  \n\t On December 19, the House of Representatives passed legislation to implement the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, a bill that was the culmination of months of House Democrats' work to transform the new NAFTA into a deal that respects the dignity of workers, contains meaningful enforcement provisions, and prioritizes environmental protection and remediation.  \n\t\nStrengthening Retirement Security  \n\t As part of the end-of-year spending package, the House and Senate passed the SECURE Act, bipartisan Ways and Means legislation that expands opportunities for Americans to increase their retirement savings.  \n\t\nProtecting Workers and Retirees  \n\t The Ways and Means Committee and the full House of Representatives passed the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, legislation commonly referred to as the Butch Lewis Act. More than a million Americans participate in multiemployer pension plans that are quickly running out of money. This bipartisan legislation addresses the worsening crisis that threatens the retirement savings of workers and retirees who  year after year  gave up wage increases in order to fund their pension plans.  \n\t\nInvesting in the U.S. Workforce, Families, and Economy  \n\t Ways and Means Democrats passed the most significant pro-work, poverty-reducing tax bill in at least a decade for residents of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories. The Economic Mobility Act provides an important economic boost for middle-class families who continue to struggle in this economy.  \n\t\nReforming the IRS for Taxpayers  \n\t President Trump signed into law bipartisan Ways and Means legislation to redesign the Internal Revenue Service for the first time in over two decades. The Taxpayer First Act included new protections for low-income taxpayers, practical enforcement reforms, and upgraded assistance for taxpayers and small businesses.  \n\t\nIncreasing Drug Pricing Transparency  \n\t In an effort to address the high cost of prescription drugs, the Ways and Means Committee passed the bipartisan Prescription Drug STAR Act, legislation that brings sunlight across the health care supply chain, from pharmaceutical manufacturers to pharmacy benefit managers, to help reduce costs for families.  \n\t\nPreparing Workers for Good Health Care Job Opportunities  \n\t The Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 3398, the Pathways to Health Careers Act of 2019, which funds the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program. HPOGs are a proven approach to train workers for in-demand health jobs while providing key work supports like child care and transportation.  \n\t\nCombatting the Opioid Crisis  \n\t In an effort to address the opioid epidemic devastating communities across the country, the Committee passed H.R. 3414, a bill that increases the number of graduate medical education residency slots available to train addiction specialists  adding 1,000 new slots between now and 2026.  \n\t\nBringing Respect, Dignity, and Fairness to the Tax Code  \n\t Fifty years after the Stonewall riots, the House of Representatives passed Ways and Means legislation called the PRIDE Act which updates the tax code to clarify that all federal tax provisions respecting marriage will apply to legally married same-sex couples in the same manner as other married couples.  \n\t\nReducing Youth Vaping  \n\t The Ways and Means Committee passed bipartisan legislation to impose a nicotine excise tax, which would increase e-cigarette pricing in an effort to discourage youth and young adults from purchasing items like Juul pods.  \n\t\nKeeping More Families Together  \n\t As part of the end-of-year spending package, the House and Senate both passed the Family First Transition Act, legislation introduced in the House by a bipartisan group of Ways and Means Committee members that helps states transform their child welfare systems to keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care.  \n\t\nTackling Climate Change through the Tax Code  \n\t Ways and Means Democrats put forward draft legislation  the GREEN Act  that is a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change using the tax code to extend and expand renewable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. HEARINGS:  \n\tWays and Means Committee Democrats led hearings on a variety of pressing issues that affect Americans' lives. Topics addressed included:\n  \n\t Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills  \n\t The Economic and Health Consequences of Climate Change  \n\t The Public Health Consequences and Costs of Gun Violence  \n\t Protecting and Improving Social Security  \n\t Paid Family and Medical Leave: Helping Workers and Employers Succeed   \n\t U.S.-China Trade  \n\t Our Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure and the Need for Immediate Action  \n\t Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions  \n\t Overcoming Racial Disparities and Social Determinants in the Maternal Mortality Crisis  \n\t Caring for Aging Americans\n  \n\tTo learn more about Ways and Means Committee Democrats' work, visit WaysandMeans.House.gov.\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-s-anti-robocalls-bill-signed-law", "Pallones Anti-Robocalls Bill Signed into Law", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Long Branch, NJ  Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.'s (NJ-06) bipartisan legislation to stop bad robocalls was signed into law by President Trump. The Pallone-Thune TRACED ACT wasannouncedas part of a bipartisan, bicameral agreement by the House and Senate last month. This month, the House of Representativespassedthe bill by a vote of 417-3. It later passed the Senate by voice vote.\nThis year, New Jerseyans have received an estimated 200 million robocalls in the 732 area code alone and over a billion statewide. In November, a whopping 5.6 billion robocalls were made nationwide, according to Robokiller.\nI'm delighted the President signed this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill into law. It will bring much-needed relief to New Jerseyans who have put up with these relentless and illegal calls for far too long, Congressman Pallone said. This legislation will put Americans back in control of their phones. These calls are not just annoying  they also are scams targeted at consumers.I thank my colleagues in Congress who helped get this important legislation signed into law.\nThePallone-Thune TRACED Act:\n Requires carriers to offer call-authentication technology to everyone at no additional charge;\n\tRequires opt-in or opt-out robocall blocking be offered at no additional charge to consumers;\n\tGives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to step up enforcement actions against unlawful robocalls with a longer statute of limitations and increased fines in certain cases;\n\tPushes the Department of Justice to bring more criminal prosecutions against criminal robocallers;\n\tRequires the FCC to work to stop one-ring scams;\n\tHelps the FCC and responsible carriers traceback and cutoff suspect phone companies that are responsible for sending vast numbers of unlawful robocalls; and\n\tProtects patients, doctors and hospitals from unlawful robocalls.\n Pallone spoke on the House Floor this month in favor of the legislation. Video of his remarks are availablehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/come-and-read-it-report-year-in-review", "Come and Read It Report: Year in Review", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Texans, As this year comes to an end and we enter into the new decade, I want to share with you some of our milestones from 2019. I was proud to participate in 112 events in all 13 counties of the 25th District, including public town halls, coffees and round-tables. I was also grateful for the opportunity to tour some of our small businesses and manufacturing headquarters, meet with local law enforcement and emergency first responders, host recognition events for our veterans, and honor our service members at Fort Hood and across central Texas. It was an honor to welcome President Trump and Vice President Pence to the 25th District, where we opened Louis Vuitton's newest manufacturing plant and stood alongside our nation's finest stationed at Fort Hood. We had a busy year, and I look forward to hitting the ground running when we return to Washington in just a few days. I'm proud to be your voice in Congress.\nNeed help? In 2019, we assisted 462 members of our community with casework, including help with claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs, obtaining Social Security benefits, and expediting or reporting a lost passport. If you need assistance, please call my offices in Cleburne or Austin so we can determine how best to serve you.\nVisiting Washington, D.C.? This year, we led 1,148 tours through the U.S. Capitol for groups of all sizes. Whether you are on a family vacation or a short visit to Washington, D.C., my office can help facilitate tours of the Capitol building, the White House, or the Federal Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Please clickhereto request a tour or for more information. Commemorating a milestone? We flew 65 American flags over the U.S. Capitol this year to commemorate a wide array of important milestones in our community. If you have an upcoming event, please clickhereto fill out the flag order form or for more information. Have a concern? You reached out and we responded: nearly 76,000 times. Whether you have a concern regarding an upcoming vote or an opinion about policy, I encourage you to call or write to my office. As your voice in Congress, it is my privilege to hear from you and ensure the 25th District is well-represented. Please clickhereto leave a message for me or my staff and we will respond as soon as we are able.\nLooking ahead Over the last year, our economy has hit record-highs again and again whilewages for workers continue to riseand unemployment steadilyremains at a 50-year low. We've seen tremendous economic success under President Trump's leadership, and I look forward to continuing our partnership as we fight for pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-America policies that benefit 25th District families and workers. It is an honor and a privilege to serve you. Happy New Year! In God we trust,\nRoger Williams\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-op-ed-reflects-on-economic-growth-in-west-virginia-looks-ahead-to-2020", "Capito Op-Ed Reflects on Economic Growth in West Virginia, Looks Ahead to 2020", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "Shelley Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.19\n\t\t\t Capito Op-Ed Reflects on Economic Growth in West Virginia, Looks Ahead to 2020 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHARLESTON, W.Va.  In an op-ed today for the Charleston Gazette-Mail, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) highlights the significant economic growth in West Virginia over the last year.\nRecently, Senator Capito released a video highlighting various events from 2019 and her work for West Virginians throughout the past year. The video can be viewed here.\nFuture economic growth is contingent upon fostering an environment that promotes entrepreneurship, and I am committed to continuing to support this type of environment. Doing so will help innovative startups access critical federal research dollars that will help them make their ideas and visions realities, and attract other businesses  whether they be tech, manufacturing, energy or others  to set up shop in West Virginia, Senator Capito writes.\nThe full op-ed is available here and below.\n2019: A Year of Economic GrowthBy: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)  Charleston Gazette-MailDecember 31, 2019\n2019 marked a year of significant economic growth for West Virginia and we have the numbers to show for this improvement. We are attracting new businesses, creating an environment for existing ones to expand, and, as a result, West Virginias unemployment rate is decreasing overall.\nBut, the good news doesnt end here.\nProctor &amp; Gambles facility in Tabler Station is now up to 1,100 employees, including two co-located suppliers.\nToyota announced earlier this year that it would begin manufacturing hybrid transaxles and its new employment target will approach 1,800.\nHino Motors Manufacturing relocated and expanded its operations in Mineral Wells, increasing employment to 800.\nMarathon Oil cut the ribbon on another plant at its Sherwood facility, making it the largest gas processing plant in North America.\nAnd, Pietro Fiorentini opened a manufacturing facility in Weirton.\nThese are only a few highlights, but it demonstrates that West Virginia can be a hub for the manufacturing and energy industries. And it also shows that the economic climate in our state is a promising one.\nThis improvement can be attributed to many things, such as the reformation of our outdated tax code and rolling back burdensome regulations, as well as other pro-growth measures. All of these factors  and others  have proven to be a winning combination for workers, small businesses and economic growth, and they have encouraged an environment thats putting West Virginia on a path to a brighter future.\nOne of my top priorities since coming to the Senate has been  and continues to be  positioning West Virginia for the future by diversifying our economy. One way I am working to do this is by increasing the tech investment in our state.\nWhen I look back on this year, weve made significant progress in this area  and its reflected in the success of our growing economy.\nBoth West Virginia University and Marshall University received significant contributions that will catalyze the beginning of a new era of innovation for the Mountain State, a new accelerator was created at WVU to support tech based endeavors and early stage companies, and West Virginia is on the shortlist for the hyperloop.\nWeve seen a record level of tech investment in West Virginia, with companies like Infor coming to Charleston, Intuit bringing hundreds of jobs to Bluefield and Leidos expanding in Morgantown  to name just a few.\nAnd, through my leadership in expanding broadband accessibility in West Virginia  whether its through my Capito Connect program or committee positions on Appropriations and Commerce  Ive been able to help secure more broadband grants each year  especially this year.\nThese grants expand far beyond improving connectivity in communities throughout the state. They also support entrepreneurship and economic development projects.\nTake the Appalachian Regional Commission, for example. Ive worked closely with the ARC to direct funding to West Virginia. Earlier this year, I hosted ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas on visits to several sites in our state that have benefited from ARC funds. One of these visits included the West Virginia Hive, in Beckley, which is an entrepreneurial support network serving several locations in Southern West Virginia, and is able to function thanks to these funds.\nAnother partnership that has led to significant funding to benefit economic development, as well as tech investment, is with the Economic Development Administration (EDA).\nThe EDA has provided funding for many economic development projects throughout the state, like the construction of the Innovation and Knowledge Business Center in Upshur County. Projects like this have long-lasting effects, as they help foster this entrepreneurial spirit that we are seeing throughout the state and should continue to promote.\nAnd, most recently, I announced that Wetzel and Tyler counties have been approved for a $2 million grant and a $3.5 million grant/loan combination through the U.S. Department of Agricultures ReConnect Program  a program that supports the construction of fiber networks that will provide broadband service to residents, businesses and community facilities.\nI helped create and secure funds for this program in the FY18, FY19, and FY20 budgets. Ive been working hard with communities across the state to help them take advantage of this opportunity, and Ill continue to do so to deliver similar funding through this important program.\nFuture economic growth is contingent upon fostering an environment that promotes entrepreneurship, and I am committed to continuing to support this type of environment. Doing so will help innovative startups access critical federal research dollars that will help them make their ideas and visions realities, and attract other businesses  whether they be tech, manufacturing, energy or others  to set up shop in West Virginia.\nThere is no question that we saw a true shift in our states economic development in 2019. With 2020 just around the corner, I look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to be a partner to support our businesses, our entrepreneurs and our small business owners.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/in-2019-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2019, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-completes-another-year-senate-service-perfect-consecutive-vote-record", "Senator Collins Completes Another Year of Senate Service with Perfect Consecutive Vote Record", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins extended her streak of not missing a single roll call vote, bringing her total to 7,262 consecutive votes through the end of 2019. She reached the milestone of casting 7,000 votes in June of this year.\n\nSenator Collins holds the longest perfect roll call vote record in Senate history. She has been present for every roll call vote that has occurred in the Senate since she was sworn into office in January 1997. Senator Collins is now 12th in Senate seniority.\n\nGrowing up in Aroostook County, I learned the importance of a strong work ethic at a very early age. I am proud to bring the Maine values of hard work and dedication to the U.S. Senate. It is an honor to represent the people of Maine, and I have always believed it is important to show up for every vote and make sure their voices are heard, said Senator Collins. My vote record was inspired by the legendary Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who did not miss a vote for 13 years until surgery forced her to do so.\n\nSenator Collins surpassed Senator Smith's record in 2005. Senator Smith cast 2,941 consecutive votes over 13 years before missing her first vote on September 6, 1968.\n\nSenator Collins' first vote in the Senate was on January 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State. Her second vote, the same day, was to confirm former Maine Senator Bill Cohen as Secretary of Defense. Senator Collins succeeded Secretary Cohen in the Senate.\n\nIn addition to not missing any roll call votes, Senator Collins continues to return home to Maine on weekends and during state work periods to meet with constituents and visit communities, businesses, and schools throughout the state.\n\nSenator Collins holds the longest perfect, unbroken record of Senate roll call votes, and she has the third-longest consecutive vote streak. The only other two Senators with longer consecutive vote streaks are former Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Senator Proxmire, who was first elected in 1957, cast 10,252 uninterrupted votes between 1966 and 1988 but missed votes earlier in his career. Senator Grassley has not missed a vote since 1993, when he was touring severe flood damage in his home state.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-bill-reauthorize-debbie-smith-act-fight-rape-kit-backlog-signed-law", "Cornyn Bill to Reauthorize Debbie Smith Act, Fight Rape Kit Backlog Signed Into Law", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Cornyn Shepherded Bill Through Senate to President's Desk\n \nAUSTIN- U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after President Trump signed the Debbie Smith Act of 2019 into law yesterday:\nThis landmark legislation has provided more than a decade of support for survivors, serving as a critical tool in the fight to end backlogs of untested kits in cities across America, said Sen. Cornyn. Since 2011, the Debbie Smith Act has helped reduce the backlog of unsubmitted rape kits in Texas by approximately 90 percent. The benefits of continuing the programs created under the Debbie Smith Act cannot be overstated, and I appreciate all of the advocates who have fought with us at every step of the way.\nThe Debbie Smith Crime Victims Protection Act reauthorizes the Debbie Smith Act to continue the testing of DNA evidence, including rape kits, from unsolved crimes nationwide, DNA training and education for law enforcement, correctional personnel, and court officers, and the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program, which supports forensic nurse training throughout the country. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) were original cosponsors.  \nBackground on the Debbie Smith Act:\nThe Debbie Smith Act was originally signed into law in 2004 to provide local and state crime laboratories resources to end the backlog of untested DNA evidence from unsolved crimes, analyze DNA samples, and increase the capacity to process DNA in order to guard against future backlogs. Since it became law, more than 641,000 DNA cases have been processed. In addition to crime scene evidence, Debbie Smith funds are also utilized to process offender DNA samples to ensure evidence from unsolved crimes can be matched against a database of known offenders, similar to the criminal fingerprint databases.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1284", "Cotton Statement on Iranian-Backed Attack on U.S. Embassy in Iraq", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 31, 2019\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\tWashington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after Iran organized an attack on the United States Embassy in Baghdad: \"When an Iran-backed militia killed an American in Iraq last week, it met with a firm response. Now our embassy in Baghdad-sovereign U.S. territory-has been attacked in yet another reckless escalation. As the President notes, Iran must be held responsible.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-iranian-backed-attack-on-us-embassy-in-iraq", "Cotton Statement on Iranian-Backed Attack on U.S. Embassy in Iraq", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after Iran organized an attack on the United States Embassy in Baghdad:\n\n\"When an Iran-backed militia killed an American in Iraq last week, it met with a firm response. Now our embassy in Baghdad-sovereign U.S. territory-has been attacked in yet another reckless escalation. As the President notes, Iran must be held responsible.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-releases-year-end-message-highlights-accomplishments-for-colorado", "Gardner Releases Year-End Message, Highlights Accomplishments for Colorado", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Cory Gardner", "G000562", "www.gardner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the following message wishing Coloradans a Happy New Year and recapping his work and accomplishments in 2019 on behalf of the people of the Centennial State.\r\nNOTE:Clickhereto view remarks from Senator Gardner.\r\nThis holiday season as we spend time with our families, look back on the past year, and plan for the year ahead, I want to share some highlights of our successful efforts for Colorado this year,said Senator Gardner.\r\nThis year, we successfully passed permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and moved the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Grand Junction  to better protect our public lands and better serve the people impacted by the BLM's decisions. And we've made great progress to lower the cost of health insurance in Colorado. Our state's reinsurance waiver will lower costs for Coloradans on the individual market by more than 20 percent, and the full repeal of the health insurance tax will save Colorado families hundreds of dollars a year. As we head into the next year, I feel honored to represent the greatest state in the country and I will continue to fight every day for what's right for Colorado.\r\nNotable achievements for the state of Colorado in 2019 include:\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nThe Senate passed Gardner's bipartisanVA Provider Accountability Act, which would bring much needed accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This bill is part of Gardner'sVA Readiness Initiative, which he launched to ensure the government is always ready to assist veterans and prepared to fulfill the promises our country has made them.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nThe National Defense Authorization Act wassigned into lawand included numerous Gardner-supported provisions, including authorization of $322 million for military construction projects in Colorado, the largest pay raise for troops in a decade, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all 2.1 million federal employees.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nThe bipartisanTRACED Actis headed to the President's desk to be signed into law, which Gardner cosponsored to crack down on illegal robocalls and scams. Coloradans receive 2.5 million robocalls every day, and El Paso County has the highest rate of robocall complaints per capita in the United States.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nGardner's legislation toreauthorize Brand USAand support international travel to Colorado and the U.S. was signed into law.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nThe Senate passed Gardner's bipartisanDeepfake Report Actto assess deepfake technology, its uses by foreign and domestic entities, and available countermeasures to deepfakes, and to help policymakers and the public better understand the threats deepfakes pose to our national security and election security.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nThe Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passedthree bills authored by Gardnerand a number of bills cosponsored by Gardner to enhance energy storage, enhance state energy security planning, and provide physical and cyber security assistance to electric utilities.\r\n \r\n \r\nGardner applauded thefinal repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, a burdensome regulation that would have been harmful to Colorado's economy and agriculture community. Gardner has consistently opposed WOTUS since it was first revealed and celebrated the announcement as preventing an unconstitutional takeover of Colorado's rivers, streams, and local waterways.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a new rule to provide reimbursement for time that residents spend training at Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), which serve rural communities. This policy was included in Gardner's bipartisanRural Physician Workforce Production Act.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nGardner's legislation topermanently reauthorize the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund(VCF) was signed into law. The VCF provides financial compensation to first responders and individuals injured in the September 11th attacks, like Colorado's Task Force One, which deployed to Ground Zero in the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.\r\n \r\n \r\nGardner announced the formation of theRoosevelt Conservation Caucus, which will embrace and promote constructive efforts to address environmental problems, promote economically viable policies to improve the environment, and base policy decisions on science and quantifiable facts.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nThe Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously passed Gardner's bipartisanDeveloping and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, which would convene a working group of federal entities and experts from the private and academic sectors to recommend to Congress how to facilitate the growth of connected Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nSenators Gardner and Bennet secured congressional passage of theColorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act, which was then signed into law and authorized the implementation of the Drought Contingency Plan agreements forged between the seven Colorado River Basin states and Indian tribes.\r\n \r\n\r\nIn 2019, Gardner was recognized for his work across the aisle:\r\n\r\n\r\nNotable efforts to promote democracy, human rights, and American interests around the world include:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nGardner's legislative provision expressing U.S. support for democracy in Hong Kong wassigned into lawas part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\r\n \r\n \r\nGardner's provision to impose sanctions on North Korea wassigned into lawas part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###\r\nCory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy &amp; Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, &amp; Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gardner-statement-on-heavy-drone-activity-in-eastern-colorado", "Gardner Statement on Heavy Drone Activity in Eastern Colorado", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Cory Gardner", "G000562", "www.gardner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, released the following statement regarding the heavy drone activity in Eastern Colorado:\r\n\r\nI've been in contact with the FAA and I'm encouraged that they've opened a full investigation to learn the source and purpose of the drones. I will continue to closely monitor the situation,said Senator Gardner.\r\nBackground:\r\n \r\nIn December, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a proposed rule aimed at requiring drone users to implement a Remote Identification (Remote ID) system, which allows drones to be tracked and identified.\r\nSenator Gardner supported Remote ID requirements in the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to make this new proposed rule.\r\n \r\n###\r\nCory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy &amp; Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, &amp; Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/commentary/grassley-op-ed-unwrapping-2019-and-looking-ahead-2020", "Grassley op-ed: Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020 By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  At the start of 2019, I became only the second U.S. senator from Iowa to be sworn in as Senate president pro tempore, one of only two constitutional officers in Congress. As the most senior lawmaker in the Senate Majority, it's an honor to serve in this leadership position on behalf of Iowans.  Although I'm now third in the presidential succession line, the prestige of the office hasn't changed the way I serve Iowans. In August, I wrapped up my 39thconsecutive year holding meetings in each of Iowa's 99 counties.  Meeting with Iowans where they work, attend school, access health care and even get their gas and groceries makes me a better senator. Having face-to-face dialogue where constituents set the agenda is essential to representative government.  One thing's for sure, Iowans aren't wrapped up with tweets and partisan-driven hysteria that consume people inside the Beltway. Here's what is on their minds.  Iowans harmed by historic floods are still coping and working to restore their homes, businesses and livelihoods. In April I participated in a field hearing led by Sen. Joni Ernst and made clear to the U.S. Army Corps that flood control needs to be its number one priority. I helped secure a federal disaster relief bill, including an amendment to help farmers who lost on-farm stored grain due to busted binseligible for disaster payments. I'll continue to work with Iowans on flood recovery and the Corps on restoring the levee system.I am a sponsor of three bills with colleagues in the region to help with these efforts. I'm also pleased we were able to get additional tax relief for Iowans affected by the floods in the year-end appropriations package.  Although the overall U.S. economy is experiencing wage growth and historic low unemployment, the farm economy is straddled with low commodity prices, trade uncertainty and natural disasters. Iowa farmers depend on trade to boost the prices they're paid for the grain they grow, the hogs they raise and the dairy products they produce. Although USMCA stalled in the House of Representatives, it was finally passed in December. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I'll work to get it to the president's desk early next year. Biofuels are a big deal to Iowa's economy. I successfully led efforts to extend the federal biodiesel tax credit through 2022. This delivers a boost of relief to soybean farmers and biodiesel workers. Although the Trump administration delivered on year-round sales of E15, I'm not satisfied with its implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard by any stretch of the imagination. I will hold the EPA's feet to the fire on this issue for as long as it takes to get it right.  Farm families also talked about the increase in suicides. As a lifelong family farmer, I empathize with the burdens borne by farmers to keep one's operation afloat during downturns in the farm economy. Congress renewed the FARMERS FIRST Act to provide funds for helplines, suicide prevention training and other outreach services. I'm also working to enact the bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act to provide additional resources and training for local USDA employees who work closely with farmers to identify and help people at risk.  No matter where I go in Iowa, I also hear about the soaring costs of prescription drugs. Seniors tell me they skip doses or leave unfilled prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. Families are pinched to pay for the rising cost of insulin, for example. Iowans don't want to hear more excuses. They want Congress to act. My Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act is the only comprehensive, bipartisan plan that has broad support, including President Trump's support. Passing meaningful drug pricing reforms are a top priority for me in 2020. In the meantime, consumers will find some relief with passage of my bipartisan CREATES Act. Included in the year-end package, it will help accelerate lower-cost generic drugs to reach consumers.  Workers care about their paychecks and retirement security. Small businesses worry about filling job openings and attracting the workforce they need to grow and expand. Local leaders tell me about challenges they face with housing and rural broadband infrastructure. From my chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, I shepherded passage of the SECURE Act through Congress. It will make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to offer retirement plans for employees. This new law will help small businesses with employee recruitment and retention and give workers another way to build retirement savings to last a lifetime.  Communities devastated by the opioid and methamphetamine crises also struggle when families are torn apart from addiction. My bipartisan legislation, the Family First Transition Act, will help states implement the Family First Prevention Services Act which passed last year, to help keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care.  Throughout my service as a U.S. Senator for Iowa, I've kept my nose to the grindstone to make the government work for Iowans, not the other way around. When Washington operates like a three-ring circus, I don't get caught up in the partisan side shows. Even as we ring in the New Year under the cloud of a presidential impeachment, I'm confident our system of representative government will prevail and I'll continue working for Iowans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-marks-policy-oversight-accomplishments-2019", "Grassley Marks Policy, Oversight Accomplishments in 2019", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) marked a series of policy and oversight accomplishments of 2019. Serving the people of Iowa as their United States Senator is my first priority and it's an honor that I take seriously. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and through my extensive oversight efforts, my work focuses on making government more transparent, efficient and accountable to Iowans and all Americans, Grassley said. Grassley holds at least one question-and-answer session in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year to hear concerns and answer questions on any subject from Iowans. In 2019, Grassley completed his annual county meetings for the 39th year in a row. Grassley holds meetings in a variety of settings to ensure that a broad cross-section of Iowans can participate, including businesses, schools, town meetings and factory 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 attended or convened a variety of events and forums, including: In 2019, Grassley continued his social media series called #CornWatch and launched #SoybeanWatch. These gave followers an insider look at farming operations and tracked the progression of the corn and soybean crops grown on the Grassley family farm in New Hartford, Iowa from planting through harvest. When the Senate is in session, Grassley sets aside eight 15-minute meetings every Monday through Thursday to meet with Iowans in Washington, D.C., including advocacy groups, associations, chambers of commerce and local business leaders, students and families. Throughout 2019, Grassley met with more than 1,200 groups of Iowans visiting the nation's capital and discussed a variety of policy issues affecting Iowans such as trade, tax reform and prescription drug pricing. Grassley also joined 25 Iowa schools for photos on the Senate steps or Q&amp;As via video conferencing and, as an avid fan of Iowa universities, attended dozens of sporting events. Grassley was also sworn in to be Senate president pro tempore, a position that has historically been bestowed upon the most senior member of the majority party in the upper chamber of Congress. Upon his swearing in, Grassley became third in the line of presidential succession following the vice president and the speaker of the House of Representatives. An Iowan has not held this position since Senator Albert B. Cummins in 1919. Highlights of Grassley's legislative and oversight work follow here:  Agriculture: As the senior senator of one of the top agricultural states in the country, Grassley has been an outspoken advocate for farmers and Rural America.While the Farm Bill is only voted on every 5 years, Grassley has consistently authored amendments important to farmers and pushed for careful oversight of the Farm Bill's implementation to ensure farmers are being appropriately prioritized.Grassley led an effort to help family farms reorganize debt when they fall on hard times by authoring the Family Farmer Relief Act. Following passage in Congress, President Trump signed this legislation into law this year.Grassley joined the only other farmer in the U.S. Senate, Jon Tester (D-Montana), to address farmer mental health. Unfortunately, more than ever, farmers are facing tough times with sinking commodity prices, unpredictable natural disasters and various trade disputes. Grassley and Tester authored the Seeding Rural Resilience Act which aims to curb growing rates of suicide in Rural America by implementing a voluntary stress management training program, creating a PSA campaign to raise awareness and directing the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state and local groups to identify best practices when responding to farm mental stress.From year to year, unexpected natural disasters take place across the country. Grassley joined fellow Iowa Senator, Joni Ernst as well as a few Senate colleagues from the Midwest in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide timely livestock disaster assistance. Following the severe flooding across Iowa this past spring, Grassley also authored an amendment, which passed in the federal disaster aid package, that provided relief to farmers that lost stored grain during the flooding.Grassley, along with his colleagues, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) sent a letter to the chairman and ranking member of both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees urging them to include robust funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG). Grassley spearheaded the effort to create the VAPG program in 2000 after hearing some of the business challenges facing Iowa farmers. The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized VAPG as part of an umbrella program called the Local Agriculture Market Program and provided VAPG with $12 million per year in mandatory funding.Always an advocate for the farmers in Iowa, Grassley questioned Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky on the USDA's crop reporting program during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. Grassley heard concerns from constituents around the state during his annual 99 county meetings relating to the accuracy and dependability of the crop reports and data collection tools. Censky acknowledged those concerns and reported that the USDA is actively working to make the crop reports more accurate for farmers.Diseases like African swine fever have the potential to devastate entire sectors of U.S. agriculture. With that in mind, Grassley cosponsored the Protecting America's Food &amp; Agriculture Act of 2019 which will address the shortage of agricultural inspectors who protect the nation's food supply and agricultural industries at the border. This legislation passed out of the Senate by unanimous consent. Antitrust: The Senate passed Grassley's Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, which would extend whistleblower protections for employees who provide information to the Justice Department related to criminal antitrust violations. This initiative is part of Grassley's decades-long effort to protect and empower whistleblowers. The legislation passed the Senate the past three congresses, but has not been taken up by the House of Representatives.Grassley joined his colleague, Sen. Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, in introducing legislation to ensure antitrust authorities have the resources they need to protect consumers. The Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act would update merger filing fees for the first time since 2001, lower the burden on small and medium-sized businesses, ensure larger deals bring in more income, and raise enough revenue so that taxpayer dollars aren't required to fund necessary increases to agency enforcement budgets.Grassley also joined Klobuchar on bipartisan, bicameral legislation to curb the abuse of the FDA petition process and increase access to affordable prescription drugs. The Stop Significant and Time-wasting Abuse Limiting Legitimate Innovation of New Generics (Stop STALLING) Act would reduce the incentives for branded pharmaceutical companies to interfere with the regulatory approval of generics and biosimilars that would compete with their own products, a tactic that delays patient access to more affordable medications.Grassley and a bipartisan group of other Judiciary Committee members introduced legislation that would enable the federal government to take action against price fixing by OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, or NOPEC, would explicitly authorize the Justice Department to bring lawsuits against oil cartel members for antitrust violations.As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, Grassley also introduced legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study the role and recent merger activity of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other intermediaries as well as possible anticompetitive behavior. The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019 helps shine a light on the PBM industry by examining the effects of consolidation on pricing and other potentially-abusive behavior. It also requires the FTC to provide policy recommendations to Congress to improve competition and protect consumers. Criminal Justice Reform: Congressional appropriators this year unanimously approved $75 million in funding for implementation of the bipartisan First Step Act, which Grassley championed and President Trump signed on December 21, 2018.This landmark law will reduce recidivism, promote public safety and improve fairness in sentencing of federal crimes. Grassley recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of its adoption with a speech on the Senate floor. Grassley and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) also communicated this year with the Justice Department (DOJ) regarding DOJ progress in implementing its criminal justice reforms. The two also joined Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) in touring a maximum security penitentiary in Illinois and received a briefing on its current operations.Congressional appropriators also continued funding, in a year-end spending package, for other DOJ grant programs that Grassley led the Senate in reauthorizing during his tenure as Judiciary Committee chairman. These include a formula grant program established by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. After convening a 2015 hearing that unearthed shortfalls in DOJ's oversight of that program, Grassley championed the Senate version of bipartisan reforms to this 1974 statute. He also led the bicameral negotiations that yielded the final version, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018. Signed on December 21, 2018, its enactment represents the first time in 15 years that Congress has updated and extended these juvenile justice programs.  Defense Oversight: Grassley's extensive oversight work throughout his career has included a dogged pursuit for answers from the Pentagon over decades of wasteful spending and its inability to produce a clean financial audit. In the fall of 2019, the Pentagon released the results of a full financial audit, showing once again it failed to produce a clean audit.Grassley has conducted oversight to hold the DoD accountable for over four decades. Earlier this year, he sent a letter to then-Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan seeking details about how the DoD contracts with businesses and other entities with respect to overpricing, specifically citing TransDigm Group Inc. (Transdigm). Additionally, Grassley asked about the DoD's ability to collect cost data from those entities and how Congress can help DoD stop price-gouging practices. Grassley also critiqued DoD's contracts with TransDigm in a floor speech and an op-ed. He recently sent a follow-up letter to Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, seeking an update on how DoD is confronting TransDigm's costly price-gouging schemes.Grassley also joined Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in reintroducing the Military Justice Improvement Act in response to reports of mishandling military sexual assaults.Grassley, with Gillibrand and Ernst, also probed the DoD for its apparent failure to ask victims of sexual assault if they would prefer their case to be tried in a civilian or military court.Additionally, Grassley, in a July 2019 letter, continued to press DoD's Office of Net Assessment (ONA) on allegations that contracts granted to Professor Stefan Halper were used to support potential partisan political or other improper or wasteful activities.A DoD Inspector General audit revealed significant flaws in ONA's contract management practices, indicating ONA's internal controls were weak or non-existent. In the July 2019 letter, Grassley requested thousands of pages of documents related to Professor Halper's contracts, and after months of back-and-forth with ONA, on November 14, 2019, Grassley received a full production of documents.Grassley plans to continue to press ONA on its contracting practices in an effort to shed light on the wasteful practices of DoD's internal think tank. DOJ/ FBI: Grassley partnered with his colleague, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to introduce the Special Counsel Transparency Act. The measure would ensure that the work of DOJ's Special Counsels is publicly available.Grassley and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) have continued communicating with the DOJ over the fatal shooting of Bijan Ghaisar by U.S. Park Police in 2017. Grassley first contacted the FBI in December 2018 about its investigation into the shooting, and the FBI responded in March with little information, prompting a follow-up letter from Grassley.In June, Grassley and Warner decried the opaque and drawn-out nature of the review in letters to both the FBI and National Parks Service (NPS). The FBI provided a brief response in August, leaving many questions unanswered. In October, the NPS provided a partial response, which prompted a follow-up letter from the Senators seeking more information. The DOJ then announced that it will not pursue action against the U.S. Park Police officers who shot and killed Ghaisar. Read Grassley's statement on that announcement here. In April, Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, contacted U.S. Attorney General William Barr to express concerns that the FBI may have used a counterintelligence briefing to conduct surveillance on the Trump transition team.The senators' letter inquires about the extent of the FBI's surveillance of the Trump campaign and transition staff.Subsequently, in its review of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane Investigation, the DOJ OIG found that an FBI Supervisory Special Agent did attend certain counterintelligence briefings for 2016 presidential candidates and that at least one briefing was used for investigative purposes.In October, Grassley again joined Johnson in sending another letter to Attorney General Barr, calling for transparency in the reported DOJ criminal inquiry into the origins of the Russia investigation. In addition, on June 18, 2019, Grassley and other senators wrote to DOJ to ask why it has not required Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This letter is a part of Senator Grassley's ongoing FARA oversight.  Drug Prices: One of Grassley's top priorities has been to address the rising costs of prescription drugs. With Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.) he introduced the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, which would save taxpayers more than $100 billion, lower premiums, lower out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries and provide peace of mind to millions of seniors. It cleared the Senate Finance Committee this year, and support for the measure continues to grow.In 2019, Grassley continued to lead the fight to decrease prescription drug costs in other ways. He joined Sen. Durbin in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling for implementation of proposed regulations requiring pharmaceutical companies to list prices of their prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements. Late this year, HHS made good on the promise and finalized a rule requiring price disclosure on TV ads for prescription drugs. That rule is being challenged by pharmaceutical companies in court, but its issuance represents great progress in much-needed transparency for consumers. Grassley and Wyden also partnered on a bipartisan investigation into insulin prices. They sent letters to leading insulin manufacturers, seeking information regarding recent price increases of up to 500% or more for insulin, a treatment available for diabetes for nearly 100 years.Grassley also joined Wyden in introducing the Right Rebate Act, which closed a loophole in Medicaid that has allowed pharmaceutical manufacturers to misclassify their drugs and overcharge taxpayers by billions of dollars. Senator Grassley's oversight work on EpiPen led to the development of this legislation, which is now the law of the land.Grassley also joined Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in introducing the bipartisan Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act. The measure would crack down on anti-competitive pay-for-delay pharmaceutical deals, in which branded companies pay their generic competitors not to compete as part of a patent settlement.Grassley joined Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing another bipartisan measure, the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act. The CREATES Act, which recently was included in the year-end spending agreement, is expected to save taxpayers $3.7 billion, by removing obstacles to the development of lower-cost prescription drugs. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee last year, Grassley led that committee in approving the measure, which combats anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block lower-cost generic drugs from entering the market. Education: Grassley reintroduced a series of bills aimed at giving students and their families a better idea of the true costs of higher education and equipping them with the tools needed to make informed decisions based on tuition costs, financial aid and loan and repayment options. The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act would 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.  The Understanding the True Cost of College Act would create a universal financial aid offer letter so that students could easily compare financial aid packages between schools. It would clarify what financial aid families would receive from a school, distinguishing between loans and grants, and create standard terms for the aid offered so that students could accurately compare offers from different schools. The Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act would increase the amount of information students receive about federal student loans, including their potential ability to repay based on their likely salary, before rather than after signing up for tens of thousands of dollars in debt to Uncle Sam.Grassley again confronted the issue of academic freedom, authoring a Wall Street Journal editorial on this subject in September. He also sent letters to the presidents of Duke University, Harvard University, Sarah Lawrence College and Villanova University, seeking information on the current culture of academic freedom on campus. Due to concerns that professors might avoid teaching certain material in good faith out of a fear of being labeled biased, Grassley also sought details on relatively new entities, known as Bias Response Advisory Committees, at the schools.As part of Grassley's continued oversight of potential foreign threats to taxpayer-funded research, he also sent letters to the National Institute of Health (NIH), DoD and HHS.In addition, on June 5, 2019, Senator Grassley convened a Finance Committee hearing, Foreign Threats to Taxpayer-Funded Research: Oversight Opportunities and Policy Solutions. Grassley later worked to get the Office of National Security, located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), access to government databases that it had yet to get access to.Recently, ONS gained access to some databases as a result of those efforts.Grassley also sponsored a resolution, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, designating the week beginning October 20, 2019, as \"National Character Counts Week. 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 throughout 2019. Grassley has been a leader in the effort to allow the sale of year-round E15. After regular correspondence with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meetings at the White House, instructed the EPA to begin the process of allowing year-round use of E15. The EPA rule allowing E15 to be sold year-round was finalized in time for the 2019 summer driving season.Grassley has also led the fight to maintain a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). He led efforts to pressure the EPA to stop issuing hardship waivers to obligated refiners as well as make the waiver process more transparent and highlight the importance of the RFS to President Trump.In July 2019, the EPA announced its 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the RFS that failed to account for lost gallons due to small refinery exemptions. After an oval office meeting with Midwest leaders, including Grassley, Ernst and Reynolds, the President directed EPA to issue a supplemental rule to account for future exemptions using projections based on past waivers. When the EPA changed the methodology in the supplemental rule, Grassley criticized the projections and noted that Iowa's senators and governor strongly support President Trump's promise to uphold the RFS and I've participated in meetings at the White House to fix this mess. On October 15, the EPA released a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. Once again, the EPA fell short of the mark as the rule does not live up to the September agreement we reached in the White House. Much of Grassley's energy agenda focused on the RFS. Grassley worked extensively with Senate colleagues, President Trump and the EPA to find ways forward on renewable energies and fulfill congressional intent on the RFS. Grassley, with his colleague, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) led a dozen senators in contacting the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, about the Trump Administration's changed circumstances review of antidumping and countervailing duty orders that were imposed only months prior on imports of certain biodiesel products from Argentina. The senators have pressed the Commerce Department to rigorously and transparently review actions by the Argentine government and industry to determine if revisiting the antidumping and countervailing duty rates is warranted.Grassley, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also authored the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2019.It would remove burdensome regulations on domestic energy production. Government intervention in the energy sector impacts everything from fuel sales to how fuels are taxed, inevitably driving up costs and holding back new technologies. As a result, Washington has unnecessarily limited consumer choice and constrained the wider availability of new fuel options.In addition to ethanol and biodiesel, Grassley highlighted the importance of wind energy in Iowa and around the country.Grassley has received awards for his work, including the 2019 Fueling Growth award from Growth Energy for his strong support and consistent work on behalf of ethanol.He also was presented with the 2019 Holmberg Lifetime Achievement Award at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference for his tireless efforts to promote renewable energy, particularly in Rural America. Federal Judiciary:  Grassley presided over a historic number of federal judicial confirmations during the 115th Congress, including the confirmation of two Supreme Court justices. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 114th and 115th Congresses, Grassley rigorously vetted and reviewed judicial nominations to ensure our federal judges will interpret and apply the law as written, not legislate from the bench based on policy preferences.  President Trump has made an effort to nominate constitutionalist and textualist judges who understand the role of the judiciary in our constitutional system. Under Grassley's leadership, the Judiciary Committee oversaw the confirmation of a record 30 circuit court judges, which is the most circuit court confirmations in the first two years of any presidency in history, and in 2019, the Senate has confirmed a record number of circuit court nominees. These confirmations will have an important impact on our country not just for this Congress or presidency, but for decades to come.  Foster youth, adoption, families and elder care: Throughout his congressional career, Grassley has advocated for children and families. He continued his work on these issues in 2019 by developing a number of bills aimed at protecting special needs children, preventing elder abuse, encouraging elder independence and promoting funding for programs to improve family health.Grassley partnered with colleagues in both the House and Senate to introduce the Family First Transition Act, which would help states transform their child welfare systems and keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care. This legislation, which recently was enacted, will provide states with the tools to successfully implement the Family First Prevention Services Act which became law last year.Grassley also partnered with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to introduce the bipartisan Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act, which would streamline and expedite access to federal housing assistance to foster youth who are aging out of care.The bill also would allow assistance to be extended for two additional years if the youth is engaged in self-sufficiency activities, such as work or school.Afterconvening a 2016 Judiciary Committee hearing on the challenges facing children who come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, Grassley joined with Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) to reintroduce the Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams (CONNECT) Act. This bipartisan bill would help states identify and meet the needs of these children, also known as dual status youth.Grassley introduced with Wyden the Increasing Opportunities for Former Foster Youth Act. This bipartisan legislation would improve services for older youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Specifically, the bill would provide grants for carrying out and evaluating programs that serve youth who are transitioning to adulthood, with the goal of helping them become successful adults.Grassley continued his many years of work on elder justice reform, convening two Finance Committee hearings this year to highlight deficiencies in oversight of nursing homes. At the first hearing in March, he invited Patricia Blank of Shell Rock, Iowa, to testify. Blank's late mother, Virginia Olthoff, allegedly was in severe pain and possibly was denied fluids for days before her death, while in the care of an Iowa nursing home. The facility previously had received the highest possible ranking from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for quality of resident care--although it also had been fined for physical and verbal abuse a year before Olthoff's death. CMS, which participated in this hearing, announced sweeping changes to its nursing home oversight policies a few weeks later.At the second hearing, Elder Justice: A Call for Reform, representatives of two government watchdog agencies testified to the need for additional reforms to promote the health and safety of residents of long term care facilities that participate in the Medicaid and Medicare programs. Grassley, a longstanding advocate for elder justice, is currently developing reforms, for inclusion in the draft legislation he is developing to extend Elder Justice Act programs.As chairman of the Finance Committee in 2006, Grassley worked on an early version of the original Elder Justice Act. He also authored a related measure, the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, which was enacted last Congress. This year, Grassley also developed a resolution designating June 15, 2019, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to draw attention to the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. He also sponsored a resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month, to boost awareness of challenges faced by children in the foster care system. Both passed the Senate unanimously. Good Government and Transparency: Grassley has joined several Judiciary Committee colleagues in raising concerns about a continued culture of secrecy in the federal bureaucracy. In a letter to DOJ's Office of Information Policy, these senators noted negative trends in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including a lack of responsiveness to requests, long delays and record numbers of FOIA lawsuits.Grassley consistently has advocated for transparency across the board in the federal government. He joined other members of Congress in expressing significant concerns with the Department of Interior's (DOI) proposed FOIA rule, which appeared to restrict public access to records and unnecessarily delay the processing of FOIA requests. Following calls from members of Congress, DOI updated its FOIA policies.Grassley joined Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) in leading an effort to cut government waste and ensure that only the highest-performing federal employees are serving the American people. They reintroduced the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement and Transformation (MERIT) Act, which would modernize the civil service system by expediting the dismissal of underperforming employees to keep pace with changing workforce needs.Grassley has been monitoring recent reports regarding the World Bank. He sent a letter to the bank's president and requested a briefing on a highly questionable $50 million loan provided to an organization associated with the forcible internment of Chinese Uighur Muslims, a population that has experienced grave human rights violations at the hands of the communist Chinese government. He also gave a floor speech about the World Bank continuing to lend enormous amounts of money to the Chinese government despite their record of human rights abuses and role as the world's second largest economy.On June 5, 2019, Grassley held a Finance Committee hearing, Foreign Threats to Taxpayer-Funded Research: Oversight Opportunities and Policy Solutions. Following the hearing, Grassley called for the Office of National Security (located within HHS) to obtain access to certain government databases, to which that office previously had been denied access.On August 14, 2019, Grassley wrote to the Treasury Department, asking about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' Henniges transaction, which involved a convoluted mix of American and Chinese-government linked companies, including one entity that is managed by Hunter Biden. He has since received multiple classified briefings regarding the transaction.On October 2, 2019, Grassley sent a letter to the Intelligence Community Inspector General (IC IG) regarding a number of leaks of highly sensitive information in the past two years relating to the Russia investigation and now the Ukrainian whistleblower complaint.On October 17, 2019, after sending repeated oversight letters to the executive branch, Grassley received a final report from the State Department regarding its security review of Secretary Clinton's mishandling of classified information. That report identified 91 valid security incidents that were attributable to 38 individuals.The sanction for a violation includes suspension or revocation of the clearance, suspension without pay or termination.In December 2018, Grassley's staff interviewed two IC IG employees who were tasked to the Clinton investigation.Specifically, they interviewed them based on news reports that they had information relating to an alleged hack by China into Secretary Clinton's non-government server.On August 14, Grassley and Sen. Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, publicly released a Majority Staff Memo and all supporting documentation regarding the investigation into whether China hacked Clinton's non-government server. Gun Violence: Grassley reintroduced the EAGLES Act to expand efforts by the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center to help communities proactively mitigate threats of violence at schools. The bill would establish a national program on targeted school violence prevention and provide additional resources to expand research and training on a national scale. The bill also would require the Secret Service to develop an expansion plan and periodically report to Congress on its progress.Grassley in September called on HHS to explain why it has yet to adopt watchdog agencies' recommendations to improve accountability of grants awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In his letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Grassley urged adoption by HHS of policies to enhance grant program oversight and promote access to treatment of childhood trauma. Grassley also requested an inventory of federal grant programs to prevent violence as well as metrics on grantee vetting and program performance.With Senator Cruz, R-Texas, Grassley reintroduced the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act. The legislation improves school safety and prevents guns from falling into the wrong hands by ensuring that relevant agencies and institutions accurately submit records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Health Care  Grassley and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) championed the Advancing Care for Exceptional (ACE) Kids Act. This measure, which passed both chambers in April and President Trump signed, will provide children with complex medical needs, such as Down syndrome,the coordination of care needed to enjoy the healthiest life possible.In April, Grassley joined Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in introducing the Protect Act.This legislation would guarantee that Americans have health care coverage, regardless of their health status or pre-existing conditions.Grassley in January originated a letter to the HHS Secretary, cosigned by a bipartisan group of 21 other senators, questioning recent changes to our national liver distribution policy.These changes could adversely impact rural communities in certain regions of the country. In December, Grassley initiated a related letter, cosigned by Sen. Todd Young (R-In.) that calls for the Acting Inspector General at HHS to initiate a comprehensive examination of the adequacy of our nation's organ procurement and transplantation system.To reduce regulatory burdens on hospitals in rural or remote areas, Grassley called for CMS to update its guidance on the agency's co-location policy.Co-location arrangements enable hospitals in these areas to partner with other hospitals and health care providers to offer a wider range of services. In June, Grassley submitted policy suggestions for CMS as the agency finalizes new guidance clarifying how CMS and state surveyors will evaluate the use of shared space, shared staff, and contracted services by hospitals that are co-located with other hospitals and health care providers under the Medicare program.To better understand other unique challenges facing rural hospitals across the country, Grassley also participated in an August event sponsored by a Washington, D.C.-based research institution in Des Moines, Iowa. The senator's keynote speech highlighted the importance of telehealth in solving some challenges facing rural communities today.Grassley also requested specific information from the IRS regarding its oversight of nonprofit hospitals, after media reports emerged on this subject questioning whether these hospitals met the criteria for tax-exempt status, whether they served their communities appropriately and whether they served individuals in need regardless of ability to pay.Grassley later sent letters to the University of Virginia Health System and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tennessee, requesting information about their billing and debt-collection practices with respect to low-income patients. Grassley also continued his oversight of the Medicaid program, initiating an October letter to the CMS Administrator that cites government audits showing that at least a dozen state Medicaid agencies improperly made payments for the deceased in recent years. (In at least one state, such improper payments continued for as long as two years after the beneficiary's date of death.) Grassley called for greater federal leadership in this area to help reduce program payment risks.With his Republican colleagues on the Finance Committee, Grassley also released a report on Medicaid supplemental payments to providers. This report was issued to raise public awareness and initiate a congressional conversation about the transparency of provider payments and the importance of meeting their needs. Housing: Grassley this year pressed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for answers to questions about lax oversight of federal spending by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and delays in implementing reforms that HUD pledged three years ago to implement. Over 3,300 PHAs across the country receive millions of dollars in the annual congressional appropriations process. These funds are appropriated to support housing for low-income households. But many PHAs  including the country's largest  use a portion of those funds to cover fees for property management and other services to the housing projects they operate. Grassley joined Ernst on a bill and an amendment to require public housing agencies that have jurisdiction over the area in which a portable family is seeking to use the voucher received from the initial public housing agency to absorb them or cover the full cost if they have the funds available to do so. Iowa public housing agencies lost 530 vouchers in 2018 with housing assistance payment funding of $209,575 per month and administrative fees funding of $9,617.10 per month.This means that the housing authorities have less vouchers and funding to help Iowans in need.  Illegal and illicit drugs: In October, Grassley convened a Finance Committee hearing on the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a new statute that passed Congress with overwhelming support.The Surgeon General testified to HHS's efforts to implement the statute's provisions to combat the national opioid crisis, while other witnesses discussed instances of addiction treatment fraud in a growing number of states. In a June letter to HHS and CMS, Grassley also pressed for implementation of recommended strategies to combat opioid misuse and abuse in Medicare and other health care programs.Grassley and Wyden also continued their investigation into the financial relationship between opioid manufacturers and tax-exempt organizations. They sent letters to 10 tax-exempt organizations, seeking to understand how pharmaceutical manufacturers' donations to these organizations affected their advocacy for specific pain treatment strategies.In addition, Grassley and Ernst sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to address the increased volume of methamphetamine being smuggled from Mexico into the United States. Grassley also met with the U.S. Drug Czar, Jim Carroll, in Iowa to discuss methamphetamine and how to combat the addiction crisis in Iowa. Grassley partnered with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in introducing the bipartisan SARMs Control Act of 2019.The bill's purpose is to crack down on synthetic variations of performance enhancing drugs that are illegally marketed as dietary supplements. Selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, are synthetic drugs designed to mimic controlled substances and are often used as performance enhancers. SARMs have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human use.Grassley joined his colleagues, Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Cali.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Durbin to introduce the Preventing Pill Mills Through Data Sharing Act. This legislation would equip the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with additional tools to hold drug distributors, manufacturers and pharmacies accountable for identifying, reporting and stopping suspicious orders of controlled substances.Grassley also partnered with his colleagues Sens. Feinstein and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce a bill to expand cannabidiol and marijuana medical research. Infrastructure: In 2019, Iowa faced devastating flooding across the state. Grassley visited many of the affected areas and authored an amendment, which was included in the final disaster relief package, to assist Iowans affected by the flooding.Grassley and Ernst held a hearing in Southwest Iowa, focused on Corps of Engineers management of the Missouri River. They closely monitored the situation along the western border and sent multiple letters to the Corps, seeking updates. They also sponsored several bills regarding flood recovery and management of the Missouri River. They continue to work with affected communities, the State of Iowa and federal departments and agencies on recovery and resiliency.Grassley and Ernst also pressed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the FCC's role in ensuring the accuracy of broadband maps. According to your 2018 Broadband Deployment Report, more than three in four rural Iowans have access to broadband. More broadly, the report indicates that 90.5 percent of all Iowans have access to broadband. As much as we wish that were the case, we can tell you that the FCC data drastically overstates broadband access throughout our state, the senators wrote.Congress passed the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act to help the FCC accomplish the goal of enhanced reporting and more accurate data, which will ensure federal broadband funding is able to serve Iowa communities that need it.  Immigration and Visas: On the third anniversary of Sarah Root's death, Grassley and Ernst joined Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) in reintroducing Sarah's Law, to allow federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person. On January 31, 2016  the night of her graduation  Sarah Root, a twenty-one year-old Iowan from Council Bluffs, was struck and killed in Omaha, Neb., by Edwin Mejia, who entered the country illegally and was driving drunk. He was three times over the legal limit.Grassley joined Leahy to tackle fraud, abuse and national security threats in the EB-5 Investor Visa Program. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act reauthorizes the EB-5 regional center program through 2024. It also expands DHS authorities to evaluate EB-5 applications and includes additional transparency and integrity measures to improve accountability of applicants, project managers, and the projects themselves.  Grassley also joined Tillis to introduce the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for jeopardizing public safety and failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities.Grassley sought information on a number of cases in which a crime was carried out by someone who was in the United States illegally. Grassley sought details on the immigration history of Marvin Oswaldo Esquivel Lopez, who allegedly murdered Rossibeth Flores Rodriguez and her two children in Des Moines, Iowa. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Esquivel Lopez was previously deported from the United States in 2010 and 2011.Grassley partnered with Sen. Tom Cotton (R- Ark.) to introduce Singh's Law, legislation that would bar criminal aliens associated with a criminal gang from entering the United States. Foreign nationals with gang associations would also be disqualified from receiving asylum, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile visas, and other forms of relief from removal. The bill is named in honor of Corporal Ronil Singh, a police officer in Newman, California, who was killed on December 26, 2018. An illegal immigrant with known gang affiliations and two prior DUI arrests has been charged with murdering Corporal Singh. Law Enforcement: To honor the service and sacrifice made by the men and women in law enforcement, Grassley supported a resolution designating the week of May 12 through May 18, 2019, as \"National Police Week.\" It passed the Senate by unanimous consent. During Police Week, Grassley also cosponsored the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization.Grassley joined Gillibrand to introduce the Protecting America's First Responders Act, which would update the definition of disability to ensure that officers who are permanently unable to secure meaningful gainful employment following a catastrophic injury in the line of duty remain eligible for benefits. This bill cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and also passed the full Senate. It now awaits consideration by the House. Grassley had previously sent a letter to Attorney General Barr raising concerns about this program.Grassley, with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) introduced a bill to track law enforcement suicides. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act requires the FBI to collect voluntarily submitted, anonymous data on police suicides and attempted suicides from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Collecting this data will help inform policy solutions to promote prevention of law enforcement suicides. National Security:  Grassley joined Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H) in writing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan to express concern over the rise in domestic non-Foreign Terrorist Organization inspired terrorism over the last few years. Their letter also requests information about DHS efforts to mitigate and prevent this threat in order to protect the safety and security of Americans.Grassley also joined Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to introduce the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which seeks to promote justice for U.S. victims of international terrorism and encourage security cooperation among U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian security forces. The bill is designed to ensure access to courts for Americans who were injured or killed by acts of terrorism while abroad. Recent federal court decisions created loopholes in longstanding U.S. anti-terrorism law, allowing certain foreign actors to evade U.S. court jurisdiction when they support or carry out acts of terrorism against American citizens.On June 10, 2019, Grassley and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote to the HHS OIG to request a review of whether CMS has made payments for genetic testing to U.S. entities with ties to the Chinese government.The letter also asks about whether CMS considers national security risks when determining whether payments to entities linked to the Chinese government are permissible.The HHS OIG has agreed to perform a review of whether CMS considers national security risks before certifying laboratories that conduct genomic testing.Grassley also joined Sen. Whitehouse to introduce legislation that would make it more difficult for criminals and foreign enemies to hide assets from law enforcement and tax authorities. The True Incorporation Transparency for Law Enforcement (TITLE) Act would require states to obtain information on the true owners of corporations and LLCs formed within their borders. Presidential Nominations:  As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley carried out the Senate's constitutionally mandated advice and consent responsibilities respecting presidential nominations to many key departments and agencies. During 2019, the Finance Committee reported 15 individual nominations to the full Senate and 14 of those have been confirmed, including:  The first Commissioner of Social Security to be confirmed by the Senate in over a decade;The Chief Counsel to the Internal Revenue Service;The Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation;Two nominees to the International Trade Commission;Three nominees to the U.S. Tax Court; andOther nominations to important positions at the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, and the Social Security Administration.  Reform to Victims Rights Laws: Grassley in 2019 continued his work to prevent abuse of young athletes, by calling on the U.S. Olympic Committee in January to detail its efforts to support amateur athletes affected by a recent sexual assault scandal. Grassley met with the Olympic Committee's CEO, and in a January 2019 letter, pressed for changes to prevent future abuses in sports. Grassley issued his letter a year after Dr. Larry Nassar was first sentenced for sexually abusing scores of young gymnasts  several of whom who had testified before a 2017 hearing that Grassley convened as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.Grassley this year introduced legislation, the Stopping Abuse From Entering Sports, Promoting Oversight, Responsibility And Transparency (SAFESPORT) Act Of 2019. It builds on an earlier measure that Grassley cosponsored and shepherded through the Judiciary Committee in 2018, during his tenure as that committee's chairman. His latest proposal includes funding accountability measures, anti-retaliation protections, child abuse reporting requirements, and other reforms. The Senate Commerce Committee approved many of its provisions during consideration of a larger package of reforms to the Ted Stevens Act in November.Grassley also sponsored bipartisan legislation to aid victims of domestic violence. The bill, which Klobuchar and Capito joined as cosponsors, extends funding for programs authorized by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), a landmark law enacted in 1984 that directs funding to states and tribes to make supportive services such as emergency shelters, counseling, and more available to survivors of domestic abuse and their dependents. The bill also extends funding for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. It was merged with a related measure, introduced by Casey and incorporated into a broader CAPTA reauthorization package, which cleared the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in December.Grassley also joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate to introduce legislation to promote justice for additional survivors of crimes of sexual violence across the country. The Survivors' Bill of Rights in the States Act encourages states to adopt the same protections for survivors of state sex crimes that already exist at the federal level (under related legislation that Grassley championed several years ago).Grassley and a bipartisan coalition of senators also reintroduced legislation, entitled the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, which would combat sexual assault on college and university campusesCongress this year continued, in a year-end spending package, funding for federal grant programs to combat domestic human trafficking, which Grassley led the Senate in adopting during his tenure as Judiciary Committee chairman. These include the bipartisan Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017 that Grassley sponsored and the complementary Abolish Human Trafficking Act, both of which President Trump signed. One provision of Grassley's legislation calls for the creation of a new Public-Private Council to End Human Trafficking, to which an Iowan was appointed with Grassley's support.  Second Amendment: Grassley and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) introduced bipartisan legislation in 2019 to restore veterans' Second Amendment rights. Under current practice, once the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns a fiduciary to help a veteran manage benefit payments, the VA will report that veteran's name to the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS), commonly known as the national gun ban list. Once on the gun ban list, a veteran is outlawed from owning or possessing firearms, resulting in some veterans who are perfectly safe to own firearms being denied their constitutional rights. The Veterans' Second Amendment Rights Restoration Act of 2019 would require that before the VA reports a veteran's name to the DOJ for placement on the NICS, the VA must first find and prove that a veteran is a danger to self or others. Taxes:   After assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee in January, Grassley worked closely with the Treasury Department as it issued regulations and other guidance related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provided clarity to farmers, cooperatives, and businesses  small to large  on changes to the business tax rules including the 20-percent deduction for pass-through businesses, the opportunity zones initiative, and international tax laws. Grassley joined the Finance Committee's ranking member, Sen. Wyden, to address temporary tax policies this year. They introduced bipartisan legislation to extend retroactively tax provisions that expired at the end of 2017 and 2018 through the balance of this year and provide disaster tax relief benefits to individuals and businesses affected by major disasters occurring in 2018. While most of the provisions were extended through 2020 in the year-end spending, the package also included longer-term extensions for the biodiesel and short-line railroad credits, and the disaster relief was also included. Additionally, the Finance Committeelaunched bipartisan taskforces to find long-term solutions to temporary tax policy. Summaries of their findings can be found here.Grassley worked with Wyden to support the Treasury Department's participation in the multilateral process at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is intended to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the global economy. In letters and other communications throughout 2019, Grassley and Wyden expressed their strong bipartisan opposition to unilateral digital services taxes (DSTs) that target and discriminate against U.S.-based companies operating around the world. Grassley continues to support the OECD multilateral process so that a global consensus on a modern international-tax architecture can be achieved, unilateral DSTs can be repealed or otherwise not implemented, and the potential for U.S. responses to DSTs, such as the U.S. Trade Representative's proposed duties on certain French products in response to France's enactment of its DST, can be avoided.Grassley and Wyden also partnered to introduce the Taxpayer First Act of 2019, major bipartisan legislation to modernize the IRS, improve taxpayer services and strengthen taxpayer protections. The legislation is the product of years of bicameral, bipartisan work between the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. This critical bill passed Congress and was signed into law by the President in June.Grassley and Wyden have opened an investigation into syndicated conservation-easement transactions, which are transactions that use the charitable-deduction provision of the tax code to encourage landowners to conserve their properties for future generations.But according to the IRS and some conservation groups, these types of transactions can easily turn into abusive tax shelters, and this investigation focuses on getting to the bottom of such allegations.Grassley was instrumental in creating the IRS's bipartisan Private Debt Collection Program (as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in 2004) and in ensuring its reinstatement in 2015, after the IRS terminated the program in 2009 following a flawed study. Data released by the IRS on the program shows that the program is succeeding at increasing government tax-revenue collections by collecting taxes due and owed, and all without raising taxes.Grassley also joined several of his colleagues in re-introducing legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more commonly known as the death tax. Grassley also joined Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) who chairs the Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee, in releasing a comprehensive reform package to address the financial crisis in the multiemployer pension plan system. The Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization and Reform Plan would provide targeted financial assistance to a number of large severely underfunded multiemployer plans and reform the overall system to protect workers and retirees from financial hardships resulting from the failure of their multiemployer pension plan. With the release of the plan, Grassley began discussions to develop a bipartisan consensus. Trade: The state of trade policy took center stage in 2019. Grassley was a central figure in the debate, advocating vigorously on behalf of Iowa's interests. The Washington International Trade Foundation recognized Grassley with its Congressional Leadership Award this year in light of his extraordinary contributions in the field of international trade.In the last two years, Grassley provided extensive support to the President's efforts to renegotiate NAFTA. The new trade pact reached by the President is called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)  and provides a host of new benefits for American's farmers, workers, and manufacturers. The nonpartisan International Trade Commission estimates that USMCA will add more than $68 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, and generate 176,000 jobs. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley worked closely with committee members and the Administration to guide USMCA through Congress. Unfortunately, Democrats in the House of Representatives unreasonably delayed passage of USMCA until the end of the year.Grassley looks forward to getting USMCA passed in the Senate and ratified early next year.As part of ensuring that USMCA was passed, Grassley made clear that the Administration's national security steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico would have to be dropped  as would those countries' retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. All sides' tariffs came down in May  and Iowa's farmers regained access to two of their most important markets.Grassley has long recognized that the World Trade Organization (WTO) can be a powerful tool to remove foreign trade barriers. However, the WTO needs significant reform  particularly in light of its failure to address China's abusive trade practices.Grassley held the first Senate Finance Committee hearing of the 116th Congress on the road ahead for the WTO.Grassley also supported the President in confronting China on its abusive trade practices. Grassley welcomed the Phase 1 deal the President reached with China, and looks forward to implementation of the deal in early 2020.Iowans, especially hog, corn and soybean farmers, will benefit from provisions in the deal that remove trade barriers, and commit China to increasing purchases of agricultural products.Grassley will continue to push in 2020 for a strong and enforceable agreement that address the remaining issues we have with China.To ensure that the President's tariffs on Chinese goods minimized unnecessary harm on Americans, Grassley has also carefully monitored and supported the U.S. Trade Representative's process to exclude certain products from the tariffs.Grassley welcomed the Administration's Phase 1 deal with Japan. Under the deal, farmers and ranchers stand to gain from tariff eliminations and reductions on more than $7 billion of U.S. food and agriculture products, including beef, pork, ethanol, poultry and egg products. Next year, Grassley will press the Administration to conclude a comprehensive free trade agreement with Japan.Grassley and Wyden also partnered on a bipartisan investigation into counterfeit goods sold online and then issued a report, The Fight Against Fakes, detailing five findings and two legislative recommendations. Their report outlines the harm posed to consumers by counterfeits and discusses statutory barriers that prevent information sharing between the Federal government and its private industry partners with respect to counterfeit goods seized and/or detained at U.S. ports of entry. Veterans: Grassley and Klobuchar introduced the bipartisan Veterans Access to Care Act, which would help improve veterans' medical facilities by allowing facilities with a need for additional health care professionals to apply to be designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Once designated, these facilities have access to National Health Service Corps, which provides service-obligated scholarships and loan forgiveness to health professional students who pledge to practice in a HPSA for at least two years. The bill would also require HHS and VA to establish a process for veterans' facilities to qualify as HPSAs.Grassley also joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues to introduce the Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need (HAVEN) Act to protect the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be experiencing financial hardship. The HAVEN Act complements recent congressional efforts to combat service member and veteran mental health issues, addiction, suicide, poverty and homelessness  all of which are exacerbated by financial hardship.In 2019, Grassley continued hosting Iowa veterans to participate in the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. Established by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. To date, more than 1,200 stories from Iowans have been recorded by the project. In November of 2018, Grassley's office interviewed Iowa veterans at the Iowa Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge in Des Moines to document their service to the nation. In May, he delivered 20 veterans' recorded interviews and documents. In November of 2019, Grassley's office interviewed Iowa veterans at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. In December, he delivered 11 veterans' recorded interviews and documents.Grassley also hosted a ceremony in Urbandale, Iowa where he presented nine Iowa veterans or their family members, with their medals of service. Whistleblowers: As a staunch proponent of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government and as a founding member of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, Grassley has long championed the cause of whistleblowers.Grassley sent a letter to DoD Secretary Mark Esper, urging action on DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommendations regarding cases of whistleblower retaliation.Grassley also joined his colleagues, Sens. Johnson and Mike Lee (R-Utah) in sending a letter to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Michael Atkinson, to push for answers related to the intelligence community's decision to change requirements for whistleblowers seeking to report urgent concerns to Congress.Having over four decades of experience working with whistleblowers, Grassley introduced the Whistleblower Programs Improvement Act of 2019. This legislation strengthens whistleblower protections for whistleblowers working in a variety of key sectors, including our securities and commodities industries, and the Foreign Service.To honor the critical role played by whistleblowers in promoting good governance, Grassley introduced a resolution designating July 30, 2019, as \"National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.\" It passed the Senate by unanimous consent.In honor of the critical service whistleblowers provide for good governance and our nation, Grassley introduced a resolution designating July 30, 2019, 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.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-op-ed-unwrapping-2019-and-looking-ahead-2020", "Grassley op-ed: Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Unwrapping 2019 and Looking Ahead to 2020 By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  At the start of 2019, I became only the second U.S. senator from Iowa to be sworn in as Senate president pro tempore, one of only two constitutional officers in Congress. As the most senior lawmaker in the Senate Majority, it's an honor to serve in this leadership position on behalf of Iowans.  Although I'm now third in the presidential succession line, the prestige of the office hasn't changed the way I serve Iowans. In August, I wrapped up my 39thconsecutive year holding meetings in each of Iowa's 99 counties.  Meeting with Iowans where they work, attend school, access health care and even get their gas and groceries makes me a better senator. Having face-to-face dialogue where constituents set the agenda is essential to representative government.  One thing's for sure, Iowans aren't wrapped up with tweets and partisan-driven hysteria that consume people inside the Beltway. Here's what is on their minds.  Iowans harmed by historic floods are still coping and working to restore their homes, businesses and livelihoods. In April I participated in a field hearing led by Sen. Joni Ernst and made clear to the U.S. Army Corps that flood control needs to be its number one priority. I helped secure a federal disaster relief bill, including an amendment to help farmers who lost on-farm stored grain due to busted binseligible for disaster payments. I'll continue to work with Iowans on flood recovery and the Corps on restoring the levee system.I am a sponsor of three bills with colleagues in the region to help with these efforts. I'm also pleased we were able to get additional tax relief for Iowans affected by the floods in the year-end appropriations package.  Although the overall U.S. economy is experiencing wage growth and historic low unemployment, the farm economy is straddled with low commodity prices, trade uncertainty and natural disasters. Iowa farmers depend on trade to boost the prices they're paid for the grain they grow, the hogs they raise and the dairy products they produce. Although USMCA stalled in the House of Representatives, it was finally passed in December. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I'll work to get it to the president's desk early next year. Biofuels are a big deal to Iowa's economy. I successfully led efforts to extend the federal biodiesel tax credit through 2022. This delivers a boost of relief to soybean farmers and biodiesel workers. Although the Trump administration delivered on year-round sales of E15, I'm not satisfied with its implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard by any stretch of the imagination. I will hold the EPA's feet to the fire on this issue for as long as it takes to get it right.  Farm families also talked about the increase in suicides. As a lifelong family farmer, I empathize with the burdens borne by farmers to keep one's operation afloat during downturns in the farm economy. Congress renewed the FARMERS FIRST Act to provide funds for helplines, suicide prevention training and other outreach services. I'm also working to enact the bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act to provide additional resources and training for local USDA employees who work closely with farmers to identify and help people at risk.  No matter where I go in Iowa, I also hear about the soaring costs of prescription drugs. Seniors tell me they skip doses or leave unfilled prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. Families are pinched to pay for the rising cost of insulin, for example. Iowans don't want to hear more excuses. They want Congress to act. My Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act is the only comprehensive, bipartisan plan that has broad support, including President Trump's support. Passing meaningful drug pricing reforms are a top priority for me in 2020. In the meantime, consumers will find some relief with passage of my bipartisan CREATES Act. Included in the year-end package, it will help accelerate lower-cost generic drugs to reach consumers.  Workers care about their paychecks and retirement security. Small businesses worry about filling job openings and attracting the workforce they need to grow and expand. Local leaders tell me about challenges they face with housing and rural broadband infrastructure. From my chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, I shepherded passage of the SECURE Act through Congress. It will make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to offer retirement plans for employees. This new law will help small businesses with employee recruitment and retention and give workers another way to build retirement savings to last a lifetime.  Communities devastated by the opioid and methamphetamine crises also struggle when families are torn apart from addiction. My bipartisan legislation, the Family First Transition Act, will help states implement the Family First Prevention Services Act which passed last year, to help keep more children safely at home, instead of placing them in foster care.  Throughout my service as a U.S. Senator for Iowa, I've kept my nose to the grindstone to make the government work for Iowans, not the other way around. When Washington operates like a three-ring circus, I don't get caught up in the partisan side shows. Even as we ring in the New Year under the cloud of a presidential impeachment, I'm confident our system of representative government will prevail and I'll continue working for Iowans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/icymi-murkowski-bill-honoring-unrecognized-heroes-of-the-greatest-generation-passes-senate", "ICYMI: Murkowski Bill Honoring Unrecognized Heroes of the Greatest Generation Passes Senate", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.19\n\t\t\t ICYMI: Murkowski Bill Honoring Unrecognized Heroes of the Greatest Generation Passes Senate \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\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 Celebrates Achievements of WWII Merchant Mariners\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of her bill, the Merchant Marines of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, to honor the Merchant Mariners who protected our nation during World War II. The bill would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the WWII mariners in recognition of their dedicated and vital service. The House successfully passed the companion bill in September, sponsored by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA). The Senate version of the bill now heads to the House for final approval.\r\nDespite their loyalty and patriotic services and commitment to the United States, our WWII Merchant Marines didn't receive their veteran status until nearly forty years after the war had ended. The Merchant Mariners provided crucial services during WWII by transporting soldiers, tanks, airplanes, ammunition, fuel, and food to aid soldiers on the front lines. This legislation recognizes the unsung heroes of the WWII conflict, for their loyalty and bravery, as they risked their lives to keep the Allied troops properly equipped, said Senator Murkowski. I'm thankful my Senate colleagues recognizes the importance of honoring the brave Merchant Mariners for their pivotal role in our nation's history and their efforts in defense of freedom.\r\nBackground: The U.S. Merchant Marine transports soldiers and supplies for our nation's military through commercial, non-naval ships. It is estimated that around 8,300Merchant Mariners died or went missing during WWII. As many as 12,000 were wounded, and 633 became prisoners of war. There are approximately 4,000 WWII Merchant Mariners still alive today. \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \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 Related Issues:\n\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\n\t\t\t\t\tVeterans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t \n\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", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-2019-in-review", "Senator David Perdue: 2019 In Review", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "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\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/newsroom/123119", "Dear Colleague: Happy New Year!", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Colleague,\nWishing you a happy and healthy New Year full of peace, love and joy!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-continues-to-deliver-results-for-north-carolinians-in-2019", "Tillis Continues To Deliver Results For North Carolinians In 2019", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. In 2019,SenatorThomTilliscontinued to workon behalf of North Carolinians and produced results. Tillis was successful in gettinga number ofhis prioritiescodifiedinto law, including protectingveterans and holdingVA executives accountable, securingmore than a billion dollars in federal funds to help North Caroliniansaffected by natural disasters, and reforming Department of Defense personnel policies, including improved education and health care benefits for servicemembers and their families. Additionally, Tillis led in offering solutions to problems facing North Carolina, including legislation to stop dangerous sanctuary city policies and introducing reforms to modernize and overhaul the federal disaster assistance program to bring relief to North Carolinians sooner.\r\nA look back at25 of Tillis' accomplishments and initiatives in 2019:\r\n1.Tillis Secures Another Pay Raise For Servicemembers And Numerous Provisions To Improve the Lives of N.C. Military Families\r\nAs Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Tillis led the effort to pass an across the board 3.1% pay raise for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. Additionally, Senator Tillis worked to secure a number of reforms in the FY2020 NDAA to take meaningful steps to address the serious issues with the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). Senator Tillis' Personnel Subcommittee also made efforts to address military sexual assault prevention and response, support military spouse employment, and expand health care for military members and their families.\r\n2.Tillis Secures $2.2 Billion for N.C. Military Installations\r\nSenator Tillis has used his position on the Armed Services Committee to bring back billions of dollars for North Carolina's military installations, including securing $2.2 billion for the state in a funding bill passed earlier this month.\r\nThe funding Tillis secured includes:\r\n$554 million for military construction projectsfor FY2020, including $238 million for Camp Lejeune, $240 million for Cherry Point, $96.6 million for Fort Bragg, and $11.3 million for New River.\r\n$1.183 billion for military construction for Hurricane Florence recovery, including $703 million for Camp Lejeune, $465 million for New River, and $14.2 million for Cherry Point.\r\n$461 million for Marine Corps operations and maintenance disaster funding.\r\n3.Tillis Leads Fight Against Sanctuary Cities\r\nIn 2019, Senator Tillis introduced two bills aimed at putting an end to dangerous sanctuary policies being implemented in several North Carolina counties.\r\nIn July, Tillis introduced theJustice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities and jeopardizing public safety. The legislation creates a private right of civil action for the victims of sanctuary jurisdictions, allowing them to bring an action for compensatory damages against the sanctuary jurisdiction as a result of a violent crime committed by an illegal immigrant.\r\nIn October, Tillis introduced theImmigrationDetainer Enforcement Act. The bill clarifies the DHS' detainer authority, clearly establishes the authority of states and localities to maintain custody in cases in which a detainer has been issued, and incentivizes cooperation between law enforcement agencies and DHS through the reimbursement of certain detention, technology, and litigation-related costs.\r\n4.Tillis Introduces Reforms To Bring Disaster Relief To North Carolinians Sooner\r\nOver the past three years, North Carolina has been devastated by three hurricanes that have impacted thousands of families. While Senator Tillis has worked tirelessly to deliver much-needed federal assistance to North Carolina, the state was repeatedly labeled a slow-spender by the federal government, which kept funds from being distributed to local communities in a timely manner and hurt North Carolina's case to secure federal funds to go towards disaster recovery. In response, Senator Tillis introduced legislation that cuts red tape at the federal and state levels in order to bring federal disaster relief to North Carolina families and local communities sooner. Senator Tillis will continue to push for reforms to federal disaster assistance programs.\r\n5.Tillis Leads Historic Effort To Confirm President Trump's Judges\r\nA member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Tillis has played a vital role in confirming President Trump's well-qualified judges, bringing the total to more than 170 federal judges confirmed.\r\nIn 2019, Tillis played a key role in recommending and helping to confirm several North Carolina federal judges, including Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the Fourth Circuit, Judge Ken Bell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of N.C., and Judge Richard Myers II of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of N.C., whose confirmation ended the longest federal judicial vacancy in the nation.\r\n6.Tillis Advocates on Behalf of NC to Secure More Than $160 Million in DOT Grants\r\nSenator Tillis successfully advocated on behalf of North Carolina stakeholders, helping secure six grants totalingmore than $160 million dollars, which include:\r\n \r\n$34,898,895to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)to make rail upgrades and improvements, add capacity, and increase fluidity of the CSX freight intermodal network from Charlotte to Wilmington.\r\n$2,000,000to the City of Wilmingtonto study realigning the current rail system around downtown instead of through downtown.\r\n$74,234,588to the City of Charlottefor the CATS Blue Line Extension.\r\n$22,500,000 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation(NCDOT) to widen 27 miles of I-95 to eight lanesbetweenLumberton and Fayetteville. This will make the area more resilient to major storms like Hurricanes Matthew and Florence by raisingtwo bridges near Lumberton, and several low-lying parts of the road susceptible to flooding. It also includes state-of-the-art flood monitoring technology in order to manage evacuation routes in real time.\r\n$15,000,000 to theCity of Greenvillefor a multimodal improvement project to enhance the city's vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure. The project will include roadway realignment and resurfacing, as well as the extension of an existing greenway space, construction of a multi-use path, and conversion of an abandoned rail.\r\n$13,600,000 to theTown of Mooresvillefor the construction of a new 1.7-mile roadway from I-77 to NC-115/Mecklenburg Highway. The new road will better connect Mooresville to the Lowe's Corporate Campus and the Department of Defense (DOD) Contractor Technologies.\r\n \r\n7.Tillis' Bipartisan Legion Act Signed Into Law\r\nIn July, President TrumpsignedSenator Tillis'LEGION Actinto law at the official bill signing in the Oval Office that willextendeligibility forAmerican Legion membership to honorably discharged veterans who served since World War II. Senator Tillis introduced the legislation withSenator KyrstenSinema(D-AZ). Currently, only veterans who served during periods of declared hostilities are able to join the American Legion. The bipartisanLEGION Actis supported by the American Legion and ensures the thousands of brave American veterans who fought for our country during unrecognized times of war are able to enjoy the full benefits ofmembership inthe American Legion.\r\n8.Tillis' Bipartisan Legislation Protecting Veterans From Predatory Lenders and Helping Them Achieve Homeownership Signed Into Law\r\nBipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tillis andSinemathat safeguard veterans from predatory loan practices and helps them more easily access their earned homeowner benefits was signed into law in July.\r\nThe legislation is a continuation of Senator Tillis' bipartisan leadership in protecting veterans from predatory lenders. In 2018, Senator Tillis' Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending wascodified into law, which ensures veterans cancontinue toeasily use their VA home loan guaranteeto refinance their mortgages and allows veteran homeownerstosave money, pay off their mortgages, and avoid falling prey to predatory lenders.\r\n9.Tillis Bills Providing Economic Relief to North Carolinians Signed into Law\r\nIn August, President Trump signed four bills Senator Tillis co-sponsored into law, which provide economic relief for small businesses, family farmers, National Guard and Reservists, and veterans in need.\r\n\r\n10.Tillis Leads Congressional Efforts to Reform U.S. Intellectual Property System\r\nIn 2019, Senator Tillis worked to re-instate the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and has worked across the aisle to reform and modernize our patent system and promote American innovation and protect our technology from countries like China.\r\n11.Tillis Continues Fight For Justice For The Victims Of Camp Lejeune Toxic Contamination\r\nSince taking office, Senator Tillis has been an advocate for providing justice for the victims of Camp Lejeune toxic contamination, working with Senator Burr to advance bipartisan legislation. In May, Senators Tillis and Burr introduced The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019to ensure individuals with diseases scientifically linked to toxic chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina receive proper medical care from the Veterans Administration (VA). The bill is named for Janey Ensminger, daughter of Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger, who was born at Camp Lejeune and died as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals.\r\n12.Anti-Robocall Legislation Co-Sponsored by Tillis Signed Into Law\r\nIn response to the onslaught of robocalls received by North Carolinians, Senator Tillis co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that was signed into law that gives regulators more time to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws.\r\n13.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation to Fight Nationwide Rape Kit Backlog Signed Into Law\r\nWith 15,000 untested rape-kits in North Carolina alone, the largest backlog in the country, Senator Tillis co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act and give much-needed resources to state and local law enforcement agencies to complete forensic analysis of crime scenes and untested rape kits. President Trump signed the legislation into law this week.\r\n14.Tillis' Bipartisan Bill to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Codified Into Law\r\nSenator Tillis secured passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program that protects North Carolina's economy and allows major events like the 2020 RNC Convention in Charlotte and American businesses to be protected and continue to create jobs.\r\nThe Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established in response to the scarcity of affordable insurance coverage for terrorism risk in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001. Since then, the program has improved the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance coverage in the marketplace through a public/private partnership that allows the federal government and the insurance industry to share losses in the event of a major terrorist attack. The program ensures that adequate resources are available for businesses to recover and rebuild if they are the victims of a terrorist attack. Under TRIA, all property and casualty insurers in the U.S. are required to make terrorism coverage available. Without the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2020, major building projects and other key events could be halted or delayed, causing lost jobs and economic activity.\r\n15.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation To Bolster U.S. Efforts to Prevent Genocide Signed Into Law\r\nAs co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, Senator Tillis has worked across the aisle to promote America's leadership role in protecting and advancing human rights. In January 2019, bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Tillisto bolster U.S. government efforts to prevent genocideand other human rights atrocities around the world was signed into law by President Trump. The legislation, named in honor of the courageous, inspiring Holocaust survivor and Nobel LaureateElieWiesel, strengthens the U.S. government'scapabilityto prevent, mitigate, and respond to genocide and other mass atrocities wherever they may occur.\r\n16.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation Protecting Victims of Child Abuse Signed Into Law\r\nBipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Tillis to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve child victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable, was signed into law by President Trump in January 2019.\r\n17.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation to Combat Alzheimer's Signed Into Law\r\nAs the former caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease, Senator Tillis has worked across the aisle to support the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's by 2025.\r\nBipartisan legislationco-sponsored by Senator Tillis and signed into law will for the first time create a public health infrastructure across the country to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. TheBuilding Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Actwill apply a public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease. Headed by the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), it will authorize $20 million annually over the next five years.\r\n18.Bipartisan Legislation Co-Introduced by Tillis to Ensure Veterans Receive Proper GI Bill Payments Signed Into Law\r\nPresident Trump signedinto law bipartisan legislation co-introduced by Senator Tillis to ensure the VA reimburses veterans for missed or underpaid GI Bill housing benefits. TheForever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Actwas introduced to address the VA's failure to fully comply with updated Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates set by the Forever GI Bill.\r\n19.Tillis &amp; Rouzer Bill to Designate American World War II Heritage Cities, Including Wilmington, Codified Into Law\r\nSenator Tillis and Congressman Rouzer successfully pushed their bill to designate American World War II Heritage Cities to be codified into law. The Tillis-Rouzer provision directs the Secretary of Interior to annually designate at least one city in the United States as an American World War II Heritage City, into law. Wilmington, North Carolina is likely to be among the first cities to receive the honor.\r\nThe American World War IIHeritage Citydesignations are based on specific criteria, including the contributions a city made toward the efforts to secure America's victory in the European and the Pacific theaters during World War II, as well as the efforts made by cities to preserve the history of the their World War II contributions through the preservation of museums and organizations, restoration of facilities that helped with the war effort, and a city's overall recognition of World War II veterans.\r\nDuring World War II,Wilmingtonwas the home of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company. The shipyard was created as part of the U.S. government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Workers built 243 ships inWilmingtonduring the five years the company operated.\r\n20.Tillis Secures More Than $30 Million in Rural Broadband Grants for North Carolina\r\nSenator Tillis continued to work with communities in North Carolina to receive USDA grants and expand rural broadband for residents.\r\nEarlier this year, Senator Tillis hosted a roundtable at Vance-Granville Community College to talk about the need for rural broadband access and find ways the federal and state government can work together to reach more North Carolinians.\r\n21.Tillis Leads Effort To Designate PFAS as a Hazardous Substance\r\nResponding to serious concerns over PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River, Senator Tillis has led efforts to designate PFAS as a hazardous substance by the EPA. Earlier this year, Senator Tillis co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that wouldrequirethe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) within one year of enactment to declare PFAS as hazardous substances eligible for cleanup funds under the EPA Superfund law, and also enable a requirement that polluters undertake or pay for remediation.\r\n22.Tillis Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Enforce Salary Caps on CEOs of Fannie and Freddie\r\nTo protect the tax dollars of hardworking Americans, Senator Tillis introduced bipartisan legislation to close an existing loophole that would effectively place salary caps for the CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill was introduced after the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Inspector General reported the FHFA has allowed compensation for executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to expand well beyond Congressionally-mandated limits for chief executive compensation at both institutions by separating the chief executive and president role at those agencies, transferring duties of the chief executive officer to the president, and raising the president's salary by millions. Senator Tillis' Respect the Caps Act closes this loophole.\r\n23.Tillis Introduces The Protect Act To Ensure Protections and Affordable Coverage For Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions\r\nSenator Tillis believes in patient-centered health care that delivers the choices they want, the affordability and protections they need, and the quality they deserve, which is why he introduced theProtect Act. Tillis' legislation protects Americans with pre-existing conditions, ensuring that they have the peace of mindknowingthat they and their loved ones will never be denied health care coverage or be charged more because of a pre-existing condition.\r\n24.Tillis Co-Introduces Legislation to Tackle Prescription Drug Prices\r\nTo combat rising health care costs, Senator Tillis co-introduced legislation to lower prescription drug prices, bring greater transparency to the prescription drug industry, and encourage American ingenuity in the development of new treatments and cures.\r\n25.Tillis Takes Action To Strengthen School Safety and Prevent Mass Violence\r\nIn September, Senator Tillis and a group of senators took bipartisan action to strengthen school safety for students across the country. The senators introduced theSchool Safety Clearinghouse Act,which would establish a federally-funded and housed information clearinghouse detailing best practices for school security and design.\r\nIn October, Senator Tillis and a group of his colleaguesintroducedthe Restoring, Enhancing, Strengthening, and promoting our Nation's Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act in an effort to reduce mass violence and make communities safer.The legislation gives new tools to law enforcement, expands resources for mental health treatment, and bolsters school safety for students and teachers through incentives and training.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-statement-on-escalation-in-iraq", "Udall Statement on Escalation in Iraq", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Tom Udall", "U000039", "www.tomudall.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 31, 2019\n\t\t\t Udall Statement on Escalation in Iraq \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Iranian-backed protestors attacked the U.S. embassy in Iraq following U.S. air strikes:\r\nThe predictable result of the Trump administration's reckless bluster, escalation and miscalculation in the Middle East is that we are now hurtling closer to an unauthorized war with Iran that the American people do not support. I am hoping and praying the dangerous situation at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad is resolved without serious injuries or loss of life, and I urge the administration to focus on dialogue and diplomacy going forward.\r\n\"At a volatile time, President Trump and his advisors are endangering U.S. citizens and pushing us closer to what would be another disastrous and deadly Middle East entanglement  and toward a war that Congress has not approved. Both the House and the Senate took major steps earlier this year with majority bipartisan votes to prevent an unauthorized war with Iran, but the Trump administration and Republican leaders thwarted the will of Congress and kept the measure out of the final national defense bill. This was a potentially tragic missed opportunity, but that is no excuse for inaction going forward. Both Houses of Congress need to step up before it is too late to halt this march to war.\r\nUdall is the author of a bipartisan amendment to prevent unauthorized war with Iran that passed the House and earned majority support in the Senate.\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 \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.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-on-legislation-to-stop-annoying-robocalls-signed-into-law", "Warner on Legislation to Stop Annoying Robocalls Signed Into Law", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the followingstatement after President Trump signed into law a bill sponsored by Sen. Warner to crack down on illegal robocall scams:\r\nThe truth is, folks in Virginia and across the nation are sick and tired of receiving unsolicited robocalls at all hours of the day, said Sen. Warner. These calls are intrusive and often set up by scammers looking to pray on vulnerable individuals. I'm proud to have sponsored this legislation and am very excited to see it signed into law so that it can start giving individuals some peace of mind. Personally, I know I won't miss these annoying robocalls, and I have a feeling other Virginians won't either.\r\nThe Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act gives regulators more time to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, requires service providers to adopt call authentication and blocking, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally break laws. Sen. Warner sponsored the Senate version of the bill, which passed the Senate in 97-1 vote in May 2019. After the House passed an amended version of the bill earlier this month, the Senate unanimously voted to send the bill to the President's desk for signature on December 18.\r\nThe TRACED Act:\r\n \r\nBroadens the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call on people who intentionally flout telemarketing restrictions.\r\nExtends the window for the FCC to catch and take civil enforcement action against intentional violations to four years after a robocall is placed. Under current law, the FCC has only one year to do so, and the FCC has told the committee that even a one-year longer statute of limitations for enforcement would improve enforcement against violators.\r\nBrings together the Department of Justice, FCC, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Commerce, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other relevant federal agencies, as well as state attorneys general and other non-federal entities to identify and report to Congress on improving deterrence and criminal prosecution at the federal and state level of robocall scams.\r\nRequires voice service providers to adopt call authentication technologies, enabling a telephone carrier to verify that incoming calls are legitimate before they reach consumers' phones.\r\nDirects the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to help protect subscribers from receiving unwanted calls or texts from callers.\r\nDirects the FCC to initiate a rulemaking process to protect consumers from one-ring scams.\r\nRequires the FCC to establish a working group to issue best practices to prevent hospitals from receiving illegal robocalls.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402283", "Hastings Statement on West Palm Beach VA Shared Congressional Space Closure", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made the following statement on the closing of the shared Congressional space at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC-WPB), effective December 31, 2019(Please find attached the letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs): I am truly honored and privileged to represent the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC-WPB) in my Congressional district.Thus, I find it most regrettable that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made an extremely short-sighted decision to terminate the shared-space agreement at the VAMC-WPB, effective December 31, 2019.This was the the first-of-its-kind agreement, which enabled the entire Palm Beach Congressional delegation to hold office hours at the VAMC-WPB, helping to improve constituent access to our Congressional offices.While appeals have been made to the VA to reconsider this decision, it is extremely unfortunate that veterans in our region will be hurt by this decision.I remain committed to serving our veterans and their families with the dignity and respect they rightly deserve, said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20).\r\nCongressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402284", "Hastings Condemns Violent Anti-Semitic Attack on Jewish Community in New York", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Alcee Hastings", "H000324", "alceehastings.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hastings Condemns Violent Anti-Semitic Attack on Jewish Community in New York  \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Fort Lauderdale, FL,\r\n        December 30, 2019\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      Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) issued the following statement on the attack in Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg's home in Monsey, New York:\r\nI was heartbroken to learn of the heinous anti-Semitic attack during a Hanukkah celebration in Rabbi Rottenberg's home. I condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrific act of violence and the many recent anti-Semitic attacks in the New York metro area, during this holiday season.\r\nThere is no doubt that the forces of anti-Semitism are not only affecting our nation, but also are on the rise across the globe, and must be unequivocally denounced.People of all faiths deserve to feel safe in their place of worship.We must condemn all forms of hatred and strengthen our resolve to make it clear that bigotry and hate have no place in our society. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.  \r\n\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=402261", "Burgess Recaps Year with Report", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Burgess", "B001248", "burgess.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released his annual year-end report today.\r\nThis report is just one way that I am able to remain accountable to my constituents, Burgess said. It provides the 26th District of Texas a record of all that has happened in the last year. I am looking forward to another year serving the district.\r\nThis report can be found on his website or by clicking here.\r\nBurgess works hard to ensure that he is accessible to the constituents of the 26th District. By releasing an annual report, constituents are provided a full breakdown of what has been accomplished by Burgess and his staff. The report is broken down into three parts: constituent services, legislative work, and media appearances.\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406292", "<span class =\"kicker\">Holmdel-Colts Neck TapInto News Article</span>'Injured Marine First in NJ to Receive New Smart Home From Tunnel To Towers Foundation'", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) joined representatives from the Stephen Siller Tunnelto Towers Foundation, local elected officials, members of law enforcement and local veterans, in honoring United States Marine Corporal Scott Nokes. Nokes was chosen by Tunnelto Towers Foundation to be a recipient of a brand new smart home, mortgage free.\r\nScott A. Nokes, is a hero to so many. Nokeshas twice saved someone's life. As a volunteer firefighter, he once rescued a boy from a fire. In a second incidence, Nokessaved a fellow student while attending a ROTC camp. As a Corporal and rifleman in the Marines, assigned to 1/8 Charlie Company, Nokes was twice deployed to Afghanistan. While on his second deployment, Scott developed dysentery, which led to unresolved GI issues, sepsis and the eventual amputation of both of his legs below the knee. Nokes also suffered theloss of his vision.\r\nThe Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation chose to honor and to support Nokes and this new chapter in his life with a custom-designedsmart home. These homes enableseverely injured heroes live more comfortable and independent lives.\r\nNokes just in time for the Christmas holidayreceived the keys from the foundation to a new smart home which was built specifically for him and his needs as a blind double amputee resulting from an infection he received during hisservice to the U.S. while in Afghanistan.\r\nThe 2,800 square foot home is located in Howell, NJ. It hasthree bedrooms,three bathrooms, andsmart amenities such asa fully automatic toilet that has a seat that lifts as someone approaches it. Theseat is also heated, hasauto flushing and cleaning features.\r\nThe kitchen is equipped for easier cooking when in a wheelchair and has various built in smart technology conveniences. Both the front door and the door to the garage are automatic. The lighting in each room is designed to shine a different color as Nokes can partially see different color hues.\r\nIt took six months and 700 people to complete the project.\r\nIn 2003, Smith authored theVeterans Benefit Act(PL 108-183) that increased government funding to $50,000 for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) programs for severely disabled service members.The SAH government program helps veterans like Cpl. Nokes live independently but doesn't cover the entire cost of home ownership. Nokes home is reported to have cost around $500,000. That's where the Tunnels to Towers Foundations stepped in. Through a strong and committed network of donors and corporate partners, theTunnels to Towers Foundationconveyed the home to Cpl. Nokes free of mortgage.An avid hiker and camper Nokes is currently working to complete his college degree majoring in history, homeland security and becoming literate in Braille and hopes to develop a career in peer mentorship.  \r\n\r\nNo one deserves this more than Corporal Nokes, Smith said. He is a courageous marine with an indomitable spirit. \r\nEvery great foundation has a story behind it. So who is Stephen Siller of the Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers Foundation? Firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller was the youngest of seven children born to Mae and George Siller. At the age of eight, Stephen lost his father, and a year and a half later his mother passed away, leaving him an orphan to be raised by his older siblings. For a while Stephen went through a period of struggle, but thanks to the love of his siblings, and the values instilled in him by his parents, he grew up to be an extraordinary individual and dedicated firefighter. More than most, he knew that time was precious and accomplished much in his 34 years.\r\nOn September 11, 2001, Stephen, who was assigned to Brooklyn's Squad 1, had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Upon hearing the news, Stephen called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear.\r\nStephen drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.\r\nStephen had everything to live for; a great wife, five wonderful children, a devoted extended family, and friends. Stephen's parents were lay Franciscans and he grew up under the guiding philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi, whose encouraging and inspirational phrase while we have time, let us do good were words that Stephen lived by. Stephen's life and heroic death serve as a reminder to us all to live life to the fullest and to spend our time here on earth doing good  this is his legacy.\r\nAuthor and family friend Jay Price wrote: Every momentous event, even a tragedy, has its symbolic figures. September 11th was no different; it just had a few more of them. Rudy Giuliani, Father Mychal Judge, the four guys on United Flight 9  a hundred more  a thousand. None bigger than Stephen Siller, whose stature only grows with time as New Yorkers and people from around the world follow his footsteps.\r\nTo learn more about the Tunnels to Towers Foundation or to make a donation,click here.\r\nThis article was originally published on December 29, 2019 and can be found online at:\r\nhttps://www.tapinto.net/towns/holmdel-and-colts-neck/sections/military-and-veterans/articles/injured-marine-first-in-nj-to-receive-new-smart-home-from-tunnel-to-towers-foundation", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406293", "<span class =\"kicker\">Coast Star Article:'Feds to target Lyme disease with $150M legislation'</span>'Diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive effort hailed in NJ by co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Smith'", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BY SANNE YOUNG THE COAST STAR   After decades of effort, a new national strategy for fighting Lyme disease finally has been signed into law.   After 21 years, I'm ecstatic. We finally got it, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who joined fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, in sponsoring the measure to fight tick-borne diseases.    Lawmakers, instead of letting the bill go through the usual committee process, did a workaround, Rep. Smith said. The bill was attached to a massive end-of-year spending package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on Friday, Dec. 20.    Mr. Smith, who represents New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District, said the legislation authorizes $150 million in federal funding over five years for the federal Centers of Excellence to create a new whole-of-government national strategy to combat Lyme, as well as for local Lyme initiatives, he said. The new law will open doors to innovative therapies, treatments, better diagnosis and more accurate information for doctors and their patients with Lyme.    New Jersey is a hot spot for the disease, the second highest state in the nation in thenumber of cases reported, 40,000 in 2018, said Wall Township resident Patricia V. Smith [no relation to the congressman], president of the National Lyme Disease Association.    We're certainly thrilled to see more distribution of funds for tick-borne diseases and for providing development of a national strategy, said Ms. Smith, who first began a campaign for Lyme awareness in the 1980s when a number of Wall school teachers and students contracted the disease.    The legislation, formerly the TICK Act, now is named for Sen. Kay Hagan [D-NC] who died in October of encephalitis, caused by the tick-borne Powassan virus.    Rep. Smith said the new national strategy will be key.    Now, you will have every agency working on the same page to combat the explosion of this terrible disease, he said, from the federal Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense. He noted that soldiers from around the nation have contracted Lyme while bivouacking at Fort Dix. Congress passes long-awaited Lyme-disease legislation\r\n  \r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n  \r\nPatricia V. Smith, president of the National Lyme Disease Association, and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, [no relation] listen during a Lyme disease forum held at the Wall Township Municipal Complex on May 29. (FILE PHOTO THE COAST STAR)\r\n\r\n  \r\nHORRIFIC DISEASE'   I've introduced over a dozen bills in Congress beginning with the Lyme Disease Initiative Act of 1998 to get here, Rep. Smith said. This marks a major victory for hundreds of thousands  especially and including children  who suffer from this horrific disease.    He said it took decades to get the medical profession to recognize the seriousness of Lyme disease. In the past, it was called hard to catch and easy to cure. Nothing could be further from the truth, he said. Lyme doctors were ostracized. That's all gone. Now they are recognizing it's one of the most devastating diseases.    Ms. Smith said the legislation now has to go through the 2020 appropriation process, and she is concerned over some language changes that were made, striking the word Lyme, and referring to a wider variety vector-borne diseases, as the bill moved from the House through the Senate.    Unfortunately, when it came out of the Senate it was changed so that we don't know how much money Lyme will get. But I have been given some assurances from the federal agencies that a good portion will go toward Lyme, she said.    I would like to thank Congressman Smith and Sen. Collins and other co-sponsors for getting this passed, she added. Rep. Smith said he is confident most of the funding will go toward Lyme, which accounts for 80 percent of tick-borne diseases in the nation.   Ms. Smith said she is glad a portion of the funding will be directed through the state health department toward local county initiatives for fighting Lyme, including correctly identifying local cases and responding to outbreaks. In 2018, she noted, Monmouth County had the highest number of cases, 5,060, reported in the state.  TOWN HALL TALK    On Dec. 18, Ms. Smith gave a presentation to residents at town hall on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.    One bite from one deer tick can transmit several devastating diseases, including Lyme, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ms. Smith said.    Laboratory tests for Lyme still are only about 50 percent accurate, with many infected patients testing negative, she said. It's frequently misdiagnosed, with only 50 percent getting a rash, she said.    Patients often get chronic diseases from Lyme because resistor cells remain after traditional treatments. As for proper tick removal, she said: Don't put anything on a tick. Don't burn it. Don't touch it. Don't squeeze it. Don't twist it. If you annoy that tick, any disease it has can be injected into you, so you are increasing your risk of infection. What should you do? Pull it straight out. Clean the area with antiseptic afterward, and save the tick for identification, she said.  CATS, DOGS, MOOSE INFECTED    This problem is extremely important across our country, she said, noting that Lyme disease can be found in 80 countries worldwide, and even has been found in penguins in Antarctica.   Of 189,000 pet dogs tested in New Jersey last year, one out of 11 tested positive for Lyme, which can destroy their kidneys and kill them, Ms. Smith said.    Cats also can be infected, she said, and cowboys at the nation's southern border are working to combat ticks and Lyme disease in cattle and horses, she said. In addition, she said, a study in New England has found that the moose population is being decimated by ticks.  Sanne Young can be reached at syoung@thecoaststar.com or 732- 223-0076 Ext 17. This article ran on page one of the Dec. 26, 2019 print edition of he Coast Star and the original story can be found online at:\r\nhttps://starnewsgroup.com/2019/12/30/congress-passes-150m-lyme-disease-legislation/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=459E2585-C38E-426B-8AA9-827E0461759E", "Feinstein Condemns Anti-Semitic Attacks", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the series of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and New Jersey over the past week:\r\nSaturday's horrific attack at a rabbi's home in Monsey, N.Y., was the latest in a string of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and New Jersey that should shake all of us to our core.\r\nNo one in this country should be fearful of practicing their religion, yet that's exactly what we're witnessing. To enter a home and viciously stab five worshippers with a machete is an unthinkable act of terror, plain and simple.\r\nI agree with Senator Schumer and others that we need a comprehensive federal investigation into these attacks, including the motivations of the perpetrators and how we can prevent future attacks. We must stem the tide of these hate crimes.\r\nFreedom of religion is a foundation of our way of life, and more must be done to ensure that freedom is available to everyone.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-calls-on-massachusetts-offshore-wind-developers-to-ensure-offshore-wind-jobs-are-union-jobs", "Senator Markey Calls on Massachusetts Offshore Wind Developers to Ensure Offshore Wind Jobs Are Union Jobs", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Markey Calls on Massachusetts Offshore Wind Developers to Ensure Offshore Wind Jobs Are Union Jobs \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nIn letters to two major offshore wind developers, Markey calls for all Massachusetts offshore wind projects to enter into Project Labor Agreements\r\n\r\nBoston (December 30, 2019)  Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and co-author of the Green New Deal resolution, sent letters today to offshore wind developers Vineyard Wind and rsted calling on them to enter into Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for all projects off the Massachusetts and the larger East Coast. A PLA would ensure that newly created jobs in the offshore wind industry are good-paying and safe, and that jobs would be filled with a highly skilled local union workforce. Massachusetts has set a goal of procuring 1600 MW of offshore wind under a 2016 renewable energy law, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources recently laid out a plan to solicit an additional 1,600 MW of offshore wind by 2024. The U.S. Energy Department found that the United States could install a total of 22,000 megawatts of offshore wind projects by 2030 and 86,000 MW by 2050, creating tens of thousands of jobs in coastal communities along the Atlantic Coast.\r\n\r\nThe introduction of offshore wind facilities off the coast of Massachusetts is poised to create tens of thousands of new jobs across the region,writes Senator Markey in his letters.All offshore wind projects off the coast of Massachusetts should enter into Project Labor Agreements to make sure that local, highly skilled workers can have good-paying and safe jobs in this important new industry. Massachusetts labor unions stand ready to tackle the opportunities and challenges of projects like Vineyard Wind, and can train and develop the local workforce to meet the demands of the offshore wind industry.\r\n\r\nA copy of Senator Markey's letter to rsted can be foundHERE. A copy of his letter to Vineyard Wind can be foundHERE.\r\n\r\nIn June, Senators Markey, Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introducedlegislationto expand offshore wind educational and career training. The legislation would direct the Energy Department to work with stakeholders to identify the offshore wind industry's educational and career training needs before setting up a grant program to address those needs, including current worker training, training in conjunction with an apprenticeship, individual tuition assistance for a postsecondary credential, or other activities to address the workforce needs of the offshore wind industry. Labor unions and institutions of higher education would be eligible for these grants.\r\n\r\nIn June, Senators Markey and Whitehouse, and Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-02) reintroduced legislation that would spur the growth of offshore wind energy in the United States by extending tax credits for the renewable energy industry. TheOffshore Wind Incentives for New Development (WIND) Actwould extend the 30 percent Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for offshore wind through 2025.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.menendez.senate.gov/news-and-events/press/menendez-booker-announce-16m-to-help-hackensack-meridian-health-treat-at-risk-nj-kids-and-their-families", "Menendez, Booker Announce $16M to Help Hackensack Meridian Health Treat at Risk NJ Kids and their Families", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M000639", "www.menendez.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Menendez, Booker Announce $16M to Help Hackensack Meridian Health Treat at Risk NJ Kids and their Families \n\t\t\t\n\t Menendez, Booker Announce $16M to Help Hackensack Meridian Health Treat at Risk NJ Kids and their Families \n\t\n\t\n\tMonday, December 30, 2019\n\t\n\t\r\nNEWARK, N.J.  U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced that Hackensack Meridian Health has been awarded $15.8 million over seven years from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish the New Jersey Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, which aims to address a combination of factors for high-risk pediatric patients, including medical, behavioral and social risks. The network was one of eight awarded nationally and the only in the in the state of New Jersey. To implement the program, Hackensack MeridianHealthwill partner with the VNA of Central Jersey, the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (Quality Institute) and the New Jersey State Medicaid office.\r\n \r\nThis incredible funding will allow Hackensack Meridian Healthto provide affordable, quality care to New Jersey's children,said Sen. Menendez.It's vital that we invest in programs like this so we can detect issues children are having early on and treat them appropriately. I appreciate Hackensack Meridian's efforts in identifying and treating vulnerable children and providing them with comprehensive care management and look forward to continue working with them to ensure New Jerseyans have access to great health care services.\r\nFar too many communities in New Jersey face great obstacles when seeking adequate healthcare,said Sen. Booker. This crucial federal funding will support Hackensack University Medical Center's child-centered behavioral health services that are geared towards children affected by the opioid crisis. It is this type of innovative care and support from the federal government that will help New Jersey put an end to this devastating epidemic and better prepare our young people to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.\r\nWe are so excited to have been selected as a recipient of this cooperative agreement on behalf of the state of New Jersey,says Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. This is a novel concept that, once proven, can be replicated throughout the state, and we are truly energized to begin implementation with these tremendous partners, who were integral to being awarded this cooperative agreement.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/congressional-visit-sen-merkley-to-hold-curry-town-hall", "Congressional Visit: Sen. Merkley to hold Curry town hall", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressional Visit: Sen. Merkley to hold Curry town hall \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMonday, December 30, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOregon's U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley plans to kick off 2020 with 12 town halls across Southern and Central Oregon, including one in Curry County. The town halls will be Jan. 2 through 5, in Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, and Gilliam counties.\r\nAccording to a release from Merkley's office, he will update constituents on his work in Washington, D.C., and answer their questions and invite their suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.\r\nHearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job, Merkley said. From tackling Sudden Oak Death, to big investments in rural broadband, to making sure small ports get dredged, the ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\r\nSince joining the Senate in 2009, Merkley has held a town hall in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. In all, the New Year town halls will be his 408th as a U.S. Senator.\r\nThe following locations are Merkley's scheduled town halls.\r\nJan. 2\r\n10 a.m.\r\nDouglas County Town Hall\r\nSutherlin High School, gym\r\n500 E. Fourth Ave.\r\nSutherlin\r\n2 p.m.\r\nCoos County Town Hall\r\nCoquille Community Center, small auditorium\r\n115 N. Birch St.\r\nCoquille\r\n5:30 p.m.\r\nCurry County Town Hall\r\nPort Orford Community Hall\r\n419 Eleventh St.\r\nPort Orford\r\nJan. 3\r\n8:30 a.m. Josephine County Town Hall\r\nRogue Community College, gym\r\n3345 Redwood Highway\r\nGrants Pass\r\n12 p.m.\r\nJackson County Town Hall\r\nSouthern Oregon University, Rogue River Room\r\n1250 Siskiyou Blvd.\r\nAshland\r\n4 p.m.\r\nKlamath County Town Hall\r\nOregon Institute of Technology, College Union, Mazama-Scott Room\r\n3201 Campus Drive\r\nKlamath Falls\r\nJan 4\r\n9 a.m.\r\nDeschutes County Town Hall\r\nRidgeview High School, auditorium\r\n4555 SW Elkhorn Ave.\r\nRedmond\r\n12 p.m.\r\nJefferson County Town Hall\r\nMadras Performing Arts Center, auditorium\r\n412 SE Buff St.\r\n\r\nMadras\r\n3 p.m.\r\nCrook County Town Hall\r\nBarnes Butte Elementary School, gym\r\n1875 NE Ironhorse Drive\r\nPrineville\r\n6:30 p.m.\r\nWheeler County Town Hall\r\nMitchell School, cafeteria\r\n340 SE High St.\r\nMitchell\r\nJan. 5\r\n12:30 p.m.\r\nGrant County Town Hall\r\nMount Vernon Community Hall\r\n640 Ingle St.\r\nMt. Vernon\r\n5 p.m.\r\nGilliam County Town Hall\r\nVeterans Memorial Hall\r\n120 S. Main St.\r\nCondon\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\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\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-biohaven-pharmaceuticals-as-murphys-innovator-of-the-month", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS BIOHAVEN PHARMACEUTICALS AS MURPHYS INNOVATOR OF THE MONTH", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS BIOHAVEN PHARMACEUTICALS AS MURPHY'S INNOVATOR OF THE MONTH\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHARTFORDU.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)announced on Monday that New Haven innovator Biohaven Pharmaceuticals has been named Innovator of the Month. Founded in 2013, Biohaven is arapidly growingcompany focused on neurological-innovation and developing products that address several of the most disabling and devastating neurological disorders, such as migraines, Alzheimer's disease, and anxiety. The company was created to fill what the founders saw as a void in neurology research in the pharmaceutical industry.\r\nThis is Connecticut innovation at its best. Migraines can be a nightmare and hamper people's ability to function, and Biohaven is leading the way in finding an innovative cure. I'm proud to highlight Biohaven as this month's innovator and encourage investment in treating neurological conditions. I look forward to watching this company continue to grow right here in Connecticut,said Murphy.\r\nVlad Coric, M.D., CEO of Biohaven said,Biohavenisgrateful to Senator Murphy for this recognition and for his strong commitment to supporting innovation toimprove lives andstimulate economic development.Biohavenhasthrivedin theentrepreneurial spirit and strong sense of community herein New Haven, Connecticut.Our goal atBiohavenwas to create an organization that is focused on unmetmedicalneedsand add value for our patients and shareholders while maintaining an efficient and high performing culture. New Haven has beenan ideal location forBiohavengiven its proximity to Yale and highly skilled pharmaceutical talent that sits in the geographic corridor between New York and Boston.\r\nBiohavencurrently is seekingFood and Drug Administrationapproval forits first medicine,rimegepant, acalcitoningene-relatedpeptide (CGRP) antagonist that targets the body's neurotransmitter that is the root cause of a migraine headache.Migraines are a leading cause of disability worldwide andBiohaven'sdata published in theNew England Journal of MedicineandThe Lancetshow thatrimegepantworksfor many patientswithin minutes,restores normal functioningandits effectcanlastfortwo days after a single dose.\r\nBiohaven'sportfolio also includes a widepipelineof innovative late-stage product candidates includingtroriluzole, a glutamate modulator being studied for the treatmentof mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease(AD), andverdiperstat, a myeloperoxidase inhibitor being studied for multiple neurodegenerative disorders. The company recently received encouraging news thatitsstudyoftroriluzolein ADpassed an interim futility analysis after the first 100 patients completed 6 months of treatment.     \r\nBiohavenstarted smallwith only a few employeesin the back office of a clinicandwas initially foundeduponintellectual property related to Dr.Coric'swork on glutamate modulating agents licensed from Yale University.Biohavenwent public in 2017 and their common sharesarelisted on the New York Stock Exchange traded under the tickersymbolBHVN.Biohavenhas grown to over 600 employees andhas raised over $1.1 billion to funditsresearch and developmentactivities.Biohavenhas established an impressive presence in New Haven byrenovating a building just off the Yale University campus in the heart of theNew Havenfinancial district.\r\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies the Angel Tax Credit Actand theHelping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act.Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-secures-more-than-1-million-for-first-ever-navy-rotc-program-at-uh-manoa", "Schatz Secures More Than $1 Million For First-Ever Navy ROTC Program At UH Manoa", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Secures More Than $1 Million For First-Ever Navy ROTC Program At UH Manoa \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t   HONOLULU  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $1.1 million for a first-ever Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa. The funding was included in the bipartisan spending deal signed into law by the president this month.\r\nThis new ROTC program at UH will give more Hawaii students a chance at earning scholarships and gaining an education, while helping the Navy strengthen its diversity to make sure its officers better reflect the American public and our values in Hawaii, said Senator Schatz, lead Democrat on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee.\r\n\r\nSchatz met with Navy Secretary Richard Spencer earlier this year and urged him to use additional congressional funding for the Navy's ROTC program to establish a unit at UH. Schatz reminded Spencer that senior Navy leaders in Hawaii have long spoken to the university's potential to commission a significant number of high-quality cadets with critical language and technical skills from among an ethnically and racially diverse student body that will help the Navy strengthen its diversity and representation of the state. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Schatz worked with committee colleagues to secure the new funding for the UH program.\r\n\r\nThe new Navy ROTC program will train students to become commissioned officers and enable more Hawaii students to attend college and serve their country.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/2019/12/icymi-arrington-trade-wins-signal-brighter-future-for-west-texas/", "ICYMI: Arrington: Trade Wins Signal Brighter Future for West Texas", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ICYMI: Arrington: Trade Wins Signal Brighter Future for West Texas \n\t\t\t\t\tDecember 30, 2019\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLUBBOCK Writing in theLubbock Avalanche-Journalthis week, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) hailed therecent passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S. House of Representativesand theTrump Administration's Phase One trade deal with Chinaas a turning point for American trade policy that will benefit agriculture and energy economies in West Texas and across the country:\nAfter years of watching our jobs shipped overseas and agriculture exports plummet, our nation has made a much-needed course correction  one that will bring a brighter future for our farmers and ranchers, energy producers, and workers in West Texas who, perhaps more than anyone, understand the costs and consequences of trade imbalances that affect their livelihood,wrote Arrington.\nTogether, passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Congress and the prospects of a Phase One trade deal with China are generating even more optimism for the people and businesses that turn the gears on the largest and most diverse economic engine in the world\nIn District 19 alone, Canada and Mexico account for 40 percent of our total exports, and nearly half of all trade-related jobs are connected to our North American neighbors\nUnder the Phase One' deal announced earlier this month, China has committed to purchasing at least $200 billion worth of American exports, doubling its imports of U.S. goods over the next two years\nThese recent successes are only the beginning of a turning point for American trade and, by extension, for agriculture and energy economies like ours in West Texas and across the country\n\nREAD CONGRESSMAN ARRINGTON'SFULL COLUMN IN THELUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL:\n\nTrade wins signal brighter future for West Texas\nBy Jodey C. Arrington\nLubbock Avalanche-Journal\nDecember 29, 2019\n\nMajor negotiation breakthroughs with our North American trade partners as well as China sent the stock market to record highs last week but, more importantly, sent a message from the U.S. to our international partners and adversaries alike: America First' is not just a campaign slogan, it's the new reality.\nInstead of being beholden to the whims and wishes of other global economic superpowers, America is now negotiating from a position of strength, enabling us to control our own economic destiny in the 21st Century.\nAfter years of watching our jobs shipped overseas and agriculture exports plummet, our nation has made a much-needed course correction  one that will bring a brighter future for our farmers and ranchers, energy producers, and workers in West Texas who, perhaps more than anyone, understand the costs and consequences of trade imbalances that affect their livelihood.\nThe future of economic prosperity for America depends on freer markets at home and greater access to consumers abroad.\nTogether, passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Congress and the prospects of a Phase One trade deal with China are generating even more optimism for the people and businesses that turn the gears on the largest and most diverse economic engine in the world.\nUSMCA will add nearly $70 billion to the U.S. economy, create more than 170,000 new jobs, and grow U.S. agriculture exports by an additional $2.2 billion annually.\nIn District 19 alone, Canada and Mexico account for 40 percent of our total exports, and nearly half of all trade-related jobs are connected to our North American neighbors.\nUnder the Phase One deal announced earlier this month, China has committed to purchasing at least $200 billion worth of American exports, doubling its imports of U.S. goods over the next two years.\nEven more important than the substantial increase in Chinese purchases of U.S. agriculture products, the deal also includes structural reforms like ending currency manipulation and protecting intellectual property, allowing our producers and manufacturers to compete and win on a level playing field.\nThese recent successes are only the beginning of a turning point for American trade and, by extension, for agriculture and energy economies like ours in West Texas and across the country.\nPresident Trump and his chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, have been applying maximum pressure  including using tariffs as a tool  to force other nations into better and fairer deals for the U.S.\nMake no mistake: these painful but necessary negotiating tactics caused China to drop from the second-largest market for U.S. agriculture products to the fifth-largest in just the past two years, with $10 billion in lost exports for U.S. farmers.\nThat's why, ultimately, we must seek to offset the Chinese export market by accessing new markets and reaching new customers in the EU, UK, and Indo-Pacific region. This means building upon the recent successes in achieving better trade parity for the United States in North America and other global economic powers like Japan  which recently agreed to reduce or eliminate tariffs on more than $7 billion of U.S. agriculture exports.\nUSMCA is supported on both sides of the aisle and represents not only more economic activity with our neighbors to the north and south, but also a model framework for enhancing other trade agreements across the globe.\nBuilding on the historic tax cuts and regulatory relief, freer and fairer trade for the U.S. means greater prosperity for the next generation of agriculture and energy producers.\nThat's why it was important for West Texas to have a seat on Ways and Means  the Committee that sets U.S. trade policy  to ensure a level playing field for our farmers and new markets for our food, fuel, and fiber.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=30", "ICYMI: Arrington: Trade Wins Signal Brighter Future for West Texas", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Writing in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal this week, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) hailed the recent passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Trump Administration\u2019s Phase One trade deal with China as a turning point for American trade policy that will benefit agriculture and energy economies in West Texas and across the country: \u201cAfter years of watching our jobs shipped overseas and agriculture exports plummet, our nation has made a much-needed course correction \u2013 one that will bring a brighter future for our farmers and ranchers, energy producers, and workers in West Texas who, perhaps more than anyone, understand the costs and consequences of trade imbalances that affect their livelihood,\u201d wrote Arrington. \u201c\u2026Together, passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Congress and the prospects of a \u201cPhase One\u201d trade deal with China are generating even more optimism for the people and businesses that turn the gears on the largest and most diverse economic engine in the world\u2026\u201d \u201c\u2026In District 19 alone, Canada and Mexico account for 40 percent of our total exports, and nearly half of all trade-related jobs are connected to our North American neighbors\u2026\u201d \u201c\u2026Under the \u2018Phase One\u2019 deal announced earlier this month, China has committed to purchasing at least $200 billion worth of American exports, doubling its imports of U.S. goods over the next two years\u2026\u201d \u201c...These recent successes are only the beginning of a turning point for American trade and, by extension, for agriculture and energy economies like ours in West Texas and across the country\u2026\u201d READ CONGRESSMAN ARRINGTON\u2019S FULL COLUMN IN THE LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL: Trade wins signal brighter future for West Texas By Jodey C. Arrington Lubbock Avalanche-Journal December 29, 2019 Major negotiation breakthroughs with our North American trade partners as well as China sent the stock market to record highs last week but, more importantly, sent a message from the U.S. to our international partners and adversaries alike: \u2018America First\u2019 is not just a campaign slogan, it\u2019s the new reality. Instead of being beholden to the whims and wishes of other global economic superpowers, America is now negotiating from a position of strength, enabling us to control our own economic destiny in the 21st Century. After years of watching our jobs shipped overseas and agriculture exports plummet, our nation has made a much-needed course correction \u2013 one that will bring a brighter future for our farmers and ranchers, energy producers, and workers in West Texas who, perhaps more than anyone, understand the costs and consequences of trade imbalances that affect their livelihood. The future of economic prosperity for America depends on freer markets at home and greater access to consumers abroad. Together, passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Congress and the prospects of a \u201cPhase One\u201d trade deal with China are generating even more optimism for the people and businesses that turn the gears on the largest and most diverse economic engine in the world. USMCA will add nearly $70 billion to the U.S. economy, create more than 170,000 new jobs, and grow U.S. agriculture exports by an additional $2.2 billion annually. In District 19 alone, Canada and Mexico account for 40 percent of our total exports, and nearly half of all trade-related jobs are connected to our North American neighbors. Under the \u201cPhase One\u201d deal announced earlier this month, China has committed to purchasing at least $200 billion worth of American exports, doubling its imports of U.S. goods over the next two years. Even more important than the substantial increase in Chinese purchases of U.S. agriculture products, the deal also includes structural reforms like ending currency manipulation and protecting intellectual property, allowing our producers and manufacturers to compete and win on a level playing field. These recent successes are only the beginning of a turning point for American trade and, by extension, for agriculture and energy economies like ours in West Texas and across the country. President Trump and his chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, have been applying maximum pressure \u2013 including using tariffs as a tool \u2013 to force other nations into better and fairer deals for the U.S. Make no mistake: these painful but necessary negotiating tactics caused China to drop from the second-largest market for U.S. agriculture products to the fifth-largest in just the past two years, with $10 billion in lost exports for U.S. farmers. That\u2019s why, ultimately, we must seek to offset the Chinese export market by accessing new markets and reaching new customers in the EU, UK, and Indo-Pacific region. This means building upon the recent successes in achieving better trade parity for the United States in North America and other global economic powers like Japan \u2013 which recently agreed to reduce or eliminate tariffs on more than $7 billion of U.S. agriculture exports. USMCA is supported on both sides of the aisle and represents not only more economic activity with our neighbors to the north and south, but also a model framework for enhancing other trade agreements across the globe. Building on the historic tax cuts and regulatory relief, freer and fairer trade for the U.S. means greater prosperity for the next generation of agriculture and energy producers. That\u2019s why it was important for West Texas to have a seat on Ways and Means \u2013 the Committee that sets U.S. trade policy \u2013 to ensure a level playing field for our farmers and new markets for our food, fuel, and fiber.", 1, "2026-04-07T12:09:11Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-don-bacon-ready-throw-down-defense-bill-offutt-repair-funds-advances", "With Rep. Don Bacon ready to 'throw down,' defense bill with Offutt repair funds advances", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  A House panel voted Thursday to authorize additional funding for flood recovery efforts at Offutt Air Force Base. GOP Rep. Don Bacon pushed the House Armed Services Committee to add the $2.3 billion overall in military base recovery money to its $733 billion annual defense policy bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bacon.house.gov/media/in-the-news/usmca-gives-americans-jobs-they-deserve-holiday", "USMCA gives Americans the jobs they deserve this holiday", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Don Bacon", "B001298", "bacon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Members of our Republican Main Street Partnership, including Reps. Jeff Fortenberry and Don Bacon of Nebraska, have all championed this proposal since its inception and never lost sight of the importance of reaching across the aisle to get this done for their constituents.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/newsletter-archive/december-2019-newsletter", "December 2019 Newsletter", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MS", "Bennie Thompson", "T000193", "benniethompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Welcome...  \n\tTo The Thompson Report on the Second Congressional District of Mississippi. Inside you will find information about the district, grants, legislative actions and more. My monthly newsletter will be distributed by email to constituents.  \n\tSpread the word and share this newsletter. Click here to read the newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-statement-on-congressman-john-lewis-cancer-diagnosis", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT ON CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS CANCER DIAGNOSIS", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "bishop.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "If there is one thing I know about Congressman Lewis, it's that he is a fighter. Though I am deeply saddened by this news, it is his fighting spirit that gives me hope. My wife Vivian and I will keep him in our prayers as he undergoes cancer treatment and continues making good trouble.'", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://byrne.house.gov/media-center/columns/2019-a-year-in-review", "2019: A Year in Review", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At this time last year, I predicted that the upcoming year with a Democrat majority in the House would be much different. While most activity in the House centered around efforts to impeach our President, I did not let that stop me from fighting for you and our state.\nOne of our most significant victories this year for Alabama was reforming the Medicare wage index formula. For three decades, hospitals in rural states like Alabama have been underpaid in Medicare reimbursements. Upon taking office, I began fighting for a fix.\nWith the election of President Trump, I found that we had an administration willing to listen and work with us, and as a result, Alabama's hospitals have begun receiving significantly higher Medicare reimbursements. In the past, these dollars were siphoned off towards high population areas like New York and Los Angeles at an unfair rate.\nI was also proud to lead the Trump Administration's school choice bill in the House, the Education Freedom Scholarship and Opportunity Act. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asked me and Senator Ted Cruz to be their champions in Congress for this Trump policy priority, and support continues growing for our bill.\nIt was an honor to join President Trump several weeks ago in an education roundtable at the White House and to advocate for providing options for students locked into failing schools.\nAs a member of the Armed Services Committee, I'm proud of my record advocating for a strong national defense. This year Congress passed an important National Defense Authorization Act that enables us to rebuild our military readiness after years of stagnation in the Obama administration.\nThe bill allows for continued counter drug enforcement at our border, accelerates programs to counter Chinese and Russian aggression, and authorizes important bipartisan nuclear modernization programs. It also gives our troops the largest pay raise in a decade, repeals the widow's tax, and establishes the Space Force.\nSadly, our Second Amendment rights are under assault like no time in our history. I was proud to lead 120 of my colleagues in filing a brief before the Supreme Court in support of protecting these fundamental American rights.\nThe case, N.Y. State Rifle &amp; Pistol Association Inc. v. City of New York,will determine if New York's ban on transporting a handgun to a home or shooting range outside city limits is constitutional. Our Constitution is clear that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed, and I am glad to have had so much support from my colleagues in taking a stand against these radical efforts to take away our gun rights.\nFinally, just weeks ago, the House passed President Trump's USMCA trade deal to replace NAFTA. Our state stands to benefit significantly, particularly our automobile manufacturing and agriculture sectors as well as steel, energy and high-tech. The USMCA is projected to create 176,000 new American jobs and raise our GDP by $68.2 billion. We will reap benefits from this deal for years to come.\nOf course, I continued holding constituent town halls throughout Southwest Alabama, and I have now held over 125 since taking office. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate everyone who has participated over the years. We have a great state full of amazing people, and I am glad to be among the leaders in Congress in the number of town halls held.\nThank you for allowing me to represent you in Congress. I will continue fighting for you in 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-statement-john-lewis-cancer-diagnosis", "Congressman Cohen Statement on John Lewis Cancer Diagnosis", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement on learning that Congressman and Civil Rights hero John Lewis has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:\nJohn Lewis has been a heroic voice of conscience in an era of lessening values. He is America's saint. I was proud to join him on the House floor in protesting the Republican failure to advance reasonable gun safety bills and in standing with him in resistance to the illegitimate presidency we are enduring. Congressman Lewis is loved by all in Congress and is the voice of the beloved community. I know he will fight this cancer and come back as soon as practicable. He is in our prayers.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-angie-craig-votes-pass-historic-drug-pricing-bill-0", "Rep. Angie Craig Votes to Pass Historic Drug Pricing Bill", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Angie Craig", "C001119", "craig.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Angie Craig voted to pass the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which would save Minnesota families tens of thousands of dollars in prescription drug costs.\nWorking families cannot wait for action on the outrageous cost of prescription drugs, said Rep. Craig. I cosponsored this historic piece of legislation to put common-sense solutions in place to cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors, invest in research for more effective treatments, and hold big drug companies accountable for profiting off the backs of Minnesota families. It is now the Senate's turn to take up this essential piece of legislation.\nThe Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act is estimated to save over $500 billion over ten years according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill would:\n Allow Medicare to negotiate prices for a minimum of 50 of the most expensive drugs and to extend the negotiated price to all health plans\n\tCreate a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors\n\tExpand Medicare benefits to include vision, dental, and hearing for the first time, which would benefit over 100,000 people in Minnesota's Second District alone\n\tInvest in research for new innovation, cures and treatments\n Rep. Craig has been leading the effort to lower the cost of health care and the price of prescription drugs since she was sworn in this past January. She has introduced or cosponsored 59 health care bills, including the State Healthcare Premium Reduction Act, which would lower insurance premiums in the individual market and the Emergency Access to Insulin Act, which would create emergency insulin supplies and hold big drug companies accountable for jacking up prices. Additionally, she has held six health care listening sessions across the district in Eagan, Burnsville, Northfield, Wabasha, Shakopee, and Red Wing to hear directly from constituents on their experiences with health care.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jason-crow-releases-2019-year-review", "Rep. Jason Crow Releases 2019 Year in Review", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Jason Crow Releases 2019 Year in Review\n                        \n  \n                \n    \n      \n  \n    \n  \n      \n  \n  \n    By the Numbers\n59,214 responses to constituent emails, letters, and calls\n\t250+ community events attended\n\t$25 million secured in federal grants\n\t17 bills, amendments, and resolutions introduced including 7 bills passing the House and 3 bills enacted into law\n\t15 town halls and Crow on Your Corners\n\t536 constituents helped\n\t$1.03 million returned to constituents through casework\nKey Legislative Wins\nPromoting Energy Efficiency: This month, Crow'sSAVE Energy Act was signed into law. The law follows Colorado's lead in making energy efficiency a priority by providing homeowners with a tax credit upwards of $500 for investing in energy-efficient improvements such as better windows, doors, roofing, insulation, and HVAC systems.\n\tCracking Down on Dark Money: Crow's first bill in Congress, the End Dark Money Act, which passed the House in early March, would close the loophole that allows mega-donors to hide their identities.\n\tProtecting Our Planet: Crow's bipartisan bill, theMilitary Installation Resilience Assuredness (MIRA) Act, ensures we understand the threat climate change poses to our national security and was successfully enacted into law. This fall, Crow launched the Sustainable Power Initiative, a series of roundtable discussions to bring together military leaders, policy experts, and industry innovators to discuss how to improve energy efficiency and resiliency at the Department of Defense.\n\tStanding up to the Gun Lobby: From Columbine to Aurora, Colorado 6th's district has been ripped apart by gun violence. As co-chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Crow worked hard to pass H.R. 8, the bipartisan background checks bill, and introduced the Colorado Loophole Act to make sure someone can't buy a gun if they aren't allowed to in their home state.The bill was a direct response following the Columbine anniversary scare on the front range.\n\tAddressing Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Costs: Crow helped introduce the Freedom from Price Gouging Act which would stop Big Pharma from overcharging for prescription drugs by requiring them to pay a heavy fine if they raise the cost over normal levels of inflation. The bill passed the House in late December as part of a series of robust reforms.\n\tFinding Common Sense Solutions: With partisan politics at an all-time high, Crow has worked to find common ground and introduced numerous bipartisan bills including the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Fund Act, the Syrian Partner Protection Act, and seven small business bills in tandem with a Republican co-lead.\nNew Programs in CO-06\nJob Fair: In August, Crow hosted one of the largest job fairs in the 6th District with over 1,000 job seekers and 60+ employers.\n\tWeekly Oversight ICE Visits: After disturbing reports and multiple disease outbreaks, Crow launched a first-in-the-nation program to provide oversight to private immigration detention centers with weekly visits to the Aurora ICE detention facility. You can find copies of past reports on his website:https://crow.house.gov/about/ice-accountability-report\n\tMobile Office Hours: To build a team that is accessible to Coloradans, Crow launched Mobile Office Hours and has team has hosted over 35 mobile office hour events.\n\tLead Locally: Lead Locally is a new initiative that brought Crow to every town and city in the district, from Foxfield (pop. 700) to Aurora (pop. 366,000), to listen and learn from community leaders. From Lead Locally, Crow's office identified an opportunity for federal funding and in November helped secure $25 million for infrastructure projects in the district.\n\tPublic Schedule: Crow is one of the first members of Congress to post his congressional meeting schedule on his website:https://crow.house.gov/about/public-schedule", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-announces-1-million-federal-grant-peoples-community-health-clinic", "Finkenauer Announces $1 Million Federal Grant for Peoples Community Health Clinic", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Abby Finkenauer", "F000467", "finkenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) announced Peoples Community Health Clinic will receive a $1,039,051 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\nWe must continue to move toward the goal of providing Iowans with access to high-quality, affordable health care, Congresswoman Finkenauer said, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand how Peoples Community Health Clinic is part of the solution, and I am happy to see them receive this meaningful grant that will help Iowans.\nPeoples Community Health Clinic, Inc.is a nonprofit health care clinic that provides care to patients regardless of financial situation and insurance status. Peoples Community Health Clinic has locations in Waterloo and Clarksville.\nFinkenauervisited the Waterloo locationon August 7th.\nFinkenauer also invited Peoples Community Health Clinic toparticipate in her Waterloo health fairon November 18th.\nFinkenauer also helped secure an extension for federal funding for community health centers, and sent a letter to House and Senate leadership in August urging a long-term bipartisan and bicameral funding solution.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-announces-kal-heo-high-student-winner-congressional-app", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Announces Kalheo High Student as Winner of Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCRep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today announced Jasmine Cadotte, a sophomore at Kalheo High School in Kailua, Oahu, as the winner of the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for Hawaii's second congressional district. Cadotte developed an app called Fake News Detector, which uses artificial intelligence to sift through news stories on social media and analyzes the credibility of its sources.\nI was inspired to create this app because as a user of technology in our modern society, I am constantly surrounded by fake news that is disguised all over the internet. It can be very difficult to determine whether or not a source is reliable, Cadotte said. This tool saves people the time and effort of sorting through news to find out if it is reliable information.\"\nSecond place went to Morgan Dean, a senior at Hawaii Preparatory in Waimea, Hawaii Island, whose app Media Manager helps wrangle duplicate files and unorganized folders.\nThird place went to the team of Hunter Shields and Conner Kong, juniors at Maui High in Kahului, Maui. Their app Maui XC Maps provides easy access to maps of cross country running routes on Maui.\nHonorable mention went to the Maui High team of freshmen Josh Patrick Lachica and Jordan Shim. Their app ProgressTracker graphs scores in air riflery to track friendly competition.\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard said: Hawaii's youth are incredibly talented, and they bring fresh perspectives to our society's challenges. The Congressional App Challenge is one way for us to recognize the creativity, innovation, and coding abilities of our students. Congratulations to Jasmine, Morgan, Hunter, Conner, Josh and Jordan, and mahalo nui loa to all of the students who submitted an app, the judges, teachers, and parents who support our students, and our community for prioritizing STEM skills that set our future leaders up for success.\nThis year's panel of local Congressional App Challenge judges included Cheyenne Ehrlich, Founder and CEO of SaferKid; Peter Liu, Founder of 47scapes; and Steve Sue, Chairman of Bizgenics.\n\nBackground: The Congressional App Challenge inspires, includes, and innovates efforts around STEM, coding, and computer science education among middle and high school students in Hawaii and across the country. The winners of the Congressional App Challenge will be invited to Washington, DC in the Spring of 2020 to showcase their apps at the #HouseofCode event in the U.S. Capitol.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for 16 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1376", "Grothman Statement on Hanukkah", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Glenn Grothman", "G000576", "grothman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) released the following statement in observance of the final day of Hanukkah:\r\nAs Hanukkah ends tonight, I want to, one more time, say Chag Sameach! Happy Hanukkah! Said Grothman. Hanukkah is a joyous occasion that celebrates an important part of Jewish history. I am thankful for all of my Jewish friends and hope they have enjoyed a happy and safe holiday season.\r\nWhile many are celebrating and spending time with family, let us not forget that anti-Semitism is still far too prevalent throughout the United States and the world. Earlier this month we saw an anti-Semitic shooting at a grocery store in New Jersey and just this past weekend a man broke into a New York Rabbi's home and stabbed five people. These heinous acts have no place in our society. I will continue to use my position in Congress to promote pro-Jewish policies and sentiments.\r\n-30-\r\nU.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his third term representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/harris-announces-125000-substance-abuse-grant-worcester-county", "Harris Announces $125,000 Substance Abuse Grant in Worcester County", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of a $125,000 grant to treat and prevent substance abuse in Worcester County. The grant is through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the funds will be administered by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.\n\nThe $125,000 federal grant is to Mosaic Community Services, Inc., located in Pocomoke City, for the Berlin Prevention Works Coalition for Drugs and Alcohol-Free Communities.\n\nThe Center for Substance Abuse Prevention works with federal, state, public and private organizations to develop comprehensive prevention systems. The Center helps prevent the onset of illegal drug use, prescription drug misuse and abuse, alcohol misuse and abuse, and underage alcohol and tobacco use.\n\nCongressman Harris made the following statement:\n\n\"Fighting the opioid epidemic remains a top priority for me in Congress. As a physician, I am proud to serve on the Committee on Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Health and Human Services, and I applaud the award of this HHS grant in Worcester County. Congress should prioritize efforts to fight substance abuse over partisan politics, and I am committed to ensuring that local, rural communities on the Eastern Shore get needed resources to help afflicted families. The impact of substance abuse extends beyond individuals \u2013 this is a family and community-wide crisis. It is my hope that this federal investment in the Eastern Shore will help people get treatment and prevent addiction.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401740", "Jaime Herrera Beutler Supports Allowing Parents to Withdraw Penalty-Free from Retirement Accounts Following Birth, Adoption", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Jaime Herrera Beutler", "H001056", "herrerabeutler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler supported allowing parents to withdraw up to $5,000 without penalty from their retirement accounts following the birth or adoption of a child. This provision was included in the recent spending package Congress passed and the president signed into law.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler supported allowing parents to withdraw up to $5,000 without penalty from their retirement accounts following the birth or adoption of a child. This provision was included in the recent spending package Congress passed and the president signed into law. Families in Southwest Washington who are struggling to afford housing, child care and medical expenses should be able to access their own savings when they need it most  often, that's the year following the birth or adoption of a child, Herrera Beutler said. I'm pleased to have supported another common-sense solution that eases the financial burden working families face in Ridgefield, Centralia, Bingen and all across our region. The types of plans that qualify include Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) and 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Withdrawals of up to $5,000 are exempt from the 10 percent early withdrawal tax and can be made within one year of the birth of a child or finalization of adoption. If the parents have separate retirement plans, they can each withdraw up to $5,000.  This provision takes effect December 31, 2019.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kaygranger.house.gov/media/press-releases/granger-offers-support-west-freeway-church-christ-following-tragedy", "Granger Offers Support for West Freeway Church of Christ Following Tragedy", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Kay Granger", "G000377", "kaygranger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FORT WORTH, TX  Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee,made the following statement in response to yesterday's shooting in her home district at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement.  \n\t  \n\tToday each of those touched by the tragedy that unfolded at the West Freeway Church of Christ awoke to a terrible reality. As we continue to hold the families of the victims and members of the congregation in our prayers, we must all search for ways we can participate in making our nation, our communities and our gathering places safe again. We also owe our first responders our love and appreciation as they risk their own lives day after day for all of us.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://keller.house.gov/media/in-the-news/bill-rename-laceyville-post-office-moves-us-house", "Bill to Rename Laceyville Post Office Moves to U.S. House", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Fred Keller", "K000395", "keller.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A bill to rename the Laceyville Post Office in honor of Melinda Mindy Gene Piccotti has moved out of committee and is now going to the full U.S. House of Representatives for a vote.\nU.S. Rep. Fred Keller made the announcement of the bill's advancement in a statement on Thursday, Dec. 19.\nThe bill was advanced out of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said Keller.\nHe noted that the bill, H.R. 4279, has received bipartisan support from PA's congressional delegation.\nKeller is spearheading the drive to rename the Laceyville Post Office in honor of Piccotti, who was an Air Force veteran and the founder of the Hunts for Healing organization.\nHunts for Healing helps soldiers wounded in combat and other combat veterans transition back into civilian life by allowing them to experience the joys of hunting.\nMindy's dedication to helping her fellow veterans return to civilian life is a lasting legacy that shows her selflessness and her sense of our society's continuing need to serve those who safeguard our freedom, said Keller. Naming the Laceyville Post Office in her honor is a fitting and appropriate display for the indelible mark she continues to leave on countless heroes. I am proud to see this legislation move forward and hope it will soon pass the full House.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases/kustoff-announces-january-mobile-office-hours", "Kustoff Announces January Mobile Office Hours", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "David Kustoff", "K000392", "kustoff.house.gov", "kustoff", "https://kustoff.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), announced mobile office hours for the month of January. Mobile office hours will be held Tuesday, January 7 and Thursday, January 9.\n\n\"Mobile office hours are a great way for you to connect with our office and let us know how we can continue to best represent West Tennessee,\" said Rep. Kustoff. \"If you are having trouble with a federal agency, our office will help you get the answers you need.\"\n\nTuesday, January 7, 2020\n\nLauderdale\u20149:00 \u2013 11:00AM\n\nLauderdale County Courthouse\n\n100 Court Square\n\nRipley, TN 38063\n\nTipton\u20141:00 \u2013 3:00PM\n\nCovington City Hall\n\n200 West Washington Ave.\n\nCovington, TN 38019\n\nLake\u20149:00 - 11:00AM\n\nLake County Courthouse\n\n116 S. Court St. Tiptonville, TN 38079\n\nObion\u20141:00 \u2013 3:00PM\n\nObion County Mayor's Office\n\n316 S. Third Street\n\nUnion City, TN 38261\n\nWeakley\u20149:00 \u2013 11:00AM\n\nWeakley County Agriculture Extension Office\n\n135 South Poplar Street, Suite B\n\nDresden, TN 38225\n\nHenry\u20141:00 \u2013 3:00PM\n\nHenry County Courthouse, Basement Conference Room\n\n101 W. Washington Street\n\nParis, TN 38242\n\nThursday, January 9, 2020\n\nFayette\u20149:00 \u2013 11:00AM\n\nFayette County Courthouse\n\n1 Court Square\n\nSomerville, TN 38068\n\nCrockett\u20149:00 \u2013 11:00AM\n\nAlamo City Hall\n\n74 E Park Street\n\nAlamo, TN 38001\n\nHaywood\u20141:00 \u2013 3:00PM\n\nBrownsville City Hall\n\n111 N Washington Avenue\n\nBrownsville, TN 38012\n\nCarroll\u2014 9:00 \u2013 11:00AM\n\nHuntingdon City Hall\n\n19801 E Main Street\n\nHuntingdon, TN 38344\n\nGibson\u20141:00 \u2013 3:00PM\n\nMilan City Hall-Board Room\n\n1061 S. Main Street\n\nMilan, TN 38358\n\nPlease note, Congressman Kustoff will not be present at these mobile office hours.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1557", "Larsen Statement on Resignation of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "\u2013 Today, House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (WA-02) issued the following statement on news of the resignation of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg:\n\n\u201cNothing is more important than the safety of the traveling public. As Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, I remain committed to the thorough oversight of the 737 MAX certification process and ensuring the aircraft\u2019s safe return to service.\n\n\u201cThe Committee\u2019s oversight investigation will continue into 2020. I will continue to keep the 346 victims of the two tragic 737 MAX crashes and their families at the forefront, as well as the dedicated women and men of Boeing who design, assemble and build the aircraft.\n\n\u201cFinally, the 737 MAX should not return to service until the FAA determines it is safe to do so. The Committee will continue to work with FAA Administrator Dickson and his team on safety while it also explores changes to the certification process for the future.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-statement-resignation-boeing-ceo-dennis-muilenburg", "Larsen Statement on Resignation of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (WA-02) issued the following statement on news of the resignation of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg:\nNothing is more important than the safety of the traveling public. As Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, I remain committed to the thorough oversight of the 737 MAX certification process and ensuring the aircraft's safe return to service.\nThe Committee's oversight investigation will continue into 2020. I will continue to keep the 346 victims of the two tragic 737 MAX crashes and their families at the forefront, as well as the dedicated women and men of Boeing who design, assemble and build the aircraft.\nFinally, the 737 MAX should not return to service until the FAA determines it is safe to do so. The Committee will continue to work with FAA Administrator Dickson and his team on safety while it also explores changes to the certification process for the future.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-rep-john-lewis", "Larson Statement on Rep. John Lewis", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hartford, CT  Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the news that Rep. John Lewis (GA-05) has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:\nJohn Lewis continues to be an inspiration. Even in the midst of his diagnosis, his focus continues to be on the beloved community he represents and in this season, helping those with the least amongst us. He's been through many fights throughout his life and neither Bull Connor nor the Ku Klux Klan could stop him. Knowing his drive and determination, neither will cancer. We all stand united with the conscious of the United States Congress and the soul of America.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lawrence.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lawmakers-condemn-anti-semitic-attacks-new-york-bipartisan-support-victims", "Lawmakers Condemn Anti-Semitic Attacks in New York: Bipartisan Support for Victims", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Brenda Lawrence", "L000581", "lawrence.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Republicans and Democrats condemned the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks in New York, denouncing all violence against Jews. Many Senators and House members released statements emphatically supporting the victims of the most recent attack in the Jewish community of Monsey. The lawmakers voiced their outrage about what appears to be a trend of anti-Semitic violence in the United States. Since Dec. 8, there have been 13 anti-Semitic acts of violence, including the Dec. 28 attack, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. The attack happened on Saturday at the home of Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg. His home is next to a synagogue. The Leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations, made up of Co-chairs Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Will Hurd (R-Texas), John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), issued this group statement following the attack on Rottenberg's home in Monsey.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lawrence.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/leading-black-jewish-legislators-us-congress-unite-condemnation-antisemitic", "Leading Black, Jewish Legislators in US Congress Unite in Condemnation of Antisemitic Attack in Monsey", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Brenda Lawrence", "L000581", "lawrence.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Three leading African American congressional representatives joined with their Jewish colleagues on Sunday to condemn the stabbing attack at a Hanukkah party in Monsey that left five of the guests wounded. The Leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations declared in a statement that the incident on Saturday night had to be seen in the context of rising antisemitism in the US and internationally. The statement was signed by veteran civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)  who announced on Sunday that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer  along with Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY). Every individual in this country deserves to feel safe and worship without fear, the statement continued. It is this commitment to diversity that has made the United States a beacon of hope and a place of sanctuary for people around the world. The Caucus will continue to stand united in fighting for liberty and justice for all.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lawrence.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/most-powerful-feminist-moments-2019", "The most powerful feminist moments of 2019", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Brenda Lawrence", "L000581", "lawrence.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Who run the world? From Serena Williams and Johanna Konta, to Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 2019 has seen countless women stand up and speak their truth in the name of feminism. We've smashed taboos, united to end violence against women, made history (again!), refused to conform, and called out misogyny wherever and whenever possible. 3) Democrats wear white in solidarity with suffragettes. In February, the women of the Democrats dressed in white for President Donald Trump's State of the Union to remind him, and his administration, that women will not relinquish their rights their ancestors fought for. Today, we stand together wearing white in solidarity with the women of the suffrage movement who refused to take no for an answer, said Rep. Brenda Lawrence. Women had to march, make demands and fight for right for the voice and have the right to vote. The women's movement was full of fighters who refused to be treated as second class citizens, but still today, 100 years after women received the right to vote, the battle continues. Our very existence, it seems, is resistance in light of the times we find ourselves in. She continued: This White House administration has tried to close its doors on women, but we will not be locked out. The administration that has closed its eyes to women, we will be seen. To an administration that refuse to listen to us, we will be heard", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maxrose.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2438", "Rose Announces Congressional Hearing on Anti-Semitic Domestic Terrorism and Governments Response", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Max Rose", "R000613", "maxrose.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Max Rose, Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, announced today that he will hold a Congressional hearing Wednesday, January 15th on the rise of anti-Semitic domestic terrorism attacks, the federal government's response, and additional steps that can and should be taken to properly address the threats and ensure safety and security for Jewish communities. The Subcommittee will announce additional hearing details and witnesses in the coming weeks.\r\nThe unfortunate reality is that Jews are living in fear over the rise in anti-Semitism and domestic terrorist attacks. That's a reality I refuse to accept, said Rose, the first Jewish Member of Congress from Staten Island. We must address this crisis head-on, which is why my first Subcommittee hearing of the new year will be focused directly on anti-Semitic domestic terrorism, how the government is responding, and what more can be done. All levels of government need to rise to the challenge, ensure the safety and security of the Jewish community, and do everything in our power to combat the disgusting hate and pervasive anti-Semitism.\r\nRose has been consistent in keeping his focus on addressing the threats of international and domestic terrorism. Rose was successful in his bipartisan effort to nearly double funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program from $50 million to $90 million, which provides critical support and protection for nonprofit and religious institutions like synagogues, churches, mosques, and community centers which have increasingly been targets of terrorism. Earlier this year, Rose hosted a grant workshop for nonprofit and religious institutions with government officials to assist religious and nonprofit institutions on security grant programs.\r\nIncluded in the annual defense bill, which was recently signed into law, is an amended version of the Domestic and International Terrorism DATA Act, of which Rose was an original co-sponsor, that will require the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to produce an annual report on domestic terror incidents and how the government is responding.\r\nAt a recent hearing, Rose pressed the Director of the FBI on whether or not law enforcement has the necessary tools and authority to properly address the threats of white supremacist terrorism. Earlier this month, Rose led aletter with 40 Members of Congress to the Secretary of Statedemanding answers as to why foreign white supremacist extremist groups are not included on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.\r\nAdditionally, Rose chaired a joint hearingrecentlyon the challenge of white nationalist terrorism at home and abroad titled Meeting the Challenge of White Nationalist Terrorism at Home and Abroad. The hearing was a joint effort with the Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism and shed new light on the growing threat of domestic terrorists inspire by white supremacist groups abroad.\r\nRose, a combat veteran of the war in Afghanistan, helped lead an effort to coordinate U.S. strategy against anti-Semitism overseas and condemned the rise in anti-Semitism at home, including when a Staten Island Synagogue was vandalized with hate speech.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://neal.house.gov/press-releases/neal-statement-latest-anti-semitic-attacks", "Neal Statement on the Latest Anti-Semitic Attacks", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Richard Neal", "N000015", "neal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Neal Statement on the Latest Anti-Semitic Attacks \n      \n    \n  \n      \n          \n        \n        \n  \n    \n                 Neal Statement on the Latest Anti-Semitic Attacks \n                        \n  \n                \n    \n      \n  \n    \n  \n      \n  \n  \n      \n  \n  \n\n  \n      \n  \n  \n    \nSpringfield, MA  Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement condemning the recent anti-Semitic attacks across our country.\nThe violent attack of innocent worshipers at a Hanukkah celebration in New York on Saturday was deeply disturbing and should be condemned. Every American should be outraged about the steady rise of anti-Semitism and hate crimes against Jews not only in New York, but across the country. These senseless acts of violence, fueled by intolerance and bigotry, are contrary to our nation's core values. During this holiday season, I urge people of all faiths to stand in solidarity and agree that prejudice and anti-Semitism in our society will not be tolerated, said Congressman Richard E. Neal. \n\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-neguse-breaks-records-in-his-first-year-in-office", "Congressman Neguse Breaks Records In His First Year in Office", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Introduces Most Bills of Any Freshman Lawmaker, Launches Service Town Hall Initiative, Hosts Senior Congressional Officials in the 2nd District\r\nWashington, D.C. In his first 12 months in Congress, Congressman Joe Neguse has taken Washington by storm, introducing a record 30 pieces of legislationmore than any other freshman lawmakerholding 24 town halls, launching a first-of-its-kind service town hall initiative, and passing major Colorado wilderness legislation out of the U.S. House of Representatives. Before even being sworn in, Neguse was selected by his freshman colleagues to serve as a Co-Representative for the class at the Leadership table, where he joins other members of leadership in making decisions for the Democratic caucus. He also serves a Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law.\r\nIn his first year, Congressman Neguse has introduced 30 pieces of legislation, four of which have been signed into law by the President,including legislation to fund rural schools in Colorado's mountain communities, legislation to protect wildlife in the Platte River Basin, a provision to ensure water access for the town of Minturn at the Bolts Ditch Headgate in Eagle County and a provision that incorporates approximately 124 acres adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park into Arapaho National Forest.\r\nAdditionally, Neguse has introduced bipartisan legislation to invest in regenerative agriculture research, cut red tape to expand affordable housing opportunities, ensure helicopter safety, make the transfer process easier for college students and build the first-ever outdoor monument to honor the women's suffrage movement in Washington D.C. He's worked alongside county commissioners, city leaders, local housing authorities, higher education institutions and constituents across the district for each bill he's introduced to help meet tangible needs for communities in the district. See a full list of bills introduced here, including measures to invest in small-scale solar installations, create a pathway to modernize federal lab facilities, including those in the 2nd district, end climate censorship, transition the U.S. Capitol Complex to 100% renewable electricity, end surprise billing for air medical vehicles, ban fracking under National Priority Superfund sites and allow pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds.\r\nIn October, Neguse passed the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act out of the House of Representatives, the first major statewide wilderness legislation to pass the House in over a decade. The legislation was crafted by Coloradans over the last decade and would preserve 400,000 acres of public lands across the state and designate the first-ever National Historic Landscape at Camp Hale.\r\nIn the district, he has built out a robust community engagement operation, launching a service town hall initiative and partnering with local organizations, such as the Larimer Humane Society, Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, Bridgehouse and Broomfield FISH for service projects. His staff in the district hosted two community health fairs in Boulder and Fort Collins, a veterans resources fair, Congressional App Challenge, Congressional Art Competition and he has launched two original service awards to recognize community members. Neguse was successful in helping to secure over $12,450,000 in federal grant money for the district, including a large grant for Grand County's Lift system. Additionally, his staff returned $419,639 to constituents through casework.\r\nIn August, Neguse hosted the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis for the Committee's first and only field hearing in Boulder, Colorado where they heard from state and local leaders on Colorado's leadership in renewable energy and toured federal labs across Colorado. Neguse also hosted Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Broomfield for a discussion on affordable health care innovation and in November joined the Speaker for a high-level congressional delegation to Madrid Spain for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP25 Conference.\r\nNeguse also played an integral role in passing the American Dream and Promise Act on the House floor in May, where he gave the final rebuttal arguments in support of the legislation ahead of final passage.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-offers-words-support-congressman-john-lewis-following-cancer", "O'Halleran Offers Words of Support to Congressman John Lewis Following Cancer Diagnosis", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "VILLAGE OF OAK CREEKFollowing Congressman John Lewis' announcement that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) released the following statement:\nJohn Lewis has long been a fighter for human rights, for racial equality, and for the people of Georgia. Now, he faces his next fight.\nSickness and disease can knock us down and make us feel hopeless, but they can also renew in us the desire and the will to push on, to resist. I know that John will meet this next challenge with the same strength and courage with which he has fought many times beforesit-ins at segregated lunch counters, the Freedom Rides, Bloody Sunday.\nJohn, my family and I, the entire Congress, and the American people are behind you as you fight this fight. We support you, and we are thinking of you as this next battle begins.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/media-center/pelosi-updates/fighting-for-the-people", "Fighting For The People", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over 400 Bills And Counting  \n\tOur Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives has been hard at work this past year to deliver on our For The People agenda: lowering health care costs by reducing the price of prescription drugs, increasing paychecks by building the green and resilient infrastructure of the future, and cleaning up corruption in government.\n  \n\tSo far, we have passed and sent to the Senate more than 400 bills, of which 275 are bipartisan. Here is a look back at just some of the incredible legislation that we passed in the House in 2019:\n H.R. 1  For The People Act,to restore confidence in our democracy;\n\tH.R. 3  Lower Drug Costs Now Act,sweeping legislation to dramatically reduce drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies; making lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance, not just Medicare beneficiaries; and stopping drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs;\n\tH.R. 4  Voting Rights Advancement Act,to finally restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act after the disastrous 2013 Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision;\n\tH.R. 5  Equality Act,to finally and fully end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans;\n\tH.R. 6  American Dream and Promise Act,to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence (and eventual citizenship) to those who have lived most of their lives in this country, including Dreamers and TPS and DED holders;\n\tH.R. 7  Paycheck Fairness Act,to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work;\n\tH.R. 8  Bipartisan Background Checks Act,a commonsense measure to require background checks for all gun sales, closing the gun show and online loopholes; and alsoH.R. 1112  Enhanced Background Checks Act,to close the Charleston loophole;\n\tH.R. 9  Climate Action Now Act,to ensure that the U.S. honors our commitments on climate action detailed in the Paris Agreement;\n\tH.R. 582  Raise the Wage Act,to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, raising the wages of up to 33 million hard-working Americans;\n\tH.R. 987  Protecting People With Pre-Existing Conditions/Lowering Drug Costs,to strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions, end ACA sabotage, and bring down drug costs;\n\tH.R. 1585  Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act,a strong improvement and long-term reauthorization of VAWA;\n\tH.R. 1644  Save the Internet Act,to protect the free and open internet for all;\n\tH.R. 2722  Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act,to ensure the security and safety of our elections by upgrading our outdated and vulnerable election infrastructure;\n\tH.R. 4617  Stopping Harmful Interference In Elections For A Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act,which focuses on preventing foreign interference in our elections, including requiring campaigns to notify the FBI if a foreign power seeks to provide campaign assistance.\n\tH.R. 5068  Farm Workforce Modernization Act,to honor workers' dignity and support the farm economy; and\n\tH.R. 5430  United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act,which, thanks to Democrats' changes, now has the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement, as well as critical victories for workers, lower prescription drug costs and environmental protections.\n We continue to call on Senator McConnell, the Grim Reaper, to take up our legislation For The People, so that we can deliver results for families and seniors across America!\n\n\nHappy Holidays  \n\tThe holiday season offers a special opportunity to reflect on the miraculous blessings of family, community and Country. As we celebrate in the company of our loved ones, I want to express my continued and profound gratitude for the honor of representing you in the Congress. Please accept my best wishes for a happy holiday and Happy New Year to you and your family.\nWith so many reasons to celebrate this year, it is important to remember to be safe. Please refer to these helpful links below to make sure you are ready.\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMy office assisted a constituent experiencing issues with her mail delivery through the United States Postal Service (USPS). She contacted our office because her local mail carrier had been holding onto her mail and she was unable to reach USPS to resolve the issue. Our office contacted USPS on her behalf and conveyed the details of her situation. As a result, USPS contacted her to explain their concerns and worked with the constituent to resolve her mail delivery issues.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tCaseworkers in my San Francisco office work to address any problems or concerns you may have with a federal government agency. To submit a Casework Authorization Form, pleasevisitmy website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://reed.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3041", "REED DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM SUNY CHANCELLOR OVER SHUTDOWN OF FREE SPEECH ON BINGHAMTON CAMPUS", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Tom Reed", "R000585", "reed.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Today,Rep. Tom Reed released a letter sent toSUNYSystem Chancellor Kristina Johnsonand President ofSUNYBinghamton Harvey Stengerfollowing a visit by renowned economist Art Laffer to Binghamton University where he was shouted off the stage and escorted out of the room by security before having the opportunity to speak.\r\nThis happened, according to press reports, because the protesters did not approve of the campus Young Americans Foundation and the College Republicans groups in which Laffer was addressing.\r\nThe importance of the free exchange of ideas is one of the bedrocks of our democracy. So integral, the right to freedom of speech was enshrined in the first amendment of the United States Constitution. A free and democratic country depends on a well-informed, educated, and opinioned public free from concerns that their speech or beliefs will be constrained or prohibited. A country where speech, especially political in nature, is infringed cannot thrive,Tom said in the letter.\r\nTom requested the following answers regarding SUNY free speech policies:\r\n \r\n    Are there anySUNY-wide restrictions or limitations on the free-expression of political speech, including gatherings, meetings, tabling, and distribution of materials?\r\n    Are these requirements enforced fairly and without regard to content or group?\r\n    Are there anySUNY-wide restrictions on the formations of political clubs?\r\n    Are there anySUNY-wide restrictions on clubs inviting guest speakers?\r\n    What efforts are made to ensure clubs are able to function without retaliation or harm?\r\n    What balance doesSUNYstrive to make when protecting the right of a club to invite and hear from a guest speaker with the right of students to protest such speaker?\r\n    What disciplinary actions are enforced by the University when students take actions to stifle free speech?\r\n \r\nTom also asked theSUNYSystem Chancellor Kristina Johnsonand President ofSUNYBinghamton Harvey Stenger to answer the following questions regarding the incident on November 14 and 18, with Art Laffer at theSUNYBinghamton campus.\r\n \r\n    Why wasSUNYBinghamton unable to protect the College Republicans from distributing materials on November 14 from aggressive and violent protestors?\r\n    What actions have been made to discipline the aggressive and violent protestors on November 14?\r\n    What actions were taken to ensure the College Republicans could hear from their speaker, Art Laffer, without disruption?\r\n    Why were those actions not enough and what changes has the school made to ensure similar speakers aren't shouted down and forced to leave?\r\n    What actions has the university taken to hold protestors who shut down the event for their actions?\r\n    Why has the university selectively punished the College Republicans and removed their ability to reserve rooms and hold future events and speakers?\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/year-review-2019-legislative-accomplishments", "Year in Review: 2019 Legislative Accomplishments", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "John Sarbanes", "S001168", "sarbanes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nIn 2019, my colleagues and I in the House Democratic Majority passed more than 400 bills  275 of them with bipartisan support  to address issues that Marylanders and Americans care most about.\nThis includes legislation to clean up corruption in Washington, lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs, raise wages, act on climate, protect DREAMers, reduce gun violence, support our nation's veterans, strengthen anti-discrimination protections and advance civil rights across the country, crack down on robocall scams and help fund important Maryland priorities, along with many other key issues.\nAs our first order of business, we passedH.R. 1, the For the People Act, ahistoric and transformational billthat I was privileged to author in my role as Chair of theDemocracy ReformTask Force. H.R. 1 will clean up corruption in Washington, expose secret foreign money in our politics, crack down on lobbyists, strengthen election security, protect the right to vote and return power back to the American people with clean, citizen-owned elections. By leading with H.R. 1, House Democrats made a clear commitment to put the public's interests ahead of special interests and to restore trust, transparency and integrity in Washington.\nBuilding on H.R.1, House Democrats have passed a series of bills that show we're fighting to make progress on key issues that matter to everyday Americans:\n Reducing the cost of prescription drugs and helping protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Americans are still too burdened by the cost of health care. That's why the House passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which empowers Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on high-priced drugs. H.R. 3 will also set a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for seniors and will expand Medicare benefits to cover dental, hearing and vision for the first time in the program's history. We also passed H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, to guard against predatory junk insurance plans that do not offer comprehensive health care coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions.\n\t\t\n\tIncreasing paychecks for hardworking American families. With H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, we moved to close loopholes in existing law to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work. With H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, we sought to boost paychecks for more than 33 million Americans by increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025.\n\t\t\n\tAddressing the climate crisis and protecting our environment. It is critical that the United States remain in the Paris Climate Agreement. That's why we passed H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, to direct the Trump Administration to maintain this key commitment to combatting climate change. We also moved to permanently block new offshore drilling projects that would threaten the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, including Maryland's coastline, with H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act.\n\t\t\n\tTackling the epidemic of gun violence in America. For too long, we have been powerless in the face of gun violence. The House changed that by passing two bills  H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act,and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act that would significantly strengthen background checks for gun sales and transfers.\n\t\t\n\tSupporting our veterans and their families. The House packaged and passed a suite of ten bills that will improve health care, education and job opportunities for America's veterans and their families.\n\t\t\n\tProtecting our elections and defending our democracy. In addition to the landmark H.R. 1, we've taken other steps to meet the coming threat to our elections. H.R. 2722, the SAFE Act, would increase ballot box security, while H.R. 4617, the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act, curbs foreign money, influence and interference in our elections with a host of measures, including a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign nations or governments. We must also protect against threats to our democracy that originate here at home. That's why the House adopted H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act,which restores and protects voting rights across the country with a new pre-clearance formula to combat voter suppression efforts, and with new measures to increase public information about changes to voting times and polling locations.\n\t\t\n\tFighting against discrimination and for opportunity. We can never take our rights for granted. That's why it was so important for the House to pass H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which ensures that all Americans  including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans  will be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs and jury service. On the opportunity front, we stood in solidarity with our nation's DREAMers by passingH.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act,which provides a path to lawful permanent resident status, and eventual citizenship, for DREAMers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).\n\t\t\n\tPreserving a free and open internet. If we let down our guard, the internet could get hijacked by special interests. That's why we passed H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act, which restores net neutrality protections and ensures that the internet remains free and open for all Americans.\n\t\t\n Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has not brought any of these important priorities  which are supported by a majority of Americans  to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.\nIn 2020, House Democrats will continue building on the progress we've made and keep fighting to advance legislation that makes life better for all Americans. As we look ahead to continuing our important work for the people, I'd like to extend warm wishes to you and your family for a happy holiday season and a healthy new year.\n  \n\tSincerely,\n  Congressman John Sarbanes\n\tMaryland's Third Congressional District", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/undeterred-political-turmoil-dc-suozzi-continues-deliver-long-island-and-new", "Undeterred by Political Turmoil in DC, Suozzi Continues to Deliver for Long Island and New York", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Thomas Suozzi", "S001201", "suozzi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Before the holidays, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D  Long Island, Queens), delivered on several priorities important to his constituents, Long Island, and New York State.\n\nIn the last week before the holidays, Congressman Suozzi:\n Successfully advanced his legislation to restore the SALT deduction through the United States House of Representatives;\n Helped secure funding and several legislative items important to New York and Long Island through the end-of-year budget legislation; and\n Voted to pass the United States Mexico Trade Agreement (USMCA) which will create jobs and support nearly 800,000 workers in New York. \n\nStaying laser-focused on the needs of my constituents, no matter the political climate, has been a priority of mine since my days as mayor of Glen Cove. Last week, not only did the House support my efforts to restore tax fairness, but I was able to secure funding for programs that are critical to my district. Programs that protect the Long Island Sound, care for a population that is deaf and blind, combat gun violence, create jobs, take care of our veterans, and much more, said Suozzi. I am proud of the hard work it has taken to pass all of this legislation, which will demonstrably improve the lives of my constituents. \n\nIn addition to leading the fight to restore tax fairness, Suozzi helped secure several funding items in the end-of-year budget deal that was signed into law last week, including:\n\n $21 million to protect and preserve the Long Island Sound, this is a $17 million increase since Suozzi joined the Congress in 2017;\n $2.8 billion for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and $175 million for Registered Apprenticeships. Suozzi testified before House Appropriates in June in support of this funding;\n $16 million for the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, an increase of $2.5 million from last year. This organization is headquartered in Sands Point and serves a population that is both deaf and blind;\n $25 million for gun violence research (this has not happened for decades);\n $55 million for Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program;\n $40 million for HUD/VA Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans;\n   $21.4 million in federal funding which will go towards children and families who are at risk of entering the New York State Foster care system;\n The SECURE Act, legislation which will help make retirement security a reality for millions of Americans; and\n Repeal of the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT), created as a result of the 2017 GOP tax bill, it placed an additional tax burden on houses of worship and other non-profits.\n\nSuozzi also voted in support of the USMCA in Ways and Means and again on the House floor. New provisions in the deal secured by Democrats will bolster the U.S. economy, support workers, protect the environment, and improve access to affordable prescription drugs. At a Ways and Means mark-up of the trade deal, Suozzi made it clear that while the deal could be improved, it is a win for the United States and working-class families across the country.\n\nIn 2020, Suozzi remains committed to working with anyone, regardless of party, to get things done for his constituents, protect our environment, reform our immigration system, combat gun violence, and much more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://timmons.house.gov/media/press-releases/timmons-writes-constituents-reflecting-first-year-congress", "TIMMONS WRITES TO CONSTITUENTS REFLECTING ON FIRST YEAR IN CONGRESS", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "SC", "William Timmons", "T000480", "timmons.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greenville, SC-- Congress is, for the most part,gridlockedby partisanship,butI remain optimistic about our nation's future. My team and I worked hard this year to deliver resultsfor the people of the Upstate, but Washington remains dysfunctional. Congress needs members from both sides of the aisleto work together to address our fiscal crisis, continue to grow the economy, secure our borders, foster job growth and innovation, and address the rapidly growing cost of healthcare in our country.\n\t\tRead more about my first year in Congress in the letter below.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-honors-graham-s-michael-graves-community-hero-month", "Walker Honors Grahams Michael Graves as Community Hero of the Month", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GRAHAM, N.C.-U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) honored Alamance County's Michael Graves as the Sixth District Community Hero of the Month for December 2019.\nEach month, Rep. Walker awards a constituent, business, or organization in his district for displaying extraordinary acts of service and for making a difference in the lives around them.\nMichael Graves is the founder of Actively Changing Together (ACT), an organization that provides support services to help inmates transition out of jail.\nI had been talking with some of the inmates and working with them and trying to see what they wanted to do once they get out of jail and trying to point them and motivate them, and they wanted reading materials,\" Graves said.\nAfter recognizing that local inmates lacked books and reading material, Michael began an effort to collect books to create a library at the Alamance County jail.\nMichael Graves is a beaming example of someone that saw a need in their community and stepped up to address it, Walker said. His selfless service is changing the lives of justice-involved persons for the better. My deepest is hope is that Michael's efforts to share the gift of knowledge with the incarcerated are emulated across our state and our country.\nHe initially planned to start donating between 10-20 books a month. After his father unexpectedly passed away on July 8th of this year, he asked that books be donated for the jail in lieu of flowers. The project grew into an even bigger initiative with the help of his church, Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Burlington. Michael vividly recounts that he sent an email one night at 3:30 a.m.to his pastor about his ideas for the book collection, and his pastor exceeded his expectations; the church formed a partnership with Michael to collect books for the inmates and serves as a drop-off site for the books. One thousand books were collected in the first 30 days.\nMichael reports that the most popular literary genres among the inmates are motivational books, which helps keep their spirits up, and books that teach jobs skills: starting a business, writing a business plan, landscaping and culinary books, etc. There have been many positive testimonials from inmates about how the book collection program has benefited them as they transition from jail back into their community, such as helping them to enroll in a GED program, stay sober or reunite with their families.\nMichael's passion for the incarcerated was fostered during his time as President of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 2002-2010, and he interacted with many incarcerated individuals through the NAACP's legal redress work.\nMichael also says that his Christian faith is very instrumental in his work with the incarcerated. He specifically remembers a sign hanging in a church during his childhood that read, Enter to worship, depart to serve., which instilled in him the importance of serving others.\nMichael lives in Graham and is the owner and founder of Graves Care Centers. He would like to extend a special recognition to his parents, Mary Woods and the late Gordon Woods, his grandmother, Sadie Frances Graves, and his great-grandmother, Pearl Graves, who taught him to help people and to believe in second chances.\nMichael was presented with a certificate and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.\nRead more of Michael's story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-waters-statement-monsey-ny-attack-jewish-community-rise-extremist", "Rep. Waters Statement on the Attack on the Jewish Community in Monsey, NY & the Rise in Extremist Violence", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Maxine Waters", "W000187", "waters.house.gov", "waters", "https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued a statement on the violent attack on the Jewish community in Monsey, New York on the seventh day of Hanukkah, and the disturbing rise in extremist violence across the country:\n\n\"I'm saddened and pained by the anti-Semitic attack on the Jewish community in Monsey, New York on the seventh day of Hanukkah, a sacred period of rededication, joy, and light. The recent violent attacks in New York and New Jersey, and the escalating extremist violence targeting places of worship and religious communities across the country must be stopped. I extend my sincere condolences to the victims and their families. Our resolve as a country must be to stand together in unity and tolerance during such a difficult time.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletter-archive/district-connection-12302019", "District Connection - 12/30/19", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GEORGIA ADVOCATE TESTIFIES HOW CONGRESS CAN BETTER COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING\nEarlier this month, the House Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process held a hearing about how federal, state, local, and community organizations can work together to combat the scourge of human trafficking, and I'm proud to say that the 7th District of Georgia was well represented in the conversation. .\nThe United States has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in the world, which increases in local communities that are home to major tourist events and heavily marketed attractions. With less than two months before the Super Bowl, my colleagues and I wanted to hear from local experts about how the federal government can partner with state and local law enforcement to raise awareness and potentially save lives.\nBob Rodgers, the President and CEO of Street Grace, a faith-based organization in Georgia which is committed to ending the sexual trafficking of children throughout our nation, testified before our subcommittee where he called for comprehensive solutions. Click on the image below to watch his opening remarks.\nI can't thank Mr. Rodgers and his team at Street Grace enough for their willingness to travel to Washington, D.C., and share their expertise with everyone on the subcommittee. From Pennsylvania to Florida and from Massachusetts to Texas, every member of our committee was moved by the testimony of Mr. Rodgers and his fellow witnesses. Our children cannot be allowed to be used as pawns for sex or labor trafficking, and I know everyone in American is willing to do all that we can to put an end to this disgusting crime.\n\nGEORGIA BECOMES SECOND STATE TO RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR COAL ASH PERMIT PROGRAM\nLast week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a streamlined federal permitting program for the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) in surface impoundments and landfills, and it approved Georgia's permit. This makes Georgia the second state in the nation  following Oklahoma  with an authorized coal ash permit program. This is great news for Georgia, and the talented folks at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, because the EPA's coal ash permit program is practical, cost effective, and returns environmental protection regulation to the states  instead of a one-size fits all approach.\nThe State of Georgia is a shining example of how partnerships between local leaders and the federal government can deliver vital results for the American people. I look forward to monitoring Georgia's successes under the leadership of EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Governor Brian Kemp in managing and properly disposing of coal ash under the permit program, and I am optimistic that the state will continue to pursue innovative solutions to recycling coal ash and limiting waste.\n\nIF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM OPIOID ADDICTION, YOU ARE NOT ALONE\nThe holidays are a time to spend time with loved ones and celebrate everything we are grateful for. But for many, the holidays are a more difficult time where friends and family suffer from addiction.\nMore than half of all Americans know someone affected by the opioid crisis. Our families, neighbors, and friends are facing this struggle right here in Georgia.\nTogether, in a unified push, we can help the millions of Americans affected by the opioid crisis seek proper treatment and begin recovery.\nFor more information, click on the image below or visit: stopopioidsilence.org\n\nGWINNETT RESIDENT HONORED WITH GEORGIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION'S HOSPITAL HERO AWARD \nNorthside-Duluth Clinical Nurse Manager Jenine Morgan has been in the nursing profession for nearly 22 years. Two years ago, one of Morgan's co-workers wasn't feeling well. Morgan insisted the co-worker receive immediate medical treatment, but the co-worker refused at first. It turned out, had it not been for Morgan's persistence, the co-worker would have died from her mini-stroke.\nEarlier this month, Morgan was named one of the Georgia Hospital Association's Hospital Hero Award recipients for her dedication to saving lives. Congratulations, Jenine! Our community would not be as strong as it is today without you.\n\nLOCAL RESTAURANT PREPARES FOOD FOR ELDERLY AND IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORS\nOne of the best things about representing the Seventh District in Congress is being able to share all the incredible stories I hear about how our community goes above and beyond to help others who are struggling.\nEach year, Brian and Kelly Tam, the owners of Tam's BackStage, organize a holiday feast for local senior citizens and those in need. Their restaurant served lunch to about 100 seniors and dinner to more than 250 people from various nonprofit organizations like Abba House, Bald Ridge Lodge, and The Place of Forsyth County.\nThank you to everyone who participated in this year's Helpings of Hope event!\n\nHAPPY NEW YEAR\nWith 2019 coming to a close and the new decade beginning in just a few days, we all naturally take time to reflect and to set new goals for the future.\nWhile it's easy to look at the glass half empty and be pessimistic about the realities of getting things done in a divided Congress, I opt to look at the glass half full. Every man and woman who I serve with in the U.S. House of Representatives believes in making America better tomorrow than she is today through reforming our nation's outdated infrastructure, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and bolstering manufacturing and trade for U.S. businesses. I know that this will be hard work, but as Americans - not as Democrats or Republicans - we can set an example for our children and grandchildren and bring about that positive future.\nAs we turn the page to 2020, I wish you and your family a happy and healthy new year!\nSincerely,    Rob Woodall\n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/serving-arkansans-let-me-help-you", "Serving Arkansans: Let Me Help You", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Helping Arkansans with problems they have with federal agencies is a top priority for me. When Natural State residents call for help navigating the federal bureaucracy, my staff and I are here to assist however we can.\r\nIn 2019, my office received more than 2,500 new requests for help with federal agencies, including assisting 44 Arkansans with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 223 problems with veterans' disability claims and 26 issues with the U.S. Postal Service. While the need for help is steady each year, knowing about these problems gives me a better idea of what is working and not working in the federal government.\r\nOver the last 12 months, more constituents asked me for help with military records and medals than any other issue. Although this is usually a top request, it accounted for more than 25 percent of the requests for assistance I received. It is not surprising that veterans and their families need help with these issues. It can be overwhelming to try to track down documents that could be at one of several different repositories or to reconstruct files that were destroyed in a 1970s fire. We also get many last-minute requests from families and funeral homes when they need documents to provide proper honors at a funeral or proof of eligibility for burial in a National Cemetery. This is important work and I am pleased that my office has developed expertise with these issues.\r\nNotable among this year's casework achievements was obtaining the 70-year-old medals of WWII and Korean War veteran Thomas Vaughns. The 99-year-old served with the Tuskegee Airmen and spent his life in service to others, earning several medals for his dedication to our country. I was honored to present these medals to him during a ceremony at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Mr. Vaughns is a tremendous example of the spirit of our Greatest Generation.\r\nOther challenging requests my office received included a number of international and immigration issues. The paperwork and processes involved in immigration, visas and passports often require specialized help. In 2019, we assisted with 99 problems involving U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and 97 with the State Department. These included a Northwest Arkansas woman whose citizenship paperwork was lost in the 1980s and a missionary family whose international adoption was hindered by civil unrest in Haiti. I was pleased that assistance from my office led to immigration officials digging further to finally verify that citizenship and allowed the family to bring their child to the U.S. for the first time.\r\nI often hear from Arkansans who spent considerable time trying to get answers from federal agencies. While I can't make the decisions, we're here to make sure these problems are examined by the right people. I am proud of the work my office does to help Arkansans each day and I look forward to continuing this important mission in 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov//media/newsreleases/crapo-honors-us-marine-captain-anneliese-satz", "Crapo Honors U.S. Marine Captain Anneliese Satz", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Michael Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t CRAPO HONORS U.S. MARINE CAPTAIN ANNELIESE SATZ \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 Presented Congressional Record Statement at Boise ceremony \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBOISE -- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) honored U.S. Marine Captain Anneliese Satz, a Boise native, with a Congressional Record Statement to mark her accomplishments, which include being the first female F-35B pilot. The statement was awarded to Satz during her holiday visit to Idaho. Full text of the Congressional Record Statement, which was submitted on September 9, 2019 is below:\r\nI congratulate U.S. Marine Captain Anneliese Satz, of Boise, Idaho, on her many achievements, including being the first woman to fly the F-35 fighter jet for the U.S. Marine Corps. Above all, I thank Captain Satz for her service to our nation.\r\nIn June, Captain Satz became the first female Marine to complete the F-35B Basic Course. Before she joined the Marines, she earned her commercial pilots license flying helicopters. I understand Captain Satz has been assigned to her first operational unit: the Green Knights of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in Iwakuni, Japan. \r\nMy home state of Idaho is full of trailblazers. Among them are the women who are leaders, innovators and architects of a new reality where the first woman to . . . is rightfully becoming a descriptor of the past. Captain Satz is a courageous Marine fighter jet pilot. She is also a groundbreaker who worked hard to complete her training and prepare for her service ahead.\r\nThank you, Anneliese, for your service to our country and for your hard work and great leadership. Your preparation and diligence are commendable. You are showing young Americans, and adults alike, through your example of dedication and proficiency that high goals are achievable.\r\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 \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.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-continued-detention-of-philippine-senator-leila-de-lima", "Durbin Statement On Continued Detention Of Philippine Senator Leila De Lima", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.19\n\t\t\t Durbin Statement On Continued Detention Of Philippine Senator Leila De Lima \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGOU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the continued detention of Philippine Senator Leila de Lima by the government of the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte:\r\nPhilippines human rights champion Senator Leila de Lima has been jailed for more than 1,000 days on highly questionable charges. Her release, which has been championed by groups such as Amnesty International  and now the U.S. Congress  is unfortunately symbolic of the larger price one increasingly pays for peaceful dissent and honest journalism under President Duterte in the Philippines. These voices, like de Lima's and Rappler journalist Maria Ressa's, face harassment and imprisonment for fostering honest coverage regarding the country's sweeping extra-judicial killings, which is an affront to the cherished democratic norms we share with our long standing Filipino allies.\r\nIllinois is proudly home to a vibrant, hardworking Filipino community. The Duterte regime should stop threatening the travel of these Filipino Americans and so many others who travel between our nations, and instead release Senator de Lima or assure a quick and credible trial. This strong-arm tactic is an insult to the Filipino American community and the country's democracy.\r\n-30-\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 \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/standing-with-religious-leaders-community-members-and-elected-officials-gillibrand-speaks-out-against-anti-semitism-following-horrific-attack", "Standing With Religious Leaders, Community Members, And Elected Officials, Gillibrand Speaks Out Against Anti-Semitism Following Horrific Attack", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t Standing With Religious Leaders, Community Members, And Elected Officials, Gillibrand Speaks Out Against Anti-Semitism Following Horrific Attack \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 Gillibrand Hosted a Roundtable at Ramapo Town Hall Near Monsey and Called for More Federal Funding to Protect Nonprofits and Educate the Public on the Holocaust\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Airmont, NYU.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today hosted a roundtable at Ramapo Town Hall in Rockland County to speak out against anti-Semitism following the horrific attack in Monsey. She heard directly from religious and community leaders, elected officials, and advocates on Saturday's attack in Monsey, as well as other recent attacks on the Jewish community. She discussed ways to stop anti-Semitism and protect the Jewish community, calling for more funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and support for the Never Again Education Bill, which provides funding for Holocaust education.\r\n\r\nBelow are Senator Gillibrand's remarks as prepared for delivery:\r\n\r\nThank you to everyone for joining me.\r\n\r\nWe are gathered today in the wake of the horrific attack on the Jewish community here in Monsey.\r\n\r\nThere are few things more heinous than attacking worshippers as they celebrate their traditions, culture, and values.\r\n\r\nIt is antithetical to our values as New Yorkers.\r\n\r\nWe can attribute our state's strength and vibrancy to its many diverse communities.\r\n\r\nThe ability of any New Yorker, and any American, to worship freely and without fear of violence is an unshakeable tenet of our state and our country.\r\n\r\nBut over the last few years, we have witnessed far too many attacks on Jewish communities in our state, across our country, and around the world.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, there were nearly 2000 anti-Semitic attacks in the United States.\r\n\r\nThat is the third-highest number of attacks since 1970 and twice as many attacks as in 2015.\r\n\r\nAnd in New York City, anti-Semitic crimes have jumped by 21 percent in the last year.\r\n\r\nThese numbers are deeply disturbing and entirely unacceptable.\r\n\r\nToday, I was honored to sit with community leaders in Monsey and Rockland County to hear from them about solutions that would help protect and support their families and communities.\r\n\r\nI am dedicated to working with our Jewish communities to combat and prevent anti-Semitic violence across our state.\r\n\r\nOne of the ways we must do that is by continuing to fight for funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, or NSGP.\r\n\r\nThis program provides funding to improve security for nonprofits like synagogues, churches, and mosques that are at high risk for terror attacks.\r\n\r\nI have fought for increases in this funding for years, and just a couple of weeks ago, I worked to secure $90 million in funding for the NSGP for 2020.\r\n\r\nImportantly, this funding will be accessible to non-urban communities here in Rockland for only the third year ever.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, I fought to secure expansion of the NSGP program so that nonprofits in non-urban areas are able to apply for these important grants.\r\n\r\nCongress just approved $40 million of funding for these non-urban communities for 2020.\r\n\r\nI will continue to make this funding a priority going forward, so that our communities can be more safe.\r\n\r\nAnd my office will work with our neighbors to ensure they know how to apply and secure this vital tool.\r\n\r\nBut the fact of the matter is, we need to do more to protect our Jewish communities and combat anti-Semitism at its root.\r\n\r\nThat is why I have been a champion of the Never Again Education Bill which would provide funding for Holocaust education.\r\n\r\nWe must fight to pass this bill because knowledge is the key to combatting hate and violence.\r\n\r\nHowever, too many communities are suffering.\r\n\r\nThat is why I am here today talking to my constituents, to community leaders, to the Jewish community  to try to find new and more comprehensive ways we can fight for safer and more inclusive communities for all New Yorkers.\r\n\r\nI have always been proud to stand with the Jewish Community and have been blessed to be included in their joyous celebrations in the past.\r\n\r\nAnd I will forever stand with the community through those joyous times and will share in their grief through these devastating ones.\r\n\r\nI won't stop fighting until all New Yorkers can worship and live without prejudice and violence and with inclusion and acceptance.\r\n\r\nThank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qa-improving-us-organ-transplant-system", "Q&A: Improving U.S. Organ Transplant System", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Q&amp;A: Improving U.S. Organ Transplant System With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley  Q: Why are you looking into the nation's organ procurement and transplant system?  A:Advances in medical science, specifically organ transplants, save lives and give loved ones a new lease on life. Incredible gifts of life are made possible when family members and even total strangers donate to a patient in need. Postmortem donations give the gift of life from deceased donors who match an individual on the national wait list through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the OPTN operates the national database of all patientswaiting for a transplant. The OPTN contracts with the Unified Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which is charged with overseeing the 58 organ procurement organizations (OPOs) located throughout the United States. Americans on the wait list are in a life and death situation. It is imperative the system functions fairly and effectively. There's a scarcity of available organs compared to the number of people added to the wait list every single day. This shortfall contributes to a dire situation in which 113,000 Americans on the wait list risk losing their lives without receiving a transplant in time. According to the head of the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS), at least 20 Americans die each day because a potentially life-saving organ transplant is out of reach. Based on investigative reports and whistleblower accounts, I'm concerned about inefficiencies and mismanagement of the procurement process,as well as the performance standards used by the 58 OPOs. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has legislative and oversight jurisdiction of many public health programs, I'm calling for increased oversight to correct flaws in this vital network in the nation's health care system. For more than a dozen years, the need for more accountability and transparency in the organ procurement and transplantation system has been on my radar as a taxpayer watchdog and healthcare policymaker. In 2005, I raised concerns about alleged violations of transplant protocols and requested an investigation into practices prohibited by federal law, including purchase orsale, for profit, of human organs that affects interstate commerce. I've also flagged misuse of taxpayer dollars based upon audits and investigations conducted by the HHS Office of Inspector General. The integrity of the U.S. organ procurement and transplant system is paramount forlife-saving care. The federal governmentmust uphold accountability standards, to require transparency, uphold public confidence, prevent avoidable deaths and protect taxpayerdollars.  Q:How will the proposed rules by the Trump administration help improve the system?  A:President Trump issued an executive order in July to help increase the organ supply and improve the allocation of organs available through deceased donations. HHS proposed a rule in December that would update the conditions that organ procurement organizations (OPOs) must meet to receiveMedicare and Medicaid payments under federal health care programs. Better incentives, better oversight, and better accountability standards can be achieved with more transparent, reliable, and standardized metrics to help gauge if the nation's system of donor networks is performing as effectively and efficiently as possible. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) also issued a proposed rule to remove the financial barriers to living organ donations.If finalized, it would expand the range of expenses eligible for reimbursement to include lost wages and childcare and eldercare expenses for those donors who lack other forms of financial support. The rule could be a game changer for the hundreds of thousands of Americans on dialysis. Outcomes for kidney transplant recipients show that living donations provide a better quality organ in a shorter period of time than those who continue on dialysis or eventually receive a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. The rule encourages a higher living donor transplant rate which would improve the quality of life and increase the life expectancy of Americans currently on dialysis.CMS estimates if all OPOs were to meet the new proposed metrics, the number of transplants would increase by nearly 15,000 additional transplants by 2026. Increasing patient access to healthy, quality organ donations and safe, high-quality transplants would save more lives and improve the quality of life for Americans for generations to come. I'm glad the Trump administration is moving forward with these reforms.However, even more can be done. In December, I called upon the HHS IG to conduct a comprehensive examination of thesystem. In a jointletterwithSenator Todd Young of Indiana, I spelled out substantive flaws in oversight and misspending that need to be flushed out and fixed. I'll continue working to fix what's broken in our system of procurement and distribution so that as many Americans as possible may benefit from the gift of life made possible by organ donations.  Public comments to the two proposed rules may be submitted electronically tohttp://www.regulations.gov. All comments are public. -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-leads-colleagues-in-letter-opposing-drastic-increases-to-immigration-related-fees", "Harris Leads Colleagues in Letter Opposing Drastic Increases to Immigration-Related Fees", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Kamala Harris", "H001075", "www.harris.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t Harris Leads Colleagues in Letter Opposing Drastic Increases to Immigration-Related Fees \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) led a group of her colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official Samantha Deshommes expressing their strong opposition to a rule change that would drastically increase immigration fees and directly harm vulnerable immigrant populations.\r\nUnder the proposed rule change, the filing fee for individuals seeking naturalization would increase 83%, from $640 to $1,170. The renewal fee for DACA recipients would increase by 55%, from $495 to $765. The new rule would also establish a new fee for asylum seekers and increase fees for those seeking Temporary Protected Status. Finally, the rule would limit the availability of fee waivers across the board.\r\nUSCIS's efforts to limit the availability of fee waivers while increasing fees to, among other things, naturalize, seek asylum, or remain in the only country they know to be home, are a clear and concerted effort to harm low-income individuals, vulnerable populations, and communities of color,wrote the senators.Immigration is essential to American society and the American economy.The proposed changes are contrary to what we stand for as a nation.\r\nThe senators continued,We are a nation of immigrants.For centuries, immigrants have enriched our communities, strengthened our economy, and made our country a better place.We are deeply concerned by the myriad ways in which the proposed rulemaking subverts congressional intent to pursue the administration's unabashed and poorly-disguised anti-immigrant agenda.\r\nIn addition to Harris, the letter was signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).\r\nThe full text of the letter is availablehereor below:\r\nDecember 26, 2019\r\nSamantha Deshommes, Chief\r\nRegulatory Coordination Division\r\nOffice of Policy and Strategy\r\nU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services\r\nDepartment of Homeland Security\r\n20 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Mailstop #2140\r\nWashington, D.C. 20529-2140\r\nRE: Comment Letter for USCIS Proposed Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements: DHS Docket USCIS-2019-0010; RIN 1615-AC18\r\nDear Ms. Deshommes:\r\nWe write to express serious concerns regarding the proposed rulemaking published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on November 14, 2019. Several of its provisions increasing fees and making related regulatory changes would have a significant, adverse impact on vulnerable immigrant populations. Alarmingly, the rulemaking seeks to circumvent clear and established congressional intent and long-established principles underlying the U.S. immigration system. As members of the Senate committee of jurisdiction over immigration policy, we strongly object to several key provisions contained in the proposed rulemaking.\r\nI.USCIS is Seeking to Overstep Congressional Authority.\r\nThe rulemaking proposes to transfer funds to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an apparent effort to go beyond USCIS's statutory authority and circumvent Congress's fundamental power of the purse.Congress, through the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), established the Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA) for expenses in providing immigration adjudication and naturalization services. The INA clearly specifies that IEFA funds are for expenses in providing immigration adjudication andnaturalizationservices and the collection, safeguarding and accounting for fees deposited in and funds reimbursed from the Immigration Examinations Fee Account.' Critically, USCIS is not authorized to conduct immigration enforcement and border security activities, which are handled by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) respectively.USCIS is charged with exclusively focusing on the administration of benefit applications. Accordingly, and as set forth in the relevant statutory language, IEFA funds are intended to support USCIS's mission to adjudicate immigration benefit requests.\r\nDespite the statutory language specifying that IEFA is for providingimmigration adjudication and naturalization services, (emphasis added)USCIS seeks to transfer over $112 million to ICE.In a threadbare attempt to shoehorn the proposed transfer into the requisite statutory language, USCIS states that such costs are authorized to the extent that such positions and costs support immigration adjudication and naturalization services. Nonetheless, USCIS confesses within the same section that the money is intended to support efforts that go beyond the moment of adjudication and then details a series of ICE activities, including investigations and removal efforts that fall squarely within the ambit of enforcement, not adjudication. Indeed, the initial rulemaking underscores that the true purpose of the transferred funds is for enforcement, not adjudication, by citing to the President's Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020 budget requests for a transfer from IEFA to ICEto support immigrationinvestigation and enforcementand immigration investigation andenforcement consistent with the Administration's Executive Orders (emphases added). The stated purpose for the proposed transfer of funds is a far cry from providingimmigration adjudication and naturalizations (emphasis added). In light of the foregoing, USCIS's justification that these funds will support immigration adjudication and naturalization services simply strains credulity.\r\nUSCIS's attemptto accept payments from applicants for adjudication of their immigration benefits and redirect those funds for immigration enforcement is improper and contravenes congressional intent. First, it subverts the statutorily specified purpose of the IEFA.Second,it is contrary to the mission and role USCIS was established to serve.\r\nII. USCIS's Proposed Revisions Will Disadvantage Vulnerable Communities.\r\nWe are also deeply concerned that USCIS's proposed changes to the fee schedule appear designed to disadvantage vulnerable communities. USCIS's proposed efforts to severely limit the availability of fee waivers and impose additional fees that have not previously been charged will undoubtedly impact the ability of countless immigrant families to participate in the communities they consider to be their homes. Conditioning such critical benefits on the ability to pay increased fees is contrary to the principle of equal access that is a central tenet of American democracy.\r\nFirst, therule proposes to limitfee waivers to immigration benefitrequests for which USCIS is required by law to consider a fee waiver or wherethe USCIS Director exercises favorable discretion as provided in the proposedregulation, among other proposed limitations. Fee waivers help applicants improve their stability, financially support themselves and their families, fully integrate into their communities, and eventually acquire citizenship. As such, fee waivers have the power to lift up and transform families, communities, and the country as a whole. As set forth in House Report accompanying the 2019 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, USCIS is expected to continue the use of fee waivers for applicants who can demonstrate an inability to pay the naturalization fee. USCIS's proposed limitation of fee waivers will cause considerable harm to families that contribute to their communities every day. Moreover, this proposal could make essential benefits such as naturalization, adjustment of status, and employment authorization functionally inaccessible for low-income immigrants.\r\nSecond, the proposed rulemaking includes a dramatic 83 percent increase to the filing fee for individuals seeking naturalizationfrom$640 to $1,170.Such a substantial increase will make naturalization unavailable to low-income individuals. In turn, without the opportunity to naturalize, such individuals will be unable to access significant benefits of citizenship that permit them to participate in their communities, thereby adversely impacting their U.S. citizen family members. The deleterious effect of this fee increase is compounded by USCIS's proposed elimination of the fee waiver for naturalization applications. USCIS must keep the pathway to citizenship affordable and accessible to ensure that individuals who contribute to their communities every day and are American in every way may access the benefits for which they qualify under our laws.\r\nThird, the proposed rulemaking establishesa new fee for asylum seekersindividuals fleeing persecution to seek refuge here in the United States. In doing so, USCIS seeks to join only three other countries in the world that charge a fee before considering the protection of asylum seekers:Iran, Fiji, and Australia.In addition, the proposed rulemaking would increase the fee for asylum seekers to apply for employment authorization at the same time that USCIS has separately proposed to extend the waiting period before asylum applicants can even request employment authorization.The proposal would also impose fee increases for applicants for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who were admitted to the United States after natural disasters or civil wars in countries such as Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador.The world is facing the most significant displacement and refugee crisis in modern history.Asylum seekers represent some of the world's most vulnerable individuals. Many of them flee with little more than the clothes on their backs and pennies to their names seeking the most basic notions of safety and security for themselves and their families. Closing our doors to these individualsbased on theirinability to pay flies in the face of the basic intent of U.S. refugee law and policy and the United States' historic role as the world's humanitarian leader.\r\nFourth, the proposed rulemaking includes an increased fee for renewal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) from $495 to $765a 55 percent increase.DACA recipients, whose status has already been placed in jeopardy by the Trump administration's cruel decision to terminate their protections, are students, teachers in our communities, military service members, doctors, and other individuals who enrich our society and contribute to our economy.Imposing a higher fee on these young people hampers their abilities to fully participate in the only communities they know to be their homes.\r\nAt bottom, USCIS's efforts to limit the availability of fee waivers while increasing fees to, among other things, naturalize, seek asylum, or remain in the only country they know to be home, are a clear and concerted effort to harm low-income individuals, vulnerable populations, and communities of color. Immigration is essential to American society and the American economy. The proposed changes are contrary to what we stand for as a nation.\r\nIII. USCIS Has Severely Limited Opportunity for Public Comment.\r\nGiven the vast and predictably adverse consequences of the proposed rulemaking, USCIS's decision to break with the standard 60-day public comment period was deeply troubling. Executive Order 12866, which governs the regulatory planning and review process, states that agencies should allow not less than 60 days for public comment in most cases to afford the public a meaningfulopportunity to comment on any proposed regulation. The decision to provide less than 60 days is all the more alarming in light of the greater length of the proposed rulemaking as compared to the most recent preceding USCIS fee rules, its complexity, the significant public attention it has received, and multiple requests for extensions that have been submitted to OIRA and USCISincluding from members of Congress. To date, DHS has provided a singleextension to December 30, 2019. This is simply insufficient to furnish an opportunity for thorough review and public comment.\r\n***\r\nUSCIS's mission statement once averred, USCIS secures America's promise as a nation of immigrants. . . . This administration removed that statement and the proposed rulemaking supplies the latest evidence as to why. This administration's policies have systematically targeted immigrants and communities of color by cruelly separating children from their families, restricting access to immigration benefits, banning immigrants from the United Sates because of their Muslim faith, and closing our doors to vulnerable individuals seeking safety in the United States.The proposed rulemaking disproportionately increases fees and eliminates fee waivers for the benefit categories most commonly used by low-income immigrants and makes critical benefits to vulnerable individuals essentially inaccessible.\r\nWe are a nation of immigrants. For centuries, immigrants have enriched our communities, strengthened our economy, and made our country a better place.We are deeply concerned by the myriad ways in which the proposed rulemaking subverts congressional intent to pursue the administration's unabashed and poorly-disguised anti-immigrant agenda.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=936D81BB-C358-4F59-891A-7F19B3BC5D11", "Klobuchar Statement on Thye-Blatnik Decision on Federal Payments to St. Louis, Lake, Cook Counties", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After efforts by Klobuchar, the U.S. Forest Service will redo the appraisal for federal payments to St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties under the Thye-Blatnik Act that support crucial services including law enforcement, firefighting, and infrastructure improvements \r\n  \r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced that they will re-do the appraisal of federal land in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties and that the counties will continue to receive annual payments at 2008 levels under the Thye-Blatnik Act. Klobuchar has been a consistent advocate for the annual federal compensation payments to St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties under the Thye-Blatnik Act. In June and December of this year, Klobuchar called on officials at the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider the concerns of these counties in northern Minnesota. \r\n\r\nA consistent and fair system of appraising Thye-Blatnik federal land payments is critical to ensuring that Minnesota counties can fully support crucial services like law enforcement, firefighting, and infrastructure improvements. I requested that the Department of Agriculture take action in response to the concerns raised by St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties about the appraisal, and this announcement is welcome news for these communities.\r\n\r\nKlobuchar, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has consistently advocated for annual federal compensation payments to St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties under the Thye-Blatnik Act.\r\n\r\nKlobuchar sent a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Vicki Christiansen on June 10, 2019 and followed up on December 11, 2019 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to call on the U.S. Forest Service to take into account the concerns of the counties over the previous appraisal showing a significant difference in valuation of the lands.\r\n\r\nThe counties, in northern Minnesota, have received federal payments for over 70 years to help offset lost property tax revenue as a result of nontaxable federal lands in these counties. The Thye-Blatnik Act payments support crucial services in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties, including law enforcement, firefighting, and infrastructure improvements.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/comment-on-congressman-john-lewis", "Comments on Congressman John Lewis", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.19\n\t\t\t Comments on Congressman John Lewis \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAs are Americans everywhere, Marcelle and I are heartsick about the new challenge facing our dear friend John Lewis.\r\nJohn Lewis has been called our apostle of quiet strength, and the best of humanity. I have called him a hero for our time, of our time. Of the thousands of leaders I have served with, his contributions of conscience have been living examples to us all. He has certainly nourished mine. He spent an eventful day with us in Vermont late this year, forging memories and sowing insights that will always be with us. Most recently we stood together as several of us reintroduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which itself is a reflection of John Lewis's personal history, as well as of his conscience.\r\nWe know that he is strong, and he knows that he has our prayers and our fervent hopes as he takes on this new battle. \r\n# # # # #\r\n[NOTE: Senator Leahy today posted several photos about John Lewis on his Instagram page.]\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tDavid Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \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.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/greenwood-county-listening-tour-eureka", "Greenwood County Listening Tour, Eureka", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "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\tGREENWOOD COUNTYMonday, December 30VFW Post #2712Eureka", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/phone-call-with-president-trump", "Happy New Year!", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Welcome to Kansas Common Sense. Thanks for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them.\r\nPhone Call with President Trump\r\nOn Sunday, I spoke with President Trump regarding the recent news that Boeing will suspend production of the 737 Max jetliner and what that means for our state. The President assured me he will work with his team at the White House to see if there are ways that he and the administration can be of help.\r\nI will continue to stay engaged with President Trump, Spirit Aerosystems, Boeing and the FAA until this issue is resolved. I understand what the production of the 737 Max means to Spirit and the Wichita community, and I also recognize the problem extends to smaller suppliers and subcontractors in the area.\r\nThis is a serious issue, and I want the jetliner back into production as soon as it has been determined safe to fly. In addition, I will continue to work with the Department of Defense to get more military work for Wichita manufacturers. Read more about my call here in the Wichita Eagle.\r\nTouring the North American Pipe Corporation\r\nOn Monday afternoon, I stopped in McPherson for an informative tour of North American Pipe Corporation (NAPCO) which is owned by Westlake Chemical of Houston, Texas. With 130 local employees, NAPCO is an important driver of the McPherson area economy. NAPCO is a leading polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe manufacturer in North America servicing multiple unique markets, including municipal water and sewer, residential plumbing, water well, agricultural irrigation, turf, electrical and mining.\r\nI enjoyed meeting with employees who manufacture products that make a meaningful contribution to the economic growth of our state and nation. During my visit, we discussed several issues that Congress can address to help American businesses remain globally competitive includingtrade, workforce development and infrastructure needs.Thank you to plant manager Tim Covert for arranging my visit. Special thanks to McPherson Mayor Tom Brown, McPherson County Commission Chair Keith Becker, McPherson Chamber of Commerce Chair Alex Graber, McPherson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Hawkinson, McPherson Industrial Development Corporation Chair Keith Birkhead, McPherson Industrial Development Corporation Executive Director Kasi Morales and McPherson Board of Public Utilities Assistant General Manager Josh Bedel for joining me.\r\n\r\nPresenting the Ellis County BUILD Grant\r\nOn Friday, I joined Ellis County and state officials, including Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland, Sen. Rick Billinger, Rep. Troy Waymaster, Rep. Barb Wasinger, and Rep. Kent Thompson to formally present the $6.5 million U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) BUILD Grant for the Northwest Business Corridor. These federal dollars will be used to improve existing infrastructure, currently not designed for the volume or type of traffic it is being used for, allow for increased economic development in the region, helping existing businesses expand.\r\nThis project will benefit the region for future generations and I commend the Hays community for working together on this vision. Special thanks to Ellis County Commissioners Butch Schlyer, Dustin Roths and Dean Haselhorst, Public Works Director Bill Ring and Hays businessman Dan Hess for their efforts on this initiative. I look forward to continuing to work with Ellis County and the DOT on the Northwest Business Corridor. Read more about the project here in the Hays Daily News.\r\n\r\nMeeting with Jason Williby of Fort Hays State University\r\nTraveling to Kansas Communities for Listening Tour Stops\r\nVisiting Barber County\r\nI started this week with a Kansas Listening Tour stop in Medicine Lodge on Monday. Thank you to the Barber County residents who took the time to share with me their thoughts on issues like the economy and impeachment. A large portion of the conversation also revolved around the viability of rural communities. The conversation turned to recent victories in Congress, like the passage of the VA MISSION Act, which will strengthen community hospitals while providing local veterans more options for care, and the need to pass USMCA now in the Senate, which will help provide market stability to our producers. Attendees at the town hall made clear to me that more work must be done by Washington to ensure that good things continue to happen in the places that we call home.\r\n\r\nAmong the attendees, I appreciated seeing Rusty Varnado, City Administrator for Kiowa, and Jeff Porter, City Administrator for Medicine Lodge. Additionally, I was pleased to see my nominee to the Senate Page Program, Seth, who is from Medicine Lodge. Seth will spend next semester working on the floor of the United States Senate as he takes part in an opportunity available to select high school students across the nation. My gratitude goes out to American Legion Post #69 for opening its doors to the public while hosting the town hall.\r\n\r\nVisiting Ottawa County\r\nOn Thursday, I stopped in Minneapolis for Kansas Listening Tour Stop, visiting a number of small businesses, along with city and county establishments like the Police Department and County Courthouse. I was able to discuss a wide-range of topics, including the importance of preserving the rural lifestyle, impeachment and the need to get USMCA across the finish line. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to speak with me while I was in town.\r\nVisiting Hodgeman County\r\nOn Friday, I hosted a Hodgeman County Kansas Listening Tour Stop at Hanston State Bank. I have represented this area for over 30 years and I understand the importance of carrying on the rural way of life for future generations of Kansans. During my visit, we discussed ways to support rural America, including the need to pass USMCA and provide certainty for our farmers and ranchers. We also discussed veterans' care and the MISSION Act, and the divineness we are seeing in our country and how it related to impeachment. Thank you to all the folks that attended and engaged with me, as well as Hanston State Bank for providing coffee and cookies.\r\n\r\n\r\nStopping by the Isabel Community Store\r\nKeeping a grocery going is a challenge in small town Kansas, but in Isabel the store is owned by the community. On Monday, I stopped by on the way to my townhall and was able to talk with folks drinking their coffee and then stopped by again as folks were eating lunch together. One of the most precious aspects of rural life is the community. Thank you for the conversations and letting me be a part of yours this week.\r\nSpecial thanks to store manager Kathy Balding and her brother Richard Becker for the warm welcome.\r\n\r\nVisiting with Folks from Preston and Burdett\r\nWhile driving around our state this week, I also took time to stop by Preston in Pratt County and Burdett in Pawnee County. I find value in stopping by communities to talk with folks as they go about their day in places such as the town Post Office and other local businesses. Thank you to the folks from both towns who took time out of their busy days to talk with me about their views and life in Kansas.\r\nHonored to Serve You in Washington It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the many Kansans who have been calling and writing in to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues our state and country face. I appreciate the words of Kansans, whether in the form of a letter, a Facebook comment, or a phone call, who wish to make their voice heard. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can contact me by email byclicking here. You can alsoclick hereto contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/risch-delivers-successes-for-idaho-in-2019", "Risch Delivers Successes for Idaho in 2019", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Jim Risch", "R000584", "www.risch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) highlighted the accomplishments and victories he helped secure for Idahoans during 2019.\r\nI'm proud of the hard work and successes we've been able to achieve for Idahoans thanks to strong united Republican leadership in the Senate,said Senator Risch.2019 has been full of significant legislative victories, and in 2020 I'll continue advancing conservative legislation that reduces the federal deficit, upholds the Constitution, and builds on the great economic success we have achieved under the Trump administration.\r\n1.Risch Brings a Women's Business Center to Idaho\r\nAfter several years work, Senator Risch partnered successfully with the Trump administration to establish a Women's Business Center (WBC) in Idaho. The WBC will provide resources, education, and services to Idaho's women entrepreneurs and small business owners. Hosted by the University of Idaho and the Idaho Hispanic Foundation, the Idaho WBC has locations in Nampa and Twin Falls, and offers services tailored to serve our rural communities too. To learn more,click here.\r\n2.Trump Signs Risch Bill to Defend Critical Infrastructure Into Law\r\nAt the end of 2019, the President signed Senator Risch's bill, the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, into law as a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Act has been a 4-year-long effort by Senators Risch and King to establish a pilot program with our national labs, including the Idaho National Lab, and ensure that U.S. critical infrastructure is safe from catastrophic cyberattacks. Its signature into law represents a significant milestone in the effort to defend our critical infrastructure and stay a step ahead of U.S. foreign adversaries. To learn more,click here.\r\n3.Risch Bill to Update Pittman-Robertson Fund Becomes Law\r\nIn December, President Trump signed Senator Risch's bill to modernize the Pittman-Robertson Fund into law. Under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, tax revenue from the sale of shooting and archery equipment generates funding for hunter education and wildlife conservation. Senator Risch's bill will update the law to ensure the continued successful funding of wildlife conservation through the purchase of hunting and recreational shooting equipment. To learn more,click here.\r\n4.Risch Urges Congress to Protect the SRS and PILT Programs\r\nThe Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs provide rural counties with much-needed financial certainty in the event they are unable to collect revenue on tax-exempt federal lands. Senator Risch has long been a supporter of SRS and PILT and the obligation we owe to our rural communities while continuing to push for an increase in active forest management.Senator Risch's work in support of SRS and PILT included co-sponsoring legislation, working with Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee members, and sending letters to the administration and congressional leadership in support of funding and reauthorization. These activities helped ensure the inclusion of SRS and PILT in the year-end appropriations bill that President Trump signed into law.To learn more,click here.\r\n5.Risch Stands Up for Idaho's Dairy Farmers\r\nTo combat the sharp increase of mislabeled imitation dairy products on sale in grocery stores and supermarkets, Senator Risch and Senator Baldwin introduced the bipartisan DAIRY PRIDE Act. As one of the largest milk and cheese producing states, imitation dairy products made with nuts, seeds and plants hurt Idaho dairy farmers as well as consumers. Senator Risch will continue to encourage the FDA to uphold existing labeling regulations and counter mislabeling that hurts Idaho farmers and America's heartland. To learn more,click here.\r\n6.Risch Leads Effort to Protect Idaho's Interest in a New Columbia River Treaty\r\nThe U.S. and Canada are currently renegotiating the decades-old Columbia River Treaty. This treaty has focused on flood control and power generation for the Pacific Northwest. However, some are trying to include new issues into the treaty that could be detrimental to Idaho water users. As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Risch is working closely with the Trump administration and Columbia River Treaty Negotiator Jill Smail to ensure Idaho's interests are properly protected in any new treaty.\r\n7.Idaho Senators Lead Effort to Lower Prescription Drug Prices\r\nA recent study found that in 2017, 37 percent of Idaho residents stopped taking medication as prescribed due to cost. To address this issue and improve health care affordability, Senators Crapo and Risch introduced the Lower Costs, More Cures Act to lower prescription drug prices, bring increased transparency to the prescription drug industry and encourage innovation in the development of new treatments and cures. To learn more,click here.\r\n8.Risch Approves Vital Funding for U.S. Military, Border Wall\r\nOne of Congress' chief duties outlined in the U.S. Constitution is to provide for the common defense. In December, Senator Risch voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act which will strengthen our military readiness and provide vital resources for Mountain Home Air Force Base, Bayview's Acoustic Research Detachment and the Idaho National Guard. Senator Risch also approved funding for the border wall with Mexico and other measures important to U.S. homeland security. To learn more,click here.\r\n9.Risch Advances Conservative Judges\r\nSince President Trump came to office, Senator Risch and his Republican colleagues in the Senate have confirmed 2 Supreme Court justices, 2 judges to the U.S. Court of International Trade, 50 circuit court judges, and well over 100 judges to district courts all across the U.S. This monumental effort will strengthen the judicial branch of the government and furnish courts with well-respected conservative judges that will honor and uphold the Constitution.\r\n10.Risch Creates Greater Opportunity for Idaho Small Businesses\r\nSmall businesses in rural states like Idaho often are not afforded the same opportunities as those in more populous states. To address this inequality, Senator Risch introduced the bipartisan FAST Fix Act to encourage federal economic development grants be awarded to small businesses and universities in states that have historically lacked awards, and the bipartisan, bicameral Small Business Investment Improvement Act to encourage more access to early stage capital to Idaho's small businesses. To learn more about these bills, clickhereandhere.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123019", "Dear Colleague on Democrats\u2019 Health Care Progress For The People", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nThis holiday season, as we wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year, Democrats can take great pride in the progress that we have made to advance the good health of the American people.\nGood health is nothing to be taken for granted, and this was driven home to us this weekend when the news of John Lewis's sad diagnosis descended upon us. John is an angel among us, and now the whole world is praying for him. He always reminds us of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.\nThat is why our Democratic House proudly took transformative action to lower prescription drug prices for America's seniors and families by passing H.R. 3: the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. We applaud our Chairs, Frank Pallone, Richie Neal and Bobby Scott, our outstanding Freshman Class and all Members for their leadership on this legislation, which delivers on our For The People promise to lower health care costs by lowering the crushing burden of prescription drug prices that impacts almost every family in America.\nAmericans should not have to pay more for our medicines than what Big Pharma charges for the same drugs overseas  and that is why we are proud that H.R. 3 finally gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices and makes those lower prices available to millions of Americans with private insurance. H.R. 3 represents the most expansive improvement to Medicare since its creation, as we reinvest more than half-a-trillion dollars in historic new vision, dental and hearing benefits for Medicare.\nOur historic H.R. 3 legislation stands among the many acts of Congress that we have sent over to the Senate to lower health care costs, strengthen access to health care and protect people with pre-existing conditions.\nOur challenge is a great one, because at every turn, President Trump and his Republican allies in the Congress have worked to sabotage the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and dismantle the pre-existing condition benefit for 130 million Americans. The Trump Administration continues to firmly support the recent ruling in the 5th Circuit, which they hope will move them one step closer to obliterating every protection and benefit of the Affordable Care Act.\nThe grave threat from this GOP lawsuit is why, on Day One of this Congress, under the leadership of Congressman Colin Allred, we voted to throw the full legal weight of the House of Representatives into the fight to protect people with pre-existing conditions. We will continue our fight in the courts and in the Congress to defend and strengthen affordable health care for all Americans.\nWhen we return to Washington, our priority will be to continue a drumbeat across America to press the President and the GOP Senate to pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act into law. And we also look forward to ending the financial unfairness of surprise billing, which has bipartisan support in the Congress and among the American people.\nBest wishes to you and your loved ones for a glorious Holiday Season and a Healthy and Happy New Year.\nThank you for your leadership and friendship.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=B775571A-1056-4315-81BB-A124FF2EB295", "Wicker Commends Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Roger Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "America now has a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for this fiscal year. After long congressional debates over this important bill, the overwhelming votes in the House and Senate gave a major win for all our citizens. It shows that supporting our military remains a bipartisan priority. With President Donald Trump's signature making this legislation the law of the land, America's armed forces will have what they need in 2020.\r\nThe NDAA fulfills Congress's most basic responsibility to provide for the common defense by setting funding levels and priorities for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army. This year's defense authorization builds on the progress of the last three years and is a strong step forward as our military comes back from the damaging Obama-era cuts and takes care of troops and their families.\r\nWins in this NDAA\r\nThe NDAA for Fiscal Year 2020 authorizes $738 billion in defense funding, consistent with recent years and below Cold War spending when measured as a percentage of the total U.S. economy. This money supports the Department of Defense's normal operations while giving a much-needed pay raise to service members. It will also help the Pentagon adapt to changing threats.\r\nSome of the most important provisions will give our Navy professionals the ships they need. These measures will authorize full funding for the LPD-31 and LHA-9, amphibious ships to be built by the experts in Mississippi, as well as three new destroyers. I have long supported these programs, especially through the SHIPS Act, which I authored and which will increase the size of America's fleet to 355 vessels, the number required to keep our country safe.\r\nSatellites and cyber weapons will also present significant challenges going forward. In 2016, then-candidate Trump promised to address these issues by creating an American Space Force. This NDAA keeps the president's promise by establishing that new service branch within the Air Force, getting America ready for launch.\r\nI am glad a provision I led to expand JROTC and National Defense Cadet Corps to 3,700 units nationwide was included as well. These programs benefit schools, families, and communities by teaching lifelong lessons about character and citizenship to the next generation of leaders, some of whom will go on to serve in uniform.\r\nThere are many other great ideas that will become realities because of this legislation. There are also many unwise proposals that I worked to exclude from the end product, such as measures that would have unnecessarily limited the president's ability to counter Iranian aggression. Efforts to move terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to the United States and cut off support for our allies were also stopped in their tracks.\r\nA Bipartisan Tradition\r\nCongress has passed a defense authorization every year for the last 58 years, usually with supermajorities of Republicans and Democrats. Both in times of bipartisan unity and during hard fights like today, this process stands out as the legislative branch at its best.\r\nThe fact that we were able to approve the NDAA for the 59th year in a row with such broad support shows how necessary this bill is. The vote also demonstrates the level of trust our country has in our defense professionals.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406291", "Bipartisan Task Force Condemns Anti-Semitic Attack in Monsey, NY", "2019-12-29", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), the Co-Chairs of the House of Representatives Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, condemn last night's stabbing in Monsey, NY, during a Hanukkah celebration: \r\n The House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism strongly condemns last night's anti-Semitic attack in a rabbi's home in Monsey, NY. This comes on the heels of numerous attacks against Jews in Brooklyn and Manhattan and the shooting at a kosher deli in Jersey City earlier this month. We are keeping the victims of last night's attack and their families in our prayers. As the Jewish community concludes the holiday of Hanukkah this week, it is more important than ever that all Jews are able to safely celebrate their faith. \r\n The trend of increasing Anti-Semitic violence and incidents in recent years cannot continue. In the coming weeks, the Task Force will reach out to law enforcement officials, community organizations, and experts in combating hate crimes to seek answers for the best ways to fight this scourge. The Task Force stands united with the Jewish community and is committed to ending these hateful crimes once and for all.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 78900, "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": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", 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