ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 2, 2025.
Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael L. Brown, Director of the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University vchal/shutterstock, The Conversation Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity’s companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking
As the NRL edges into Darwin, does the AFL need to be more proactive in the NT? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney The Northern Territory government recently announced the Dolphins, the NRL’s newest team that entered the league in 2023, would play a home game at TIO Stadium in Darwin every year from 2026 to 2028. The Dolphins
What is populism? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Moffitt, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Monash University In 2017, in the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump’s first election win, populism was named the “word of the year” by Cambridge University Press. Almost a decade later, we might have thought the term’s popularity
Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna-Karina Hermkens, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Anthropology, Macquarie University Bougainville, an autonomous archipelago currently part of Papua New Guinea, is determined to become the world’s newest country. To support this process, it’s offering foreign investors access to a long-shuttered copper and gold mine. Formerly owned by the
Australia’s plan to protect its trade in war is flawed. We can’t do it with nuclear submarines Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Palazzo, Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney If war breaks out someday between the United States and China, one of the major concerns for Australia is the impact on its trade. Our trade routes are long and
Three years after the Jenkins report, there is still work to be done on improving parliament culture Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Maley, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University Three and a half years ago, then-sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins’ Set the Standard report was handed to federal parliament, commissioned after Brittany Higgins’ allegations of sexual assault in Parliament House, which
Police aren’t properly trained for mental health crises – but they’re often the first responders. Here’s what works better Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panos Karanikolas, Research officer, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, The University of Melbourne Rosie Marinelli/Shutterstock In an emergency, police are often the first called to the scene. But they are rarely equipped to deal with complex mental health crises. Following recent parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions there has
These 5 roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaime Comber, Senior Research Consultant in Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney Westend61, GettyImages We all want homes that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer, without breaking the bank. However, Australian homes built before 2003 have a low average energy rating of 1.8 stars
With interest rates on the way down, could house prices boom? Here’s what research suggests Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Jenny Evans/Stringer/Getty With the Reserve Bank of Australia easing monetary policy, interest rates are on the way down. Already this year, mortgage pre-approvals had begun to rise, suggesting many aspiring home buyers are excited by the prospect of
Scandalous mormons, dystopian Buenos Aires and Nicolas Cage down under: what to watch in June Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudia Sandberg, Senior Lecturer, Technology in Culture and Society, The University of Melbourne As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you. This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos
How Israel manufactured a looting crisis to cover up its Gaza famine By Muhammad Shehada Since the onset of its genocide, Israel has persistently pushed a narrative that the famine devastating Gaza is not of its own making, but the result of “Hamas looting aid”. This claim, repeated across mainstream media and parroted by officials, has been used to deflect responsibility for what many human rights experts
PNG faces deadline for fixing issues with money laundering and terrorist financing ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea has five months remaining to fix its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) systems or face the severe repercussions of being placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list”. The FATF has imposed an October 2025 deadline, and the government is scrambling
Phil Goff: Israel doesn’t care how many innocent people, children it’s killing COMMENTARY: By Phil Goff “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy — knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.” This statement was made not by a foreign or liberal critic of Israel but by the former Prime Minister
You might have seen those heartwarming and often funny viral videos where parents or carers engage in long “talks” with young babies about this and that – usually just fun chit chat of no great consequence.
They’re often very sweet, and it’s lovely to see the babies’ faces lighting up at the sound of their mother or carer’s voice, or seeming to talk back. In one, the baby appears to reply in an accent strikingly similar to their carer’s:
So, what’s going on when we chat like this to babies? And is it better to chat to them in the tone and pace we’d use when talking to other adults, or is it OK to talk in a slower, higher pitched, sing-song voice?
Here’s what the research shows so far.
Talking to your baby matters
When you speak with your baby, they are exposed to a rich tapestry of sounds and movements. Can babies make sense of all this input?
Well, by the time they’re born babies are already highly experienced with their mother’s voice as well as other language sounds they’ve heard while in utero.
They also prefer to hear the story their mother read aloud regularly in the final weeks of pregnancy, compared to a different story – regardless of who is reading it.
So, although newborns are yet to understand the meaning of these words, they are already tuned in to the importance of language.
Given the vast exposure that most young babies have with their parent’s voice, passively listening to mum or dad talking is likely to be comforting.
Time spent together in close physical contact with a highly familiar person producing familiar sounds creates a safe, secure space rich in learning opportunities.
Babies can learn a lot about conversational style from just listening to and watching the way their parent communicates.
In fact, babies mimic their parents’ gestures, which can help build their vocabulary over time. The social context influences language skills.
Time spent in close physical contact with a familiar person producing familiar sounds creates a safe learning space for baby. Photo by Josh Willink/Pexels
What if I run out of things to say?
If you’re not a fan of monologuing to your baby, don’t worry. They’re not missing out.
In fact, constant exposure to long monologues by a parent is unlikely to provide the baby with a particularly supportive language environment for developing their understanding or production of words.
Adult language is extremely complex. It takes a lot of experience with language before a string of sounds like “Yourdadlikeschocolatemoltenlavacake” can be interpreted as individual words linked to people, objects, or concepts.
“Parentese” is characterised by the use of higher pitch sounds, elongated vowels, and a slower pace of speaking. Real words are presented in a sing-song, happy voice.
Time spent talking together in face-to-face interactions best supports language development. Tomsickova Tatyana/Shutterstock
Speaking ‘parentese’
Parentese is not the same thing as “baby talk”. Baby talk involves the use of nonsense words, and the modelling of incorrect speech sounds and grammar. A baby is not being supported to learn the word “water” if they are repeatedly presented with a nonsense label like “waa waa” for their drink.
One US study found that when parents were trained to use parentese with their infants at six and ten months, the infants showed an increase in babbling and said more words at 14 months, compared to infants of parents who did not receive this training.
Other research has shown consistent use of parentese in the early years can help build the complexity of children’s language skills at five years of age.
Learning to talk is not simply the product of hearing lots of words. In the first weeks of life, infants are already beginning to produce coos and murmurs that both parents and outside observers judge to be intentional vocalisations.
Try responding to these sounds by imitating them and then interpreting what your baby might be trying to say. This enables them to take a turn as a social partner in the conservation.
At the youngest ages, time spent talking together in face-to-face interactions best supports language development.
With age, babies become increasingly interested in the objects in their environment.
Try responding to your baby’s sounds by imitating them and interpreting what they might be trying to say. Halfpoint/Shutterstock
So, what should I do?
An effective way to boost language learning from about nine months of age is to notice what’s captured your baby’s attention and talk about that.
Try labelling and describing what your baby is looking at, playing with, pointing at, or babbling towards.
Research by colleagues and I found encouraging parents to engage in 15 minutes of this kind of talk a day with their 11-month-olds for a month was effective in promoting vocabulary growth at 15 and 18 months.
Overall, a rich language environment is created by engaging with your baby in a wide range of activities – via games, songs, and reading aloud – not just having focused conversations.
Jane Herbert has received funding for these projects: 2012-15: Does promoting parents’ engagement with their infants benefit language development?” Nuffield Foundation (approx. £200,000). D Matthews (PI, University of Sheffield), JS Herbert (University of Sheffield), and J Pine (University of Liverpool). 2011-12: Does promoting parents’ engagement with their infants benefit language development? British Academy Small Research Grant (£7,500). Co-PIs: D Matthews (University of Sheffield), JS Herbert (University of Sheffield), and J Pine (University of Liverpool).
As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you.
This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos Aires, to a witty, awkward cyborg hero. Reality TV also gets a scandalous twist with the return of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And Deaf President Now! delivers a powerful documentary on a historical milestone for Deaf rights.
There’s something for every kind of viewer — and every kind of mood.
The Eternaut
Netflix
Argentine sci-fi The Eternaut opens with a group of old friends in Buenos Aires meeting to play the card game truco on a hot summer night – when things suddenly get eerie.
The power goes out and a poisonous snowfall starts to blanket the city, killing thousands of people instantly. The survivors must get answers, quickly, as they start to grasp the true strength of their invisible enemy.
Based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s 1950s comic of the same name, The Eternaut portrays apocalypse through a deeply local and political lens – and in doing so has struck a chord in Argentina.
Directed by Bruno Stagnaro and led by Argentine film icon Ricardo Darín, as protagonist Juan Salvo, the series emphasises the power of collective heroism, and subtly critiques the current government’s uncompromising neoliberal approach.
It also pulses with national pride. Buenos Aires is not glamorized; real neighbourhoods are shown as classic Argentine tango, rock and folk plays in the background. Most importantly, Argentine identity is celebrated through themes of community spirit, grassroots resistance, and ingenuity in times of crisis.
The Eternaut feels both timely and timeless. Its slogan, “no one survives alone,” resonates for a country that has been long marked by both trauma and resistance efforts.
Its emotional weight is further deepened by Oesterheld’s legacy, including the tragic disappearance of him and his family members under the military rule of the 1970s.
With a second season on the way, this series is a powerful ode to Argentina.
Murderbot, Apple’s adaptation of Martha Wells’ science-fiction novella, All Systems Red (2017) is a satisfying combination of action, sci-fi and comedy. The show centres on a security unit (SecUnit) – an indentured private security cyborg – who secretly cracks the programming of its governing chip, granting itself autonomy.
Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård), as it dubs itself, is both horrified and fascinated by humans. It’s far more afraid of eye contact, emotions and direct conversation than any physical danger. It’s also obsessed with mainlining media, particularly the ridiculous soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.
Murderbot is hired, reluctantly, by some hippy scientists from a group of “freehold” planets – ones that exist outside the Corporation Rim – to act as protection on a scientific expedition. It goes quickly awry.
Wells’ award-winning novella, the first in an equally good series, limits us to the first-person perspective of the sarcastic cyborg. The series expands this frame beautifully, building on the source material’s dry humour to create a world that is both goofy and grounded.
And while there are serious themes at play, such as the way SecUnits are effectively enslaved, and the violent capitalist dominance of the Corporation Rim, the show is not heavy. Skarsgård offers a pitch-perfect performance of the awkward, anxious robot – its eyes flickering in horror as the scientists try to befriend it.
The opening minutes of the first episode are clumsy and on-the-nose, but ignore them. This otherwise well-designed and well-directed show cracks along with brisk, highly-entertaining 22-minute episodes.
– Erin Harrington
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, season two
Disney+
Season one of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had us hooked at the end of 2024. Now, the women have returned for an explosive 10-episode second season.
The reality series follows a group of Mormon women living in Utah. While the title may have you anticipating stories of faith and motherhood, the show is more focused on the personal lives of Mormon mothers who rose to TikTok fame due to scandal and infamy.
Season one saw the women grapple with balancing traditional Mormon values with their online lives and subsequent businesses (along with the fallout from a “soft-swinging scandal”). Season two further highlights infidelity, jealously and money.
Old characters are brought back, with finger-pointing ex-husbands and former alienated friends adding to the fray. Police are called, insults are thrown and many of the women delve deeper into their pasts.
The show flips flops between difficult moments such as processing the death of loved ones and difficult pregnancies, with parties and poorly executed party games. At one point the women play pregnancy roulette (a game no one should recommend), and take pregnancy tests which are anonymously read out to the group. Chaos ensues.
And after watching, you can search for the TikTok accounts of the stars and watch new drama unfold in real-time – or watch them “correct” and expand on past situations based on their own perspectives – far removed from show’s editors.
– Edith Jennifer Hill
Deaf President Now!
Apple TV+
Deaf President Now! is a stirring documentary about an iconic student uprising at Gallaudet University, the world’s only Deaf university, in 1988. The film chronicles how Deaf students – tired of being led by hearing leadership – decided to take things in their own hands come the 1988 Gallaudet presidential election.
With two of the three candidates being Deaf, the appointment of Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing candidate unfamiliar with Deaf culture, sparked outrage. Fuelled by decades of marginalisation, the students barricaded campus gates, burned effigies of Zinser and marched to the Capitol, calling for Deaf leadership in Deaf spaces.
It worked. The protest forced Zinser’s resignation and ushered in Irving King Jordan, Gallaudet’s first Deaf president.
The film juxtaposes historic footage with present-day interviews with key leaders of the movement, allowing them to tell their stories their own way. These reflections, delivered in American Sign Language (ASL), underscore how storytelling itself can become an act of resistance for Deaf people.
At the same time, the documentary wrestles with a paradox. Co-directed by Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco and hearing filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, the film exemplifies how Deaf storytelling still often has hearing involvement, especially when the story is packaged for a mainstream audience.
Nevertheless, the release of Deaf President Now! couldn’t have been more timely. With disability rights in the United States threatened under Trump, the film is a call to action. It reminds us Deaf culture isn’t just about language: it’s about Pride, self-determination and visibility.
In Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer, our unnamed protagonist (Nicolas Cage) is returning to his former Australian home from the United States. He is newly divorced, and trying to buy a beachside property to win back his family.
He takes his teenage son (Finn Little) for a surf near the property, but they are run off by an unfriendly pack of locals.
Returning alone to the beachside car park to make some calls, he is besieged there by the same gang, and this continues over the next several days. The gang is led by a terrifying middle-aged Andrew Tate-esque influencer, Scally (Julian McMahon), who runs the beach like a combination of a frat bro party and wellness retreat.
It is impossible to think of an actor other than Cage who could make a character like this so enjoyable to watch. Cage’s distinctively American confidence has no resistance to the terrifying switches of Australian masculinity from friendly to teasing to violent.
The Surfer is an absolute blast. A lot of the fun is in anticipating each dreadful humiliation – and it somehow turning out worse than you could have expected.
The Surfer beautifully captures the natural surroundings, stunning views and shimmering heat of Australian coastal summer. At the same time, a confined, semi-urban feature like a beachside car park feels bleak and uninviting.
As a film setting, it is both a spectacular wide-open vista and stiflingly claustrophobic – a perfect mechanism for The Surfer’s psychological horror.
The story of serial killers, Fred and Rose West, has been highly narrativised since their shocking crimes were discovered in Gloucester in 1994. The horror of the Wests lies in the juxtaposition of their seemingly ordinary suburban family and what was hidden beneath the foundations of their home.
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story takes us back to the moment of that revelation via previously unheard interview tapes and recordings of the property search – and of Rose while she was kept in a safe house. Family home videos add to the disturbing sense of the couple’s duplicity.
Interviews with the family of some of the victims emphasise the ongoing pain caused by the Wests, who preyed on vulnerable young women. Meanwhile, Fred’s interviews reinforce his determination to protect his wife: “I trained Rose to do what I wanted. That is why our marriage worked out so well.”
Many details of the Wests’ true horror, however, are absent: the incredible torture suffered by the victims; Fred and Rose’s own childhoods of abuse and Fred’s earlier assault of young girls, including his own sister; and any reference to the couple’s surviving children and the extraordinary abuse they suffered.
The horror of this new documentary is present in the couple’s habitual lies, their casual attitude to violence and murder, and their refusal to take responsibility for their many crimes. Yet it only scratches the surface of the Wests’ true horror story.
– Jessica Gildersleeve
The Four Seasons
Netflix
The Four Seasons follows three 50-something affluent couples as they holiday together over the course of a year.
Friends since college, the group’s easy camaraderie is upended by Nick’s (Steve Carroll) bombshell decision to leave his seemingly unsuspecting wife, Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), after 25 years of marriage. The announcement sends shockwaves through the other couples, testing their own relationships.
Adapted from Alan Alda’s bittersweet 1981 comedy of the same name, the series preserves the film’s narrative conceit, unfolding over four seasonal mini trips. Episode one opens in full spring at Nick and Anne’s bucolic lake house.
Given the luxury on display, you’d be forgiven for mistaking The Four Seasons as another entry in the “rich-people-behaving-badly” genre. But while there’s plenty of quips and snarky humour, what unfolds is ultimately much kinder – less a scathing indictment of wealth and more a gentle exploration of the banalities of love and middle age.
The show’s creators make the most of the expanded running time to humanise the sextet. The open marriage between gregarious Italian Claude (Marco Calvini) and husband Danny (a marvellous Colman Domingo) updates the source material without sliding into tokenism or homonormativity.
The prickly Type-A Kate (Tina Fey) and peacekeeper Jack (Will Forte) provide the series’ beating heart, in a relationship that feels lived-in and familiar.
Despite its focus on ageing, loss, mortality and grief, The Four Seasons offers comfort viewing at its finest, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a loved one who’s known you for decades.
– Rachel Williamson
Gemma King receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Claudia Sandberg, Edith Jennifer Hill, Erin Harrington, Grace Russell, Jessica Gildersleeve, Rachel Williamson, Samuel Martin, and Sofya Gollan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rachael L. Brown, Director of the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University
vchal/shutterstock, The Conversation
Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity’s companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking invertebrate. It is sleek, glass-fronted and addictive by design. Its host? Every human on Earth with a wifi signal.
Far from being benign tools, smartphones parasitise our time, our attention and our personal information, all in the interests of technology companies and their advertisers.
In a new article in the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, we argue smartphones pose unique societal risks, which come into sharp focus when viewed through the lens of parasitism.
What, exactly, is a parasite?
Evolutionary biologists define a parasite as a species that benefits from a close relationship with another species – its host – while the host bears a cost.
The head louse, for example, is entirely dependent on our own species for its survival. They only eat human blood, and if they become dislodged from their host, they survive only briefly unless they are fortunate enough to fall onto another human scalp. In return for our blood, head lice give us nothing but a nasty itch; that’s the cost.
Smartphones have radically changed our lives. From navigating cities to managing chronic health diseases such as diabetes, these pocket-sized bits of tech make our lives easier. So much so that most of us are rarely without them.
Yet, despite their benefits, many of us are hostage to our phones and slaves to the endless scroll, unable to fully disconnect. Phone users are paying the price with a lack of sleep, weaker offline relationships and mood disorders.
From mutualism to parasitism
Not all close species relationships are parasitic. Many organisms that live on or inside us are beneficial.
Consider the bacteria in the digestive tracts of animals. They can only survive and reproduce in the gut of their host species, feeding on nutrients passing through. But they provide benefits to the host, including improved immunity and better digestion. These win-win associations are called mutualisms.
The human-smartphone association began as a mutualism. The technology proved useful to humans for staying in touch, navigating via maps and finding useful information.
Philosophers have spoken of this not in terms of mutualism, but rather as phones being an extension of the human mind, like notebooks, maps and other tools.
From these benign origins, however, we argue the relationship has become parasitic. Such a change is not uncommon in nature; a mutualist can evolve to become a parasite, or vice versa.
Smartphones as parasites
As smartphones have become near-indispensible, some of the most popular apps they offer have come to serve the interests of the app-making companies and their advertisers more faithfully than those of their human users.
These apps are designed to nudge our behaviour to keep us scrolling, clicking on advertising and simmering in perpetual outrage.
The data on our scrolling behaviour is used to further that exploitation. Your phone only cares about your personal fitness goals or desire to spend more quality time with your kids to the extent that it uses this information to tailor itself to better capture your attention.
So, it can be useful to think of users and their phones as akin to hosts and their parasites – at least some of the time.
While this realisation is interesting in and of itself, the benefit of viewing smartphones through the evolutionary lens of parasitism comes into its own when considering where the relationship might head next – and how we could thwart these high-tech parasites.
On the Great Barrier Reef, bluestreak cleaner wrasse establish “cleaning stations” where larger fish allow the wrasse to feed on dead skin, loose scales and invertebrate parasites living in their gills. This relationship is a classic mutualism – the larger fish lose costly parasites and the cleaner wrasse get fed.
Sometimes the cleaner wrasse “cheat” and nip their hosts, tipping the scale from mutualism to parasitism. The fish being cleaned may punish offenders by chasing them away or withholding further visits. In this, the reef fish exhibit something evolutionary biologists see as important to keeping mutualisms in balance: policing.
Could we adequately police our exploitation by smartphones and restore a net-beneficial relationship?
Evolution shows that two things are key: an ability to detect exploitation when it occurs, and the capacity to respond (typically by withdrawing service to the parasite).
A difficult battle
In the case of the smartphone, we can’t easily detect the exploitation. Tech companies that design the various features and algorithms to keep you picking up your phone aren’t advertising this behaviour.
But even if you’re aware of the exploitative nature of smartphone apps, responding is also more difficult than simply putting the phone down.
Many of us have become reliant on smartphones for everyday tasks. Rather than remembering facts, we offload the task to digital devices – for some people, this can change their cognition and memory.
Governments and companies have only further cemented our dependence on our phones, by moving their service delivery online via mobile apps. Once we pick up the phone to access our bank accounts or access government services, we’ve lost the battle.
How then can users redress the imbalanced relationship with their phones, turning the parasitic relationship back to a mutualistic one?
Our analysis suggests individual choice can’t reliably get users there. We are individually outgunned by the massive information advantage tech companies hold in the host-parasite arms race.
The Australian government’s under-age social media ban is an example of the kind of collective action required to limit what these parasites can legally do. To win the battle, we will also need restrictions on app features known to be addictive, and on the collection and sale of our personal data.
Rob Brooks receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Rachael L. Brown does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman William Timmons (SC-04)
Congressman William Timmons (SC-04) announced his continued support as an original cosponsor of the Fiscal Commission Act, a bipartisan initiative introduced by Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Scott Peters (D-CA). The legislation seeks to establish a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission tasked with developing solutions to improve the nation’s medium- and long-term fiscal health.
“Our national debt has surpassed $36 trillion, posing a significant threat to our economic stability and the well-being of future generations,” said Rep. Timmons. “It’s imperative that Congress confronts this issue head-on. The Fiscal Commission Act represents a critical step toward restoring fiscal responsibility and ensuring the longevity of essential programs like Medicare and Social Security.”
The proposed commission would comprise 16 members, including lawmakers from both chambers and private sector experts. Its mandate is to craft comprehensive recommendations to address the nation’s fiscal challenges. Importantly, the legislation requires Congress to vote on the commission’s proposals without amendment, ensuring timely consideration of its findings.
Rep. Timmons emphasized the urgency of the situation: “If we fail to act now, the consequences will be dire. Interest payments on our debt are already outpacing critical expenditures, and without intervention, we risk undermining the financial security of millions of Americans.”
The Fiscal Commission Act has garnered bipartisan support, reflecting a shared commitment to addressing the nation’s fiscal challenges. Rep. Timmons’s involvement underscores his dedication to collaborative solutions that prioritize the country’s long-term economic health.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman William Timmons (SC-04)
In a new op-ed in The Post and Courier, Congressman William Timmons (SC-04) makes the case against a proposed luxury hotel development on Paris Mountain, which has stirred strong public reaction across the Upstate. Residents and local officials have voiced serious concerns over traffic, safety, environmental impact, and preservation of Paris Mountain. With over 13,000 signatures opposing the project, the debate underscores a critical moment for the future of one of Upstate’s most cherished natural landmarks.
In case you missed it…
Paris Mountain is a jewel of the Upstate. We must protect it. The Post and Courier Rep. William Timmons (SC-04) April 23, 2025
As a conservative congressman representing the Upstate, I feel compelled to address the troubling proposal for a 153-room hotel development on Paris Mountain. My family has proudly resided at the foot of this iconic landmark for over 60 years, and I never imagined that we would be facing a situation where the integrity of Paris Mountain could be compromised. This beautiful mountain has always been regarded as a jewel of our region, and it has historically been protected as such.
The land proposed for this hotel has been designated as an Environmentally Sensitive District by Greenville County Council since the 1980s. This zoning was put in place to safeguard the unique natural resources of the area, and it reflects the community’s longstanding commitment to protecting our environment. Yet now, a developer with minimal experience who has acquired a narrow strip of land adjacent to Furman University is looking to sidestep these essential protections through annexation into the city of Travelers Rest.
In 2013, Furman University annexed into Travelers Rest using a narrow strip of land. As a result, the city now arguably has the authority to annex and develop Paris Mountain. However, this move threatens to undermine our community’s commitment to environmental stewardship. If Travelers Rest annexes the property, the city would rezone it, and the developer has applied for Flexible Review District zoning for the purpose of building a hotel and effectively discarding decades of preservation efforts.
The hotel proposed by the Divine Group features plans for 153 rooms, an event space for over 750 guests, a convention center, office space and dining facilities, with the capacity to accommodate over 1,000 people. This level of development raises several serious concerns.
First and foremost is safety. The proposed entrance on Altamont Road, a narrow and precarious route that crosses Paris Mountain, is already known for accidents involving both vehicles and cyclists. Our first responders are challenged by the difficult terrain when responding to emergencies, the fact that Altamont Road is the only way in and out of Paris Mountain, and an evacuation could quickly become hazardous if Altamont Road were to be blocked. A serious fire could even force the fire department to shut down Poinsett Highway to access water from Furman’s Lake.
Moreover, the Environmentally Sensitive District designation is in place to protect land deemed environmentally sensitive. This area features steep ravines that lead to the headwaters of the Reedy River, making it nearly impossible to avoid significant erosion and damage to the local ecosystems. Allowing commercial development in such an area is simply inappropriate and conflicts with the principles of good governance and responsible development we hold dear.
It is shocking to see the proposed annexation get this far. If the city were to approve this hotel development, we would open the floodgates to further urban encroachment on Paris Mountain, jeopardizing its natural beauty and environmental integrity. We should not allow urban sprawl to tarnish the character of our region — Paris Mountain deserves better.
Public sentiment against this development has also been overwhelmingly clear. The Greenville County Council — representing over 580,000 residents in the Upstate — unanimously passed a resolution opposing both the hotel and the removal of Environmentally Sensitive District protections, marking an exceptional show of solidarity in protecting our natural resources. Furthermore, more than 65% of adjacent property owners have voiced their objections, and over 13,000 signatures have been collected on a petition requesting that the city reject this proposal.
Finally, I must express my concerns regarding the qualifications of the developers. Their budget for this project is 40% less than what was required to construct the Grand Bohemian Hotel in downtown Greenville, and their experience primarily consists of developing gas stations and laundromats, not complex hotels in challenging environmentally sensitive locations. Entrusting our beloved landscape to developers without significant experience in similar projects is irresponsible.
I urge the Travelers Rest City Council to heed the voices of their constituents and recognize the extensive issues presented by this proposed development. Additionally, I encourage members of the Legislature to enact measures that protect environmentally sensitive lands throughout South Carolina, including Paris Mountain, from urban sprawl. Together, we should fight to ensure that Paris Mountain remains a cherished part of our Upstate identity for future generations.
Congressman William Timmons represents South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)
Today, during the Energy & Commerce Committee’s consideration of the Republican budget bill, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) introduced an amendment to stop Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Federal funding helps Planned Parenthood provide annual exams, cancer screenings, pap smears, STI testing, family planning, and other essential health care for women in every state across our country. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that this Republican effort would increase the deficit by $300 million. To watch the amendment introduction, click here or on the video below.
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Congresswoman Fletcher’s amendment strikes Section 44126 of the bill, which, if enacted, would implement a 10-year ban on federal Medicaid payments.
After introducing the amendment, Congresswoman Fletcher questioned Republicans and their counsel about the policy decision to eliminate access to one of the most trusted providers of reproductive health care nationwide. To watch the exchange, click here or on the video below.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes Against Disastrous Republican Budget Reconciliation Bill
Washington, May 22, 2025
Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted against Republicans’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget reconciliation bill – which they call the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, H.R. 1, and which is estimated to add trillions to the national debt while cutting essential programs.
“At a time when families across our community and our country are struggling with rising costs, the House Republican budget bill makes devastating cuts to programs that they rely on every day while increasing deficit spending and the national debt,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “This bill takes from the poor to give tax cuts to the rich. It is going to make life harder, not better. It is going to make things more expensive, not less. And its deep cuts to programs that Americans rely on for their health and security. Nearly 14 million Americans are estimated to lose their health care coverage and millions of kids, seniors, and people with disabilities to lose food assistance because of the provisions in this bill. The American people deserve better than what is in this bill—and we can do better. For these reasons, I voted no.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Hosts Town Hall Meeting with Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy
Houston, May 30, 2025
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a town hall with Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy, where they provided an update and answered questions.
“With so much happening in Washington, it is critical that our community stay engaged and informed,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “From cutting Medicaid and health care access, to implementing barriers to Social Security, to cutting funding for medical research, the House Republicans’ and the Trump administration’s recent actions and inaction are undermining the rule of law, separation of power, and the progress we have made as a society. I was glad to join Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy to hear from residents of Texas’ Seventh Congressional District about their priorities and concerns at a time when it is more important than ever to work together for our community and country.”
Since her election to office, Congresswoman Fletcher has held dozens of events in the community to hear directly from residents of Texas’ Seventh Congressional District. For information about past and future events, click here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)
On Medicaid Expansion:
“The President United States, President Trump, and his Secretary of Treasury, Treasury Bessent, are doing a fantastic job, and the Secretary has laid out a objective of obviously, getting our deficits down to 3% of GDP through strong economic growth, through the tax policy that we want to extend, that the President put forward. I believe that’s one piece of the puzzle that we must go do. But right now, we are not going to address the key drivers of spending that will make it impossible for the President and the Secretary to achieve that objective. Bond markets are on a knife’s edge. You know that, and I know that, and that is necessary for the free flow of capital to have that economic growth. If we continue to allow Medicaid to consume our budget and allow us to continue to drive that budget up so deficits go up, then we’re not going to be able to achieve those objectives.”
“Medicaid right now is now a trillion dollar higher baseline than when we came in under Biden. We are spending $620 billion a year on Medicaid, compared to $400 billion in 2019 and if we allow this to continue where we’re, as you said, continue to fund the able body in massive expansion states, heavily in blue states. If we were doing that at a seven times dollar value, imagine that, if you’re listening to this, we the federal government are funding Medicaid seven times higher for the able bodied than for those who need it, the vulnerable, the sick, the people who truly Medicaid was designed for. What kind of a country does that? It’s ridiculous.”
“And by the way, if we do this, we’re going to cement Obamacare, and the 10 non expansion states like Texas will have incredible pressure to expand, and that will eat up all of the so called savings in this bill, which, by the way, are back loaded. You know that, and I know that. And if you have back loaded savings, they never materialize. That means deficits go up, and under our bill, debt will be $56 trillion in a decade. That’s not winning. We’ve got to change it. Republicans should do better.”
On Flaws in Current Medicaid Reforms:
“I couldn’t believe it when I read those were the provisions that the work requirements were supposed to be the core engine of Medicaid reform, which isn’t good enough. You have to deal with Medicaid. You have to deal with the expansion population. You have to do with the you have to deal with the money laundering. But the work requirements were basic. They don’t kick into 2029 they have waivers even once they kick in.”
On Fiscal Responsibility and Medicaid Reform:
“We should do the right thing. Let’s do the fiscally responsible thing. But here’s what’s really important. Let’s make sure that people who are vulnerable and are sick they’re the ones that the program is focused on. Let’s preserve capital and free up our health care system so we can drive down health care prices and free it up for the average hard working American. We have plans to do that, strong, robust health savings accounts, getting the competition back into the system. We can do that, and you can do that by drawing down all these subsidies on Medicaid, which are subsidizing blue states and massive expansion states at the expense of the non expansion states and the vulnerable at the expense the expense of the vulnerable for the able body, I think that’s a mistake.”
“We should not be giving Medicaid to anyone who is ineligible, including those who are illegal, and we should kill all the scams the blue states are using to launder federal money to all of their ridiculous programs. Republicans should lead to support the president. They’re not right now. I can’t support the bill as it is.”
On Gaining Republican Support:
“There’s a good chunk of my colleagues that are with me on the fiscal conservative side, but they’re also struggling because they’re deferential to the president, which I understand.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)
Washington, D.C. — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement tonight after the House Budget Committee voted to advance the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”.
Congressman Roy said:“Tonight, after a great deal of work and engagement over the weekend, the Budget Committee advanced a reconciliation bill that lays the foundation for much needed tax relief, border security, and important spending reductions and reforms. Importantly the bill now will move Medicaid work requirements forward and reduces the availability of future subsidies under the green new scam.
But, the bill does not yet meet the moment – leaving almost half of the green new scam subsidies continuing. More, it fails to end the Medicaid money laundering scam and perverse funding structure that provides seven times more federal dollars for each dollar of state spending for the able-bodied relative to the vulnerable. This all ultimately increases the likelihood of continuing deficits and non-Obamacare-expansion states like Texas expanding in the future. We can and must do better before we pass the final product.
As such, I joined with 3 of my colleagues to vote “present” out of respect for the Republican Conference and the President to move the bill forward. It gives us the opportunity to work together this week to get the job done in light of the fact our bond rating was dropped yet again due to historic fiscal mismanagement by both parties. This bill is a strong step forward – and I am proud of Chairman Arrington, the Speaker, and my colleagues for the work we did to make progress with the White House. But we have to do more to deliver for the American people.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) spoke in the House Budget Committee hearing this morning on the current state of reconciliation.
Rep. Roy said in Budget Committee:
“I appreciate my friend from Texas, the chairman, and you know, my Democratic colleagues keep telling things that are not true. The vast majority of Americans will get tax benefits under this bill. It’s just simply false to say that that’s not true. Hardworking Americans who will benefit from the standard deduction increase, hardworking Americans who will benefit from child tax credits and lower tax rates—stop saying things that aren’t true. Those things are true. The fact is, we have money in here for the border to undo the damage of Joe Biden. We have more money in here for defense to undo the damage of Joe Biden, but we also address Medicaid and Medicaid spending goes up. Stop lying. Medicaid spending goes up. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are profoundly unserious when it comes to being real about what’s happening with the numbers. I applaud Chairman Arrington. I applaud my colleagues on this side of the aisle for taking a step forward in dealing with the spending problem in this town.
But I have to now admonish my colleagues on this side of the aisle: this bill falls profoundly short. It does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits. The fact of the matter is, on the spending, what we’re dealing with here is tax cuts and spending a massive front-loaded deficit increase. That’s the truth. That’s the truth. Deficits will go up in the first half of the 10-year budget window. And we all know it’s true, and we shouldn’t do that. We shouldn’t say that we’re doing something we’re not doing.
The fact of the matter is, this bill has back-loaded savings and front-loaded spending, nowhere near the Senate Budget top line, by the way. The Senate Budget top line of six and a half trillion dollars, which, by the way, is what we were pre-COVID, inflation-adjusted, on interest, on Medicare and Social Security. And if we would reform Medicaid, we could actually get to the core of the problem, but we refuse to do it. And I’m not going to sit here and say that everything is hunky-dory when this is the Budget Committee. This is the Budget Committee. We are supposed to do something to actually result in balanced budgets, but we’re not doing it. Look at what happens under deficits… Only in Washington are we expected to bet on the come that in five years, everything will work, then we will solve the problem.
We have got to change the direction of this town, and to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: yes, that means touching Medicaid. It went from $400 billion in 2019 to $600 billion this year. It’ll be over a trillion in the 2030s. We are making promises that we cannot keep. We do need to reform it. We need to stop giving seven times as much money to the able-bodied over the vulnerable. Why are we sticking it to the vulnerable population, the disabled and the sick, to give money to single able-bodied male adults? We shouldn’t do that. We should reform it. But guess what? That message needs to be delivered to my colleagues on this side of the aisle too.
We are writing checks we cannot cash, and our children are going to pay the price. So I am a no on this bill unless serious reforms are made today, tomorrow, Sunday. We’re having conversations as we speak, but something needs to change, or you’re not going to get my support.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)
Washington, D.C. — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after the House passed The One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“After much deliberation, I voted yes on H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Months ago, I worked to ensure that any tax cuts or extensions would be connected to an equal or greater amount of spending cuts to force fiscal discipline. The good news is that the bill technically held true to that framework by yielding modest deficit reduction over a 10-year budget window. Importantly, it does this by cutting spending $1.5 trillion over 10 years, reforming programs like Medicaid and SNAP with work requirements, and improving healthcare freedom by expanding health savings accounts to allow use with Direct Primary Care. But the good things didn’t just happen by accident. My fellow budget hawk colleagues and I, including many in the House Freedom Caucus, forced reforms that were critical to making the bill more responsible. We:
Accelerated Medicaid work requirements 3 years from 2029 to 2026.
Helped stave off further Obamacare expansion by aligning State Directed Payments (SDPs) in Medicaid to the rates of Medicare in Medicaid expansion states while allowing states that have not expanded Medicaid (ex., TX) to have SDPs at 110% of Medicare.
Froze the state provider taxes to ensure states don’t grow their money laundering schemes.
Paid Texas and other states back for their border efforts under the Biden administration.
Began to claw back the “Green New Scam” put on steroids by the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) corrupt subsidies – namely by putting in place a required construction start within 60 days of enactment and a much earlier “in service” requirement of 12/31/28 – all designed to limit the reach of subsidies.
To be clear, I didn’t vote for the bill without significant reservations. For example, in classic Washington fashion, the bill produces sizable deficits in the first 5 years while achieving “savings” in the future, which means we’ve got to bring forward more savings than I already fought for. And as with most major bills in Washington, this bill was rushed, mashed together, and crammed through the House without sufficient time to review every item carefully. We should do better. The Medicaid money laundering scam was not reformed sufficiently, and far too many of the new green scam subsidies continue to operate. And inexplicably, we funded high-tax state jurisdictions with a $350 billion tax deduction for their “SALT” tax deductions – something I strongly oppose. But even though I supported this bill out of the House, this bill needs massive improvements if we are to make a dent in our deficit or to change the trajectory of this country. We must reduce deficits much further, even as we continue to work to FULLY repeal the IRA’s unreliable energy subsidies and reduce the damage done by Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. We can do this most efficiently with state block grants – but we can also reduce the 90% FMAP for able bodied people – ensuring states are not getting seven times more money for able bodied adults with no children over the most vulnerable in traditional Medicaid – and reducing provider taxes to end the unnecessary inflation of costs in healthcare. I stand ready to work with my colleagues in the Senate to continue to get this bill right before sending it to the President’s desk.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Joseph Guzman 202-355-8084 joseph.guzman@mail.house.gov
HOUSTON, T.X. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement in response to the confrontation at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where Democratic Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez Jr., and LaMonica McIver were carrying out their lawful oversight duties. During the incident, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested, and the Trump administration is nowreportedly considering arrests for the lawmakers involved:
“America, this must be our clarion call. We are at risk of backsliding into a dictatorship as Trump continues trying to enact his authoritarian playbook. Republicans and Democrats must stand together against this absurdity. Today it’s Representatives Watson Coleman, Menendez, and McIver. Tomorrow, it’s you.
“Members of Congress are tasked with conducting oversight of the federal government, and these Members were doing just that. I stand with my colleagues who were doing their job and will always stand with those who do the same, regardless of political affiliation.
“We must come together and stand up against Trump and his administration’s all-out assault against a co-equal branch of government, the rule of law, and our Constitution. We must all do our part to protect our great American experiment from those who seek to perverse it. We must all make our voices heard against the Trump-Vance administration to ensure we leave a stronger and more resilient democracy for the next generation.”
HOUSTON, T.X. – Hoy, la Congresista Sylvia R. García (D-TX-29) emitió la siguiente declaración en respuesta al enfrentamiento en el centro de detención de ICE Delaney Hall en Newark, Nueva Jersey, donde los congresistas demócratas Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez Jr. y LaMonica McIver estaban cumpliendo con sus deberes legales de supervisión. Durante el incidente, el alcalde de Newark, Ras Baraka, fue arrestado, y ahora se informa que la administración de Trump está considerando arrestar a los legisladores involucrados:
“America, esto debe de ser nuestro llamado para actuar decisivamente. Estamos en riesgo de retroceder hacia una dictadura mientras Trump sigue intentando de actualizar sus aspiraciones autoritarias. Tanto los republicanos como los demócratas debemos unirnos en contra de las acciones ilegales de esta administración. Hoy quieren perseguir a los congresistas Watson Coleman, Menéndez y McIver. Mañana podrías ser tú.
“Los miembros del Congreso tienen la responsabilidad y autoridad de supervisar al gobierno federal, y estos legisladores estaban cumpliendo con ese deber. Yo apoyo a mis colegas que estaban haciendo su trabajo y siempre apoyaré a quienes hagan lo mismo, sin importar su afiliación política.
“Debemos unirnos y alzar la voz para rechazar rotundamente el asalto total de la administración Trump-Vance contra una rama del gobierno co-igualitaria, el imperio de la ley y nuestra Constitución. Todos debemos hacer nuestra parte para proteger este gran experimento conocido como los Estados Unidos de todos que buscan corromperlo. Todos debemos hacernos escuchar y oponernos a la administración Trump-Vance para asegurar que dejemos una democracia mas fuerte y resiliente para la próxima generación”.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)
MEXICO – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) joined a Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) delegation to Mexico, alongside CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20). They traveled there to meet with a mixed-status family that was detained and deported by immigration authorities while driving to Houston for an emergency medical appointment for their 11-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen recovering from brain cancer.
The family, two parents and five children, four of whom are U.S. citizens, was stopped at an immigration checkpoint in Texas in early February. Although they had letters from doctors and lawyers, they were taken into custody and deported the next day without due process. The young girl, who had recently undergone brain surgery to remove a tumor, has not been able to continue her regular treatment since being removed to Mexico, where the family says they now fear for their safety.
Congresswoman Garcia released the following statement:
“I came to Mexico because what’s happening to this family is a warning to all of us. When a U.S. citizen child with a serious medical condition is deported alongside her entire family without a hearing, without medical care, and without basic human decency, that’s not just an immigration issue. It’s a Constitutional crisis. And if we don’t push back now, it won’t stop with immigrant families. The rights and protections that every American depends on will be put in danger.
My district knows this story too well. It’s home to working families, many of them of mixed status, who live with the fear that a medical emergency, a traffic stop, or a checkpoint could tear their family apart. We’re here to expose Trump’s cruelty, to stand with this family, and to remind the Trump-Vance administration that due process isn’t optional. It’s a constitutional right. And it’s one I intend to defend.”
The family is now seeking humanitarian parole so their daughter can return to the U.S. and resume her treatment. Garcia and her colleagues are calling for a full investigation into the case and for accountability from the Trump administration and federal immigration agencies.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Joseph Guzman 202-355-8084 joseph.guzman@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congresswoman Sylvia R.Garcia(D-TX-29) released the following statement in response to House passage of the harmful Republican budget bill:
“Matthew 25 teaches us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, and tend to the sick. Republicans say they believe in those values, but their budget scam does the exact opposite.
“The budget Republicans rammed through the House includes the largest Medicaid cuts in our nation’s history. It guts SNAP, targeting single mothers and taking food out of the mouths of children. It will kick seniors out of nursing homes. It pushes disabled children even further into the margins. And why? To hand more tax breaks to Trump’s billionaire donors.
“The Trump-Republican budget scam is a reverse Robin Hood. It takes from the poor to give to the rich. To make matters worse, this budget would raise taxes on the lowest-income families all while handing out giveaways to those who need it least.
“The American people are watching. They know the difference between leadership and cruelty. They will not forget Republicans chose to give billionaires tax breaks at the expense of children, mothers, seniors, and working people. I will keep fighting, and I will not back down.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, as part of National Police Week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res. 364, the Gold Shield Families Resolution, introduced by Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09). The bipartisan resolution recognizes the families of fallen first responders as “Gold Shield Families” and calls on local communities to support nonprofit organizations that provide them with comfort, connection, and healing as they face profound loss.
“Of all the priorities we face in Congress, none is more fundamental than ensuring public safety and protecting human life,” said Congressman Meuser. “And that responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of our police officers, firefighters, EMTs, correction officers, and dispatchers. These are the people on the front lines of our communities, putting themselves in danger every single day to keep the rest of us safe. They are the thin gold line that holds society together.”
Meuser continued, “As the son of a police officer and the grandson of a firefighter, I’ve seen the risks they take and the sacrifices their families quietly endure. When the worst happens—when a life is lost in the line of duty—it’s the family that carries the burden of that sacrifice. This resolution ensures that sacrifice is acknowledged, honored, and remembered.”
Just as we recognize the families of fallen servicemembers as “Gold Star Families,” this resolution ensures the families of fallen first responders are known and acknowledged as Gold Shield Families. It also calls on local communities to support the nonprofit organizations that serve them. These groups provide critical services—offering connection, care, and healing to families navigating life after unimaginable loss. The resolution also encourages Gold Shield Families to seek out these trusted resources as they carry forward the legacy of their loved ones.
The resolution was inspired by Camp Freedom, a nonprofit in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, that provides outdoor healing experiences to disabled veterans, first responders, and their families, as well as to Gold Shield and Gold Star Families. The idea for the resolution was brought forward by Camp Freedom Executive Director Matt Guedes, a veteran and lifelong advocate for those who serve.
“First responders run toward danger—and many of them do it as volunteers or on a modest income,” said Guedes. “They put their lives on the line for others, and when one of them is lost, their families are often left with nothing more than a well-meaning spaghetti dinner or a firehouse fundraiser. That’s kind, but it’s not enough. These families go home without their husband, their wife, their mother or father—and without the income or support they once had. Their grief is real, their financial strain is real, and the gap in long-term care is wide.”
Guedes continued, “This resolution is so important because it recognizes those families and helps direct attention and resources to where they’re truly needed. Nonprofits like Camp Freedom are ready to stand in that gap—to walk with these families not just in the days after a loss, but for the months and years that follow. But recognition is the first step. With this resolution, we’re finally saying as a nation: we see your pain, we value your sacrifice, and we’re here for you.”
To date, Camp Freedom has served more than 12,000 veterans, first responders, and servicemember families across the country. Congressman Meuser also credited Camp Freedom founder Bill Bachenberg for his vision and leadership in making that mission possible.
“This resolution may be just two pages long—but its message is powerful,” Meuser concluded. “It says to every Gold Shield Family: your loved one’s service mattered. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten—and neither will yours. And to every community: recognize these families, lift them up, and walk with them through their grief. Together, we can ensure their resilience is met with gratitude—and their loss is never faced alone.”
Congressman Meuser spoke on the House floor in favor of H.Res. 364here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)
Utah Land Sale Could be Used for Controversial Pipeline to Take Water Away from Nevada
DOWNLOAD VIDEO OF TESTIMONY AND QUESTIONING HERE
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) testified before the Rules Committee in support of her amendment to stop House Republicans from moving forward with Congressman Mark Amodei’s (NV-02) Trojan horseUtah land grabthat jeopardizes Nevada’s and the Southwest’s water security. Amodei’s proposal is currently included in the House Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill but could be removed by House Republican leadership.
Lee has been working with House Republicans to have Amodei’s proposal removed in an expected “manager’s amendment” from Republican leadership. Parcels of land marked for sale inAmodei’s proposalline up with the public land that Utah has been targeting for its Lake Powell Pipeline. If this land is sold and the pipeline is built, it could divert 28 billion gallons of water each year from Lake Powell and the Colorado River to communities in southern Utah, away from Nevada and the other Basin states. Six of the seven Colorado River Basin states — that is, all the Basin states but Utah — have previouslyhighlighted‘outstanding legal and operational concerns raised by the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline project.’
TRANSCRIPT OF REP. LEE’S REMARKS:
“I’m here to ask for support to my amendment to this big, bad, billionaire bill or whatever it’s called. It’s not about the nearly 100,000 Nevadans who will be left without healthcare. It’s not about the thousands of homebound seniors who will no longer receive Meals on Wheels. It’s not about the trillions that will be added to our national deficit.
It’s about water, something so precious and important to my home district in southern Nevada.
My amendment aims to stop Congressman Mark Amodei and the House Republicans from moving forward with a Trojan horse Utah land grab that jeopardizes Nevada’s water security and could very well derail sensitive and complicated negotiations about the future of the Colorado River.
I’m here because two weeks ago, literally in the middle of the night — seems to be a recurring theme for how Republicans legislate — Rep. Amodei advanced legislation in the Natural Resources Committee to sell off thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah. The proceeds from those sales would go to Washington to pay for billionaire tax breaks in the budget bill.
Mr. Amodei claims that this sell-off is necessary to lower the cost of housing. I’ve always supported releasing more federal land for housing in Nevada. In fact, I’ve introduced and passed bipartisan legislation to do exactly that.
My first problem is that Rep. Amodei’s proposal isn’t really about housing. The Amodei proposal doesn’t require that the land sold in Nevada be used for housing. In fact, there is very little information on how exactly this land would be used.
Which leads me to my second issue with the proposal. For decades, the law has ensured that proceeds from federal land sales in southern Nevada stay in Nevada.
Rep. Amodei’s proposal would instead send these proceeds to the federal government, and Nevada would lose billions in revenue as a result. This would mean less money to build more schools, water infrastructure, and so much more.
In fact, federal land sales in southern Nevada have generated about half a billion dollars to date to invest directly in southern Nevada water priorities.
Under Rep. Amodei’s own projection, this move could divert nearly $10 billion from Nevada. Think about it, who would then pay for things like water and parks and schools? Nevada homeowners. So, the Amodei move actually increases housing costs for Nevadans, not decreases them.
And let me remind you that Rep. Amodei doesn’t represent any part of Clark County, and his proposal is not supported by the county government or any member of Nevada’s federal delegation elected by the voters of Clark County.
I would never introduce a bill to sell off land in another congressperson’s district without consulting with them.
Congresswoman Titus just proposed an amendment to stop the land sales in southern Nevada, which I support.
I finally want to talk about the third issue with this proposal and the purpose of my amendment, which relates to Nevada’s and the southwest’s water security.
Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton and I have been alerted by water officials in Nevada and Arizona that the public land that Amodei wants to sell off in Utah could be used for a controversial water pipeline. The parcels of land marked for sale in his proposal coincidentally line up with the land in Utah that has been targeted for the so-called Lake Powell Pipeline.
This proposed pipeline has greatly concerned water managers in Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. These are six of the seven states that depend on the Colorado River — every one except Utah.
If this land is sold and the pipeline is built, this could divert 28 billion gallons of water each year from Lake Powell and the Colorado River to communities in southern Utah — away from Nevada, Arizona, and other Basin states.
Look, Amodei did not consult local authorities in southern Nevada, and it shows, because he clearly doesn’t understand the relationship between water and development and housing costs.
I support the Titus amendment, and I’m asking you to advance my amendment to repeal the Amodei land sale in Utah so we can stop this Trojan horse to steal Nevada’s water. Thank you.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)
Includes Utah Land Sale Which Could be Used for Controversial Pipeline to Take Water from Colorado River
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) and Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04) released the following statement in response to Republican Congressman Mark Amodei’s (NV-02) proposed amendment to sell off public lands. Several parcels marked for sale line up with the proposed pathway identified for the controversial Lake Powell Pipeline, a water diversion project in Utah that could derail fragile conversations concerning post-2026 operating guidelines for the Colorado River. In 2020, six of the seven Colorado River basin stateswarnedthe Department of the Interior that fast-tracking an environmental review of the pipeline could jeopardize cooperation and potentially lead to multi-year litigation.
“Last week, in the middle of the of night, Congressman Mark Amodei led House Republicans in advancing legislation to pay for their tax-breaks-for-billionaires bill by selling off public lands in Nevada and Utah.
“We’ve now been alerted by Nevada and Arizona water managers that the public land to be sold in Utah could be used to develop a long-proposed and highly controversial water pipeline from Lake Powell to Washington County, Utah.
“Six of the seven Colorado River Basin states — that is, all the Basin states but Utah — have previouslyhighlighted‘outstanding legal and operational concerns raised by the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline project.’
“We are calling on Congressman Amodei and House Republicans to immediately withdraw this reckless public land sale proposal which looks to be a Trojan horse to steal Nevadans’ and Arizonans’ water.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican budget reconciliation bill that takes away healthcare and nutrition assistance from working families to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans:
“House Republicans have waged war against healthcare and hungry families. “Last night and into the early morning, they rammed a budget bill through the House that takes money away from working families, the sick, poor, and seniors, and gives it to the wealthiest Americans for tax breaks. I voted no. “House Republicans passed the largest cuts to Medicaid in history and the most severe reduction to SNAP in decades. “Thousands of Nevadans and millions of Americans will lose healthcare, hungry children and seniors won’t get the food they need, hospitals and nursing homes will shutdown, and trillions will be added to our national debt. “I’m disgusted and I hope Senate Republicans see the devastation of this bill and vote against it.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today reintroduced the Securing Continued Healthcare for Our Operations and Logistics (SCHOOL) Professionals Act.
The SCHOOL Professionals Act would fix a long-standing loophole that prevents contracted school custodians, bus drivers, security guards, nurses, cafeteria workers, and other essential support staff from accessing affordable healthcare coverage.
The legislation comes on Clark County’s last day of school for the year.
“School support staff are a vital part of our education system – they deserve access to affordable healthcare for their hard work,” Congressman Horsford, Co-Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, said. “It’s time to end outdated regulatory loopholes that allow for winners and losers among the professionals who help our children learn. The fact is they are all winners, and the SCHOOL Professionals Act will be ensure they have access to the same benefits.”
“Our schools wouldn’t run without essential support staff, and these workers deserve access to affordable healthcare,” Congressman Norcross (NJ-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, said. “Today, I joined Congressman Horsford in introducing the SCHOOL Professionals Act to ensure that all school employees who work full-time schedules receive this essential benefit. Whether they are employed by the school district or an outside contractor, these workers are doing the same job and deserve the same rights.”
“The Nevada State Education Association supports the Securing Continued Healthcare for Our Operations and Logistics Professionals (SCHOOL Professionals) Act because it closes a harmful loophole that denies school-based contract workers, such as bus drivers and cafeteria staff, access to the employer-sponsored health coverage they would otherwise earn through full-time service,”Nevada State Education AssociationPresident Dawn Etcheverry said.“These professionals are essential to the functioning of our schools and deserve the same health protections as their directly employed peers. This legislation restores fairness and dignity to the jobs of thousands of workers who support students every day. We urge swift passage of this important bill.”
“For years, a bureaucratic error in the Affordable Care Act has prevented thousands of custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and nurses from accessing the same health care that their colleagues in the classroom receive,”Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said.“Every worker involved in the education of our children should have reliable access to health care. The Teamsters are proud to support the SCHOOL Professionals Act, which would right this egregious wrong and ensure that all school workers get the care and benefits they need and deserve.”
Currently, employees of private companies contracted by school districts are subject to a 12-month calendar for determining full-time status, unlike their counterparts directly employed by educational institutions who are evaluated on a nine-month school year basis. This discrepancy has left many contracted workers without employer-sponsored health benefits despite their full-time work schedules during the school year.
This legislation would align the healthcare benefit requirements for contracted employees with those of direct school employees, ensuring that all workers who support educational institutions have access to the same affordable healthcare coverage.
The SCHOOL Professionals Act is cosponsored by Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06). It is endorsed by the Nevada State Education Association, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) today voted against the Republican budget reconciliation bill that cuts deeply from programs working Americans rely on in order to fund tax giveaways to the billionaires and corporations. The bill, which adds nearly $4 trillion to the national debt, passed by a narrow party line margin. It now goes to the U.S. Senate where Republicans have already expressed opposition.
“The way Congressional Republicans conduct business in the dead of night matches the way they approach policy that harms their own constituents – it’s absolutely asinine,”Rep. Horsford said. “Nevadans deserve a government that prioritizes public health, food security, community safety, education and a dignified retirement for all who earn it. Instead, Republicans just stiffed the Silver State, and every state, with a bill to pay off their billionaire campaign donors and corporate backers.”
Nevada will behit particularly hard if the Republican bill becomes law. Medicaid cuts alone could impact 811,000 residents in the Silver State, which will have to either add $6.7 billion to the state budget, or kick hundreds of thousands of people off their coverage.
In Nevada’s 4th Congressional District alone,241,668 people receive medical coverage through Medicaid. Thelatest estimates are that more than 21,000 of them will lose coverage, along with more than 5,000 who will lose the coverage they now have from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Horsford offered an amendment to extend a tax credit to lower ACA healthcare premiums across America, including nearly 100,000 Nevadans. House Republicans rejected the amendment on a party-line vote.
Additionally,SNAP food assistance cuts could impact 109,000 Nevadans, including 33,000 people in the 4th Congressional District.
The bill adds nearly $4 trillion to the national debt to help pay for tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy:60 percent of the tax benefits will go to the top 20 percent of households. Meanwhile, due to Trump’s blanket tariffs,households will lose $2,800.
“The cruelty of this bill is spelled out in staggering numbers, but it isn’t law yet,”Rep. Horsford continued. “The power in American democracy has always been with the people, and now more than ever, lawmakers need a reminder of who they work for.”
Rep. Horsford raised alarms early about Republican budget plans,devoting his annual address to the Nevada State Legislature on February 19, 2025 to the threat of Medicaid cuts as theRepublican budget took shape.
Over the past three months, he hasworked with constituents, advocates, and lawmakersto elevate the real-world harm the cuts would inflict on Nevadans, andpublished an op-ed warning that Republicans were closer than ever to making the cuts a reality.
When the bill came up for consideration in the Ways and Means Committee that Horsford serves on, heled committee Democrats in submitting amendmentsthat would benefit working class Americans. During the nearly 18-hour meeting that lasted through the night on May 13, 2025, Republicans voted down every single one of the 38 amendments offered.
Horsford continued his opposition in the House Rules Committee,testifyingduring a middle-of-the-night hearing about the bill’s failure to address key issues affecting Nevadans, including housing and veterans support.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)
NORTH LAS VEGAS – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) expressed condolences today upon news that longtime lawmaker and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, passed away on May 26, 2025, at the age of 94.
“My condolences are with Charlie Rangel’s loved ones today, and with all of the lives that he touched over his four decades of dedicated public service,”Rep. Horsford said.“Congressman Rangel was larger than life to all who knew him – he was committed to his constituents in New York, but his impact could never be contained by Congressional District lines.
“As the first African American to serve as Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, he was a trailblazer and a role model for me and for so many others on the committee today,”Horsford continued.“As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, his work has empowered millions of Black voices across the country, and gave Black lawmakers a powerful tool to express our collective voice.
“On this Memorial Day, we say goodbye to a decorated Korean War veteran who dedicated his life to helping others,”Rep. Horsford added.“Thank you for your service, Charlie, and thank you for all the ways your impact will live on. Rest in peace, Chairman.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ02)
Washington, DC –Today, Congressman Van Drew discussed the passage of H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation.
“This morning, House Republicans passed the budget reconciliation package,” said Congressman Van Drew. “I want to make it clear that in this bill there are NO cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security for the people these programs were designed to serve. I have been deeply disturbed by the misinformation the left has been circulating surrounding this bill, so I wanted to take the opportunity to give you a breakdown of what is being said versus what is actually true.”
Medicaid-
FICTION: Millions of eligible Americans will lose their coverage.
FACT: Medicaid for eligible individuals remains fully funded and protected.
Children, seniors, the disabled, pregnant women, and working families remain fully protected.
The bill ends loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to access Medicaid.
The bill enacts work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents—20 hours a week of work/volunteer requirements, including online courses.
The estimate of eligible Americans losing coverage comes from a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projection which assumes no compliance with these work requirements over 10 years which is just not realistic.
Medicare-
FICTION: Medicare is being slashed by $500 billion.
FACT: Medicare remains untouched, unharmed, and fully funded.
The $500 billion figure comes from a technical scoring mechanism, not from any policy that is actually in the bill. There will be no cuts.
House Republicans are already preparing a waiver to the mechanism so no Medicare cuts will ever take effect under this bill.
Social Security-
FICTION: This bill cuts Social Security benefits.
FACT: There are no changes to eligibility, benefits, or payment schedules.
Not one line of the bill touches Social Security at all.
The bill even includes a $4,000 tax deduction for individuals over 65, offering relief to our seniors.
Some may be curious why ‘No Tax on Social Security’ was not included:
A Senate rule, the Byrd rule, prohibits non-budgetary items like Social Security changes from being included in a reconciliation bill to ensure that reconciliation legislation focuses strictly on budget-related changes.
In light of this, I recently introduced H.R. 904, the No Tax on Social Security Act, which would provide much-needed relief for our seniors. I will not give up on this fight to stop taxing Social Security benefits. We need to get this done.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-
FICTION: SNAP benefits are being slashed.
FACT: SNAP remains fully funded and intact under the legislation.
Vulnerable Americans, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, will not see a reduction in access to SNAP benefits.
The reforms apply only to able-bodied adults without dependents and are aimed at increasing accountability.
The reforms focus solely on reducing administrative costs, not cutting benefits.
The legislation rebalances the cost-sharing structure between the federal government and the states to improve oversight, reduce fraud, ensure benefits go only to eligible recipients, and protect the long-term sustainability of the program.
States with high payment error rates exceeding 10% will now have to share in the cost of those administrative errors, ensuring that the money is not wasted and that it is actually going to the people who deserve and need it.
“I do want to note the version the House voted on is not the final version of the bill. There will be changes as it now moves to the Senate before final passage and signature into law,” Congressman Van Drew continued. “I have been heavily involved in negotiations for the House version of this bill, and I will continue to closely monitor the bill as changes are made in the Senate to ensure there are no cuts to the programs our people rely on. I have said it before, and I will say it again: we owe it to hardworking American families to ensure these vital programs remain strong and funded.”
Other Key Provisions of the Bill Include:
Locking in the 2017 Trump tax cuts to prevent a 22% tax increase on working families
Eliminating federal taxes on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest
Repealing Biden’s Green New Deal mandates, EV rules, and environmental slush funds
Resuming oil and gas leasing on federal lands and streamlining energy permitting
Investing over $140 billion in border security—the largest investment in U.S. history
Completing the border wall and enabling over 1 million deportations annually
Hiring 10,000 new ICE personnel and expanding detention capacity to 100,000 beds
Modernizing national defense with nearly $144 billion in military investments
Achieving over $1.5 trillion in net deficit reduction—the largest in nearly 30 years
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ02)
Washington, DC –Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement in support of President Trump’s executive order, signed today, which will tie what Medicare pays for prescription drugs to the lowest prices paid in other developed countries.
“Today, President Trump took a bold step to lower prescription drug prices for Americans, and I fully support it,” said Congressman Van Drew. “For far too long, American families have been stuck paying outrageous prices for the same drugs sold at a fraction of the cost in other countries. This has to change. In fact, I will be introducing the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act in the coming days to build on the President’s action. This bill will make it illegal for drug manufacturers to charge Medicare and privately insured Americans more than what they charge in other countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, or Japan. If they exceed that amount, they will face serious civil monetary penalties of ten times the difference in price for every single dose sold under those insurance plans. It is time to put the interests of the American people first and stop letting Big Pharma get away with price gouging.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Washington, D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), alongside Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06)and Congressman Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), led several members of New York’s Democratic Congressional delegation in writing to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to demand that the administration reverse their proposed staffing and benefits cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“This proposal would cut 80,000 employees – over 15% of the VA’s total workforce – who help provide health care, housing, and other services to our veterans, including more than a quarter of whom are veterans themselves. We urge you to immediately reverse course on the proposed firings and ensure that the more than 688,000 veterans in New York State receive timely care, benefits, and peace of mind,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is the federal government’s responsibility to “honor the contract,” – we must honor that commitment by providing the care, benefits, and opportunities every veteran has earned through their sacrifice.”
A total of 15 lawmakers signed the letter. In addition to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Kennedy, and Rep. Meng, the following members joined in signing: Representatives Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), George Latimer (NY-16), John Mannion (NY-22), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Josh Riley (NY-19), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).
The letter details that previous shortages and firings have already affected care quality by leading to reduced patient-provider interactions, longer waiting times, delays in benefits, and increased workloads for existing staff. The lawmakers also emphasize that staffing shortages across VA offices in New York have created a widespread atmosphere of fear and instability across the state, encouraging the Department to stand against any proposed staffing or benefits cuts.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Washington, D.C.– Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)and Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY)sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stop the reduction in force (RIF) and reorganization plans at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) impacting FDA’s San Juan Medical Products Laboratory (SJNLMP).
The SJNLMP is one of the few FDA-owned and operated facilities specializing in pharmaceutical drug analysis. It has evaluated and led to removal of thousands of adulterated products from the market that otherwise would have exposed American consumers to unsafe products. The laboratory also plays a critical role in ensuring that the drugs and medical products that are part of HHS’ Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) remain safe and available for the nation’s armed forces and civilian populations during emergencies and conflicts.
According to constituents, on April 1st, 2025, a RIF notice was distributed to the 20 laboratory employees and since then the laboratory has ceased operations.
“Shutting down this laboratory is against your commitment to protect “essential services” and “frontline jobs” as doing so jeopardizes the safety of millions of Americans by weakening FDA’s ability to detect contaminated pharmaceuticals, respond to health emergencies, and safeguard national security,” wrote the lawmakers.“Additionally, this decision would eliminate over 20 highly skilled jobs in Puerto Rico.”
“April 1 was the worst day of my life — receiving the RIF notice shattered me,” a SJNLMP employee said.“After years of dedication to public health, I felt abandoned, invisible, and heartbroken.”
“Receiving the RIF notice felt like having the ground pulled from under us,” a SJNLMP employee said.“After years of sacrifice and commitment to public health, it was devastating to be dismissed so suddenly, without acknowledgment of our work or our worth.”
“Receiving the RIF notice was devastating and left me feeling discarded after years of dedicated public service,” a SJNLMP employee said.“It created uncertainty, fear, and a deep sense of injustice. We were blindsided despite the critical role we played in protecting public health.”
“When I received the RIF notice, I felt an overwhelming sense of shock and betrayal,” a SJNLMP employee said.“It was heartbreaking to see our vital work disregarded so abruptly. The uncertainty about our future was deeply unsettling.”
HHS’ RIF plans at SJNLMP will impact various FDA initiatives. Some are the Health Fraud Program, which focuses on identifying and removing dietary supplements that are unsafe or advertised with misleading claims from the market, the Shelf-Life Extension Program, which verifies the stability of SNS drugs and medical products, an existent Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to advance analytical methods for drug safety, and various Import and Surveillance Programs designed to monitor the safety of pharmaceutical imports. “We urge you to prioritize the health of the American people and the integrity of our pharmaceutical supply chain by ensuring that the San Juan Medical Products Laboratory remains fully staffed and operational,” wrote the lawmakers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Washington, D.C.– Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)and Representative Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)introduced legislation that would reauthorize the Healthy Start program, which provides critical funding for community-based efforts that improve maternal and child health.
“Healthy Start serves countless families across the nation. In my district, The Bronx Healthy Start Partnership provides essential public health services to ensure that allbabies and new parents can receive medical and non-medical support that improves their health outcomes,” said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.“This bipartisan bill would ensure that Healthy Start programs across the country can continue to fill in where traditional health care falls short, working to eliminate major health disparities that leave the most vulnerable communities wounded.”
“Over the past two years, this program has delivered more than $2 million to my district to support women, infants, and families in low-income communities,” said Representative Nicole Malliotakis.“Our bipartisan legislation will continue the authorization of the Healthy Start program, which aims to improve health outcomes for new mothers and reduce infant mortality rates and other adverse perinatal outcomes nationwide.”
The full bill text is available here. The legislation will go through the Energy and Commerce Committee, where Representative Ocasio-Cortez now serves.
The Healthy Start program invests in communities across the country to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. The Bronx Healthy Start Partnership provides case management, educational activities, and other support services to more than 475 families in the Bronx community each year.
Local Healthy Start projects are community-driven and tailored to the specific needs of each community to help reduce disparities in infant mortality and maternal health outcomes, so that all new parents and their babies can be healthy. These projects work to enroll pregnant women, other women of reproductive age, new parents, children from birth to 18 months, and fathers/partners. This bill would authorize $145 million in critical funding for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.
Healthy Start program funding goes to communities experiencing high rates of adverse health outcomes, including infant mortality rates that are at least 1.5 times the U.S. national average, or high rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal illness.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01)
Republican Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-01) celebrated the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act in the House of Representatives this morning.
“President Trump and the American people gave us a clear mandate; today we delivered,” said Rep. Hern. “While Democrats have been demagoguing and fearmongering, spreading lies about what this legislation does or doesn’t do, Republicans have been working hard to deliver real relief to working families and small businesses. I am proud of the work we did on this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”
Here are Rep. Hern’s remarks during floor debate.
Included in the legislation were several priorities previously introduced by Rep. Hern, the WIRED Act and the Education and Workforce Freedom Act.
Previously introduced as HR 6817, the WIRED Act establishes a fee on certain remittance transfers out of the country to target cartel activity and help fund border security. Last Congress, Rep. Hern led the House bill, and then-Senator J.D. Vance led the Senate version of the bill. The legislation is based on a similar policy enacted by the State of Oklahoma.
“Republicans are delivering on President Trump’s agenda, and I’m proud to see my legislation included,” said Rep. Hern. “This bill was originally inspired by successful legislation happening right here in Oklahoma. I was able to take this great idea that our state legislature enacted and work with now-Vice President Vance to scale it up to the federal level. We must be using every tool at our disposal to combat the cartels.”
The Education and Workforce Freedom Act, previously introduced as HR 8915, expands tax-advantaged 529 accounts to allow K-12 students from public, private, religious or home school settings to use those funds. It also allows the funds to be used for licensing and credentialing expenses, modernizing our tax code to meet the demands of the American workforce.
“Any parent will tell you that they know what’s better for their kids than the government,” said Rep. Hern. “Parents should be allowed to use their 529 tax-advantaged accounts to get their children the education they deserve, according to their individual needs. Including this provision in our One Big, Beautiful Bill puts us one step closer to a stronger education system and better outcomes for students of all backgrounds.”
Welcoming the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut the Official Cash Rate by another 0.25% points, ACT Leader David Seymour says:
“New Zealanders’ hard work and the Government’s focus on fiscal discipline are paying off.
“Another rate cut is real relief for firms, farms, and families. Households with a $500,000 mortgage can expect to save around $100 a month, money that can go toward groceries, power bills, or building a better future.
“By finding savings and prioritising spending carefully, like we’ve seen in Budget 2025, the Coalition Government has got inflation under control, making room for the Reserve Bank to ease pressure on borrowers.
“Our best hope for continued relief is in ACT’s push to cut bureaucracy, eliminate inefficient programs, and unwind red tape. We must stay the course, so Kiwis can keep more of what they earn, and invest in the things that matter to themselves and their loved ones.”
