Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

Albuquerque, N.M. — Today, Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) toured State of the Heart Recovery Center, a non-profit focused on treating substance abuse, and spoke on the importance of addressing the addiction crisis in New Mexico. 

“Communities in New Mexico are suffering at the hands of addiction,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “It’s my duty as a Member of Congress to help address this, and that is why I am committed to working on the federal level as well as partnering with state and local agencies to ensure our communities find the help and support to beat addiction.” 

Rep. Stansbury met and spoke with Max Juarez, Chief Operating Officer, and Katie Ortiz y Pino, Peer Support Worker, on the mission of non-profit and who it serves.  

State of the Heart’s integrated approach addresses all aspects of a person’s emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Their programs cover traditional evidence-based treatments, as well as cutting-edge technology and self-care therapies. 

In Congress, Rep. Stansbury has worked to address the behavioral health and addiction crisis: 

• The Congresswoman introduced the STOPP Act – the Stop the Opioid Pill Presserand Fentanyl Act, which would: 
• Require those who manufacture or distribute pill tableting or encapsulating machines and their critical parts to “serialize” their machinery. 
• Keep records of all relevant transactions and report those transactions to the Attorney General. 
• Create a national registry to track the movement of these pill tableting or 
• She is a proud member of the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus. 
• She has repeatedly advocated for the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. 
• She has secured more than $7.3 million in Community Project Funding for drug detection technology and public safety vehicles, as well as addiction treatment and prevention. 
• She has also requested more than $4.5 million in FY25 Community Project Funding to further invest in our communities and help with this epidemic. 

 See photos and videos from the tour here. 



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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

Approximately 49 Million Food Insecure Americans Rely on Food Banks and Meal Programs for Nutrition Each Year 

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) in his resolution declaring the House of Representatives’ support and gratitude for the work done by food banks, food pantries, and other community-based organizations across the United States to end food insecurity.  

“When our neighbors in New York and across the country struggle to make ends meet, many turn to food banks as their only source of food,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As we approach the holiday season, I want to join my colleagues in extending thanks to these organizations and their tireless employees for supporting so many people in need as we continue the fight against food insecurity.” 

Approximately 49 million Americans relied on food banks or meal programs to meet their nutritional needs in 2022. Food bank networks and their partners play a crucial role in combating hunger in America, partnering with federal, city, and state governments to deliver food to vulnerable groups such as seniors, children, veterans, and unhoused individuals. In 2022, these food banks collected, prepared, and distributed over five billion meals across the United States. 

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to ensuring no person goes hungry in America. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

Last week, Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) joined Representatives Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-02) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04) to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives designating November 2024 as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The initiative aims to draw attention to the importance of prevention, early detection, and research to combat lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The resolution is led in the Senate by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN).

“Lung cancer is the deadliest and one of the most common forms of cancer,” said Congressman Lawler. “We simply must do more to raise awareness and combat this deadly disease. That’s why I’m joining Congressman Brendan Boyle in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing November as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. One life lost to lung cancer is too many. Together, we can build a future where the devastation of lung cancer is no more.”

“Lung cancer impacts families and communities across the country. This resolution is an important step in raising awareness, encouraging preventative measures, and supporting groundbreaking research to save lives,” said Congressman Boyle. “By coming together, we can ensure more Americans have access to the tools and resources needed to combat this devastating disease.”

“Lung-cancer screening saves lives. The difference between early and late detection of a tumor is often a matter of life and death,” said Congressman Auchincloss. “Washington needs to do more to advance awareness of screening and to support research and clinical care.”

The resolution highlights the urgent need to increase public awareness campaigns, expand access to screening programs, and invest in life-saving research through federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

WASHINGTON— Today, Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL) introduced the “CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024.” This bipartisan legislation will extend the existing CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program’s participation period from three to five years, supporting students pursuing advanced STEM degrees and expanding the pool of highly specialized cybersecurity professionals.  

“North Alabama is a national leader in cybersecurity education, with one of the highest numbers of participants and graduates in the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program. This legislation will allow local colleges and universities to continue to produce highly skilled, U.S.-trained cybersecurity experts to protect our national security interests and contribute to cutting-edge research,” said Congressman Dale W. Strong. “Strengthening this pipeline is not just about defending our nation against cyber threats—it’s about creating high-paying, high-impact jobs here at home and ensuring America continues to lead the way in cybersecurity, innovation, and defense.”  

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is supportive of this legislation.  

“The University of Alabama in Huntsville is home to one of the largest cohorts of CyberCorps Scholarship for Service recipients in the country, comprised of 92 incredibly bright scholars in the critical fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence,” said Dr. Tommy Morris, director of UAH’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education and eminent scholar of computer engineering. “The proposed changes will allow us to grow this important program by attracting more doctoral students, which will ultimately enhance national security considering recipients must work for the federal government upon graduation. UAH proudly offers top cybersecurity programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, and one of the largest cybersecurity research centers in America – the Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education – is located on our campus in Huntsville, a community that is leading the way in cybersecurity work. We are thankful to Congressman Strong for spearheading this effort.” 

Strong co-led the bipartisan legislation alongside Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA). 

“The federal government has a lot of work to do when it comes to recruiting and retaining the next generation of the federal workforce, especially in critical fields like cybersecurity and emerging technologies,” said Congressman Gerry Connolly. “This bipartisan legislation will go a long way toward strengthening our nation’s cybersecurity posture by ensuring we can attract the best of the best to serve our country.” 

BACKGROUND:  

The CyberCorps SFS Program currently offers scholarships for three years to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate education in cybersecurity. In return, recipients commit to working in a cybersecurity role within the U.S. government for the same length of time as their scholarship.  

The CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024 proposes two key improvements to the existing SFS Program: 

• Extending Scholarship Support: Increasing the scholarship cap from three to five years to accommodate students pursuing advanced degrees like PhDs. 
• Clarifying Loan Repayment Terms: Ensuring the full amount of student loans is eligible for forgiveness. This change is to address participant concerns about loan repayment challenges. 

These changes will support a wide range of cybersecurity degrees—including PhD, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees—focused on cybersecurity fields such as AI, aerospace, quantum technologies, and more.  

Full text of the legislation is available here. This legislation is supported by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) USA. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

Cleveland, NY – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced she is introducing a bill to require states to report preliminary election results within 12 hours after polls close, with certain exceptions and contingencies to account for practical challenges as well as for our service members and their families stationed overseas.

A recent poll found that 63% of respondents support a federal law requiring final election results to be reported within 12 hours of polls closing on Election Day. Tenney’s bill seeks to enhance transparency in our elections by addressing the lengthy delays, sometimes over a month, that some states experience in announcing results.

“Voters across the country are frustrated with vote tallying that drags on for weeks, especially in instances where ballots seem to be discovered long after Election Day,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “This undermines trust in our elections and creates opportunities for fraud or errors in ballot counting. As Chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, I am committed to increasing transparency in our electoral process and ensuring it is truly Election Day — not Election Month.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05)

Congresswoman Julia Letlow and House Majority Leader Scalise released the following statements as the “Luke Letlow Post Office” is officially signed into law. The Post Office located at 103 Benedette Street in Rayville, Louisiana designates the “Luke Letlow Post Office” in honor of her late husband and Congressman-elect Luke Letlow. 

“Our family is deeply touched and humbled that the bill renaming the Rayville Post Office has officially been signed into law as the ‘Luke Letlow Post Office Building.’ I’m grateful to my Louisiana colleagues for their support in honoring Luke’s legacy, in particular Leader Scalise for introducing this legislation. I know Luke would consider it the recognition of a lifetime to have the Post Office named in his honor, and our family is immensely proud to officially see this fitting memorial to his legacy in the place we call home,”said Rep. Letlow.

“On behalf of the entire Louisiana delegation, I am honored to see our bill signed into law to memorialize the legacy of public service Luke Letlow left behind by naming a post office in his beloved Richland Parish after him. What I remember most about Luke is that he had a faithful heart, a passion for serving his community, and such positive energy every single day. This post office will ensure his legacy continues to shine on and inspire others to take up public service in their communities,” said Leader Scalise.

Congresswoman Letlow lost her husband Luke due to COVID-19 in December of 2020. 

He had recently been elected to represent the Fifth District of Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives and was due to be sworn-in January of 2021. Congresswoman Letlow ran in a special election to fill his seat and overwhelmingly won in March of 2021.

Luke devoted his life to public service and to the Fifth District of Louisiana. He loved his native Richland Parish and made it his mission to make the lives of its residents better.

In May, Congresswoman Letlow voiced her support for the Post Office on the House floor in honor of her late husband. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

WASHINGTON D.C.—The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s H.R. 9514, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act. The important step included supportive testimony from Congresswoman Boebert, the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

“Access to clean water is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and Southeast Colorado families and businesses deserve a reliable and sustainable water supply,” said Congresswoman Boebert. “It’s time we finally fulfill the promise the federal government made to the communities I represent in Colorado and Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act.”

H.R. 9514, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, eliminates interest payments for the non-federal costs of the Arkansas Valley Conduit and extends the repayment period for this project from 50 to 100 years. The Arkansas Valley Conduit was originally approved for construction as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project that was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. Once completed, the Arkansas Valley Conduit will provide water to as many as 50,000 Coloradans across 40 communities in Pueblo, Otero, Bent, Kiowa, Prowers and Baca Counties.

The Finish the AVC Act eases the burden of inflation costs that have caused the original $640 million estimate cost of construction in 2019 to rise to more than $1.3 billion. There have been a number of modifications to the proposed Arkansas Valley Conduit over the years that have reduced costs by as much as $200 million. 

“The Arkansas Valley Conduit will provide a new surface water source of high quality so that safe drinking water standards can be achieved within the financial ability of the local communities,” testified Bill Long, President of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. “We thank Representative Boebert for her leadership in introducing this legislation and our District urges the passage of H.R. 9514.”

Radium, uranium, and other naturally occurring elements are found in the surface and groundwater in Southeastern Colorado, and the water quality is problematic year-round because of its salinity, selenium, sulfate, hardness, and manganese levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has found that these contamination levels are so severe that local communities could see the costs of their drinking water triple without this legislation.

“The Department supports efforts to improve access to reliable, clean drinking water as an essential human need that is critical to the public health, well-being, educational attainment, and economic development of all communities in the United States,” said Roque Sanchez, Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “The modifications proposed under H.R. 9514 are within that commitment and necessary to ensure that the costs of the AVC remain reasonable and affordable for the rural communities that will depend on it.”

Full text of Rep. Boebert’s House legislation can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Michelle Steel published an op-ed in Newsweek highlighting challenges and opportunities for the incoming Trump Administration in the Asia-Pacific region, including pushing back on threats from the Chinese Communist Party and strengthening alliances with Japan and South Korea. 

Read the full piece here. 

“With rising threats from the CCP and their regional allies, President Trump will have his work cut out for him in the Asia-Pacific Region. But these challenges provide an opportunity for the U.S. to reassert itself on the international stage, restore global stability, and defend freedom,” Steel wrote. 

“The dangerous China-North Korea-Russia partnership merits a strong, deterrence focused response. The safety and security of regional allies like Japan, South Korea, and others depends on a United States that is feared by our adversaries,” Steel added. 

An immigrant to the United States, Steel was born in South Korea, grew up in Japan, and speaks both Japanese and Korean fluently. She has worked over her tenure in Congress to elevate the trilateral partnership between the U.S. and Japan and South Korea, as a means of pushing back on aggression from Communist China.