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Representative Moran to Meet with Longview Family Advocating for Disability Legislation

Representative Moran to Meet with Longview Family Advocating for Disability Legislation

A Longview family, including Tiffany Angus and her son Austin, who has Down syndrome, traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for three key pieces of legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans with disabilities. Tiffany Angus plans to meet with Representative Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, along with Texas U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to discuss these bills. The proposed legislation includes the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would increase allowable assets for Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries; the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, designed to phase out subminimum wage certificates for disabled workers and transition them into fair, integrated jobs; and the HCBS Access Act, which seeks to make home- and community-based services a mandatory Medicaid benefit and eliminate lengthy state waiting lists. The family's advocacy stems from personal experiences, such as Austin being on a waiting list for Texas Home and Community-based Services since 201...

U.S. Representatives Introduce Legislation to Address Toxic Waste Off Southern California Coast

U.S. Representatives Introduce Legislation to Address Toxic Waste Off Southern California Coast

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) have introduced the Ocean Protection and DDT Reduction Act. This new legislation aims to tackle the issue of toxic industrial waste and pesticide pollution, specifically DDT, that has been dumped off the Southern California coast for decades, particularly in the San Pedro Basin. The bill proposes a structured federal study to assess the environmental damage to the local marine ecosystem and to develop comprehensive solutions for cleaning up the waste. Representative Carbajal highlighted the importance of protecting these waters for local communities and economies, including fishermen, maritime workers, and the tourism industry. The legislation directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor waste sites, study the spread of toxic chemicals into the ocean food web, and create scientific tools to track ocean dumping. It also authorizes $6 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through Fiscal Year 20...

Mexico to prohibit presidents from holding dual citizenship

Mexico to prohibit presidents from holding dual citizenship

By Lizbeth Diaz and Ana Isabel Martinez MEXICO CITY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - A Mexican constitutional reform to require presidential candidates to renounce any dual citizenships is fast-tracking toward final approval, despite criticism that the measure backed by the ruling party infringes on political

The Latest: Trump hits the campaign trail, kicking off blitz before midterms

The Latest: Trump hits the campaign trail, kicking off blitz before midterms

President Donald Trump is hitting the campaign trail in heavily Republican areas to shore up lagging enthusiasm in their party ahead of next month’s midterm elections

Senate Democrats Block 'Stop Insider Trading Act' Prior to Midterm Recess

Senate Democrats Block 'Stop Insider Trading Act' Prior to Midterm Recess

Senate Democrats have blocked a Republican-sponsored bill, the 'Stop Insider Trading Act,' which aimed to restrict members of Congress from trading stocks. The bill failed to reach the Senate floor with a 57 to 43 vote, as every Democrat and independent voted against it. The proposed legislation sought to ban Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing new stock in publicly traded companies. It also mandated a public notice of intent to sell with the House Clerk or Senate Secretary one to two weeks before any sale. However, the bill would have allowed members to retain their existing portfolios and engage in private stock transactions. Controversially, House Republicans had added provisions that exempted the president from the trading ban and included an unrelated voter identification requirement. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the bill, calling it a 'permission slip for corruption' and arguing it did not adequately address the issue of insider trading.

Congressman McGarvey Criticizes President Trump's Canadian Import Ban and Taxpayer-Funded Ads

Congressman McGarvey Criticizes President Trump's Canadian Import Ban and Taxpayer-Funded Ads

Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, has voiced strong criticism regarding President Trump's recent Canadian import ban and its ongoing impact on Kentucky's bourbon industry. McGarvey highlighted that Canada is the largest international market for Kentucky spirits, and the trade war has already caused significant damage to the state's $9 billion industry. He warned that these bans would further fuel U.S. inflation and lead to higher prices for American consumers. Additionally, McGarvey has spoken out against the White House's use of taxpayer funds for what he describes as propaganda ads glorifying President Trump. He stated that these ads, which have cost at least $1.5 million, deviate from established precedents for public service announcements and are a clear misuse of funds. The House Oversight Committee is reportedly investigating the matter, with McGarvey asserting that the White House is campaigning for the President using public money.

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz Honored for Securing Federal Infrastructure Funding and Introduces 'National Promotoras Month' Resolution

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz Honored for Securing Federal Infrastructure Funding and Introduces 'National Promotoras Month' Resolution

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz was recently recognized with the Legislative Champion Award by the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce for his efforts in securing federal funding for critical regional infrastructure projects. These projects include investments in the Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center, the Imperial Avenue Extension in El Centro, countywide bridge rehabilitations, Imperial Irrigation District infrastructure, and ongoing environmental initiatives at the Salton Sea and New River. Additionally, Congressman Ruiz introduced H. Res. 1583 on September 24, 2026, to designate October as 'National Promotoras Month.' This resolution aims to acknowledge the contributions of 'promotoras,' also known as community health workers or patient navigators, who serve as vital links connecting individuals to healthcare, particularly in rural, farmworker, Tribal, border, and immigrant communities. This marks the first time such a resolution has been introduced at the federal level. According to a Q2 FEC...

U.S. Birth Rate Hits Record Low of 1.62 in 2023, Signaling Long-Term Societal Shifts

U.S. Birth Rate Hits Record Low of 1.62 in 2023, Signaling Long-Term Societal Shifts

The United States experienced its lowest recorded total fertility rate in 2023, reaching 1.62 children per woman. This figure is significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1, which is the level needed to maintain a stable population without migration. This decline is part of a nearly two-decade trend observed in the U.S. and other wealthy nations. The phenomenon of falling birth rates is not unique to the U.S.; countries like South Korea recorded an even lower fertility rate of 0.75 in 2024, despite substantial government spending aimed at boosting fertility. France, which allocates a higher percentage of its GDP to family support than any other OECD country, also saw its lowest number of births since World War II last year. Even Nordic countries, known for their robust welfare states and family-friendly policies, are experiencing sharp fertility declines. This suggests that financial incentives and supportive policies alone may not be sufficient to reverse the trend of decreasing birth rates.

President Trump Administration Cuts $70 Million in University International Education Funding

President Trump Administration Cuts $70 Million in University International Education Funding

The Trump administration has announced a cut of $70 million in federal funding for international education and foreign language studies at universities nationwide. This action follows the dissolution of the agency responsible for distributing these grants after September 2025, a year earlier than their scheduled end. Congress had previously restored $70.3 million for these programs in February, and the U.S. Department of Education had announced a new $70 million grant in June. However, President Trump utilized a pocket rescission to withhold the congressional allocation days before the fiscal year's end on September 30. This cut is part of a larger package of over $800 million in federal rescissions targeting what the administration deems 'wasteful and harmful government spending,' which also includes significant reductions to refugee services and programs supporting migrant students. For instance, NYU's Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, which previously received over $500,000 annually from these ...

Rep. Beth Van Duyne Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Reform Hospice Oversight and Increase Penalties

Rep. Beth Van Duyne Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Reform Hospice Oversight and Increase Penalties

Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) has co-sponsored the Enhancing Hospice Oversight and Transparency Act alongside Rep. Panetta. This bipartisan bill aims to reform the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP), which is currently on hold by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The proposed legislation seeks to improve the program's implementation and increase transparency. A key provision of the bill is to raise the penalty for hospices that fail to report quality measure data. Currently, the penalty stands at 4%, but the new act would increase it to 10% by 2027. The bill also intends to delay the implementation of the SFP until CMS can align it with congressional intent and requires the agency to provide hospices with a report 60 days before any public designation. This initiative is driven by a desire to prevent fraudulent activities within the hospice industry while ensuring that legitimate providers are not unfairly penalized.

60 Organizations Urge DHS to End Green Card Freeze as Refugees Face Medicaid Loss

60 Organizations Urge DHS to End Green Card Freeze as Refugees Face Medicaid Loss

Church World Service (CWS) and Refugee Council USA, alongside 58 other organizations, have issued a joint letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end the freeze on green card processing for refugees. This appeal comes as a deadline approaches, which will result in many refugees losing their Medicaid eligibility. In July 2025, Congress passed H.R. 1, legislation that mandates the termination of Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP eligibility for refugees and other humanitarian entrants who do not possess green cards. Concurrently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has maintained an adjudication pause on over 100,000 refugee green card applications. This combination of policies is creating a situation where tens of thousands of refugees, many of whom applied for green cards months or even years ago, will lose crucial health coverage, potentially leading to severe consequences, especially for those relying on Medicaid for life-sustaining care. The organizations also criticize t...

Baker County Endorses Increased Commercial Logging and Rescission of Roadless Rule in Forest Plan Revision

Baker County Endorses Increased Commercial Logging and Rescission of Roadless Rule in Forest Plan Revision

Baker County, Oregon, has officially endorsed Alternative 2 in the proposed revision of management plans for the Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla, and Malheur national forests. This alternative, identified by the U.S. Forest Service as the 'proposed action,' prioritizes significantly more commercial logging than other options. County Commissioner Christina Witham and Natural Resource Coordinator Doni Bruland, who authored the county's 23-page comment, believe Alternative 2 would be most beneficial for Baker County. Key aspects of Alternative 2 include the elimination of a 30-year-old rule restricting the cutting of trees over 21 inches in diameter and the assumption of the Roadless Rule's removal, which would increase land suitable for timber production by 17%. The county's comments also criticize the current management plans for not meeting projected commercial logging amounts since the early 1990s and advocate for increased livestock grazing to reduce fuel loads and more flexible travel management regulations, ...