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Reps. Sara Jacobs and Don Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Pentagon Press Access

Reps. Sara Jacobs and Don Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Pentagon Press Access

Representatives Sara Jacobs and Don Bacon have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at restoring and protecting press access at the Pentagon. This bill seeks to reverse recent restrictions placed on journalists, emphasizing the importance of transparency, oversight, and credentialing safeguards. The proposed measure would specifically address press areas, credentialing processes, and any future modifications to access rules. It aims to reinstate access to previously open Pentagon areas and renew unescorted access to certain spaces. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that credential reviews be conducted by career officials and prohibits changes to press access without prior consultation with Congress. Representative Jacobs highlighted that independent reporting is crucial for transparency, accountability, and oversight, while Representative Bacon stated that the restrictions were 'not wise' and that credentialed reporters historically had access to common areas, not classified spaces or offices.
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House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances 17 Bills, Including Ratepayer Protection Act

House Energy and Commerce Committee Advances 17 Bills, Including Ratepayer Protection Act

The House Energy and Commerce Committee successfully advanced 17 pieces of legislation during its open markup session on July 20, 2026. These bills cover a range of critical areas, including energy infrastructure, grid modernization, drug scheduling, and healthcare pricing transparency. Among the notable bills that passed was the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340), co-sponsored by Reps. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), which passed unanimously with a 52-0 vote after an amendment by Rep. Evans was agreed to. Another significant bill, the Stop Pills That Kill Act (H.R. 8005), also sponsored by Rep. Evans, passed with a vote of 43-6. The committee's session saw broad agreement on most legislation, though two healthcare measures, the Prices on the Wall Act and the STOP Nitazenes Act, faced more significant opposition.
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Rep. Julia Brownley Introduces Dental Care for Veterans Act to Expand VA Benefits

Rep. Julia Brownley Introduces Dental Care for Veterans Act to Expand VA Benefits

In January 2025, Representative Julia Brownley (D-California) introduced the Dental Care for Veterans Act. This proposed legislation aims to significantly increase the number of former service members who are eligible to receive dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Currently, the bill is in the committee process. The need for expanded dental care for veterans is highlighted by statistics indicating that only a fraction of eligible veterans actually receive dental services through the military. For instance, while approximately 1.8 million veterans are eligible for VA dental benefits, only about 800,000 reportedly receive care. The bill seeks to address this disparity, recognizing that many veterans experience significant oral health issues that can impact their overall well-being and quality of life.
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With US bill's fate in balance, Ukraine to lobby US on Russia sanctions

With US bill's fate in balance, Ukraine to lobby US on Russia sanctions

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Ukraine's top sanctions official will visit Washington this week to urge members of the U.S.
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House Majority Whip Tom Emmer Criticizes Senate Inaction on SAVE America Act and Other Key Legislation

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer Criticizes Senate Inaction on SAVE America Act and Other Key Legislation

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has voiced strong criticism regarding the Senate's failure to act on several key pieces of legislation passed by the House, including the SAVE America Act, the Clarity Act, and Reconciliation 3.0. During an appearance on 'Sunday Morning Futures' with guest host Cheryl Casone, Emmer expressed frustration that the Senate has not advanced measures he claims have broad public support. Specifically, he highlighted the SAVE America Act, which proposes voter ID requirements and mandates that voters establish lawful citizenship, stating that it is an '80 percent issue across this country.' Emmer also noted the House's priority to pass a short-term government funding bill to prevent a pre-election shutdown, emphasizing the House's efforts to 'get things done' by sending these priorities to the Senate. He pointed out that the Clarity Act, a market structure bill concerning digital assets, was sent to the Senate a year ago with nearly a hundred Democrat votes and remains unaddressed.
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Congressman George Whitesides Co-Leads Bipartisan Bill to Monitor Self-Improving AI

Congressman George Whitesides Co-Leads Bipartisan Bill to Monitor Self-Improving AI

Congressman George Whitesides (D-CA-27), alongside Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-NC-10), has introduced the bipartisan Self-Improving AI Monitoring Act. This legislation aims to direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to track the evolution of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly their capacity to conduct research and contribute to the development of new AI systems with limited human involvement. The bill mandates NIST's Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) to monitor trends in AI systems' autonomous research and development capabilities. It also expands the information federal evaluators can request from frontier AI developers who voluntarily partner with NIST for model evaluations, ensuring relevant metrics and estimates about AI's role in internal research and development are shared, including work conducted without human review. This initiative comes in response to concerns about the rapid pace of AI advancement and incidents where AI systems have...
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Representatives Trahan, Fitzpatrick, and Pettersen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recognize Overdose Awareness Day

Representatives Trahan, Fitzpatrick, and Pettersen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recognize Overdose Awareness Day

Representatives Lori Trahan, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Brittany Pettersen have introduced bipartisan legislation to formally recognize Overdose Awareness Day in the United States. The proposed measure aims to honor individuals who have died from overdoses and to reduce the stigma associated with addiction and its treatment. This initiative also signals support for various efforts including prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs. The lawmakers emphasized the importance of collaboration with states, local governments, health providers, patients, and families in addressing the overdose crisis. The press release noted that nearly 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2025, a decrease from 81,313 in 2024, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remaining a significant concern. This bill builds upon previous efforts, such as a resolution for National Fentanyl Awareness Day and other addiction-related legislation.
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Daylight saving time 2026: When do clocks fall back?

Daylight saving time 2026: When do clocks fall back?

The annual time change is coming Nov. 1, but Congress is still considering whether Americans should stop changing their clocks twice a year.
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House Passes NDO Fairness Act to Reform Secret Surveillance in Cloud Data Access

House Passes NDO Fairness Act to Reform Secret Surveillance in Cloud Data Access

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan NDO Fairness Act (H.R.6048), a significant piece of legislation aimed at reforming how federal courts issue non-disclosure orders (NDOs) to technology providers. These NDOs currently prevent companies from informing their customers when law enforcement accesses their cloud-stored data, including emails, texts, and photos. The new act mandates that federal courts apply a rigorous standard when issuing such secrecy orders, addressing a long-standing disparity between physical and digital searches. Historically, law enforcement needed to meet strict standards for secret physical searches, but could obtain boilerplate secrecy orders for digital data under the 40-year-old Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), enacted before cloud technology existed. Microsoft has been a strong advocate for these reforms, challenging indefinite NDOs as unconstitutional in 2016 and pushing for legislative changes to ensure greater transparency and protect custome...
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Congressman Riley M. Moore Cosponsors Ratepayer Protection Act to Shield Consumers from Data Center Electricity Costs

Congressman Riley M. Moore Cosponsors Ratepayer Protection Act to Shield Consumers from Data Center Electricity Costs

Congressman Riley M. Moore has announced his cosponsorship of the Ratepayer Protection Act. This legislation, introduced by Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO), aims to ensure that the financial burden of new electricity infrastructure required by large data centers falls on the data centers themselves, rather than on American families, small businesses, and other ratepayers. The bill seeks to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to mandate that state public utility commissions consider standards requiring data centers to cover the full incremental costs associated with generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades necessitated by their electricity demands. Congressman Moore emphasized that West Virginia families and American taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the substantial energy requirements of these facilities, advocating for the costs to be borne by the companies operating the data centers. This move is part of Congressman Moore's consistent efforts to promote an ...
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Rep. Don Beyer and Democratic Leaders Urge White House to Reimpose Russia Sanctions Without New Tariff Powers

Rep. Don Beyer and Democratic Leaders Urge White House to Reimpose Russia Sanctions Without New Tariff Powers

Representative Don Beyer, alongside other Democratic leaders from both the House and Senate, is pressing the White House to immediately reimpose sanctions on Russia. These lawmakers contend that the administration already possesses ample authority to sanction entities supporting Russia's war efforts, negating the need for Congress to approve new tariff powers. They argue that delaying action to await new tariff legislation would diminish the effectiveness of sanctions, as Russia continues to seek foreign technology and funding. The Democrats are calling on the president to utilize existing sanctions against targets across various sectors of the Russian economy, emphasizing the urgent need for support for Ukrainians. This stance highlights a division within Congress regarding the approach to sanctioning Russia, with some advocating for immediate action using current presidential powers rather than waiting for new legislative measures.
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Representative Kelly Urges Speaker Johnson to Advance 'Restore Trust in Government Act' for Congressional Stock Trading Ban

Representative Kelly Urges Speaker Johnson to Advance 'Restore Trust in Government Act' for Congressional Stock Trading Ban

Representative Robin Kelly, along with her colleagues, is urging Speaker Johnson to immediately bring the 'Restore Trust in Government Act' to the floor for a vote. The core of this legislative push is to implement a genuine ban on stock trading for Washington politicians. Representative Kelly's statement emphasizes the need for a "REAL stock trading ban" for members of Congress, distinguishing it from any legislation that might be perceived as a "voter suppression bill." This call comes as Congress returns from recess, indicating a renewed effort to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest arising from lawmakers' financial activities.