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House Passes Bills to Enhance Cybersecurity for Small Businesses and Combat Foreign Threats

House Passes Bills to Enhance Cybersecurity for Small Businesses and Combat Foreign Threats

On November 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills aimed at supporting small businesses. The first, the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Act, introduced by Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI), mandates the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide guidance on cybersecurity best practices. This guidance will be developed in consultation with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). The bill also requires the SBA to coordinate with the Department of Defense (DoD) to offer cybersecurity guidance for small businesses seeking federal contracts, particularly those involved with the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. The second bill, the Combatting Foreign Threats to Main Street Act, introduced by Reps. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Derek Tran (D-CA), directs the SBA to create educational materials for small businesses on mitigating threats from foreign adversaries. These materials will detai...
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U.S. House Passes Seven Bipartisan Small-Business Bills to Streamline SBA Operations and Boost Manufacturing

U.S. House Passes Seven Bipartisan Small-Business Bills to Streamline SBA Operations and Boost Manufacturing

U.S. House Passes Seven Bipartisan Small-Business Bills to Streamline SBA Operations and Boost Manufacturing
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House Passes Bipartisan Olszewski-Wied Bill to Aid Small Businesses in Reshoring Manufacturing

House Passes Bipartisan Olszewski-Wied Bill to Aid Small Businesses in Reshoring Manufacturing

House Passes Bipartisan Olszewski-Wied Bill to Aid Small Businesses in Reshoring Manufacturing
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House Passes Seven Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen American Small Businesses and Enhance SBA Accountability

House Passes Seven Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen American Small Businesses and Enhance SBA Accountability

House Passes Seven Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen American Small Businesses and Enhance SBA Accountability
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House Committee Advances Bill Proposing New Annual Federal Fee for EV Owners

House Committee Advances Bill Proposing New Annual Federal Fee for EV Owners

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved a bipartisan draft of a transportation funding bill, the BUILD America 250 Act, which includes a new annual federal fee for electric vehicle (EV) owners. This proposed fee would start at $130 annually and could increase by $5 each year, reaching a maximum of $150. Owners of plug-in hybrids would face a $35 fee, potentially rising to $50 by 2031. The measure aims to address the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund, which is primarily funded by gasoline taxes that EV drivers do not pay. The current surface transportation funding is set to expire on December 11, and if the larger bill passes both the House and Senate, EV owners could begin paying this fee as early as December. The fee would be collected when owners register their vehicles, differing from mileage-based proposals that have raised privacy concerns. Representative Sam Graves, Chair of the U.S. House Transportation Committee, stated that the fee ensures EV owners contribute the...
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Senator Jerry Moran Delivers Veterans Day Message and Advocates for Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Senator Jerry Moran Delivers Veterans Day Message and Advocates for Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, delivered a message for Veterans Day, emphasizing his high regard for the nation's veterans and their sacrifices. Senator Moran highlighted the historical significance of Veterans Day, which originated as Armistice Day and was officially established by President Eisenhower in 1954, following a proposal from Alvin J. King of Emporia, Kansas. Moran also announced that the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA), legislation he champions. This bill aims to allow combat-disabled veterans to receive both their earned retirement pay and VA disability benefits, expand support for family caregivers, and improve care for aging veterans and those with specific conditions like spinal cord injuries and ALS. Additionally, it seeks to deliver benefits to surviving spouses and family members of fallen servicemembers.
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Representative David Joyce Sponsors Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, Bill Advances in Congress

Representative David Joyce Sponsors Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, Bill Advances in Congress

Representative David Joyce (R-Ohio) has sponsored the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, a legislative initiative aimed at tackling the growing issue of retail theft. The bill proposes the creation of a multiagency division specifically designed to address this type of crime. According to the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board, smaller carriers have been particularly affected by retail theft, highlighting the significant impact on businesses. The legislation successfully passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 348-60 in May. A companion bill has also been introduced in the Senate, offered as an amendment to the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. This bipartisan effort underscores a broad recognition of the need to strengthen enforcement against organized retail crime, which has been reported to cost the trucking industry an average of $18 million daily, as per ATRI research.
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Most Americans want new Democratic Congress to end Trump's Iran war, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Most Americans want new Democratic Congress to end Trump's Iran war, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Majorities of Americans want the newly elected Democratic-majority US Congress to act to end the war with Iran and to repeal tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump, signaling demand for quick action to address the high cost of living, a new
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Defiant Hegseth blasts impeachment 'farce' ahead of US House vote

Defiant Hegseth blasts impeachment 'farce' ahead of US House vote

By Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted efforts to impeach him as a farce on Tuesday and delivered a defiant defense of his record, hours before a House vote that will test whether the effort has enough support to move toward
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House Passes American Enrichment Deployment Act to Expedite Uranium Plant Construction

House Passes American Enrichment Deployment Act to Expedite Uranium Plant Construction

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 9612, the American Enrichment Deployment Act, introduced by Representative Russell Fry. The bill aims to revise the licensing procedures for uranium enrichment facilities in the United States. Specifically, it would allow the construction of such facilities to commence before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completes its full licensing process, provided the construction adheres to general rules applicable to other licensed fuel cycle facilities. The legislation passed with a significant majority, 394-3. This measure is intended to accelerate the timeline for building uranium enrichment plants, making the construction phase less dependent on the final license decision. The bill does not alter the NRC's authority to review, approve, or deny licenses, nor does it change environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or the right to a hearing for affected parties. It mandates the NRC to update its regulations within...
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U.S. Rep. Grace Meng Reintroduces Legislation to Establish Diwali as Federal Holiday Amid Rising Anti-Hindu and Anti-South Asian Hate

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng Reintroduces Legislation to Establish Diwali as Federal Holiday Amid Rising Anti-Hindu and Anti-South Asian Hate

U.S. Representative Grace Meng has reintroduced legislation aimed at designating Diwali as a federal holiday in the United States. This move comes in response to a significant increase in anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate incidents across the nation. The legislation, known as the Diwali Day Act, was reintroduced by Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, shortly after the main celebration of the 2026 Diwali festival. The bill currently has 19 co-sponsors in Congress and, if passed, would make Diwali the 12th federally recognized holiday. Meng emphasized that establishing Diwali as a federal holiday would provide a day off for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities to celebrate and would signal that the government values their cultures and traditions, particularly during a period of rising hate and intimidation.
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Military strikes? A peace agreement? Trump opts for status quo in Iran

Military strikes? A peace agreement? Trump opts for status quo in Iran

Trump said ahead of the midterms that he faced a "big decision" on Iran. This week, he signaled he'd made his choice: maintain the status quo.