U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
Cantwell, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Help Small Business Leverage AI Tools
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release:
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Cantwell, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Help Small Business Leverage AI Tools
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a senior member of the Committee, reintroduced the bipartisan Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2026 that would authorize the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to work with
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release:
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Cantwell, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Help Small Business Leverage AI Tools
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a senior member of the Committee, reintroduced the bipartisan Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2026 that would authorize the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to work withthe Small Business Administration (SBA) to create and distribute artificial intelligence (AI) training resources and tools to help small businesses leverage AI in their operations.
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy, the United States is home to 36.2 million small businesses, employing 62.3 million Americans, nearly 46 percent of the private workforce.
"Small businesses are the foundation of our economy and AI has the potential to help them maximize opportunities," said Sen. Cantwell "As AI tools become more accessible and more powerful, we need to make sure entrepreneurs in Washington state and across the country have the training and technical support they need to integrate these tools to better compete, grow and create jobs in a rapidly evolving marketplace."
"In rural communities where resources and workforce are limited, AI has tremendous potential to fill the gaps and help small businesses with finance management, marketing, supply chain management and much more," said Sen. Moran. "This legislation would help small businesses use AI to meet their needs, expand and innovate. Combining these tools with a trained workforce will help make certain the U.S. is utilizing AI to grow our economy and bolster businesses in Kansas and across the country."
Recent data show AI adoption among small businesses is accelerating, but access to training and implementation support remains uneven. A 2025 U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey found that 58 percent of small businesses report using generative AI, up from 40 percent the year before. At the same time, research from the SBA Office of Advocacy indicates many small firms lack the technical expertise and structured training needed to fully integrate AI into their operations.
The State of Washington is home to 695,695 small businesses, making up 99.5 percent of all WA businesses and employing 1.5 million workers. Kansas is home to 273,419 small businesses, making up 99.1 percent of all Kansas businesses and employing more than 590,000 workers.
The DOC's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses to improve their use of technology. NIST's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership also provides technical resources and other assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2026:
1. Develops AI training resources and toolkits for small businesses, led by the Department of Commerce, in coordination with the SBA.
2. Includes new trainings on how to use AI or emerging technologies to improve financial management and accounting, business planning and operations, marketing, supply chain management, government contracting and exporting. It also directs specific AI training for small businesses in rural and tribal communities, and small businesses involved in advanced manufacturing.
3. Provides new Department of Commerce AI training resources to small businesses through SBA resource partners, including Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE, Veteran Business Opportunity Centers and the Apex Accelerator.
4. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to create a grant program for organizations providing AI trainings developed under this bill. It allows gift authority to use private sector and philanthropic donations to support these grants, with at least 25 percent of any grant funds going toward small businesses located rural or underserved communities.
5. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to update AI training materials and toolkits at least every two years.
6. Requires biannual reporting to Congress on the impact of AI training and toolkits developed and distributed under this bill.
Sen. Cantwell is also a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Earlier this year, with Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Sen. Cantwell introduced the AI for Mainstreet Act-- bipartisan legislation directing the SBA's Small Business Development Centers to provide guidance, training, and outreach to help small businesses responsibly adopt AI technology.
The full bill text is HERE (https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/E7CED287-76F6-4094-AABC-76D8D4EE0B13).
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/2/cantwell-moran-reintroduce-bill-to-help-small-business-leverage-ai-tools
Congressman Smith Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Congressman Smith Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition
Today, Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) announced the 2026 Congressional Art Competition is now accepting entries from high school students across southeast and south central Missouri.
"Southern Missouri is filled with incredibly gifted young artists, and I'm proud to highlight the creativity of the Show-Me State in the halls of the U.S. Capitol," said Congressman Smith. "A little friendly competition often inspires excellence,
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Congressman Smith Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition
Today, Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) announced the 2026 Congressional Art Competition is now accepting entries from high school students across southeast and south central Missouri.
"Southern Missouri is filled with incredibly gifted young artists, and I'm proud to highlight the creativity of the Show-Me State in the halls of the U.S. Capitol," said Congressman Smith. "A little friendly competition often inspires excellence,and I can't wait to see how students capture their pride in Missouri and love of country through their art."
A panel of judges will review the submissions and select the top entries to be recognized as part of this year's competition. From those entries, the overall winner will be chosen and will have their artwork displayed for one year in the United States Capitol in the Cannon Tunnel, where Members of Congress, staff, and thousands of visitors from across the country will see it each day. The top ten pieces will be formally recognized for their outstanding creativity and artistic achievement.
The winning student will also receive two airline tickets to Washington, D.C., to see their artwork hanging in the U.S. Capitol.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to any high school student in Missouri's 8th Congressional District, including students enrolled in public, private, or home school. The deadline to submit artwork digitally -- a clear photo of the completed piece -- is April 7. For submissions or additional information, students may also reach out to Congressman Smith's office at Jodi.Williams@mail.house.gov or Megan.Nickey@mail.house.gov.
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Original text here: https://jasonsmith.house.gov/2026/02/17/congressman-smith-announces-2026-congressional-art-competition/
Comer and Higgins Investigate Violent Online Network 764
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Comer and Higgins Investigate Violent Online Network 764
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-La.) are examining the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) capabilities to track and apprehend the violent online network known as "764," and other perpetrators using similar tactics. In a letter to FBI Director
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Comer and Higgins Investigate Violent Online Network 764
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-La.) are examining the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) capabilities to track and apprehend the violent online network known as "764," and other perpetrators using similar tactics. In a letter to FBI DirectorKash Patel, Chairman Comer and Subcommittee Chairman Higgins request a staff-level briefing to understand the FBI's investigations and apprehensions of those in the 764 network.
"Reporting indicates the FBI has opened more than 250 investigations tied to the group, which preys on children and teenagers on popular online platforms, including Roblox, and coerces victims into acts of self-harm, production of child sexual abuse material, harm to animals, and even suicide," wrote the lawmakers.
Founded in 2021, the 764 network is an extensive, decentralized, online criminal network that primarily exploits vulnerable children through computer games and other online platforms. While multiple members of the network have been arrested in recent years, thousands of members are still spread across the globe abusing children. Members of the group use threats, blackmail, and manipulation to coerce victims into filming acts of violence, where the footage is then shared among members of the network to continue to extort and exert control over victims.
"The disturbing tactics attributed to this network--grooming, manipulating, and blackmailing of minors--underscore a serious and continuously evolving threat to children and families across the United States. These harms demand rigorous oversight and an evaluation of whether existing federal countermeasures are effective and adequately resourced to combat these elusive online perpetrators," continued the lawmakers.
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February 17, 2026
To: The Honorable Kash Patel, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W, Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
Dear Director Patel;
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is examining the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) capabilities to track and apprehend the violent online network known as "764," as well as perpetrators using similar tactics. Reporting indicates the FBI has opened more than 250 investigations tied to the group, which preys on children and teenagers on popular online platforms, including Roblox, and coerces victims into acts of self-harm, production of child sexual abuse material, harm to animals, and even suicide.1 The Committee is requesting a staff-level briefing to understand the FBI's investigations and apprehensions of those in the 764 network.
The disturbing tactics attributed to this network--grooming, manipulating, and blackmailing of minors--underscore a serious and continuously evolving threat to children and families across the United States.2 These harms demand rigorous oversight and an evaluation of whether existing federal countermeasures are effective and adequately resourced to combat these elusive online perpetrators.
To assist the Committee in its investigation, we request a staff-level briefing from the FBI to occur as soon as possible, but no later February 24, 2026. Please be prepared to brief the Committee on the following:
1. An overview of investigative efforts taken to date detailing the ability to track and apprehend online extremists targeting minors;
2. The status of resource allocation dedicated specifically to investigating online child exploitation and violent networks such as "764";
3. The coordination with additional authorities, including local law enforcement, the Department of Justice, and child-protection entities that may also be receiving reports of online threats against children;
4. The current challenges the FBI is facing in these investigations, including technological obstacles, platform cooperation, and legal constraints, and what is being done to overcome them; and,
5. Possible Congressional action which would assist the FBI in apprehending perpetrators exploiting and harming children online.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate "any matter" at "any time" under House Rule X. To schedule the briefing or to ask any related followup questions, please contact the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority staff at (202) 225-5074. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
James Comer, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Clay Higgins, Chairman, Subcommittee on Federal, Law Enforcement
cc: The Honorable Robert Garcia, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
The Honorable Summer Lee, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement
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1 Levine, Mike; Thomas, Pierre; & Bruggeman, Lucien, FBI has opened 250 investigations tied to violent online network '764' that preys on teens, top official says, ABC N EWS (May 6, 2025).
2 Id.
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Original text here: https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-and-higgins-investigate-violent-online-network-764/
Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer Announce Hearing on Safe Drinking Water
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer Announce Hearing on Safe Drinking Water
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water.
"Every American deserves access to safe, reliable,
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer Announce Hearing on Safe Drinking Water
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced a hearing titled From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water.
"Every American deserves access to safe, reliable,and affordable drinking water. Yet, failing infrastructure creates the potential threat of contamination in the safe drinking water that American families rely on, putting the health and safety of our communities at risk," said Chairmen Guthrie and Palmer. "This hearing will examine the current state of our nationwide drinking water infrastructure, how the Safe Drinking Water Act is being implemented, and the security of our water systems against cyber threats and other risks to ensure our communities are being served effectively."
Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water.
WHAT: Subcommittee on Environment hearing on safe drinking water.
DATE: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
TIME: 10:15 AM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Seth Ricketts with the Committee staff at Seth.Ricketts@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov.
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Original text here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-and-palmer-announce-hearing-on-safe-drinking-water
Chairman Cassidy, Smith Lead Amicus Brief to Protect Women & Babies From Dangerous Abortion Drugs, Restore Safeguards
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Chairman Cassidy, Smith Lead Amicus Brief to Protect Women & Babies From Dangerous Abortion Drugs, Restore Safeguards
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), led 58 Republican lawmakers in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Western District of Louisiana supporting Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news on Feb. 17, 2026:
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Chairman Cassidy, Smith Lead Amicus Brief to Protect Women & Babies From Dangerous Abortion Drugs, Restore Safeguards
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), led 58 Republican lawmakers in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Western District of Louisiana supporting Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill'slawsuit to protect women and their unborn children from dangerous chemical abortion drugs. The brief argues mifepristone's in-person dispensing requirement must be reinstated.
"I thank Attorney General Murrill for defending women and babies in Louisiana and across the country. Chemical abortion drugs kill innocent children and put mothers' lives at risk," said Dr. Cassidy. "Safeguards protecting against coercion, such as the in-person dispensing requirement, must be reinstated immediately."
"A historic report released by the Ethics and Public Policy Center found that more than one out of ten (10.93%) women who take the chemical abortion drug mifepristone experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days. Yet, under 'Abortion President' Joe Biden, mifepristone--the baby poison pill--was recklessly promoted as a mail-order drug, aiming to kill unborn children and putting women at grave risk," said Representative Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. "It is well past time that we stand up to protect women and children from the dangers of mifepristone and put this highly dangerous chemical drug out of reach, once and for all."
In October 2025, Attorney General Murrill filed a lawsuit on behalf of the State of Louisiana and Rosalie Markezich, a victim of Democrats' harmful decision to remove the in-person dispensing requirement for dangerous chemical abortion drugs. Because of Biden's policy, Rosalie's boyfriend was able to order chemical abortion pills online from an abortionist in California and coerced her to take the drug to kill her unborn child.
The Republican lawmakers argue that Biden violated federal law by removing the in-person dispensing requirement, and that these protections should be reinstated. Additionally, the amicus brief supports Attorney General Murrill's motion for preliminary relief, asking for a preliminary injunction ordering the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to suspend or withdraw the 2023 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) while the case proceeds.
As Chairman of the HELP Committee, Cassidy led a hearing in January with Attorney General Murrill on the dangers of chemical abortion drugs. He is also leading conservative Republicans calling on Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary to fulfill their promise to complete a safety review of abortion drugs.
The brief is also supported by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Read the full amicus brief here (https://www.help.senate.gov/084-20260213-moc-brief-filed-w-mflpdf).
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Original text here: https://www.help.senate.gov/rep/newsroom/press/chairman-cassidy-smith-lead-amicus-brief-to-protect-women-and-babies-from-dangerous-abortion-drugs-restore-safeguards
Boozman, Thompson Applaud USDA Federal Line Speed Proposal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release:
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Boozman, Thompson Applaud USDA Federal Line Speed Proposal
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement applauding USDA's proposed rules to update federal line speed regulations in poultry and swine processing establishments:
"We are pleased to see USDA take this next step to modernize
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release:
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Boozman, Thompson Applaud USDA Federal Line Speed Proposal
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement applauding USDA's proposed rules to update federal line speed regulations in poultry and swine processing establishments:
"We are pleased to see USDA take this next step to modernizeand provide much needed certainty to our pork and poultry supply chains. America's meat and poultry companies continue to set the gold standard worldwide for food and worker safety. These proposed rules, grounded in decades of research, will ensure our regulatory system reflects the latest science by establishing a long-term pathway for eligible producers to operate at increased line speeds, improving efficiency while maintaining the same rigorous food and worker safety standards. We look forward to continuing to work with the administration as the rulemaking process continues."
Background:
In 2023, Senate and House Republicans called on USDA to provide certainty to meat and poultry plants throughout the department's implementation of the Time-Limited Trials and to provide a path forward that would allow them to operate at increased line speeds. Senate Republicans' Farm Bill framework announced in 2024 would provide a permanent solution to ensure pork and poultry processing facilities are able to maintain full and operational capacity.
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Original text here: https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/boozman-thompson-applaud-usda-federal-line-speed-proposal
