U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
Burlison, Lee Introduce Davis-Bacon Repeal Act to Cut Federal Construction Costs and Save Taxpayer Dollars
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:
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Burlison, Lee Introduce Davis-Bacon Repeal Act to Cut Federal Construction Costs and Save Taxpayer Dollars
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act, legislation to repeal outdated federal prevailing-wage requirements that drive up the cost of taxpayer-funded construction projects.
Enacted in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires federally funded construction projects to pay government-set "prevailing wages," a system
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:
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Burlison, Lee Introduce Davis-Bacon Repeal Act to Cut Federal Construction Costs and Save Taxpayer Dollars
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act, legislation to repeal outdated federal prevailing-wage requirements that drive up the cost of taxpayer-funded construction projects.
Enacted in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires federally funded construction projects to pay government-set "prevailing wages," a systemthat drives up labor costs, limits competition, and favors politically connected interests over taxpayers and small businesses.
"The federal government should not be forcing taxpayers to overpay for roads, bridges, schools, and public buildings because of a nearly century-old mandate," said Rep. Burlison. "The Davis-Bacon Act inflates costs, limits competition, and makes it harder for small and local contractors to compete. Our bill would help stretch taxpayer dollars further and bring more fairness to the bidding process."
"When big government offers to help, it usually creates more problems than it fixes. The Davis-Bacon Act is no exception," said Senator Mike Lee. "It is an antiquated piece of legislation that hurts middle class workers and every American taxpayer. Repealing this single bill would save tens of billions of tax dollars. It is high-time that Congress passes the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act."
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repealing Davis-Bacon requirements would save $17.8 billion in federal spending between 2025 and 2034.
By repealing the Davis-Bacon Act, the bill would lower federal construction costs, reduce administrative burdens, expand competition for public projects, and help ensure taxpayer dollars fund more building and less bureaucracy.
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Original text here: https://burlison.house.gov/media/press-releases/burlison-lee-introduce-davis-bacon-repeal-act-cut-federal-construction-costs
Carter secures $53 million for Garden City terminal
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Earl L. Carter, R-Georgia, issued the following news release:
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Carter secures $53 million for Garden City terminal
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SAVANNAH, GA - Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) this week secured $53 million in Port Infrastructure Development Grants for the Georgia Ports Authority's Lay Berth and Supply Chain Optimization Project in Garden City, Georgia.
Funding from the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration will support a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluation and the construction of one lay berth capable of accommodating large container
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Earl L. Carter, R-Georgia, issued the following news release:
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Carter secures $53 million for Garden City terminal
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SAVANNAH, GA - Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) this week secured $53 million in Port Infrastructure Development Grants for the Georgia Ports Authority's Lay Berth and Supply Chain Optimization Project in Garden City, Georgia.
Funding from the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration will support a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluation and the construction of one lay berth capable of accommodating large containervessels. In addition, the project includes funding for NEPA-related planning for two additional lay berths to be developed in a future funding phase. The project will support critical port expansion and modernization efforts within Georgia's First Congressional District, enhancing the efficiency and capacity of one of the nation's key maritime logistics hubs.
"I am proud to have helped secure $53 million for Georgia's First, continuing President Donald Trump's ongoing commitment to strengthening America's domestic supply chain infrastructure and supporting economic growth through modernized port facilities. The Georgia Ports are the economic engine of the Southeast, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and adding billions of dollars to the state's gross domestic product (GDP)," said Rep. Carter. "This investment in critical infrastructure will help Georgia continue its 12-year streak as the best state in which to do business."
"Vessel sailing schedule reliability is one of the most important performance metrics for ocean carriers. This lay berth project will enable us to significantly improve our berth utilization and productivity in the Port of Savannah," said Griff Lynch, President and CEO, Georgia Ports Authority. "We are grateful for the continued support from Congressman Carter, Senator Warnock and Senator Ossoff."
Read letter of support here.
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Original text here: https://buddycarter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=16463
Burlison, Lee Introduce Davis-Bacon Repeal Act to Cut Federal Construction Costs and Save Taxpayer Dollars
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:
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Burlison, Lee Introduce Davis-Bacon Repeal Act to Cut Federal Construction Costs and Save Taxpayer Dollars
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act, legislation to repeal outdated federal prevailing-wage requirements that drive up the cost of taxpayer-funded construction projects.
Enacted in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires federally funded construction projects to pay government-set "prevailing wages," a system
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:
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Burlison, Lee Introduce Davis-Bacon Repeal Act to Cut Federal Construction Costs and Save Taxpayer Dollars
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act, legislation to repeal outdated federal prevailing-wage requirements that drive up the cost of taxpayer-funded construction projects.
Enacted in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires federally funded construction projects to pay government-set "prevailing wages," a systemthat drives up labor costs, limits competition, and favors politically connected interests over taxpayers and small businesses.
"The federal government should not be forcing taxpayers to overpay for roads, bridges, schools, and public buildings because of a nearly century-old mandate," said Rep. Burlison. "The Davis-Bacon Act inflates costs, limits competition, and makes it harder for small and local contractors to compete. Our bill would help stretch taxpayer dollars further and bring more fairness to the bidding process."
"When big government offers to help, it usually creates more problems than it fixes. The Davis-Bacon Act is no exception," said Senator Mike Lee. "It is an antiquated piece of legislation that hurts middle class workers and every American taxpayer. Repealing this single bill would save tens of billions of tax dollars. It is high-time that Congress passes the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act."
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repealing Davis-Bacon requirements would save $17.8 billion in federal spending between 2025 and 2034.
By repealing the Davis-Bacon Act, the bill would lower federal construction costs, reduce administrative burdens, expand competition for public projects, and help ensure taxpayer dollars fund more building and less bureaucracy.
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Original text here: https://burlison.house.gov/media/press-releases/burlison-lee-introduce-davis-bacon-repeal-act-cut-federal-construction-costs
Bennet, Grassley, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Rural Hospital Program
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release:
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Bennet, Grassley, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Rural Hospital Program
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Rural Community Hospital Demonstration provides lifeline to rural communities
Washington, D.C. -Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) program for another five years. RCHD provides a lifeline
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release:
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Bennet, Grassley, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Rural Hospital Program
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Rural Community Hospital Demonstration provides lifeline to rural communities
Washington, D.C. -Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) program for another five years. RCHD provides a lifelineto rural hospitals by allowing them to test innovative hospital payment models under Medicare that boost financial sustainability to maintain and improve health care access in rural communities.
Currently, there are four Colorado hospitals participating in RCHD: Delta Health, Valley View Medical Center, Montrose Regional Health, and San Luis Valley Health.
"Rural hospitals are the lifeline of rural communities. They keep families healthy, support local economies, and make it possible for people to live and work in rural Colorado," said Bennet. "At a time when many rural hospitals are already under significant financial strain, extending the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program is critical to maintaining access to care. If Congress fails to extend this program, hospitals not only lose a vital source of funding, but rural Coloradans could face longer drives, delayed care, and fewer options close to home. I've heard directly from rural hospitals across Colorado about what's at stake, and I'll keep fighting to protect health care access for every Coloradan."
"The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program gives rural hospitals a better shot at keeping their doors open to provide care for the community. With a proven track record of more than two decades, this program gives eligible hospitals financial stability to keep healthcare close to home for Iowans. While there's more to be done, our Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act is a key step to provide continued support for rural health care in America," Grassley said.
The RCHD is specifically designed to boost the viability of rural hospitals. RCHD has helped more than 50 rural hospitals keep their doors open for acute inpatient care close to home.
The most recent performance data found that new RCHD hospitals significantly improved their Medicare margins and had higher capital investments, resulting in stronger financial conditions and helping with staff retention. Participating hospitals are mostly paid using a reasonable cost-based methodology instead of the inpatient prospective payment system. Today, all 30 spots are being used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
"We appreciate Senator Bennet's leadership in supporting policies that recognize the challenges facing rural hospitals. The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program provides a practical, proven approach to sustaining access to care by aligning Medicare payment with the real costs of providing services in rural communities. This program is about keeping care local, to ensure Colorado residents can receive timely, high-quality care, close to home," said Jeff Tieman, Colorado Hospital Association's President and Chief Executive Officer.
"Montrose Regional Health is proud to support Senator Bennet's leadership in advancing a five-year extension of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program. This program is critical to sustaining access to high-quality care in rural communities like ours. It provides the stability and flexibility needed to navigate the unique financial and operational challenges we face, while continuing to invest in services that keep care close to home. We appreciate Senator Bennet's ongoing commitment to strengthening rural healthcare across Colorado," said Jeff Mengenhausen, Montrose Regional Health's Chief Executive Officer
"As a rural health system serving the San Luis Valley, we are already seeing the benefits of participating in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program," said Konnie Martin, San Luis Valley Health's Chief Executive Officer. "This program is helping us strengthen our financial footing and bring in the resources we need to preserve critical services for our community. As the only provider of Level III trauma and obstetric care within a 120-mile radius, our ability to remain open and fully operational is essential. The care we provide is not only vital to the health of our region, but also to its economic stability as the largest employer in the San Luis Valley. Senator Bennet's legislation to extend this program will help ensure rural hospitals like ours can continue to serve our communities for years to come."
"Rural hospitals like Delta Health operate on incredibly thin margins while serving vulnerable patient populations across Delta County," said Nick Colleran, Delta Health's Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. "The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program has been a lifeline for our rural hospital, providing the stable, predictable reimbursement we need to keep our doors open and continue delivering essential services, such as oncology care, to our community. At a time when we are facing mounting financial challenges such as our 2025 Medicare loss on charges of $45,161,765.00, as well the loss of critical resources and increasing administrative burdens, this program offers real, immediate support - not theoretical funding. Senator Bennet's legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program is exactly the kind of commonsense solution rural providers need. It will help ensure that hospitals like Delta Health can continue to care for patients in the Western Slope for the next 100 years."
"Valley View has participated in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program since 2017. The program has provided crucial support that allows Medicare patients to receive high quality care close to home. Continued participation in the program is essential to preserving critical services, maintaining staffing stability, and ensuring that rural Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive high quality care in their own communities. Without this support, access to vital inpatient, specialty, and outreach services would be at risk for the residents who rely on us most," said Brian Murphy, Valley View Hospital's Chief Executive Officer.
"Many rural hospitals face financial uncertainty from low patient volumes, sicker patient populations, a challenging payer mix, geographic isolation, and shifts in care delivery. The Rural Community Hospital (RCH) Demonstration Extension Act allows hospitals to continue providing essential care in their communities by supporting the financial stability of participating rural hospitals. Hospitals with 50 beds or less are some of the most vulnerable to closure and the RCH demo offers an important model to maintain access in rural communities around the country. The AHA thanks Senator Grassley and Senator Bennet for their strong leadership to support America's rural hospitals," said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, American Hospital Association's Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Political Affairs.
"The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is grateful to see the introduction of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) Reauthorization Act, led by Senator Grassley and Senator Bennet. This bill would provide a 5-year extension of the RCHD Program, which offers much-needed support for small rural hospitals through enhanced Medicare reimbursement. The RCHD Program has demonstrated improvement in Medicare inpatient margins for participating rural hospitals and has been crucial in helping rural hospital leaders maintain rural hospital viability," said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association.
Bennet remains committed to ensuring that Coloradans in rural areas have access to the best health care available. In March, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to introduce the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act, which would provide zero-interest loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Community Facilities Program to qualifying hospitals for new construction or renovation of existing hospital facilities. In February, Bennet celebrated the passage of six of his health care bills: the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act, REAL Health Providers Act, Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, Give Kids a Chance Act, PREEMIE Act Reauthorization, and Prescription Drug Supply Chain Pricing Transparency Act.
In November 2025, Bennet joined Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in designating November 20, 2025, as National Rural Health Day. In July 2025, Bennet and Barrasso introduced the Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees Act, bipartisan legislation to increase access and coverage to behavioral, psychological, and mental health services in rural areas. In April 2025, Bennet and Representative Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) held a roundtable discussion with rural health providers on the Western Slope to discuss challenges to providing high-quality care in Colorado's rural communities.
Bennet has also been a longtime champion for the RCHD program, having led the most recent reauthorization. In May 2020, Bennet joined U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) to introduce legislation to extend the RCHD Program for an additional five years, ensuring these essential hospitals do not face further budget instability during such challenging times.
In addition to Grassley and Bennet, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), as well as Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) cosponsored this legislation.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
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Original text here: https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/05/01/bennet-grassley-colleagues-lead-bipartisan-legislation-to-extend-rural-hospital-program/
At Hearing, Blumenthal Presses VA for Transparency Over the PACT Act Presumptive Process
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on April 29, 2026:
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At Hearing, Blumenthal Presses VA for Transparency Over the PACT Act Presumptive Process
Witnesses relay support for Senator's legislation to provide clarity for veterans impacted by VA decisions regarding presumptive benefits for toxic-exposure related conditions
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At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing today to consider pending legislation, Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed Department of Veterans
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WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on April 29, 2026:
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At Hearing, Blumenthal Presses VA for Transparency Over the PACT Act Presumptive Process
Witnesses relay support for Senator's legislation to provide clarity for veterans impacted by VA decisions regarding presumptive benefits for toxic-exposure related conditions
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At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing today to consider pending legislation, Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed Department of VeteransAffairs (VA) Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits Margarita Devlin for greater transparency surrounding the Department's decision to expand or remove benefits for toxic exposure-related conditions. Previous reporting revealed the Trump Administration secretly rolled back benefits for a presumptive condition established under the landmark PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans.
"Ms. Devlin, my Presumptive CLARITY Act requires the VA to publish information about conditions and cohorts it is considering for the purpose of removing toxic exposure-related benefits. It requires VA to educate veterans on how to participate in the PACT Act, which I found is desperately necessary, because not enough veterans are aware of it. Do you agree that the VA should provide transparent and proactive notification when it makes significant changes to presumptive benefits and notify more veterans about the PACT Act?"
When Devlin responded that VA already publishes these changes in the Federal Register, Blumenthal quipped: "With all due respect, I don't know too many veterans who read the Federal Register on a regular basis. Can't more be done?"
Witnesses from the second panel also shared their support for the Senator's Presumptive CLARITY Act. Jennifer Goodale, Director of Government Relations for Veteran and Retired Affairs at Military Officers Association of America, built off Blumenthal's earlier comments and emphasized the need for greater transparency: "...[T]here are not a lot of veterans that are consistently check the federal register. We agree there has got to be a better way to share a very clear outlook of what's being considered, what cohorts and conditions, when it comes to presumptives."
Blumenthal introduced the Presumptive CLARITY Act in November to require VA to establish a public-facing website to educate toxic-exposed veterans on the processes it uses to determine which conditions are related to military toxic exposures. This would ensure veterans know if VA plans to add or remove their exposure or condition as a presumptive and instruct veterans on how they can provide input. Currently, VA lacks a consolidated website where veterans can access this information.
During the hearing, Blumenthal also emphasized the need for Congressional action on the Major Richard Star Act--bipartisan legislation to deliver combat-injured veterans their full military benefits. Senate Republican leadership has blocked two attempts from Blumenthal in October and March to advance this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill, claiming our country cannot afford these benefits. Last week, Blumenthal pressed Senate Republicans for blocking the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act over its costs while pursuing partisan legislation that will deliver $140 billion to ICE and CBP with no reforms. Today, the Department of Defense also released information that the Iran war has already cost $25 billion.
Sen. Blumenthal: I just want to say, I'm hopeful that we will move forward on the Major Richard Star Act. I know that the Chairman is sympathetic. I believe we have an opportunity for a bipartisan step forward on an act that is about simple justice for combat-injured veterans, and I believe strongly that it is an overdue measure to give them justice. Mr. Barrans, quick question for you: The VA budget request estimates of a $21,000 increase in appeals received by the Board this fiscal year, and this increase is the direct result of the increased number of claims the VA has denied. The Appeals Modernization Act was Congress's response to an appeals backlog that was created by VA's effort to reduce the claims backlog in the early 2010s. It seems, now, we are heading in the same direction. The budget request estimates an increase in the Board's year-to-year pending appeals inventory for the first time since implementation of the AMA. My appeals legislation with Senator Cassidy intends to avoid another appeals backlog by addressing inefficiencies in the appeals process and unintended consequences of the AMA. Do you support this legislation? What reforms should Congress consider that would improve the timeliness and accuracy of Board decisions?
Mr. Barrans: Thank you for the question, Senator. We do support provisions of S. 3286. We have concerns regarding some of the provisions. We would be happy to work with the Committee on those. I would note that there are some provisions that we think are worth further discussion to gain potential efficiencies. I would note that with respect to section seven of the bill, for example, which refers to veterans law judges potentially issuing decisions during the course of the hearing, we had concerns with that and its operability. But I would note that in the budget submission, there was a legislative proposal that we think would accomplish many of the same efficiencies in a way that would be more operable for VA that would eliminate strict adherence to docket order as the rule governing our issuance of decisions. That would enable us, for example, if a veterans law judge during a hearing were to identify a claim is one that is easily decided, quickly decided, they would be able to write up that decision following the hearing quickly and issue it without regard to docket order. There are several other scenarios where relief from the strict docket order requirement would enable us to gain efficiencies, bearing in mind that under our proposal, deciding cases first will always be the default rule.
Sen. Blumenthal: Ms. Devlin, my Presumptive CLARITY Act requires the VA to publish information about conditions and cohorts it's considering for the purpose of removing toxic exposure-related benefits. It also requires VA to educate veterans on how to participate in the PACT Act, which I found is desperately necessary, because not enough veterans are aware of it. Do you agree that the VA should provide transparent and proactive notification when it makes significant changes in presumptive benefits and notify more veterans about the PACT Act?
Ms. Devlin: Thank you, Senator, for the question. We agree that transparency is important and education and outreach is also important. We do continue to get a higher than anticipated number of claims for PACT Act, but we currently have obligations to provide that transparency under the PACT Act and VHA even has a directive on this.
Sen. Blumenthal: So why isn't it happening?
Ms. Devlin: We do, we publish through the Federal Register and we hold listening sessions that we inform veterans about so that we can actually hear from them as part of the study.
Sen. Blumenthal: Well with all due respect, I don't know too many veterans who read the Federal Register on a regular basis. Can't more be done?
Ms. Devlin: It's a valid point, and so besides the Federal Register we also use our newsletter and our ability to get to all veterans even those unaffiliated with the VA through this information, and that's how we tell them about the listening sessions and how to reach us.
Sen. Blumenthal: Well, I think there's a need to do more...
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2026/4/at-hearing-blumenthal-presses-va-for-transparency-over-the-pact-act-presumptive-process
Association for Advancing Automation President Burnstein Testifies Before House Science, Space & Technology Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology released the following testimony by Association for Advancing Automation President Jeff Burnstein from an April 21, 2026, hearing entitled "Robots Made in America: Advancing U.S. Leadership in Manufacturing and Automation":
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Thank you, Chairman Obernolte, Ranking Member Stevens, and Members of the Subcommittee, for the opportunity to discuss the state of the robotics industry in the United States, and how we can regain our leadership in this critical technology arena.
I'm speaking today
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WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology released the following testimony by Association for Advancing Automation President Jeff Burnstein from an April 21, 2026, hearing entitled "Robots Made in America: Advancing U.S. Leadership in Manufacturing and Automation":
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Thank you, Chairman Obernolte, Ranking Member Stevens, and Members of the Subcommittee, for the opportunity to discuss the state of the robotics industry in the United States, and how we can regain our leadership in this critical technology arena.
I'm speaking todaywith the benefit of having spent 45 years in the robotics industry. I can categorically state that this moment is the most exciting time in the history of robotics. The fact that each of you, your colleagues in Congress, and the Administration are discussing the importance of the robotics industry is gratifying and suggests that a new era of American leadership may be on the horizon.
Historically, America was once the clear leader in robotics. The world's first robot company, Unimation, was founded in the US in 1956, and the first industrial robot was installed in an automotive plant in New Jersey in 1961. Over 100 US robot companies followed.
However, despite being billed as "the next industrial revolution," the US robotics industry struggled to find acceptance. Robot companies often faced challenges such as worker protests due to fears of job loss. I believe those fears also prevented the US government from offering support to the industry, despite warnings that leadership would be lost if we didn't act.
Instead, it was Japan that saw the promise of robots and took action. The Japanese Ministry of Trade and Industry developed strategies to help support Japanese robot makers and researchers, as well as companies using robots. As a result, by the early 1980s, Japan had surpassed the US in both robot manufacturing and adoption, and they remain far ahead today.
Fast forward two decades, and it is China who launched a national strategy to become the world's leading user and manufacturer of robots. Today, China dwarfs the rest of the world in robot adoption, installing nearly 10 times more robots each year than the US. China's installed base of over 2 million robots is already five times larger than that of the US. China is truly "all in" on robotics and is no longer just copying other country's robots, but is also innovating in areas like Humanoid Robots.
I'm frequently asked: is it too late for the United States to regain its leadership in robotics?
My answer is "no, but we need to act now."
Today, the powerful combination of robots with AI - often called Physical AI - has the potential to transform every industry and assist in solving major societal challenges. No country can win the AI race without also leading in robotics.
To make this vision a reality, we must first prepare the American workforce for a manufacturing renaissance. While fears of job losses often permeate the narrative, if we succumb to those fears without understanding the realities of our labor force, we'll fall further behind our global competitors.
Our association, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), welcomes this important conversation.
Make no mistake, the current labor market cannot meet manufacturing demand.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 438,000 manufacturing job vacancies across the country today. And according to a study from the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, that number could grow as high as 1.9 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2033.
Robots and automation can help fill this critical manufacturing capacity gap while we simultaneously upskill the American workforce.
Our association is working hard to develop the skilled labor of the future through new training programs and certificates that can help produce technicians, operators and supervisors - but we can't do this alone.
Fortunately, the US can build upon its strengths with top universities like Stanford, Michigan, Berkeley, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Purdue and so many others that have great robotics and AI programs. The Advanced Robotics Manufacturing institute is a good example of the type of consortium that is possible between government, academia and industry.
Even with the right workforce, we cannot reshore manufacturing at scale without a massive increase in robot adoption. Robots do the "dull, dirty and dangerous" work that people don't want to do and shouldn't have to do.
People - however - can design, install, maintain and operate robots, as well as develop new applications to make companies more productive. These are better, safer, and often higher paying jobs than the tedious and backbreaking manufacturing jobs of the past. Importantly, not all of these new jobs require college degrees; in many cases, students right out of high school are able to enter the workforce.
We're seeing impressive startups popping up every day in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Austin, Boston, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Detroit and so many other American cities.
Exciting US companies like Chef Robotics, Raise Robotics, CoBot, Path Robotics, Robust AI, Locus, Intrinsic, Standard Bots and others are gaining traction. Humanoid robot companies like Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Figure and Agility are making significant progress. NVIDIA is driving Physical AI and Digital Twin technologies that hold so much promise.
Investments are accelerating in the US. For example, FANUC America, ABB Robotics and Teradyne Robotics all recently announced investments of tens of millions of dollars in Michigan to meet growing demand for automation.
There is definitely reason for optimism in the US robotics industry.
With all this progress across the robotics ecosystem, there are several actions the US can take to reassert its leadership. Our "Vision for a National Robotics Strategy" includes six major points:
1. Establish a Central Government Robotics Office. A3 strongly supports the Administration's attention to robotics and its consideration of an Executive Order that could appoint a central coordinator and spur agency action across government. Currently there is no federal agency or office that regularly considers robotics initiatives or interfaces with the industry on innovation, challenges and opportunities. Our vision includes the establishment of a White House Office of Automation and Robotics or similar central office, in coordination with a multidisciplinary National Robotics Strategy Commission, so that productive policy discussions can be coordinated and centralized, and to manage and oversee the other initiatives we outline below (A3 strongly supports the passage of H.R.7334 - National Commission on Robotics Act). Even as the federal government strives to become more efficient, the establishment of a new office is compelled by the current lack of government strategy and coordination on this topic, the growing sophistication of, and applications for, robotics technology and embodied AI, and the increasing global competition in this space as reflected by national strategies developed by other national governments. This office would lead, oversee, and update the national strategy including the initiatives set out below.
2. Implement Tax Incentives to Drive Industry Adoption. Putting robots to use immediately is how we maintain competitive advantages in manufacturing, energy, and other industries, and how we provide real-world feedback (including training data for reinforcement learning) to robotics developers to help improve their products. A national strategy should drive adoption via favorable tax policies, including tax credits and accelerated depreciation, to encourage investments in automation and robotics, with policies that include not only capital costs but also integration and training costs. As another example, policy could be implemented to provide an automation technology factory tax credit. These approaches will allow companies to de-risk their investments and experience a return on investment sooner. Additionally, reforms should be made to Section 174 of the Internal Revenue Code to simplify the process for businesses to deduct R&D expenses. Addressing the retroactive capitalization requirement would alleviate the financial burden of companies that rely heavily on R&D, fostering a more favorable environment for technological advancement. Conversely, tariffs could undermine adoption. Robots and components produced by key allies Japan, Korea, Germany and others are critical to making US companies globally competitive. This is one of the key reasons we are concerned about accelerating tariffs on robots and components made in these countries. Tariffs add cost to automation, which makes small and medium sized companies less likely to adopt automation.
3. Government Agencies Should Become Leading Adopters of Robotics and Set an Example. A national strategy should involve putting robots to use extensively in government itself. US government spending accounts for over 23% of the gross domestic product, and Federal agencies are involved in a broad range of industrial and logistics processes including transportation, warehousing, facility maintenance and security, public safety, infrastructure, scientific research and national defense, to name a few. These are all terrific application areas for robotics and government can set a leadership example for private enterprise by being early, enthusiastic adopters. A national strategy would examine and implement ways that the government can receive the "double benefit" of improving government efficiency and supporting the robotics industry by increasing agency budgets for, and initiating acquisitions of, robotics technologies. In order to promote the use of these technologies and to set an example of efficiency for the private sector, government should communicate to the public openly and frequently about its adoption of robotics, explaining the benefits and productivity gains. This communications initiative would also inspire students to pursue STEM careers and tie-in to the workforce training initiatives that are also part of the national strategy.
4. Establish and Expand Government-Funded Training Programs. In order to receive the most benefit from advanced robotics technology we need far more skilled and knowledgeable workers. The national strategy should develop and expand government-funded STEM and robotics education and training programs. These programs will help create jobs and ease the transition of workers to more automated facilities, making their jobs better, safer and more productive. These programs are critical to the national strategy, as neither government nor industry can implement robotics technology - and thereby become more efficient - without the trained workforce that knows how to integrate and operate it. Small and medium-sized companies in particular need support and access to such initiatives. Many existing programs of this kind are run at the state level, so a key driver of success is for the federal government to coordinate with, and increase support for, the most effective programs of this kind at the state level, such as the Alabama Robotics Technology Park and Ohio's RAMTEC, for example.
5. Fund Both Academic Research and Commercial Innovation. Many successful robotics innovations have been launched from university robotics research labs, which is also where are brightest students are trained. The new national strategy should relaunch research funding initiatives resembling the prior National Robotics Initiative (NRI).
However, funded programs should extend well beyond the NRI to support commercialled research and adoption. For example, the national strategy could establish an Industrial Finance Corporation that would be modeled on the Development Finance Corporation, update and increase funding for the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership to focus on automation, increase funding for the Manufacturing USA program and/or compel the integration of robotics into the AI for Resilient Manufacturing Institute. This strategy would leverage public-private partnerships to support scaling up capital-intensive manufacturing enterprises.
6. Encourage the Development of New Standards and Best Practices. Industry standards and best practices are crucial to education, training and safety. They also build public trust and customer confidence in robot technology. Standards previously developed when robots were simpler machines, fixed-in-place, an operating in areas separated from human workers have done tremendous good to establish and advance the industry, but do not necessarily work well in the era of AI-powered robots that navigate using more novel mechanisms such as legs, that manipulate objects in the world with new types of sensors and end effectors, and that are being put to work closer to human workers and in communities or homes. A national strategy should evaluate what standards and best practices the government ought to encourage the industry to develop to make sure the next era of robotics is poised for success in education, training and safety. Government can act as the convener and facilitator of industry self-governance efforts, as it has done in other industries.
Taken together, these recommendations present an opportunity for the nation to seize the moment and advance the robotics and automation industry.
American was once the clear leader in robotics. It can be so again.
Thank you for the opportunity to share this vision. Our trade association stands ready to assist in any way we can.
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Original text here: https://republicans-science.house.gov/_cache/files/a/b/abe4e6b6-3d97-44da-bee5-242b21a467c5/DF2B3AF984698EACA731B134099597A4A10E9B1DD209EE296715242B436BF43B.04.21.26-robotics-hearing-testimony---mr.-jeff-burnstein.pdf
As Gas Prices Spike, Cantwell Introduces Bill to Target Petroleum Market Manipulators & Protect Consumers at the Pump
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release:
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As Gas Prices Spike, Cantwell Introduces Bill to Target Petroleum Market Manipulators & Protect Consumers at the Pump
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05.01.26
Gas prices hit $5.57 in Washington, the highest average price ever; Puget Sound diesel prices are over $7 a gallon; Act would monitor fuel market anomalies that hurt consumers; bad actors would face up to $2 million per day in fines
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release:
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As Gas Prices Spike, Cantwell Introduces Bill to Target Petroleum Market Manipulators & Protect Consumers at the Pump
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05.01.26
Gas prices hit $5.57 in Washington, the highest average price ever; Puget Sound diesel prices are over $7 a gallon; Act would monitor fuel market anomalies that hurt consumers; bad actors would face up to $2 million per day in fines
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportationand senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act.
The bill would create a new Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dedicated to proactively monitoring and preventing fraud or manipulation that may be artificially inflating pump prices, increasing price transparency in transportation fuel markets, and increasing penalties for bad actors. In the past, unscrupulous oil traders have taken advantage of volatility and supply disruptions to profit at the expense of consumers.
"This legislation couldn't come at a more needed time as drivers in Washington and all across the country face record breaking pump prices," said Sen. Cantwell. "Protecting American households and businesses requires forcing the same level of transparency in fuel markets that we successfully fought to secure in other energy markets. This legislation will put a full-time policeman on the beat able to shine a bright light on the mysterious middle of gas markets and go after any bad actors that are exploiting consumers."
Today, gas prices in Washington state hit $5.57 per gallon - the highest in state history.
READ MORE:
KOMO 4 SEATTLE: State gas prices hit record average of $5.57 a gallon, squeezing drivers' budgets
The New York Times: Oil Hits Wartime High Above $120 a Barrel as Standoff Shows No End in Sight
The bill was co-introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
The Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act:
* Strengthens Oversight. Enhances the FTC's 2007 authority to go after false market information designed to artificially inflate transportation fuel prices, including data submitted to private-sector price reporting agencies. The legislation broadens the FTC's oversight authority to cover the full range of transportation fuels, including biofuels.
* Ensures Dedicated Market Monitoring. Establishes a new Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit at the FTC devoted to protecting the public interest by continuously and comprehensively monitoring and analyzing crude oil, gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, and other petroleum distillate markets in order to facilitate transparent and competitive market practices.
* Targets Bad Actors. The new unit at the FTC is also charged with identifying any manipulation, reporting of false information, use of market power or any other unfair method of competition employed to distort transportation fuel markets to accrue illegal profits, and advising the full Commission whether to go after the perpetrators and impose relevant penalties.
* Increases Penalties. Doubles the maximum penalty for manipulating wholesale oil markets to $2,000,000 a day for each violation.
* Improves Market Transparency and Competition. Directs the Energy Information Administration to collect, analyze, and publish more detailed information related to the quantity and pricing of transportation fuels in order to facilitate price transparency, fair competition, and compliance with relevant international sanctions. This data may also be used to facilitate enhanced FTC efforts to police the transportation fuel markets.
A one-page summary of the Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act is available HERE.
The full bill text is available HERE.
As Chair of the Committee, Sen. Cantwell led the initial introduction of this legislation in the 117 th Congress, and it passed out of the Commerce Committee in May 2022. In April 2022, Sen. Cantwell held a hearing that revealed how a lack of oversight and visibility into petroleum trades affects prices at the gas pump. The bill was also introduced in the 118 th Congress.
Sen. Cantwell has long sought to protect consumers from unjustified energy prices. In the aftermath of Enron's energy trading schemes, she authored an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that strengthened the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) authority to investigate and punish market manipulation in the electricity and natural gas markets.
Since then, FERC has built a permanent cadre of internal energy experts that continually monitor and investigate anomalous market trends and suspicious behavior. In the wake of the 2008 Financial Crisis, Sen. Cantwell authored legislation that gave the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) similar anti-market manipulation authority and responsibilities in financially-settled energy commodity derivatives markets.
A Sen. Cantwell addition to the 2007 Energy Bill gave the FTC virtually identical anti-market manipulation authority and responsibility to oversee wholesale crude oil and petroleum markets. However, unlike FERC and the CFTC, the FTC has not used their authority to protect American consumers.
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Original text here: https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-gas-prices-spike-cantwell-introduces-bill-to-target-petroleum-market-manipulators-and-protect-consumers-at-the-pump
Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary of VA for Benefits Sirhal Testifies Before House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Tim Sirhal, acting principal deputy under secretary of Veterans Affairs for benefits, from an April 21, 2026, hearing entitled "Examining VA Benefits: Pension and Fiduciary, and VA Life Insurance Options":
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Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and other Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting us to discuss the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension, Fiduciary, and Insurance programs within the Veterans
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Tim Sirhal, acting principal deputy under secretary of Veterans Affairs for benefits, from an April 21, 2026, hearing entitled "Examining VA Benefits: Pension and Fiduciary, and VA Life Insurance Options":
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Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and other Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting us to discuss the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension, Fiduciary, and Insurance programs within the VeteransBenefits Administration. Joining me is Ms. Jennifer Bover, Executive Director, Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration. VA takes the protection of our most vulnerable beneficiaries very seriously, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share with the Subcommittee our commitment to safeguarding those served by these programs.
Pension Program
Pension is a tax-free, income-based monthly benefit paid to eligible Veterans or survivors of Veterans. Pension also considers non-service-connected disabilities for Veterans, net worth, wartime service, and in the case of survivors, dependency requirements. Pension payments are designed to supplement a beneficiary's income by helping with daily living expenses and improving overall quality of life.
Continued eligibility for Pension is regularly assessed to ensure the accurate payment of benefits. VA relies on Federal data sharing agreements and information reported by beneficiaries to ensure payment accuracy. Once benefits are approved, VA continues to use this information to adjust benefits in a timely manner and avoid overpayments.
VA is committed to working with beneficiaries to provide a better understanding of the Pension program. Specific efforts include improvements to forms, letters, and customer experience by providing an electronic submission method through VA.gov for certain claims. Over the past year, we have also made significant progress in modernizing and accelerating the processing of Pension claims. Since January 20, 2025, the average processing time for Veterans Pension claims and Survivors Pension claims has been reduced by 113 days and 99 days, respectively. As of March 31, 2026, it is currently taking approximately 57 days to complete a Veterans Pension claim and 73 days to complete a Survivors Pension claim.
Fiduciary Program
VA's Fiduciary Program protects over 104,300 Veterans and other beneficiaries who are unable to manage their own VA benefit payments because of injury, disease, advanced age, or being under the age of majority. VA protects these vulnerable beneficiaries by appointing and overseeing fiduciaries who manage a beneficiary's VA benefits. The VA Fiduciary Program has undergone significant modernization focused on expediting processes while ensuring the well-being of beneficiaries remains protected.
These modernization efforts include improvements to letters, technology, and overall customer experience. Examples include sending automated annual written contact letters to every beneficiary in the program to remind them of their rights and that a Fiduciary is managing their VA payments; the August 2020 release of the Fiduciary Accountings Submission Tool, which streamlines the review of financial documents; and the establishment of a dedicated Fiduciary Contact Center, which has handled all fiduciaryrelated calls since April 2024.
VALife Insurance
VA administers and provides oversight of several life insurance programs that provide financial security for Service members, Veterans, and their families. Programs that are open to new applicants include Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI), Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife). Prudential administers SGLI, FSGLI, TSGLI, and VGLI under contract with VA. VA administers all other insurance programs available to Veterans, including VALife.
Established under P.L. 116-315, VA launched VALife on January 1, 2023, as a guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance program for Veterans with service-connected disabilities aged 80 and under. The maximum amount of coverage per applicant was and remains at $40,000, with lesser amounts available in $10,000 increments.
VALife is a self-funded program for service-connected Veterans who may have difficulty obtaining commercial life insurance coverage due to their medical conditions.
When implementing VALife, a key objective for VA was to provide a streamlined application process for Veterans. VALife applications take an average of 11 minutes to complete, and more than 90% of all applications are fully automated.
VA is proud to share that implementation of the VALife program has been a tremendous success. As of March 1, 2026, there are 78,053 active accounts totaling $2.5 billion in coverage. On January 1, 2025, policyholders first became eligible to receive full coverage following their initial waiting period, and VA has paid out 269 such claims. While VA is always looking for ways to improve, customer satisfaction with VALife has been strong. According to VSignals, a survey and data analytics tool that collects and analyzes customer experience data and insights, VALife has an average survey score of 4.53/5 for new insurance applications, which means 82.6% of respondents are highly satisfied.
Service recovery efforts have shown that Veterans who were not highly satisfied primarily indicated two primary concerns: that VA does not offer enough coverage, or that the cost of coverage was too high. In response, Insurance Service has focused on increasing education around the differences between whole life and term life coverage to help Veterans make informed decisions.
Conclusion
Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for your oversight of these critical programs and for the opportunity to testify today. I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR09/20260421/119185/HHRG-119-VR09-Wstate-SirhalT-20260421.pdf
Boozman Applauds House Passage of Farm Bill 2.0
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following statement on April 30, 2026:
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Boozman Applauds House Passage of Farm Bill 2.0
U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed Farm Bill 2.0:
"House passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill 2.0 is a testament to Chairman GT Thompson's strong leadership, and I congratulate him on this significant achievement. This is an important step toward updating long-overdue policies
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following statement on April 30, 2026:
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Boozman Applauds House Passage of Farm Bill 2.0
U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed Farm Bill 2.0:
"House passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill 2.0 is a testament to Chairman GT Thompson's strong leadership, and I congratulate him on this significant achievement. This is an important step toward updating long-overdue policiesthat support our farm families and strengthen rural communities. We've put more farm in the farm bill through the Working Families Tax Cuts, and this legislation builds on that success. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue this momentum and deliver Farm Bill 2.0 to the president's desk to be signed into law. I look forward to releasing legislative text in the coming weeks."
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Original text here: https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/boozman-applauds-house-passage-of-farm-bill-20
