House of Representatives
Page H4265 · Official textThe House met at noon and was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Bentz).
Monday, June 29, 2026
Vol. 172, No. 108 · 119th Congress, 2nd session
Designation of Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H4265 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker:
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June 29,2026.
I hereby appoint the Honorable Cliff Bentz to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Morning-Hour Debate
Page H4265 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the order of the House of January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m.
Recognizing Cameron Smith
Page H4265 · Official text(Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise to recognize Cameron Smith of Westmont, Pennsylvania, for earning the rank of cadet captain in the Civil Air Patrol.
Cameron is a 2026 graduate of Bishop McCort High School. He is a member of the Cambria County Composite Squadron, which is a branch of the Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. He earned the Amelia Earhart Award and received promotion to cadet captain by completing Phase III of the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.
Cameron is the son of Matt and Tori Smith. His plans in the immediate future include sitting for the Federal Aviation Administration final exam to obtain his private pilot license.
I congratulate Cameron and his parents on this notable achievement through the cadet program and extend to him best wishes for success throughout his aviation career.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Alan Gift on his selection as the 2026 Franklin County Conservation District Farmer of the Year.
In partnership with the conservation district, Alan has demonstrated a strong commitment to agricultural stewardship and environmental conservation.
Also, through the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program, Alan has initiated a comprehensive project that reduces runoff. At the age of just 30 years, Alan has distinguished himself as a leader in the agricultural industry and a role model for aspiring farmowners.
I join with the Franklin County Conservation District in congratulating Alan Gift for his outstanding agricultural efforts.
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Commemorating Anniversary of Franklin County Area Development
Corporation
Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation. Since its founding in 1986, the organization has facilitated more than 1,000 projects in Franklin County.
This milestone anniversary presents a valuable opportunity to celebrate the development corporation's enduring impact on Franklin County. The success and the priorities of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation foster prosperity and achievement throughout Franklin County.
On behalf of constituents in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I personally congratulate President Mike Ross, his staff, and his board of directors on this milestone, and I express my personal gratitude for their continued leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the gifted artists from Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District who participated in this year's Congressional Art Competition. Several students from Cambria, Huntingdon, Blair, and Franklin Counties participated.
The 2026 winner is Leah Ritchey, who is a freshman at Cumberland Valley Christian School. Through her acrylic painting, Blazing Liberty, Leah captures the traditions of America by drawing inspiration from our Statue of Liberty, a timeless symbol of patriotism, and the fireworks that bring us together. Leah's work serves as a beautiful tribute to our Nation's semiquincentennial.
I extend appreciation to Leah's art teacher, Lisa Fisler, and her mom, Jesse Walizer, for supporting Leah's incredible artistic talents.
Diminished Access to Healthcare
Pages H4265–H4266 · Official text(Mr. Courtney of Connecticut was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, 5 days from now, on July Fourth, our country will be celebrating its 250th birthday.
All over the Nation, there will be enthusiastic events in big cities and small towns to recognize the publication, 250 years ago, of the Declaration of Independence, which, as historian Jill Lepore recently wrote, is "arguably the most important piece of prose in modern history."
Its author, Thomas Jefferson, laid out a vision of an independent America built around the individual's rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which still inspire not only our own people but people all over the world.
Unfortunately, it is also the 1-year anniversary of arguably one of the worst pieces of legislation in the modern era, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed into law on July Fourth, 2025.
As the Congressional Budget Office documented, this bill will add 3.4 trillion new dollars to our national debt, provide permanent $1 trillion tax breaks to the top 1 percent of income earners, cut nutrition programs by at least $187 billion, and, worst of all, cut $1 trillion from America's largest healthcare program, Medicaid, starting on January 1.
At the time the bill was debated, an overwhelming coalition of hospitals, nursing homes, physician groups, nurses, and patient groups tried to warn the Republican majority and the White House that millions of Americans will be denied healthcare from this draconian butchery of the healthcare system. To be exact, 10 million Americans will lose their coverage, according to CBO.
The majority dismissed those concerns and jammed this measure through, accusing Democrats of scaremongering. According to them, the new work requirements in the law for vulnerable populations would have exemptions for the "medically frail," and there was nothing to worry about.
A couple of weeks ago, however, these warnings sadly came true when RFK Jr.'s health department released the actual rule that State Medicaid directors will have to follow starting in January.
The hope was that a medical diagnosis for cancer, HIV, or other serious, chronic conditions would qualify for protection. Instead, the rule makes clear that a cancer diagnosis will not automatically qualify for an exemption. Instead, the patient will have to document that the disease actually impairs the ability to work.
A patient suffering from pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, or lymphoma will have to demonstrate, with job searches and employer paperwork, that the disease and the debilitating therapies are an impairment, a hopelessly vague standard that will rob desperately ill patients of care.
To put it in a nutshell, the definition of "medical frailty" is no longer a medical diagnosis by a doctor but a subjective employability standard that makes no sense.
There is a word for this, Mr. Speaker. It is "inhumane."
Don't take my word for it. On this poster is a list of 48 patient groups vehemently denouncing this vicious rule, which Secretary Kennedy and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should withdraw immediately.
As you can see, the most credible patient groups--American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, National MS Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Lupus Foundation of America, March of Dimes, The ALS Association, and The AIDS Institute, to name just a few--have all warned Kennedy and his followers in Congress that this rule will create chaos and dramatically increase the number of desperately ill people who will lose their health coverage.
There is no better way to honor the principles of our treasured Declaration of Independence--to guarantee the right to life and the pursuit of happiness--than to block this grotesque rule, which will condemn the sickest and most vulnerable of our society to degradation and pain.
Stopping Sharia Influence in Texas
Pages H4266–H4267 · Official text(Mr. Self of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a growing threat to the rule of law in my State of Texas.
The rise of sharia, the law of Islam, has reached a tipping point in the Lone Star State, especially in north Texas, which I represent. Opaque sharia-compliant actions are advancing across our State and our Nation. We must be clear that America recognizes only one legal system: the Constitution and laws of the United States.
I commend Texas Governor Greg Abbott for his strong leadership in recently confronting this challenge. His actions regarding the proposed Texas American Muslim University and the planned Muslim-only event at a taxpayer-funded water park demonstrate the continuing vigilance required to protect our uniform system of justice.
Last year, nearly 95 percent of Texas voters supported Proposition 10 to ban sharia. That was not a symbolic gesture. It was an overwhelming mandate. Texans declared decisively that no foreign legal framework shall influence, operate alongside, or supplant our State's judicial system. They expect their elected representatives to honor that vote.
Recent events in the United Kingdom offer a stark and tragic warning. A new independent report on grooming gangs has exposed decades of systematic child sexual exploitation, predominantly of young, White, British girls by groups of Pakistani Muslim men, with authorities repeatedly failing to act out of fear of being labeled racist.
Thousands upon thousands of victims were betrayed by the very institutions meant to protect them. We must not allow such horrors to take root here in America.
While Congress is acting--my bill, H.R. 6230, the Tehran Incitement to Violence Act, passed the House and is now pending in the Senate--Federal efforts alone are not enough. The primary responsibility for protecting our legal system from parallel frameworks rests on the shoulders of an informed citizenry, along with those of State and local leaders. Texans are leading the way, and others are beginning to follow.
In Kaufman County, Texas, Federal, State, and local officials worked in unison to stop a sharia city project backed by a Dubai-based development company.
Several of my constituents confronted the Wiley School Board after one of their high school principals granted a group called Why Islam access to the campus to hand out Korans.
One of my constituents, Jessica Hulcy, grabbed her walker, got a ride to Josephine City Hall, and stood in front of a crowded room to share her concerns about the proposed East Plano Islamic Center.
Across the Red River, citizens in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, successfully put a stop to a sharia enclave after imploring their local leaders to just say no.
Even across the pond, citizens in the U.K. are beginning to push back against the cultural shift wreaking havoc in their community because of sharia's influence.
In America, belief is protected. Conduct under the law is not. Let me be clear: Sharia is a political-legal ideology, not a religion. Therefore, it should not fall under the First Amendment protection for faith and worship. The First Amendment safeguards an individual's right to believe and practice their religion, but it has never granted immunity to political systems, especially those that claim authority above the Constitution, which sharia does.
When presented as a governing framework that dictates civil law, family law, criminal penalties, and public policy, sharia functions as an ideological legal code rather than a religious belief.
Under this view, the Constitution must remain the supreme law of the land. No ideological system, particularly sharia, religious in origin or otherwise, can override the liberties, equal protections, and democratic processes guaranteed to every American.
I thank the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Texas legislators advancing commonsense measures, such as House Bill 495, which prohibits public institutions from accepting funds from foreign adversaries.
I also encourage States to expand tools for local officials, including county commissioners, in order to safeguard our laws.
Thomas Jefferson declared: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This eternal hostility must extend to any religious or foreign legal code, particularly sharia, that seeks to supplant American liberty and self-government.
As Sir Winston Churchill warned: Sometimes it is not enough that we do our best; we must do what is required.
Olmstead Decision Memo
Page H4267 · Official text(Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, as the Senate looks to confirm or not confirm Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, I want to point to the body a recent DOJ memo on the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision which threatens to turn back the clock decades to a time when Americans with disabilities were offered less choice, less freedom, and less care.
This memo means that DOJ will not require States to serve people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. That means people with disabilities would be isolated from their families and from their communities.
Families with a disabled loved one now fear that their only option is institutionalization. That is what Olmstead did. It prevented institutionalization of people with disabilities, and the DOJ is trying to turn back the clock now.
They must reconsider this opinion. This is not just about where people with disabilities live. It is about dignity, equality, and the belief that every person deserves an opportunity to belong.
It is on all of us in this body to push back against this discriminatory policy.
Mr. Speaker, the ongoing civil war in Sudan has displaced millions of people, and 400,000 people have died. That is over half the population of Washington, D.C. On top of that, 19 million people are facing acute food insecurity there.
The war in Iran and its disruption to the supply chain has made it even harder for assistance to reach Sudan. I offered an amendment to the State Department funding bill to evaluate our current funding levels to Sudan, get them the help they need, and craft a plan to increase funding levels to meet these gaps.
Unfortunately, those amendments were rejected. We need to do more to support the people suffering in Sudan. I urge my colleagues to come together and provide lifesaving assistance to them. We cannot stand on the sidelines as lives continue to be lost.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding group of young leaders from our community who have earned my nomination as well as appointments to our Nation's service academies.
Earning an appointment is no small feat. These students have shown excellence in the classroom, leadership in their communities, and dedication to everything they do. However, what stands out most is their willingness to serve.
Last week and early this week, all 19 are reporting for their first days at the academies, beginning with basic cadet training, induction day, and more as they take the first steps in a lifetime of service.
At a time when they could choose many different paths, they have chosen to build one instead that is built on sacrifice, discipline, and responsibility. Wherever their path takes them, our country will be better off because they chose to serve.
On behalf of our community, congratulations to the 19 who are reporting for their first day. We are proud of them, grateful for them, and we are excited to see their accomplishments.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the student-athletes in our community who have won State championships in the spring 2026 season.
A total of nine varsity spring sports teams in our community achieved this goal. There were so many that I couldn't do nine different speeches. I wanted to do one for all of them.
The teams include: Freedom High School boys' tennis, Independence High School boys' lacrosse team, and Independence High School girls' soccer. Riverside High School boys' lacrosse and girls' lacrosse both won the State championship this year. Other State championship teams include: Rock Ridge boys' tennis and Tuscarora High School softball. Woodgrove and Battlefield baseball teams both won. They could really help our baseball team on the Democratic side.
It is not easy to compete at such a high level while also balancing classes and personal lives. I commend these student-athletes for their commitment to excellence. Many of them are going to go to college and continue to play.
It is safe to say that Northern Virginia is the home of stars both in the classroom as well as on the field.
Voting with Our Feet
Pages H4267–H4268 · Official text(Mr. Haridopolos of Florida was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about something that maybe isn't the most exciting subject, but it is something I used to teach in the classroom. It is called federalism.
The map to my left here shows exactly what is happening in America today, and it is a great thing. People have the power to vote with their feet and leave failed States. There is a reason States like Texas and Florida are attracting more and more people. It is because the system works.
People are recognizing that when we have high taxes and high crime, it is time to leave that State. That is what is happening today: the idea where people are voting with their feet.
Federalism is that opportunity, and it is the reason why I want to talk about what has happened in the last few years.
One of the issues I want to talk about is what I would call amnesia or maybe memory loss.
During the Biden years, food prices went up dramatically. You will see that what you used to spend $200 for at the grocery store, you now spend $250. If you spend $1,000 a month at the grocery store, you are now spending over $1,200, almost $1,300.
That is a significant amount of money. It is fundamental. Especially as we move toward the MAHA movement, people are making better choices but with great challenges.
With the idea of amnesia, what is the Democratic plan? Their plan has been: Let's go back to those failed policies.
It wasn't just on groceries. In early 2021, the monthly rent was between $1,550 and $1,600. When we took over in early 2025, it had gotten as high as over $2,000. Again, that is a radical increase.
Their plan is to go back to this plan. This is why I want to make sure people recognize where we are. The affordability issue is a challenge, no doubt, but to return to failure is not an option. That is why I am pleased to see that we are moving in a direction that should matter because not only are we reducing some of these costs, but, more importantly, we are putting more money back in people's pockets.
The Democrats had the opportunity in 2021 and 2022 to pass all types of things to actually reduce taxes for the working class. They could have cut taxes on Social Security, overtime, and tips, yet they failed to do so. They could have reduced taxes on the middle class, who are so hard hit by the inflationary numbers I just talked about. They did nothing.
We gave them a second chance. We said: We are actually going to reduce taxes on overtime, tips, and Social Security. Join us in that effort to help people hard hit by higher food costs and higher rent costs. To a Member, they said no.
They wanted to actually let the tax rate regress back to the old Obama rates, which would have been, on average, a 23 percent increase. Is that giving relief to people? Absolutely not.
That is why I think, as I have mentioned before in this map, that people have the power to vote with their feet. They know when they go to my home State of Florida that taxes are lower.
I will give you one simple example. I am a former New Yorker. Do you know that Florida actually has more people than New York, and yet their State budget is twice as high? That means people are paying twice as much in taxes than you are in Florida.
I will ask the other logical question: Would you feel safer today in New York City or in Florida?
These are the choices that people get to make in America. It is a great thing. It is the reason why we don't think one size fits all and the reason why we want to allow people to vote with their feet, whether it be on education issues, tax issues, or even public safety.
The choices are clear. Stay on the positive path of putting more money in your pocket, giving you the flexibility to lives in States that actually believe in freedom or regress to 4 years of failure.
It is not just, again, on money issues, but that issue of crime is so important today in understanding where we want to go.
They even want to change the number of people on the Supreme Court, pack the Court in order to get their way in the end. That is not the way to solutions. That is why I think people need to make sure they do not have amnesia moving forward or memory loss.
The best way to solve problems is to empower the individual, send less power to Washington and more power back home.
Recess
Page H4268 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until 2 p.m. today.
Accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 24 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H4268 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Smucker) at 2 p.m.
Prayer
Page H4268 · Official textThe Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: Eternal Lord, let Your favor rest upon these United States. For 250 years, You have been our shield and defender, our guardian, guide, and stay, and we pray You would abide with us now and always. As we reflect on the noble history of this Republic, it is easy to boast in our accomplishments: the growth of our Nation's power, the resilience of its democratic principles, the bounty of our resources. All that we have and all that we are today are evidence of Your divine grace upon us. Lest we base our pride in our own efforts, remind us again that You alone have established the work of our hands. We humbly acknowledge that the blessings we enjoy remain ours only as we remain faithful to You. We rejoice in our freedoms, but we are not really free if we fail to protect and defend faithfully this sacred treasure You alone have bestowed on us. In defending the great experiment in self-government, may our devotion to You, and not our own personal desires, shape the course of our country. Lord, You are our dwelling place and have been throughout all generations. We offer to You ourselves, our trust, and our devotion that You would establish the work of our hands and continue to guide us in the years ahead. In Your eternal name we pray. Amen.
The Journal
Page H4268 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
The Chair has examined the Journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the House the approval thereof.
Pursuant to clause 1 of rule I, the Journal stands approved.
Pledge of Allegiance
Page H4268 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Will the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) come forward and lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Congratulating Oregon Wheat Growers' League on Its 100th Anniversary
Page H4268 · Official textCONGRATULATING OREGON WHEAT GROWERS' LEAGUE ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY (Mr. BENTZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Oregon Wheat Growers' League on its 100-year anniversary.
Since its inception in 1926, the Wheat Growers' League has supported, encouraged, and promoted the production of wheat, one of the most important sources of nutrition in the world.
Over the past 100 years, the League has transformed the individual voices of wheat farmers into a formidable and effective political organization.
The League's advocacy is essential because Oregon's agricultural sector continues to face serious challenges, including skyrocketing fertilizer and energy costs, market uncertainty, severe drought, and misguided regulation.
Again, congratulations to the Oregon Wheat Growers' League on reaching its 100th year. I thank the generations of producers, families, and local leaders who helped build and maintain this successful and essential organization. I look forward to working with all of them as we build a brighter future for Oregon's wheat producers.
Trump Is Keeping Families Safe
Page H4268 · Official text(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, President Donald Trump and House Republicans are helping keep families safe.
Border provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut Act secured the addition of completing hundreds of miles of border wall with advanced border technology, hiring 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and strengthening the Coast Guard operations targeting drug trafficking and human smuggling.
A secure border is the first defense for American families.
In conclusion, God bless our troops. President Trump is reinstituting peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies, insulting Trump and mocking Trump, providing targeting information to Iran to murder Americans and Israelis.
This weekend, South Carolina Republicans convened to celebrate the nearly 70 percent primary victory of Alan Wilson for Governor, with teammates Mike Reichenbach for Lieutenant Governor, David Stumbo for attorney general, Ellen Weaver for superintendent of education, and Cody Simpson for agriculture commissioner.
Remembering Ed Scott
Page H4268 · Official text(Mr. PFLUGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of one of our own, Mr. Ed Scott, whose life was taken by a senseless act of violence on June 12, 2026.
Ed graduated from Lake View High School in San Angelo, and he was a dedicated city of Midland employee, serving his community for many years.
He was well known throughout Midland and west Texas for his involvement in softball, where he spent over 30 years as an umpire, officiating recreational, high school, and collegiate games. Ed's impact extended far beyond the softball field. He devoted much of his time to mentoring young athletes and umpires, creating memories that will live on for generations.
The loss of Ed Scott leaves a void that cannot be filled. He was the kind of man who made his community stronger simply by being a part of it. His love for family and dedication to softball and so many other activities will continue to inspire all who knew him.
We continue to pray for his wife, Laura; his children; his grandchildren; and the entire community of Midland. May God grant them peace, and may his memory serve as a blessing to all who knew him.
Honoring Dr. Ashley Dawson
Pages H4268–H4269 · Official text(Mr. JACK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ashley Dawson of Coweta County, Georgia, for being named the 2026 National Schools to Watch Teacher of the Year.
Selected as the sole recipient of this honor, Dr. Dawson was chosen from an exceptionally competitive field of educators representing more than 750 Schools to Watch schools across 22 States.
For more than 14 years, Dr. Dawson has served students in Georgia's public schools. Before being named assistant principal of Blake Bass Middle School in Newnan, Dr. Dawson taught social studies and audio/ video broadcast and film.
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, I met with Dr. Dawson at the Capitol. Her passion for education is inspiring, and her ideas about new educational opportunities will provide incredible experiences for the students at Blake Bass Middle School.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Dawson sponsors Beta Club, leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, and serves as the school's yearbook adviser.
Mr. Speaker, all of us remember a teacher who shaped our lives and guided us onto a path toward success.
Dr. Ashley Dawson, the 2026 National Schools to Watch Teacher of the Year, is that type of teacher for which Coweta County and all of Georgia's Third Congressional District are very proud.
Recess
Page H4269 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
Accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 8 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H4269 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Fong) at 2 o'clock and 30 minutes p.m.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H4269 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which a recorded vote or the yeas and nays are ordered, or votes objected to under clause 6 of rule XX.
The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time.
Recover Covid Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act
Pages H4269–H4272 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8873) to recover unclaimed pandemic-era unemployment compensation funds held by financial institutions or escheated to State unclaimed property administrators, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act".
SEC. 2. NATIONAL RECOVERY COORDINATOR AND TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--
(1) Designation of national recovery coordinator.--The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Inspector General of the Department of Labor, and the Attorney General, shall designate an official to serve as National Recovery Coordinator to oversee and coordinate the activities and responsibilities of the task force described in paragraph (2).
(2) Task force establishment.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Recovery Coordinator shall convene a task force to be named the "Recover Pandemic Unemployment Funds in Banks Task Force" (in this section, the "Task Force").
(3) Members.--The Task Force shall include--
(A) the Attorney General, or their designee;
(B) the Secretary of Labor, or their designee;
(C) the Inspector General of the Department of Labor, or their designee;
(D) the Secretary of the Treasury, or their designee;
(E) the Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or their designee; and
(F) the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or their designee.
(b) Task Force Responsibilities.--It shall be the responsibility of the Task Force to--
(1) coordinate with applicable State agencies to identify Federal pandemic unemployment compensation payments issued on prepaid debit cards that--
(A) are held by financial institutions, and other entities identified by the Inspector General of the Department of Labor, contracted by a State agency to transfer such payments to unemployment claimants; or
(B) were transferred by such an entity to, and are currently held by, a State agency responsible for unclaimed property;
(2) coordinate with appropriate Federal agencies to develop model processes which comply with relevant Federal and State laws and result in cost-effective recovery of the payments identified under paragraph (1), including issuing guidance, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, to administrators of State agencies responsible for administering Federal unemployment compensation payments or determining fraud in such programs, including--
(A) guidelines for--
(i) reviewing such payments and determining if such a payment was an improper payment;
(ii) determining whether cost-effective recovery of an improper payment is possible, including a threshold, or a methodology for calculating a dollar threshold, for cost-effective recovery; and
(iii) actions, consistent with State law, to be taken by the State agency if an improper payment is determined to be the result of fraud;
(B) assurances that, subject to section 303(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 503(g)), any action taken in relation to a determination that a payment identified under paragraph (1) is an improper payment shall be taken under State law;
(C) a model notice and information, developed in coordination with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, about resources available to individuals whose identity information is determined to have been fraudulently used to obtain Federal pandemic unemployment compensation;
(D) information on the legal pathways described under paragraphs (3) and (4) for recovery of payments that are improper payments held by financial institutions and agencies described in paragraph (1); and
(E) procedural requirements for State agencies to follow when funds are returned by such institutions that provides a standardized methodology to return funds to the Federal Government;
(3) issue guidance, in coordination with the Comptroller of the Currency and Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, to financial institutions described in paragraph (1) that are holding payments that are improper payments that provides information on a legal pathway, consistent with banking regulations and applicable contracts with State agencies, for returning such payments to the appropriate State agency; and
(4) issue guidance, in coordination with the Secretary of Treasury, to administrators of State agencies responsible for unclaimed property on the obligations of such agencies to review and return payments described in paragraph (1)(B) to the appropriate State agency.
(c) Consultation Requirement.--In developing the guidance required to be issued under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b), the Task Force shall consult with State agencies and incorporate best practices from previous attempts by any such States to recover payments determined to be improper payments from institutions described in paragraph (1)(A) of such subsection.
(d) State Administrative Costs.--The Secretary of Labor shall reimburse States for all administrative costs incurred as a result of coordination with the Task Force by reason of an agreement under section 2102, 2104, or 2107 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9201; 9203; 9205).
(e) Definitions.--Except as otherwise specified, in this section:
(1) Federal pandemic unemployment compensation.--The term "Federal pandemic unemployment compensation" means a payment of--
(A) pandemic unemployment assistance under section 2102(b) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021(b));
(B) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under section 2104(b)(1) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9023(b)(1)); and
(C) pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under section 2107(a)(2) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9025(a)(2)).
(2) Improper payment.--The term "improper payment" means any amount of a pandemic unemployment payment to which the individual is not entitled.
(3) State; state agency; state law.--The terms "State", "State agency", and "State law" have the meanings given those terms in section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note).
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR PANDEMIC
UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD BY INDIVIDUALS UNDER CERTAIN
UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.--Section 2102 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
"(h) Statute of Limitations.--
"(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraph (2), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3802 of title 31, United
States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy.
"(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act.".
(b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation.--Section 2104(f) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9023(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
"(5) Statute of limitations.--
"(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3802 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy.
"(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act.".
(c) Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.--Section 2107(e) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9025(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
"(5) Statute of limitations.--
"(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3802 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy.
"(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act.".
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by section Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act led by my Ways and Means colleagues Representative Beth Van Duyne and Representative Tom Suozzi.
As the lead sponsor of this legislation, Representative Van Duyne has been shining a spotlight on the fraud epidemic, even from her earliest days serving on the Ways and Means Committee.
Unemployment insurance benefits are a target-rich environment for fraudsters.
According to the Government Accountability Office, between $100 billion to $135 billion in COVID-era unemployment benefits are estimated to have been taken by fraudsters using eligibility loopholes and stolen identities.
Of that money, a Department of Labor Inspector General investigation found that nearly $1 billion of fraudulent COVID-era unemployment benefits is currently frozen and being held in financial institutions across the country. At one financial institution, the highest balance on a single card is $76,000. At a second financial institution, it is $56,000.
The statute of limitations for prosecuting COVID-era unemployment insurance fraud has already begun to expire, limiting the amount of money law enforcement can return or the number of criminals that they can bring to justice. Time is of the essence to recover the money stolen and rightfully owed to taxpayers.
This bipartisan bill establishes a new Federal task force to work with States to return the fraudulent unemployment benefits sitting in banks to American taxpayers.
The task force will develop model processes and guidance necessary for States to reclaim funds in a cost-efficient way, issue guidance to financial institutions on the legal path for returning funds, and establish due process protections for claimants whose identity was stolen as part of the crime.
Additionally, the bill doubles the statute of limitations for COVID-era unemployment insurance fraud prosecution from 5 to 10 years. As of last year, the Department of Labor reported more than 150,000 open complaints, and the Department of Justice had more than 1,648 open investigations regarding pandemic unemployment fraud. Prosecutors need more time to hold criminals accountable.
Every day Congress waits to pass this bill is another day that another fraudster will get away with stealing money that rightfully belongs to taxpayers and individuals in need.
The Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act passed 41-0 out of the Ways and Means Committee. This bill has also received the endorsement from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and the Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers' Compensation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to provide a similar level of support and advance this to the Senate and President Trump's desk.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8873, the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act.
I thank Chairman Smith, and I want to especially thank my colleague Representative Van Duyne for sponsoring this bipartisan, commonsense bill that will help root out fraud, protect vulnerable Americans, and help return stolen funds to the States who were robbed.
We have to remember that COVID was a really terrifying period for our country. Everyone was vulnerable, and hardworking Americans lost their jobs, homes, and loved ones overnight.
Many struggling families were forced to rely on unemployment assistance to make ends meet. Twenty-two million workers lost their jobs, and about a quarter of all U.S. workers received unemployment benefits.
As a result, States issued billions in unemployment benefits, some of it on prepaid debit cards through contracts with banks. These benefits were meant to help families afford their basic needs during the lockdown. These benefits kept more than 5 million people out of poverty as they faced the threat of mortgage defaults, utility shutoffs, and hunger.
Unfortunately, while people were isolated and overwhelmed and desperate for reliable information, criminals and fraudsters exploited those vulnerabilities and attacked unsuspecting Americans. In fact, domestic and international cybercrime rings weaponized stolen identities. That is, they stole people's identities. They used loopholes to actually apply for unemployment insurance using the fake identities that they had stolen, and they applied for this Federal pandemic aid.
Right now, as I speak to you, some of the stolen money is still sitting untouched in debit cards. Even worse, investigators estimate that the majority of fraudulent debit cards are as a result of identity theft, and many of the victims have no idea that they were even targeted. These are working families and senior citizens.
Cybercriminals have figured out how to take complete advantage of our system. Most importantly, they wait to withdraw the funds from these debit cards until the statute of limitations expires on each case and, therefore, avoid the legal consequences for stealing.
According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, FinCEN, in 2021, banks experienced $212 billion in suspicious activity related to identity. That number increased to $394 billion in transactions in 2023.
The statute of limitations for prosecuting many of these pandemic crimes is 5 years, meaning that consequences began expiring for some of these criminals in March of 2025. This has already resulted in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds. We have to act now, before we lose these millions of dollars.
Congress has to be united in going after fraud and protecting Americans from illegal scams and identity theft. We have an opportunity to take that action today by supporting H.R. 8873, Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act.
This bill would extend the statute of limitations for the remaining cases, where it hasn't already expired, and create a task force to support recovery of those funds identified by the inspector general that can be recovered cost-effectively, without diverting time or money from future fraud protection.
Every time a debit card that was issued using a stolen identity is detected, in addition to recovering the money, this bill ensures that the victim of the theft is notified and provided with resources.
This is critically important because, if the criminal has used the victim's identity to apply for pandemic unemployment insurance, chances are that that criminal is going to use that stolen identity to commit other crimes as well.
By extending the statute of limitations, this bill would allow the Office of the Inspector General to complete at least 300 current investigations into large-scale unemployment insurance fraud and potentially recover those funds for the taxpayer.
By supporting this bill, Congress can help States focus their energy on the most cost-effective prevention and recovery efforts. Money recovered by the States will help ensure that State unemployment insurance systems are able to prevent fraud and pay earned benefits on time and accurately to unemployed Americans in the future.
This is especially important right now. Gas prices are too high. Grocery prices are too high. Healthcare prices are too high, and too many Americans live in fear of losing their jobs and being unable to afford their families' basic needs.
We have a responsibility to eradicate fraud, hold fraudsters accountable, and keep Americans and their identities safe from harm online.
Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Van Duyne for sponsoring this commonsense bill, and I urge all Members to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.
Jason Smith (R-MO)2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).
Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8873, the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act, which I was proud to introduce with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), my bipartisan partner.
This commonsense legislation creates a Federal task force to work with States to recover unspent Federal pandemic unemployment funds that remain frozen in financial institutions and return those taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury, but Congress must act quickly.
Last December, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General issued two fraud alerts identifying nearly $1 billion in unspent Federal unemployment funds frozen by banks because of suspected fraud. Those funds are now sitting on millions of prepaid debit cards that States used to distribute supplemental unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
More than 6 years later, many of these accounts have simply been forgotten. They remain unreconciled by State workforce agencies and, in many cases, have even been transferred to State unclaimed property divisions, making recovery even that much more difficult. Without congressional action, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars could be lost permanently.
The Committee on Ways and Means has made combating pandemic unemployment fraud a top priority. Earlier this year, the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare held a hearing that examined the scope of this problem and the consequences of failing to act.
During that hearing, the Department of Labor Inspector General testified that the fraud alerts covered prepaid debit card accounts across 21 States and that more than $200 million in suspected fraudulent funds have already been transferred into State unclaimed property programs.
H.R. 8873 addresses this problem by establishing a Federal task force, led by a national recovery coordinator, to partner with States in identifying, recovering, and returning those Federal unemployment dollars to taxpayers.
The bill also extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic unemployment fraud from 5 years to 10 years. This provision mirrors H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, which passed the House last year with bipartisan support.
Federal investigators are still actively pursuing hundreds of pandemic fraud cases. Since October 2025 alone, the Department of Labor Inspector General has brought 59 criminal matters to prosecution, resulting in charges against 131 individuals and more than $16 million in recoveries. Extending the statute of limitations ensures prosecutors have the time they need to hold fraudsters accountable.
This legislation has earned bipartisan support from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and Strategic Services on Unemployment & Workers' Compensation.
Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar that cannot serve hardworking Americans or reduce our Nation's debt. It is not too late to recover these taxpayer funds, and it is not too late to hold criminals accountable. H.R. 8873 gives us the tools to do both.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY)2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
H.R. 8873, the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act, is a commonsense bill that helps eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse; recovers stolen taxpayer dollars; and protects some of our most vulnerable citizens, including older Americans.
At a time when too many families face the uncertainty of unemployment, high gas and grocery prices, and seniors are forced to choose between food, rent, and healthcare, we can't allow fraudsters to get away with stealing funds meant to help hardworking families.
We have a responsibility to root out fraud, hold bad actors accountable, and protect Americans and their identities from being exploited ever again.
I again thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne), my colleague, for working in a bipartisan and collaborative fashion on this commonsense legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Jason Smith (R-MO)2:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Committee on Ways and Means was able to come together in bipartisan unity and bring this important piece of legislation to the floor.
The American people expect Congress to root out the fraud in the critical social safety net so many rely on, including unemployment insurance.
To date, only $6 billion of stolen UI benefits have been recovered.
It is shameful that these benefits were stolen from vulnerable Americans in the first place. It will be equally shameful if Congress doesn't pass the bipartisan bill, recover the fraudulent unemployment benefits we know are sitting in banks, and prosecute more fraudsters.
I thank all of my colleagues, but especially the leaders of this bill, Representatives Van Duyne and Suozzi, for their leadership in fighting fraud.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore2:40 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8873, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act
Pages H4272–H4273 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5347) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the availability of appropriate collection types for quality reporting under the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (6,305 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act".
SEC. 2. ENSURING AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATE COLLECTION TYPES
FOR QUALITY REPORTING UNDER THE MEDICARE SHARED
SAVINGS PROGRAM.
Section 1899(b)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395jjj(b)(3)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking "An ACO shall submit" and inserting the following:
"(i) In general.--An ACO shall submit"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
"(ii) Required availability of collection types for certain years.--For performance years 2025 through 2029, the Secretary shall ensure that the following collection types (as described in section 414.1305 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) are available with respect to each measure described in subparagraph (A)(i) required to be reported by an ACO under this paragraph:
"(I) Electronic clinical quality measures.
"(II) MIPS clinical quality measures.
"(III) Medicare Clinical Quality Measures for Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
"(iii) Clarification on application of data completeness requirements in certain cases.--
"(I) In general.--In determining whether data submitted by an ACO with respect to a measure described in subparagraph (A)(i) for a performance year beginning on or after January 1, 2026, satisfies the data completeness requirements applicable to such measure under section 414.1340 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) (as applied pursuant to section 425.512 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)), the Secretary may not find such data to be unrepresentative of such ACO's performance for such year (as described in paragraph (e) of such section 414.1340) based solely on the fact that such data excludes applicable data from 1 or more ACO participants in such ACO if--
"(aa) such data submitted by the ACO otherwise complies with the data completeness requirements of such section 414.1340; and
"(bb) such ACO demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such ACO participant was unable to collect such data through the collection type (as described in clause (ii)) selected by the ACO for the submission of such data.
"(II) Definition.--In this clause, the term `ACO participant' has the meaning given such term in section 425.20 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
"(III) Implementation.--The Secretary may implement this clause by program instruction or otherwise.".
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR DIGITAL QUALITY MEASURE REPORTING.
Section 1899(b)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395jjj(b)(3)(B)), as amended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
"(iv) Pilot program for digital quality measure reporting.--
"(I) In general.--For each of performance years 2028 through 2032, the Secretary shall establish a digital quality measure reporting pilot program (in this clause referred to as the `program') under which ACOs selected under subclause (II) for such performance year report quality measures specified by the Secretary under subclause (III) for such performance year through a digital quality measure (as defined by the Secretary) collection type specified by the Secretary.
"(II) Selection.--The Secretary shall select ACOs to participate in the program for a performance year from ACOs that submit an application at such time and in such form and manner as specified by the Secretary.
"(III) Specification of quality measures.--For each performance year of the program, the Secretary shall specify 2 measures described in subparagraph (A)(i) otherwise required to be reported by ACOs for such performance year for which an ACO selected under subclause (II) shall submit data through the collection type specified in subclause (I).
"(IV) Waiver of requirement to report other measures.--The Secretary may not require an ACO selected under subclause (II) for a performance year to report data on any measure described in subparagraph (A)(i) otherwise required to be reported by an ACO under this paragraph for such performance year, other than such a measure specified under subclause (III) for such performance year.
"(V) Disregard of data for certain measures.--The Secretary may not take into account any data for a measure specified under subclause (III) for a performance year submitted by an ACO selected under subclause (II) for such performance year, or any data for a measure with respect to which such ACO is not required to report data for such performance year under subclause (IV), in determining--
"(aa) whether such ACO has met quality performance standards established by the Secretary under subparagraph (C) for such performance year; or
"(bb) any score for the quality performance category (as described in section 1848(q)(2)(A)(i)) for an ACO participant (as defined in clause (iii)(II)) in such ACO for such performance year.
"(VI) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide such technical assistance to ACOs selected to participate in the program as is practicable.
"(VII) Provision of information.--Not later than December 31, 2032, the Secretary shall publicly post (or include as part of annual rulemaking for this section) the following:
"(aa) An analysis of the program.
"(bb) Any recommendations for increasing submissions of data for measures described in subparagraph (A)(i) through the collection type specified in subclause (I); and
"(cc) A proposed timeline for requiring such measures to be submitted through such collection type.".
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING.
(a) In General.--There are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended, to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for purposes of implementing the amendments made by sections 2 and 3.
(b) Medicare Improvement Fund.--Section 1898(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395iii(b)(1)) is amended by striking "$2,062,000,000" and inserting "$2,054,000,000".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act led by Committee on Ways and Means members, the Subcommittee on Health Chairman Vern Buchanan and Representative Jimmy Panetta.
As the lead sponsor of this legislation, Congressman Buchanan has been a strong champion for ensuring that our healthcare system is focused on the right outcomes--including improved patient health through chronic disease prevention--rather than Washington paperwork mandates.
This bill ensures that complex reporting requirements do not overwhelm healthcare providers or distract them from their primary job, caring for patients.
Accountable Care Organizations, or ACOs, are groups of healthcare providers who are responsible for improving patient health and reducing spending through value-based care. More than 500 such ACOs, comprising nearly 700,000 medical providers, cared for over 12 million Medicare beneficiaries just last year. In their 14-year history, ACOs have saved taxpayers $12 billion.
ACOs are required to submit data on patient outcomes and operations, known as quality measures, to the Federal Government to track their performance and determine their shared savings.
The current system for reporting quality measures is labor intensive. Some ACOs use as many as 15 different electronic health record systems to track and report this data. One health system spent $5.6 million and 100,000 staff hours on reporting in a single year.
Digital reporting could ease this burden, while potentially saving $14 billion in national health costs and investing resources in better care.
However, the lack of guidance disrupts operations and means digital reporting has yet to lighten the load for many medical providers.
This bipartisan bill provides stability for quality measure reporting and flexibility for smaller provider practices. It also establishes a pilot program for digital reporting to determine best practices.
This policy is particularly helpful for over 12,000 small, rural, or independent providers who are committed to lowering costs and improving patient outcomes but often lack the sophisticated software needed to comply with the digital reporting regime.
Medical providers should not waste precious resources and man-hours on reporting data to Washington bureaucrats when the need for patient care is so great. This bill ensures that ACOs can put quality patient care first.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5347, the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, which was introduced by two of my good friends, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta).
Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense, bipartisan bill to improve care for Medicare patients while reducing burdens on healthcare providers. The bill does this by expanding quality reporting options for accountable care organizations.
These organizations, accountable care organizations, are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals who work together with the aim of providing better care to patients on Medicare. They do this by coordinating their efforts and sharing information with one another rather than working separately.
These organizations were created under the Affordable Care Act to improve healthcare quality and to lower costs. When an accountable care organization is able to improve care and reduce costs, they get to share in the savings generated.
The legislation would provide for a wider variety of quality measure reporting methods to be used in Medicare through the year 2029. It also creates a digital quality measure pilot program to ensure that any transition to digital quality measures continues to assess care quality and reduce burdens for providers.
The Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act is supported by the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations, America's Physician Groups, Epic Systems, Oracle Health, Accountable for Health, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Doctors in my district tell me, like many of my colleagues, all the time that they want to spend more time caring for their patients and less time with paperwork and medical records systems. Today's physicians are bogged down in insurance paperwork and are severely underpaid because Medicare reimbursement rates have not kept up with the rate of inflation.
Physicians work incredibly hard every day to care for us and our loved ones in our communities, and they deserve to be supported so that they can continue to provide quality care for patients across the country.
This bill is a step toward ensuring that physicians have the support they need to provide the best care possible for their parents. The Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act received unanimous support from the members of the House Ways and Means Committee, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill on the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Jason Smith (R-MO)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), the vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Vern Buchanan (R-FL)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for his incredible leadership over the years.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, which helps minimize burdens on value-based care organizations.
We must move away from fee-for-service. As someone who has been in business for a long time, the incentives are wrong. That is part of the problem. The more you do, the more you make. The sicker you are, the more you make, and I just don't like it. Not to say that doctors take advantage of it, but the incentives are wrong, and we need to fix that.
That is why I am in strong support of accountable care organizations. Americans are served better, and the focus needs to be on quality of care, not quantity. As our health system continues shifting toward value-based care, we need to do everything we can to make healthcare more supportive, especially in ACOs.
ACOs and Medicare share a portion of it in terms of the program. They save approximately $2 billion annually. My bill ensures a smooth transition to digital reporting so physicians can be more focused on their patients themselves.
I thank Mr. Panetta for his bipartisan leadership and for helping me, working together on this. I thank Leader Scalise and the whip for letting me bring this to the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act.
Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5347, the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, is a commonsense, bipartisan bill to provide more flexibility when accountable care organizations report on the care they provide to their patients.
This bill ensures that the CMS provides a smooth transition as it improves these reporting requirements, thereby reducing confusion and administrative burdens for physicians who are with us at the most vulnerable times in our lives.
While Congress continues to work on other legislation to address physician payment issues and more, I urge my colleagues to support this bill that Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Panetta have worked on together in a bipartisan fashion. I yield back the balance of my time.
Jason Smith (R-MO)2:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill before us today was approved with total support by Ways and Means Republicans and Democrats. The purpose of value-based care is to implement solutions to some of this Nation's most pressing health challenges, including the high cost of care.
Digital reporting of quality measures holds the promise of relieving the administrative costs associated with accountable care organizations. However, that potential does not do doctors, patients, or taxpayers any good when the rules and timeline for digital reporting of quality measures are uncertain.
Ultimately, this bill keeps medical providers at accountable care organizations focused on providing better healthcare at a lower cost. That eliminates the potential distraction of complying with new digital reporting requirements that are yet to be finalized.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bost)2:50 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5347, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Tria Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
Pages H4273–H4279 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7128) to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (5,066 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. EXTENSION.
Section 108(a) of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 6701 note) is amended by striking "2027" and inserting "2034".
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
Section 102(1) of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 6701 note) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking "or" at the end;
(B) in clause (ii), by striking "exceed $5,000,000." and inserting: "exceed--
"(I) with respect to an act that occurred in a year before 2029, $5,000,000; and
"(II) with respect to an act that occurred in 2029, or any year thereafter, $10,000,000; or"; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
"(iii) the Secretary did not issue to the public a final determination to certify such act as an act of terrorism before the expiration of the applicable period described in subparagraph (D)(ii)."; and
(2) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:
"(D) Review and determinations.--
"(i) Notice of review.--
"(I) In general.--The Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after beginning the process of determining whether to certify an act as an act of terrorism, publish a notice in the Federal Register that informs the public that the Secretary is in the process of determining whether to certify the act as an act of terrorism.
"(II) Additional notice permitted.--The Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, notify the public, through publication in the Federal Register, or otherwise, that an act is not being evaluated by the Secretary to determine whether it should be certified as an act of terrorism.
"(ii) Period of review.--
"(I) In general.--Except as described in subclause (II), the Secretary shall conclude any process of determining whether to certify an act as an act of terrorism not later than 90 days after publishing a notice in the Federal Register under clause (i)(I).
"(II) Exception.--If, during the 90-day period following the publication of a notice in the Federal Register under clause (i)(I), the Secretary determines there is insufficient information available at that time to determine if an act is eligible for certification as an act of terrorism, the Secretary may, before the end of such 90-day period, extend the process of determining whether to certify an act as an act of terrorism for a period not to exceed 365 days following the date on which the damage attributable to such act occurred, as determined by the Secretary, and shall notify the public of any such extension.
"(iii) Issuance of final determination.--If the Secretary decides to certify an act as an act of terrorism, the Secretary shall, before the expiration of the period applicable under clause (ii), issue to the public a final determination that certifies such act as an act of terrorism and such determination shall be irrevocable.
"(iv) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to require to the Secretary to issue a final determination under clause (iii) about any act that the Secretary does not certify as an act of terrorism.".
SEC. 4. REPORTING.
Section 104(h)(2) of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 6701 note) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
"(B) a list of each act with respect to which the Secretary published a notice in the Federal Register under section 102(1)(D)(i) during the preceding calendar year, that includes--
"(i) any final determination issued by the Secretary under section 102(1)(D)(iii) with respect to such act; or
"(ii) a concise explanation of why the Secretary did not issue a final determination under section 102(1)(D)(iii) with respect to such act;".
SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 103(e)(7)(E)(i) of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 6701 note) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I)--
(A) by striking "2022" and inserting "2029"; and
(B) by striking "2024" and inserting "2031";
(2) in subclause (II)--
(A) by striking "2023" and inserting "2030";
(B) by striking "2029" and inserting "2036"; and
(C) by striking "2024" and inserting "2031"; and
(3) in subclause (III)--
(A) by striking "2029" and inserting "2036"; and
(B) by striking "2024" and inserting "2031".
(b) Technical Corrections.--
(1) Terrorism risk insurance act .--The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 6701 note) is amended by striking "Terrorism Insurance Program" each place it appears in text or headings and inserting "Terrorism Risk Insurance Program".
(2) Federal insurance office.--Section 313(c)(1)(D) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking "Terrorism Insurance Program" and inserting "Terrorism Risk Insurance Program".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Flood) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO estimate for this bill.
EFFECTS ON DIRECT SPENDING AND REVENUES OF LEGISLATION CONSIDERED UNDER SUSPENSION OF THE RULES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEEK OF JUNE 29, 2026 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Additional Information on Link to Bill Number Title Effect on Direct Effect on Direct Spending Published Spending Revenues and Revenue Estimates Effects ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------H.R. 7128.................... TRIA Program Increase by at Increase by at Would increase Reauthorization Least $500K. Least $500K. direct Act of 2026, as spending and amended. revenues by several billion dollars and reduce the deficit by more than $1 billion. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Speaker, I will start today by thanking Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, and my co-lead on this bill, Congressman Andrew Garbarino. All of us have worked together on legislative text that would reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program while also making changes that will protect taxpayers.
This legislation would reauthorize TRIA, the program established by Congress in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, through 2034. We are so fortunate that we have never seen a TRIA claim in the program's entire history. I hope that we never ever see one.
However, if this program is going to continue to exist with a public backstop, we should ensure we update its charter to protect taxpayers in the event of future claims, and we should work to ensure the certification process is transparent. Allow me to briefly walk through the changes this bill makes to TRIA.
Number one, this legislation increases the amount of losses that must result from an event for it to be eligible for review by the Department of the Treasury as a terrorism risk insurance event.
The current statutory threshold is $5 million, and this bill would increase that to $10 million for events in 2029 and later. That change will keep this threshold in line with inflation, and it will put in place appropriate protections for taxpayers from future claims.
This legislation also provides a couple of new deadlines, or shot clocks, as you may have them, for the Department of the Treasury to certify whether an event is an act of terror.
That process would work as follows. First, the Treasury Department would publish its intent to examine a potential event more closely in the Federal Register. They must publish this notice within 30 days of initiating their review of an event. Then, 90 days after publishing that notice in the Federal Register, the Treasury Department would need to come to a decision about whether that event qualifies as an act of terror. If the Treasury Department needs more time, they could extend that deadline up to a year after the original event occurred.
Because the program, again, thankfully, has never been tested, we don't have much of a case study on how Treasury's review process would work today. What we do know is that markets tend not to react well to uncertainty. With no active deadlines for review, the current process leaves a lot of room for ambiguity and uncertainty.
We want to ensure that if, God forbid, we are in the position of reacting to a potential terrorist attack with a Treasury review, there is sufficient structure to the process to provide insureds and insurers with the information they need on when to expect Treasury's review to conclude.
With these changes, there will be transparency for everyone in the market regarding when Treasury is undertaking a review of specific events and when they can expect a final decision on whether an event is covered by TRIA.
I am so pleased to have bipartisan support for this commonsense reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record seven letters of support on behalf of this bill.
Text printed in the Record (11,959 characters)
Washington, DC, June 29, 2026. Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. French Hill, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Maxine Waters, Ranking Member, Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Chairman Hill, and Ranking Member Waters: On behalf of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), I am writing to express our support for H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, as amended, in advance of the bill's anticipated consideration by the full House under suspension of the rules this week. As you know, a similar version of the legislation passed the House Financial Services Committee in late January by the wide bipartisan margin of 51 to 2. MBA urges all Members to vote "Aye" on H.R. 7128, as amended, when it comes before the full House for a vote.
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) of 2002 (P.L. 107-297) and its subsequent reauthorizations have been essential to MBA's members, as private insurers cannot adequately supply terrorism coverage without a federal backstop. Thus, the uninterrupted continuation of the TRIA program going forward remains a critical consideration.
By extending TRIA for seven years, H.R. 7128, as principally sponsored by Reps. Mike Flood, Emanuel Cleaver, and Andrew Garbarino, will provide certainty to the broad array of businesses (across countless economic sectors) that rely upon this critical program.
The bill, as most recently amended, also includes measured reforms that would (1) raise the program's certification "trigger" loss threshold from $5 to $10 million (beginning in 2029) and (2) add an enhanced event timeline for Treasury Department certification of domestic acts of terrorism.
With $5.02 trillion in total mortgage debt outstanding the commercial real estate finance (CREF) sector, which is comprised of key capital sources including commercial banks, life insurance companies, the housing Government Sponsored Enterprises ("GSEs") Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) issuers, debt funds, and other institutional sources, is a large and integral part of the national economy.
Together, these capital sources support the financing of the office, retail, industrial, and multifamily rental properties that serve as the foundation of our communities and our nation. Beyond housing individual families, these properties also accommodate the businesses that are the engines for our nation?s vibrant and diverse economy. Any gap in the availability of terrorism risk insurance would negatively impact the CREF sector and ripple through the broader economy--as buildings would become more difficult and costly to finance, sell, and purchase.
The enactment of a long-term TRIA reauthorization is especially critical for the affected CREF mortgage servicers whose functions include review of insurance coverage, negotiating and placing coverage when not in place, receipt of insurance and mortgage payments, customer service, escrow administration, investor accounting, collections, foreclosures, and more. Phrased differently, MBA's CREF members hold the single largest share of real estate debt outstanding in all markets--and therefore retain the "lion's share" of the financial risk associated with property damage or destruction.
MBA commends you for taking such early action (during calendar year 2026) on a longterm TRIA reauthorization--an action needed well-prior to the program's expiration on December 31, 2027, to provide continued market certainty and prevent key policyholders (like our members) from facing any meaningful gap in coverage.
Again, MBA urges an "Aye" vote on H.R. 7128, as amended, by all House Members during a vote scheduled to take place this week (most likely later today).
We look forward to our ongoing work together in the coming weeks and months to promote a competitive, sustainable real estate finance market within the United States.
Thank you in advance for the consideration of the views expressed within this letter.
Sincerely,
Bill Killmer, Senior Vice President, Legislative and Political Affairs.
____
June 29, 2026. Re Support for House passage of H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program
Reauthorization Act of 2026, as amended.
Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Steve Scalise, Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Katherine Clark, Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Leader Jeffries, and Whip Clark: The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) urges the House to pass the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 (H.R. 7128). This critical bill would reauthorize the TRIA program for seven years, through 2034.
A long-term reauthorization of TRIA is essential to maintaining the availability of terrorism risk insurance, a prerequisite for financing across much of the commercial real estate market. When terrorism coverage becomes uncertain or unavailable, lenders may restrict credit and owners can face technical defaults--disruptions the federal backstop was designed to prevent. Multi-year reauthorization provides stability, supporting transactions, construction, and jobs nationwide.
The bill also improves transparency in Treasury's event-certification process by requiring public notice within 30 days of initiating a review and establishing a 90-day review framework, with a limited extension when sufficient information is not available. It also updates the statutory threshold from $5 million to $10 million to ensure the certification process focuses on larger events. Clearer, time-bound signals from Treasury help reduce post-incident uncertainty and support prudent market risk management.
NAR urges House passage of the TRIA Program Reauthorization Act. Reauthorizing TRIA while strengthening certification transparency will promote market confidence, help keep terrorism coverage available, and safeguard investment and economic activity across the country.
Sincerely,
Kevin Brown, 2026 President, National Association of REALTORS.
____
Re BOMA Supports H.R. 7128, TRIA Program Reauthorization Act.
June 29, 2026. Chairman French Hill, Ranking member Maxine Waters, House Financial Services Committee, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hill and Ranking Member Waters: On behalf of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and our 16,000 members, we express strong support for H.R. 7128, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, and urge its swift passage.
As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, terrorism continues to pose a persistent and evolving threat to the United States. Since that horrific day, numerous foiled plots and completed attacks have spanned the country--many in just the past two years, including a recently disrupted plot targeting a White House event tied to the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. Taken together, these incidents demonstrate that the threat environment remains active, evolving, and immediate.
TRIA remains critical as both a federal backstop in the event of an attack and as a tool that enables our members to secure financing, maintain insurance coverage, and continue operating and servicing commercial properties nationwide. Without this program, the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance would be significantly constrained, undermining real estate markets and broader economic stability.
We commend the bipartisan work of the House Financial Services Committee and its decision to advance this legislation early in the Second Session, underscoring the importance of timely action. In particular, we recognize the leadership of Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood in introducing the legislation. Additionally, we appreciate House leadership's efforts to schedule this legislation for floor consideration ahead of the July 4 recess.
For these reasons, BOMA International strongly supports H.R. 7128 and urges its prompt passage.
Thank you again for your leadership on this important issue.
Respectfully, Luci Smith,
Chair & Chief Elected Officer, BOMA International. Mary Lue Peck,
President & Chief Operating Officer BOMA International.
____
New York, NY, June 29, 2026. Hon. Mike Flood, Chairman, Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: We write to you today in support of your bill H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026. We are grateful for your leadership on this critical issue, and we are particularly pleased with your recognition that reauthorizing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act ("TRIA") this year will ensure the least disruption to what has been a relatively stable terrorism risk insurance market.
Lloyd's views on terrorism risk, and TRIA in particular, are based upon extensive experience: Lloyd's paid almost $8 billion in claims resulting from the tragic events of September 11th, and led the development of the standalone terrorism market in the U.S. in the days following 9/11. Lloyd's has long been a significant participant in the U.S. commercial property-casualty insurance market, supporting the U.S. economy in the face of numerous catastrophes over the past 150 years. We have supported TRIA since its inception and we are grateful for the bipartisan support in Congress for the program's reauthorization.
Following 9/11, the lack of availability of terrorism insurance had dramatic economic impact. Commercial policyholders found it difficult, if not impossible, to secure terrorism coverage, yet banks and other capital providers would not provide financing in many cases without it. Congress enacted TRIA in 2002 to address this situation, structuring the program to ensure that terrorism insurance is available for commercial policyholders, while providing a potential federal backstop for catastrophic events. Unlike certain other federal insurance programs, TRIA is designed to have the private insurance industry be the principal bearers of risk in the terrorism insurance market, with the federal government only stepping in once certain thresholds are met.
The TRIA program has evolved over time to ensure that the private sector's share of losses continues to grow proportionate to its premium growth, and the result has been a stable terrorism insurance market, with strong take-up rates even as the broader property-casualty market hardened in recent years. Simply put, TRIA is one of those rare government programs that has worked almost exactly as intended. In this vein, Lloyd's favors a "clean" reauthorization, as we worry about potential disruption that could be caused by even seemingly minor changes.
That being said, we recognize and truly appreciate the work that went into securing an overwhelming bipartisan 51-2 vote in Committee in January, and we are hopeful that the full House will give a similarly overwhelming vote to approve this important legislation in the coming days.
Again, we thank you for your leadership and look forward to working with you as this critical legislation continues its way through the legislative process this year.
Sabrina Miesowitz,
General Counsel.
June 29, 2026. Hon. Mike Flood, Chairman, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, Committee on Financial Services, Washington DC.
On behalf of the undersigned organization, we write to express support for H.R. 7128--The TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 in advance of the anticipated vote in the U.S.
Text printed in the Record (5,453 characters)
House of Representatives this week.
After the September 11th attacks, terrorism insurance became largely unavailable, bringing commercial real estate finance to a virtual halt and negatively impacting the economy for millions of business across the country. As such, Congress rightly responded with the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, a necessary public-private partnership to ensure affordable and available terrorism insurance coverage at virtually no cost to American taxpayers. As we look back nearly 25 years after 9/11, it is important to recognize the economic development TRIA has supported, while at the same time acknowledge terrorism threats unfortunately have not dissipated.
We commend the House Financial Services Committee, especially the leadership of Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Subcommittee Chair Flood, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Cleaver, for their work to closely examine the need for TRIA and prompt reauthorization through a hearing last September and its subsequent advancement in January. We appreciate the broad support among members as TRIA approaches a vote before the full House.
TRIA is a critical public-private partnership that ensures the continued availability of terrorism insurance coverage, benefiting the broader economy. We urge Congress to move without delay in reauthorizing the program on a long-term basis.
Sincerely,
Coalition to Insure against Terrorism, Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, CRE Finance Council, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (Big "I"), ICSC, Nareit, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, The Real Estate Roundtable, Reinsurance Association of America.
____
Washington, DC, June 29, 2026.
To the Members of the House of Representatives: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports H.R. 7128, the "TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026." This legislation would provide for a reauthorization of the Department of the Treasury's Terrorism Risk Insurance Program through 2034. It is vital that Congress reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) well in advance of its expiration at the end of 2027, so businesses that rely on the program can remain confident it will not lapse.
Since its enactment in 2002, TRIA has served as a critical public-private risk-sharing mechanism, ensuring the commercial availability of terrorism risk insurance and enabling a more resilient economic recovery in the event of a terrorist attack. The proactive reauthorization of TRIA is vital to ensuring long-term financial safety and stability, providing businesses across the country with the necessary support and certainty to manage the unique risks associated with terrorism-related events.
This legislation includes changes to the event certification process and other technical adjustments. While the Chamber would prefer a clean reauthorization of the program, we recognize the importance of ensuring this critical economic backstop remains in place without disruption. We commend the House Financial Services Committee for acknowledging the necessity of this program and advancing the legislation with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 51 to 2.
The Chamber urges you to support TRIA's vital mission by voting for this important legislation, and we look forward to working with Congress to ensure timely reauthorization.
Sincerely,
Senior Director, Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness.
____
June 29, 2026 Re CREFC Support for H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program
Reauthorization Act of 2026.
Hon. French Hill, Chairman, House Committee on Financial Services. Hon. Mike Flood, Chairman, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. Hon. Maxine Waters, Ranking Member, House Committee on Financial Services. Hon. Emanuel Cleaver II, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Dear Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Chairman Flood, and Ranking Member Cleaver: On behalf of the CRE Finance Council (CREFC), the trade association representing the over $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry, we write to express our strong support for H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, and to thank you for your leadership in advancing this important bipartisan legislation.
Terrorism risk insurance is a key underwriting requirement across nearly every segment of commercial real estate finance, including loans held on balance sheet and those securitized in CMBS transactions. Lenders, servicers, and investors rely on the continued availability of the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Program to ensure affordable coverage remains accessible to commercial property owners, with that certainty reflected directly in loan underwriting, pricing, and securitization documents. Any lapse, or even the prospect of one, introduces unnecessary uncertainty into the capital markets that finance the nation's office, multifamily, industrial, retail, and hospitality properties.
H.R. 7128 would extend the Program through 2034, providing the long-term certainty our members and their borrowers need to plan and invest with confidence.
We appreciate that this legislation has advanced with bipartisan support, and we urge the Committee and the full House to act swiftly to bring H.R. 7128 to the floor for passage. CREFC and its members stand ready to serve as a resource to the Committee and staff as this legislation moves forward.
Thank you for your continued leadership on this issue.
Sincerely, CRE Finance Council.
____
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, sponsored by Representative Flood.
I am pleased that today we are considering this critical legislation to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for 7 years. This is a bipartisan bill, as it has been in past reauthorizations.
I first thank Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Representative Flood, and our staffs for working to ensure long-term certainty and availability of affordable terrorism risk insurance all across the country, which small businesses, hospitals, universities, not-for-profits, and others rely on.
TRIA was first enacted after the September 11 terrorist acts. After the attack, terrorism risk insurance all but disappeared, and any coverage that could be found was extremely expensive. Without terrorism insurance, commercial reconstruction in New York stalled, raising the threat of larger economic fallout.
In response, Congress passed TRIA in 2002 to provide certainty for insurers and policyholders and access to terrorism risk insurance by creating a Federal backstop in the event of catastrophic losses. Since then, the program has effectively done just that.
As we look back nearly 25 years since 9/11, it is important to recognize the Federal Government's role in supporting economic development through TRIA. In our role in Congress, as stakeholders, we unanimously agree with that act.
TRIA is set to expire at the end of 2027. By reauthorizing the program ahead of that deadline, it will offer desperately desired certainty to policyholders moving forward.
This legislation will provide a long-term reauthorization through 2034 and make targeted but sensible updates to the program. The bill would increase the threshold to certify an individual terrorism event to require more than $10 million in property and casualty insurance losses from the current level of more than $5 million. It would also codify the existing regulatory requirement that Treasury provides public notice in the Federal Register within 30 days of beginning the process of certification determination and require Treasury to issue its determination within 90 days of that notice.
To address minor technical feedback from Treasury, the bill will now allow the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the review period for an additional 365 days if there is insufficient information at the time to determine certification.
I also thank Congresswoman Velazquez and Congresswoman Pressley for their efforts on the bill, as their communities were directly impacted by tragedies caused by terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this essential legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Without objection, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) will control the remainder of the time for the majority.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The gentleman from Arkansas is recognized.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me thank Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver of the subcommittee and certainly our full committee ranking member, Ms. Waters, for their work with the majority to craft this extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.
The reauthorization of this program is important. I thank, on a bipartisan basis, those who have worked to bring it to fruition.
Every Member of this body, Mr. Speaker, including you, my friend, knows where they were on September 11, 2001. That day changed everything, including how America thought about risk. Before those attacks, the private insurance market handled terrorism risk like any other. After 9/11, no insurer could price it or absorb it alone.
Congress subsequently created TRIA in 2002. The purpose of TRIA is spelled out in the original law. Section 101(b) states that TRIA is designed to provide for "a transparent system of shared public and private compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of terrorism in order to protect consumers."
That is the goal here, to give policyholders access to the financial protection and confidence they need to build skyscrapers, sports venues, and malls, and employ workers that drive our economy.
Each reauthorization is an opportunity to look at what is working and what is not and to look at what adjustments are needed to keep delivering market certainty and stability.
As time has passed, quirks in TRIA have appeared that make it harder for those policyholders to get their claims paid quickly and fully and left insurers adrift in the lurch of a clunky will-they/won't-they certification process.
Mr. Flood's bill today proposes a modest set of improvements that will add clarity to the certification process and make it easier for insurers to pay their claims in a timely manner and easier for policyholders to recover financially when they need those payments the most.
Throughout this process, we have sought feedback from Members on both sides of the aisle and others as we have moved to get out in front of this program's scheduled expiration in December 2027 so that everyone would have an opportunity to review and debate the modest improvements contained in this measure.
The reality is that terrorism is now, unfortunately, a permanent fixture of American life. Whether you are in Los Angeles, the Big Apple, or Little Rock, this risk does not respect geography, and it does not go away.
I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Flood's bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the chairman.
I was appalled by reports that a FEMA employee used their authority entrusted by the United States to determine access to Federal aid based on a political yard sign.
Whether we are talking about FEMA or the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, this type of action violates the mission of Federal programs that Congress designs to work for all Americans.
Likewise, H.R. 7128 is also designed to avoid anything like that from happening in the future with regard to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program.
Congress passed TRIA shortly after the horrific September 11 terrorist attacks in an effort to ensure all businesses, not just some, could access terrorism insurance coverage. Since then, we have repeatedly reauthorized the act to provide certainty to all American businesses and the insurance market.
However, a capricious use of TRIA would undermine the certainty, and, for that reason, some of the changes we made to the act would ensure that certainty is a part of what both sides believe to be necessary.
Mr. Speaker, I know the chairman agrees with me on this matter, and I value his thoughts as well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) to engage in a colloquy with me.
J. French Hill (R-AR)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding, and I agree with his assessment.
It is true that TRIA was designed to create certainty, not doubt, for our businesses, indeed our economy at large after something unthinkable takes place.
It requires insurance companies to make stand-alone terrorism coverage available to their clients, who can choose to purchase it or not in addition to their traditional business insurance coverage.
That was the system we devised more than two decades ago to provide continuity after a large-scale terrorism event, as well as to provide businesses the fastest path to economic recovery.
It simply would not work within the spirit of the law or the confines of this reauthorization to pursue pathways that interrupted that system and flow of that important post-event recovery capital.
I am very pleased, as my friend from Missouri knows, that Ranking Member Waters and I have worked to include some small but important reforms to the post-event process to make sure that policyholders can get their claims paid more fully and quickly, the way that TRIA intended.
Simply put, TRIA should always be about putting affected policyholders first, and that is represented in the bill text that we are voting on today.
I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding.
Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, TRIA exists because the private market, left alone, will not provide adequate terrorism risk insurance for businesses, universities, and policyholders. The losses are too large and too unpredictable for private insurers to price or absorb alone. We learned this after September 11 when coverage all but vanished and commercial reconstruction stalled in New York City.
Congress stepped in with a Federal backstop, and for over two decades, TRIA has kept the market functioning. H.R. 7128 reauthorizes that Federal reinsurance program for 7 years, extending certainty to small businesses, hospitals, universities, and not-for-profits that rely on it.
This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. With TRIA set to expire at the end of 2027, passing this bill now and by reauthorizing it through 2034 with sensible targeted updates is both timely and necessary.
Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
J. French Hill (R-AR)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, I echo agreement with Ranking Member Cleaver's words today as well as the chairman of our subcommittee, Mike Flood, and his hard work on both sides of the aisle to bring forward this 7-year reauthorization of this critically important program well in advance of its expiration.
Mr. Speaker, what I love about this is the majority and the minority, working together for the benefit of the American economy, are getting this done well in advance of any loss or gap in coverage.
We know it is important. We treasure the fact that we are in the semiquincentennial year of our country's life, 250 years after the Declaration of Independence, but everybody in the back of their mind on this House floor in the coming weeks will be thinking about another anniversary, one that we are not celebrating with fireworks or bands or parades, and that is, sadly, the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks on Washington, New York, and our country at large. It makes us sad, and we reflect on those who we lost, the claims that we are still paying, the families that are still mourning.
This bill is an important reminder that we have an obligation to our country to do things right, to be thinking about the future, to be thinking about our Nation's economic growth, prosperity, and the safety of the American people.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to answer this call today and support this 7-year reauthorization of our Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, and I yield back the balance of my time.
John W. Rose (R-TN)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, too often Congress reflexively renews sprawling federal backstops that the market no longer needs--quietly gambling with taxpayers' exposure to potentially massive losses while ignoring the absence of any real market breakdown. This TRIA reauthorization fits the pattern perfectly: another automatic green light for an open-ended federal guarantee, despite no evidence of a genuine market failure.
I think it's important to recall exactly what Congress intended when it created the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, or TRIA. The statute laid out that the program was established as ". . . a temporary federal program that provides for a transparent system of shared public and private compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of terrorism, in order to (1) protect consumers by addressing market disruptions and ensure the continued widespread availability and affordability of property and casualty insurance for terrorism risk; and (2) allow for a transitional period for the private markets to stabilize, resume pricing of such insurance, and build capacity to absorb any future losses, while preserving State insurance regulation and consumer protections."
That's the law's own language--and the key phrase here is "temporary federal program." TRIA was never meant to be permanent. It was designed to give the private market time to adjust, mature, and ultimately take full responsibility for insuring against terrorism risk. Yet here we are, twenty plus years later, marking up another long-term reauthorization that continues to rely on federal involvement instead of meaningfully reducing it.
I have great respect for my colleagues who have worked hard on this proposal, but I believe that H.R. 7128 misses an opportunity. Rather than putting TRIA on a path toward less government exposure and greater private-sector responsibility, this bill extends the federal backstop until December 31, 2034--nearly nine years from now. That's hardly consistent with the statute's intent of providing a "transitional" program.
I also believe that H.R. 7128 violates the spirit--if not the letter--of the House Republican floor protocols for the 119th Congress, particularly the requirement that federal programs be subject to a sunset "not later than seven years" after spending is first authorized or continued. Under Section 2, H.R. 7128 does not merely "add seven years" to a distant end date; it strikes "2027" and inserts "2034," making this authorization effective as soon as the bill is enacted and keeping TRIA in force through the end of 2034.
In my view, the proper way to apply our Conference's seven-year sunset standard is to measure from when the reauthorized program actually takes effect--namely, when this bill is signed into law and TRIA's federal backstop is once again authorized. In other words, the "clock" should start when we newly authorize or continue the program, not from the old termination date written in prior law. Viewed that way, characterizing H.R. 7128 as a simple seven-year extension obscures the reality that Congress would be reauthorizing a significant federal program for nearly a decade at once, in tension with our Conference's stated commitment to regular review and reconsideration of federal spending and backstop authorities.
This is especially concerning given that, to date, TRIA has never been activated. In the 20 plus years since TRIA was enacted, there has not been a single Treasury-certified act of terrorism that met the program's financial trigger. Not once has the federal government been required to step in under TRIA.
Meanwhile, the private insurance industry has not just done well in this space--it has thrived under the shelter of a taxpayer-funded guarantee. According to the Treasury Department, from 2003 to 2023 insurers collected roughly $56.7 billion in terrorism risk premiums.
That is not the profile of a fragile market in need of permanent federal protection; it is evidence that insurers have the experience, capital, and appetite to keep cashing premium checks while the public absorbs the worst-case downside risks. In effect, taxpayers provide free reinsurance so that insurance carriers can book steady revenue and protect record surpluses--a classic example of privatized gains and socialized risk. Given this track record, the question is no longer whether insurance companies can begin to shoulder more of the risk, but why they have been allowed to avoid doing so for this long.
Yet instead of taking any meaningful steps to scale down taxpayer exposure or establish a serious glide path for an eventual federal exit, this bill simply extends the program nearly as-is. I find that deeply disappointing, because I do not believe the federal government should be in the business of permanently backstopping risks that the private sector is clearly capable of handling on its own.
It did not have to be this way. I offered an amendment that I believe would have greatly improved this bill by beginning the long-overdue process of shifting more terrorism risk off taxpayers and back onto the well-capitalized insurance industry where it belongs.
First, my amendment would have reduced the federal cost share. Under current law, the federal government covers 80 percent of covered losses above insurer deductibles. My amendment would have reset that share to 75 percent and then ratcheted it down by 1 percentage point a year until it reached 70 percent. This would have created a gradual, predictable glide path that would give insurers time to adjust while steadily reducing federal exposure and putting more responsibility back on the private market where it belongs.
Second, my amendment would have reduced the circumstances under which taxpayers are forced to step in. Under current law, the program trigger remains frozen at $200 million. My amendment would have raised that trigger by $10 million per year until it reached $250 million, and then indexed it to inflation using a benchmark selected by the Treasury Secretary through a rulemaking process. That approach would have kept the trigger aligned with economic reality instead of shrinking in real terms and quietly expanding the federal role, ensuring that more of the risk stays with insurers rather than being shifted to taxpayers.
Third, my amendment would have shortened the length of the reauthorization by changing the program termination date to five years after enactment. Five years provides ample certainty for markets, but it also respects the fact that TRIA was supposed to be temporary, and that Congress should regularly revisit the scope of federal involvement.
Fourth, my amendment would have forced Treasury to do the serious homework this bill avoids, laying out how, within a few years, we could dramatically reduce taxpayer risk and make the industry shoulder a larger share of the costs. It would have directed Treasury to study how an annual participation fee on insurers in TRIA could be structured, including options that generate substantial aggregate fees and deposit them into a dedicated fund at Treasury that can be used solely to cover future federal outlays or reimbursements under the program. The study would have been required to examine fee designs that are proportionate to insurer size and premiums, so that large national carriers shoulder the largest share while small and regional insurers are not disproportionately burdened.
It also would have evaluated whether a carefully designed opt-out for small insurers from the mandatory availability requirement could work without undermining the long-term health of the program. Treasury would then have been required to report back to the Financial Services Committee with concrete findings and legislative options, giving us real data to build a system that shifts more risk off taxpayers and onto the well-capitalized insurance companies that benefit from TRIA.
My amendment would not have pulled the rug out from under anyone; it simply asked the insurance industry to start standing on its own two feet. It took modest, measured steps to ratchet down the federal share, raise and index the trigger, shorten a long-term reauthorization, and finally force a serious conversation about a participation fee and dedicated fund that would put taxpayers ahead of industry convenience.
When Congress tells the public a program will be temporary, we incur more than a procedural obligation--we make a promise. In TRIA's case, there is no ambiguity about that promise: the statute itself describes it as a temporary federal program. The Members of Congress considering this legislation have, in my view, a covenant with our predecessors who first authorized TRIA on that basis. To honor that covenant, we must either set this program on a genuine path of reform, as my amendment would have done, or have the courage to let it expire. A long-term extension with only minimal changes does not satisfy that obligation.
I want to thank Chairman Flood and Chairman Hill for their leadership and for their efforts to maintain stability in this space, and I appreciate their willingness to engage in this important discussion. But when we shrink from doing the difficult things; when we refuse to challenge an industry all too eager to cash terrorism insurance premium checks backed by taxpayers; when we cannot even agree on modest, common-sense reforms to a backstop that has never once been triggered, we miss a rare opportunity to leave the terrorism insurance marketplace stronger and more accountable than we found it. For all of these reasons, I must oppose H.R. 7128 in its current form.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:10 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7128, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:10 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
J. French Hill (R-AR)3:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:10 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
Paul Ignatius Post Office
Pages H4279–H4280 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4662) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the "Paul Ignatius Post Office".
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (572 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PAUL IGNATIUS POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, shall be known and designated as the "Paul Ignatius Post Office".
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the "Paul Ignatius Post Office".
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Williams of Texas)
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in Glendale, California, for Paul Ignatius. A city of Glendale native, Paul Ignatius commissioned as a naval officer in World War II following his graduation from the University of Southern California. He continued his education after his military service at Harvard University, receiving an MBA.
Paul served in two Presidential administrations as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Navy.
He is the recipient of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award.
In addition to his numerous accolades, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer ship was named after him, which is currently homeported in Rota, Spain.
After spending his career dedicated to public service and the country, Paul was an active member in his community, involved in various nonprofit organizations and served on several boards.
Mr. Speaker, I call on my House colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4662, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the Paul Ignatius Post Office.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Friedman) to discuss this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill to designate the United States Postal Service facility on San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the Paul Ignatius Post Office.
Let me start by thanking my colleagues for bringing this legislation to the floor and giving us the opportunity to come together, set aside our differences, and honor a truly outstanding American.
Paul Ignatius was born in Glendale in 1920 to Armenian immigrant parents who escaped horrific persecution and genocide overseas. They put down roots on San Fernando Road, the same street where, as a young man, Paul clerked at the post office that will carry his name should this bill pass.
Paul went on to answer the call in World War II as a naval officer and served 8 years across two Presidential administrations as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary of Defense, and, ultimately, as Secretary of the Navy.
He earned too many awards to list here today, but they include the Army, Navy, and Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Awards. The Navy named a guided-missile destroyer after him, the USS Paul Ignatius.
After serving our Nation in the military, he went home and kept giving back to his community well past his 100th birthday. Sadly, he passed away last fall at the age of 104.
As we approach our Nation's 250th anniversary, I keep coming back to his story, the son of Armenian immigrants who fled persecution and built a new life in this country, who answered the call to serve under Presidents of both parties, and who went home and continued giving back to their community until the very end.
He is the kind of American we should all aspire to be.
There is a reason this legislation has brought together the California delegation, Democrats, Republicans, and an Independent, because there is nothing partisan about honoring a patriot like Paul Ignatius. It is simply the right thing for us all to do.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues again for their support, and I urge passage of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Ignatius by naming this post office after him. I urge passage of H.R. 4662, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill naming a post office for Paul Ignatius, a dedicated soldier and public servant, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4662.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building
Page H4280 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3350) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 East 1st Street in Tustin, California, as the "Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building".
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (615 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. URSULA ELLEN KENNEDY POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 East 1st Street in Tustin, California, shall be known and designated as the "Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building".
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the "Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to rename a post office in Tustin, California, for Ursula Ellen Kennedy.
Ursula and her husband raised three children in Tustin, California. She was an accomplished author, publishing more than 500 articles and a book on essays.
In 1978, Ursula became the first woman ever elected to the Tustin City Council. Twelve years later, Ursula became the first woman elected to mayor where she served for two terms.
Through her dedicated leadership to the city of Tustin, Ursula contributed to the creation of senior services, community planning, and environmental protections, leaving a lasting civic legacy.
She will be remembered for her humor, persistence, and relentless work ethic.
Mr. Speaker, I call on my House colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in supporting this bill. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the life of Mayor Kennedy and her public service for the city of Tustin, California, by naming this post office after her.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3350, to designate a post office in the city of Tustin, California, as the Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building.
Ursula Ellen Kennedy made history as the first woman elected to the Tustin City Council and the first woman to serve as mayor of Tustin.
At a time when few women held public office, Ursula stepped forward to serve the city she loved. In 1978, she was elected to the Tustin City Council, and 6 years later, her colleagues chose her to serve as Tustin's mayor.
However, her story did not begin in city hall. While raising her family, she became a writer, publishing more than 500 articles and a book of essays. In her forties, she enrolled in law school, earned her degree, passed the bar, and built her career as an attorney while raising her family.
Ursula came to city hall to build a stronger Tustin. When the city's planning commission was disbanded, she fought to restore it because she believed residents deserved a voice in their community's future.
She helped guide the development of east Tustin into the neighborhood we know today as Tustin Ranch. She also championed the senior center that still serves residents today, helping bring it from vision to reality. More than three decades later, it remains a lasting testament to her leadership.
Ursula Kennedy passed away in 2024 at the age of 87. She is remembered as a woman of vision, humor, fairness, and heart. She leaves behind a loving family who continues her legacy.
While we can never fully repay leaders like Ursula Kennedy, dedicating this post office ensures her legacy lives on in the community she helped build.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Kennedy family for working with me on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3350. May Ursula Kennedy's life continue to inspire us all.
Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA)3:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support me in passing H.R. 3350, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Glenn Grothman (R-WI)3:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill naming a post office for Ursula Ellen Kennedy, an author, mother, and dedicated leader in public service.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore3:30 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3350.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act
Pages H4280–H4296 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7757) to protect children and teens online, empower parents and strengthen families, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (8,919 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the "Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act" or the "KIDS Act".
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 101. Short title. Sec. 102. Definitions. Sec. 103. Technology verification measures. Sec. 104. Consultation requirements. Sec. 105. GAO report.
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 211. Short title. Sec. 212. Definitions. Sec. 213. Addressing harms to minors. Sec. 214. Safeguards for minors, parental tools, and teen messaging controls. Sec. 215. Reporting mechanism. Sec. 216. Disclosure. Sec. 217. Advertising and marketing information and labels. Sec. 218. Advertising of illegal products to minors. Sec. 219. Audit; report. Sec. 220. Rule of construction on age verification. Sec. 221. Rule of construction on encryption.
Sec. 231. Short title.
Sec. 232. Know; knows defined. Sec. 233. Market research. Sec. 234. Effective date.
Sec. 301. Short title. Sec. 302. Definitions. Sec. 303. Safeguards requirements for online video game providers.
Sec. 401. Short title. Sec. 402. Definitions. Sec. 403. Certain statements prohibited. Sec. 404. Disclosure required. Sec. 405. Policies required. Sec. 406. Rule of construction.
TITLE V--RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR PROTECTING MINORS ONLINE
Sec. 501. Definitions. Sec. 502. Exemption.
Sec. 511. Short title. Sec. 512. Report by Commission on social media use by minors.
Sec. 513. Short title. Sec. 514. Report on the ability of minors to access fentanyl through social media platforms.
Part 3--Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act
Sec. 515. Short title. Sec. 516. Industry review and report.
Sec. 517. Study required. Sec. 518. Consultation. Sec. 519. Report.
Sec. 521. Short title. Sec. 522. Online safety education for minors.
Part 2--AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act
Sec. 523. Short title. Sec. 524. Safe chatbot use for minors.
Sec. 525. Short title. Sec. 526. Kids Internet Safety Partnership.
Sec. 601. Short title. Sec. 602. Online collection, use, disclosure, and deletion of personal information of children and teens. Sec. 603. Study and reports of mobile and online application oversight and enforcement. Sec. 604. GAO study. Sec. 605. Severability.
Sec. 611. Definitions. Sec. 612. Registration requirement. Sec. 613. Rule of construction.
Sec. 701. Enforcement. Sec. 702. Judicial review. Sec. 703. Rules of construction. Sec. 704. Relationship to State laws. Sec. 705. Severability. Sec. 706. Effective date.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term "agency" has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Algorithm.--The term "algorithm" means any computational process, model, or other automated means of processing to rank, order, promote, recommend, amplify, or similarly alter the delivery or display of information (including any text, image, audio, or video post and any page, group, account, channel, or affiliation).
(3) Artificial intelligence.--The term "artificial intelligence" has the meaning given that term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).
(4) Chatbot.--The term "chatbot" means an artificial intelligence system, marketed to and available for use by consumers, that engages in interactive, natural-language communication with a user and generates or selects content in response to user inputs (including text, voice, or other inputs) using a conversational context.
(5) Commission.--The term "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission.
(6) Design feature.--The term "design feature"--
(A) means any feature or component of a covered platform that encourages an increase in or increases the frequency of use or time spent by a user who is a minor with respect to such covered platform; and
(B) includes--
(i) infinite scrolling or auto play;
(ii) rewards or incentives based on frequency of use or time spent;
(iii) notifications and push alerts;
(iv) badges or other visual award symbols based on frequency of use or time spent;
(v) appearance altering filters; and
(vi) personalized recommendation systems.
(7) Fully automated system.--The term "fully automated system" means an algorithm the final outputs of which are, once computed, displayed directly to a covered user without review or alteration by a covered online platform.
(8) Minor.--Except as otherwise provided, the term "minor" means an individual under the age of 17 years.
(9) Narcotic drug.--The term "narcotic drug" has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
(10) Parent.--The term "parent", with respect to a minor, means an adult with the legal right to make decisions on behalf of the minor, including any of the following:
(A) A natural parent.
(B) An adoptive parent.
(C) A legal guardian.
(D) An individual with legal custody over the minor.
(11) Personal information.--The term "personal information" has the meaning given that term in section 1302 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501) (as amended by section 602(a)(4) of this Act).
(12) Personalized recommendation system.--The term "personalized recommendation system"--
(A) means a fully automated system used to suggest, promote, or rank content, including other users, hashtags, and posts, based on the personal information of a user; and
(B) does not include a fully automated system that suggests, promotes, or ranks content based solely on the language, city or town, or age of a user.
(13) Sexual exploitation and abuse.--The term "sexual exploitation and abuse" means any of the following:
(A) Any offense, including coercion and enticement, described in section 2422 of title 18, United States Code.
(B) Child pornography (as defined in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code).
(C) Trafficking for the production of images (as described in section 2251 of title 18, United States Code).
(D) Any offense described in section 1591 of title 18, United States Code.
(14) State.--The term "State" means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(15) Verifiable consent.--The term "verifiable consent" has the meaning given that term in section 1302 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501) (as amended by section 602(a)(5) of this Act).
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act" or the "SCREEN Act".
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Covered platform.--The term "covered platform" means a website or other online platform--
(A) that is accessible by the public;
(B) with respect to which more than one-third of the material made available thereon is sexual material harmful to minors; and
(C) with respect to which the provider of such platform knowingly makes available the sexual material harmful to minors described in subparagraph (B).
(2) Minor.--The terms "minor" has the meaning given that term in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code.
(3) Sexual act; sexual contact.--The terms "sexual act" and "sexual contact" have the meanings given those terms in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code.
(4) Sexual material harmful to minors.--The term "sexual material harmful to minors" means a picture, image, graphic image file, film, videotape, or other visual depiction that--
(A)(i) taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
(ii) depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
(iii) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors; or
(B) is child pornography.
(5) Technology verification measure.--The term "technology verification measure" means technology that employs a system or process to determine whether it is more likely than not that a user of a covered platform is a minor.
(6) Technology verification measure data.--The term "technology verification measure data" means data that--
(A) is collected or processed for the purpose of fulfilling a request by an individual to access a covered platform or material on a covered platform; and
(B) is collected or processed for the purpose of utilizing or providing a technology verification measure pursuant to this title.
SEC. 103.
Text printed in the Record (10,322 characters)
TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION MEASURES.
(a) Covered Platform Requirements.--Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, a provider of a covered platform shall--
(1) adopt and utilize commercially available technology verification measures with respect to the covered platform of such provider to identify minors; and
(2) prevent such minors from accessing any sexual material harmful to minors on the covered platform.
(b) Additional Requirements for Compliance.--In order to comply with subsection
(a), a provider of a covered platform (or a third party contracted by a provider of a covered platform with respect to such covered platform) shall, with respect to a covered platform of the provider, carry out the following:
(1) Use a technology verification measure in order to verify the age of a user.
(2) Provide that a user confirming that the user is not a minor is not sufficient to verify age.
(3) Provide clear and conspicuous notice containing information on the technology verification measures and other policies and procedures related to the technology verification measure data used to comply with this title.
(4) Take reasonable measures to address circumvention of technology verification measures.
(5) Not transfer, disclose, or retain any technology verification measure data beyond what is strictly necessary to use a technology verification measure pursuant to this title.
(6) Not collect or use technology verification measure data for any purpose beyond what is strictly necessary to utilize a technology verification measure pursuant to this title.
(c) Use of Third Parties.--
(1) In general.--A provider of a covered platform may contract with a third party to use technology verification measures for purposes of complying with subsection (a).
(2) Obligations; liability.--A provider of a covered platform who contracts with a third party as described in paragraph (1) is not relieved from any obligation or liability under this title.
(d) Choice of Verification Measures.--A provider of a covered platform may choose the specific technology verification measures to utilize for purposes of complying with subsection (a), if such measures satisfy subsection (b).
(e) Technology Verification Measure Data Security.--A provider of a covered platform (or a third party contracted by a provider of a covered platform with respect to such covered platform) shall establish, implement, and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical data security practices to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of technology verification measure data collected with respect to the covered platform of such provider (including by a third party contracted by such covered provider with respect to such covered platform) and protect such technology verification measure data against unauthorized access.
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to require the submission of government-issued identification of any individual to a covered platform or a third party contracted by a provider of a covered platform to use a technology verification measure.
SEC. 104. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS.
In carrying out this title, the Commission shall consult with the following individuals, including with respect to the applicable standards and metrics for making a determination on whether a user of a covered platform is or is not a minor:
(1) Individuals with experience in computer science and software engineering.
(2) Individuals with experience in--
(A) advocating for online child safety; or
(B) providing services to minors who have been victimized by online child exploitation.
(3) Individuals with experience in consumer protection and online privacy.
(4) Individuals who supply technology verification measure products or have expertise in technology verification measures.
(5) Individuals with experience in data security and cryptography.
SEC. 105. GAO REPORT.
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following:
(1) An analysis of the effectiveness of the technology verification measures required by section 103.
(2) An analysis of the rate of compliance with such section by providers of covered platforms and third parties contracted by such providers with respect to such covered platforms.
(3) An analysis of the data privacy and security measures used by covered platforms with respect to age verification processes.
(4) An analysis of the expression, speech, behavioral, economic, psychological, and societal effects of the technology verification measures required by section 103.
(5) Recommendations, if any, to the Commission on improving the enforcement of this title.
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Covered platform.--The term "covered platform" means a platform that is a website, software, application, or electronic service connected to the internet that meets the following requirements:
(A) Is publicly available for use by consumers.
(B) Enables the creation of a username or user identifier--
(i) that is searchable on the platform by other users through a function made available by the platform; and
(ii) that can be followed by or is similarly accessible to other users of the platform.
(C) As the primary purpose of the platform, facilitates the sharing and access to user-generated content through text, images, video, audio, or any other interactive medium.
(D) Uses a design feature to promote user engagement on the platform.
(E) Uses the personal information of the user to advertise, market, or make content recommendations.
(2) User.--The term "user", with respect to a covered platform, means an individual who registers an account or creates a profile on the covered platform.
SEC. 211. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Kids Online Safety Act".
SEC. 212. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Child.--The term "child" means an individual who is under the age of 13.
(2) Compulsive usage.--The term "compulsive usage" means a persistent and repetitive use of a covered platform that substantially limits 1 or more major life activities of an individual (as described in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)).
(3) Direct messaging feature.--
(A) In general.--The term "direct messaging feature" means a function of a covered platform that enables a user to send a message, image, video, audio, or other communication directly to another user or a specific group of users of the covered platform.
(B) Exclusion.--The term "direct messaging feature" does not include a function of a covered platform that enables a user to post content on the covered platform to--
(i) a public or semi-public profile; or
(ii) a feed accessible to a broader group of users.
(4) Ephemeral messaging feature.--
(A) In general.--The term "ephemeral messaging feature" means a function of a covered platform that permanently deletes or renders inaccessible a message, image, video, audio, or other communication sent between users of the covered platform (such that neither the sender nor any recipient of such communication, nor the covered platform, may readily retrieve or review the communication in the original form through the covered platform)--
(i) after a predetermined period;
(ii) once viewed by such a recipient; or
(iii) upon exiting the specific chat or messaging interface.
(B) Exceptions.--The term "ephemeral messaging feature" does not include--
(i) a function of a covered platform that allows a user of the covered platform to manually delete a message, image, video, audio, or other communication sent by such user after the transmission of the communication;
(ii) standard data volatility in transit or temporary caching for necessary functional and performance reasons;
(iii) the implementation of a time limited data retention schedule based on industry best practices as part of the explicit security policies of a covered platform or as needed to comply with applicable law or regulation; or
(iv) a standard process by which a user may request deletion of an account on a covered platform to include user content.
(5) Geolocation information.--The term "geolocation information" means information sufficient to identify a street name and name of a city or town.
(6) Know; knows.--The term "know" or "knows" means to know or should have known.
(7) Messaging controls.--The term "messaging controls" means a set of tools or settings that a provider of a covered platform provides to a user of the covered platform that allows the user to manage the use of a direct messaging feature or an ephemeral messaging feature by such user.
(8) Teen.--The term "teen" means an individual who has attained the age of 13 years and is under the age of 17 years.
(9) Unapproved contact.--The term "unapproved contact" means a user of a covered platform with respect to whom another user of the covered platform has not initiated a direct message conversation.
SEC. 213. ADDRESSING HARMS TO MINORS.
(a) In General.--A provider of a covered platform shall establish, implement, maintain, and enforce reasonable policies, practices, and procedures that address the following harms to minors:
(1) Threats of physical violence so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive that such threats impact a major life activity of a minor.
(2) Sexual exploitation and abuse.
(3) Distribution, sale, or use of narcotic drugs, tobacco products, cannabis products, gambling, or alcohol.
(4) Any financial harm caused by deceptive practices.
(b) Considerations.--The policies, practices, and procedures required by subsection (a) shall be appropriate to the size and complexity of the covered platform.
(c) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a) may be construed to--
(1) require a provider of a covered platform to prevent or preclude any minor from--
(A) deliberately and independently searching for, or specifically requesting, content; or
(B) accessing resources and information regarding the prevention or mitigation of the harms described in subsection (a); or
(2) impose a duty of care on a provider of a covered platform.
SEC. 214.
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SAFEGUARDS FOR MINORS, PARENTAL TOOLS, AND TEEN
MESSAGING CONTROLS.
(a) Safeguards for Minors.--
(1) Safeguards.--A provider of a covered platform shall provide a user of or visitor to the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor with readily accessible and easy-to-use safeguards to do each of the following, as applicable:
(A) Limit the ability of other users to communicate with such user or visitor, including through direct messages or ephemeral messages.
(B) Prevent the profile or personal information of such user or visitor from being recommended or suggested to another user or visitor who the provider knows is not a minor.
(C) Prevent other users or visitors from seeing the current online or offline status of such user.
(D) Limit design features that encourage compulsive usage of the covered platform by such user or visitor.
(E) Restrict the sharing of geolocation information of such user or visitor to a third party that is not a processor and provide notice to such user or visitor and the parent of such user or visitor that geolocation information is collected.
(F) Control any personalized recommendation system on such covered platform, including with respect to the ability for such user or visitor to have--
(i) a prominently displayed option to opt out of any such personalized recommendation system, and
(ii) a prominently displayed option to limit types or categories of recommendations from any such personalized recommendation system.
(2) Option.--A covered platform shall provide a user that the covered platform knows is a minor with a readily accessible and easy-to-use option to limit the amount of time spent by such user on the covered platform.
(3) Default safeguard settings for minors.--A provider of a covered platform shall ensure that, in the case of a user of or visitor to the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor, the default setting of any safeguard described in paragraph (1) is the option available on the covered platform that provides the most protective level of control with respect to privacy and safety for such user or visitor.
(b) Parental Tools.--
(1) Tools.--A provider of a covered platform shall provide readily accessible and easy-to-use parental tools that meet the requirements described in paragraph (2) for a parent of a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor.
(2) Requirements.--The parental tools described in paragraph (1) shall allow a parent of a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor to do any of the following:
(A) View the privacy and account settings of such user, including the teen messaging controls described in subsection (c)(2).
(B) In the case of a user that the covered platform knows is a child, manage, change, and control the privacy and account settings of such user.
(C) The ability to restrict purchases and financial transactions by such user, if applicable.
(D) The ability to view metrics of total time spent on the covered platform and restrict time spent on the covered platform by such user, if such time restrictions do not amount to full exclusion of access of such user to the covered platform.
(E) Receive a notification when such user receives a request from another user who seeks to initiate direct messaging or ephemeral messaging with such user for the first time.
(F) In the case of a user that the covered platform knows is a child, disable any ephemeral messaging features or direct messaging features.
(3) Notice to parents of minors.--A provider of a covered platform shall provide clear and conspicuous notice to a parent of a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor about the availability of the parental tools described in paragraph (1).
(4) Notice to minors.--A provider of a covered platform shall provide clear and conspicuous notice to a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor when any parental tool described in paragraph (1) is in effect and any setting or control that has been applied.
(5) Default tools for children.--A provider of a covered platform shall ensure that, in the case of a user of or visitor to the covered platform who the provider knows is a child, the default setting for any parental tool described in paragraph (1) is the option available on the covered platform that provides the most protective level of control with respect to privacy and safety for such user or visitor.
(6) Application to existing accounts.--If, before the effective date of this subtitle, a provider of a covered platform provides a parent of a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a child with notice and the ability to enable a parental tool described in paragraph (1) in a manner that would otherwise comply with this subsection and the parent opts out of enabling any such parental tool, the covered platform is not required to enable any such parental tool with respect to such user by default on or after such effective date.
(c) Additional Messaging Controls for Teens.--
(1) In general.--A provider of a covered platform that offers, provides, or enables any direct messaging feature or ephemeral messaging feature of such covered platform to any user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a teen shall provide easily accessible and usable messaging controls described in paragraph (2) to such user that the user may activate and manage.
(2) Teen messaging controls.--The teen messaging controls described in this paragraph shall allow a user of the covered platform to do any of the following:
(A) Receive a timely notification that--
(i) alerts the user about a request from an unapproved contact who seeks to use a direct messaging feature or an ephemeral messaging feature of the covered platform with respect to the user; and
(ii) allows the user to approve or deny the request before the unapproved contact and the user engage in any direct messaging or ephemeral messaging through any such direct messaging feature or ephemeral messaging feature.
(B) View and manage a list of any contacts approved for engaging in direct messaging or ephemeral messaging with the user through any direct messaging feature or any ephemeral messaging feature of the covered platform.
(C) Disable any direct messaging feature or ephemeral messaging feature.
(D) Prevent any specific user, any specific group of users, or other user in general from initiating or continuing to engage in direct messaging or ephemeral messaging with the user through any direct messaging feature or any ephemeral messaging feature of the covered platform.
(E) Enable the user to set a profile of the user on the covered platform as hidden.
(d) Rules of Application.--
(1) Accessibility.--With respect to any safeguard described in subsection (a)(1), any parental tool described in subsection (b)(1), and any teen messaging control described in subsection (c)(2), a provider of a covered platform shall provide each of the following:
(A) Information and control options in a clear and conspicuous manner that takes into consideration the differing ages, capacities, and developmental needs of a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor most likely to access the covered platform and does not encourage such a user or a parent of such a user to weaken or disable any such safeguard, parental tool, or teen messaging control.
(B) Readily accessible and easy-to-use controls to enable or disable any such safeguard, parental tool, or teen messaging control, as appropriate.
(C) Information and control options in the same language, form, and manner as the provider provides the product or service used by such a user or a parent of such a user.
(2) Timing considerations; application of changes to offline devices or accounts.--If the device of a user or user account does not have access to the internet at the time of a change to a parental tool described in subsection (b)(1), the provider of the relevant covered platform shall apply changes the next time the device or user is connected to the internet.
(3) Prohibition.--A provider of a covered platform may not knowingly use a user interface with the purpose or substantial effect of obscuring, subverting, or impairing the use by a user of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor or a parent of such a user of any safeguard described in subsection (a)(1), any parental tool described in subsection (b)(1), or any teen messaging control described in subsection (c)(2).
(e) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to do any of the following:
(1) Prevent a provider of a covered platform from taking reasonable measures to block, detect, or prevent the distribution of unlawful, obscene, or other harmful material to minors or any other harms to minors described in section 213(a).
(2) Prevent a provider of a covered platform from entering into an agreement with a third party with a primary or exclusive function of--
(A) providing--
(i) any safeguard described in subsection (a)(1);
(ii) any parental tool described in subsection (b)(1); or
(iii) any teen messaging control described in subsection (c)(2); or
(B) otherwise assisting with meeting the requirements described in subsections (a), (b), and (c).
(3) Prevent a parent or user from authorizing a third party described in paragraph (2) to implement--
(A) any safeguard described in subsection (a)(1);
(B) any parental tool described in subsection (b)(1); or
(C) any teen messaging control described in subsection (c)(2).
SEC. 215. REPORTING MECHANISM.
(a) Reporting Tools.--A provider of a covered platform shall provide each of the following:
(1) A readily accessible and easy-to-use means for a user of or visitor to the covered platform to submit a report to the covered platform of any harm to a minor related to the use of the covered platform.
(2) An electronic point of contact specific to matters involving harms to a minor.
(3) Confirmation of the receipt of any such report and, within the applicable time period
described in subsection (b), a substantive response to the user or visitor who submitted the report.
(b) Timing.--A covered platform shall establish an internal process to receive and substantively respond to a report submitted under subsection (a)(1) in a reasonable and timely manner, but in no case later than--
(1) 10 days after the date on which the report is received; or
(2) if the report involves an imminent threat to the safety of a minor, the date that is as prompt as needed to address the reported threat to safety.
SEC. 216. DISCLOSURE.
(a) Notice.--
(1) Registration or purchase.--Before any registration or purchase on a covered platform by a user of or visitor to the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor, the provider shall provide clear, conspicuous, and easy-to-understand notice with respect to each of the following:
(A) The policies and practices of the covered platform with respect to safeguards for minors.
(B) Information about how to access any safeguard described in section 214(a)(1), any parental tool described in section 214(b)(1), and any teen messaging control described in section 214(c)(2).
(2) Notification.--
(A) Notice and acknowledgment.--In the case of a user of or visitor to a covered platform who the provider of the covered platform knows is a minor, the provider shall provide information about any safeguard described in section 214(a)(1) and any parental tool described in section 214(b)(1) to a parent of such user or visitor.
(B) Reasonable effort.--A covered platform shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirement described in subparagraph (A) if the provider of the covered platform is in compliance with the requirements of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C.
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6501 et seq.) to use reasonable efforts (taking into consideration commercially available technology) to provide a parent with the information required by paragraph (1)(B).
(b) Consolidated Notices.--For purposes of this section, a provider of a covered platform may consolidate the process for providing information required by this section with the obligations of the provider to provide relevant notice and obtain verifiable consent under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.
SEC. 217. ADVERTISING AND MARKETING INFORMATION AND LABELS.
A provider of a covered platform shall provide clear, conspicuous, and easy-to-understand labels and information, which may be provided through a link to another web page or disclosure, to a user of or visitor to the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor on advertisements regarding the disclosure of endorsements of products, services, or brands made for commercial consideration by other users of the covered platform.
SEC. 218. ADVERTISING OF ILLEGAL PRODUCTS TO MINORS.
A provider of a covered platform may not facilitate the advertising of narcotic drugs, cannabis products, tobacco products, gambling, or alcohol to a user of or visitor to the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor.
SEC. 219. AUDIT; REPORT.
(a) Audit Required.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, and annually thereafter, a provider of a covered platform shall ensure that an independent, third-party auditor conducts an independent, third-party audit of the covered platform.
(b) Audit Specifications.--
(1) Criteria.--In conducting an audit required by subsection (a), an independent, third-party auditor shall do the following:
(A) Consider widely accepted or evidence-based approaches, best practices, frameworks, and methods related to any safeguard described in section 214(a)(1), any parental tool described in section 214(b)(1), and any teen messaging control described in section 214(c)(2).
(B) Consider widely accepted or evidence-based approaches, best practices, frameworks, and methods related to identifying, preventing, and mitigating the harms to minors described in section 213(a).
(C) Consult with parents (including parents with relevant experience), public health and mental health nonprofit organizations, health and development organizations, and experts in freedom of expression about methods to identify, prevent, and mitigate such harms.
(2) Contents.--An audit required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the extent to which the relevant covered platform is likely to be accessed by minors, including with respect to any difference between children and teens.
(B) An accounting of the following:
(i) The number of users using such covered platform who the provider of such covered platform knows to be minors located in the United States.
(ii) The median and mean amounts of time spent on such covered platform by such users during the year in which such audit is conducted.
(iii) A description of the policies, practices, and procedures implemented to address the harms to minors described in section 213(a).
(iv) The number of times that any safeguard described in section 214(a)(1) has been exercised during the year in which such audit is conducted.
(v) The number of times that any parental tool described in section 214(b)(1) has been exercised during the year in which such audit is conducted.
(vi) The number of times that any teen messaging control described in section 214(c)(2) has been exercised during the year in which such audit is conducted.
(vii) The number of reports, categorized by types of harms to a minor, received by such covered platform through the reporting mechanism described in section 215(a)(1) during the year in which such audit is conducted.
(C) A description of such safeguards for minors and parental tools that are available to minors and parents on such covered platform.
(D) A description of how such covered platform handles reports received through such reporting mechanism, including the rate of response to such a report and the timeliness and substantiveness of any such response.
(E) A description of whether, how, and for what purpose such covered platform collects or processes categories of personal information of minors.
(F) If the covered platform has a process used to create, implement, or evaluate the impact of a design feature of the covered platform used by minors, a description of such process.
(3) Cooperation by covered platform.--A provider of a covered platform shall facilitate an audit of the covered platform required by subsection (a) by doing the following:
(A) Providing or otherwise making available to the independent, third-party auditor that conducts such audit any information or material in the possession, custody, or control of such covered platform relevant to such audit.
(B) Providing or otherwise making available to such auditor access to any network, system, or asset relevant to such audit.
(C) Disclosing any material fact to such auditor and not misrepresenting any material fact.
(c) Report to Commission.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which an audit required by subsection (a) is completed, the provider of the relevant covered platform shall submit to the Commission the results of the audit.
(d) Public Report.--Not later than 45 days after the date on which an audit required by subsection (a) is completed, the provider of the relevant covered platform shall issue a public report that--
(1) includes the information required by clauses (i), (ii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of subsection (b)(2)(B); and
(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1), may include any other information required by this section.
SEC. 220. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION ON AGE VERIFICATION.
Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to require the provider of a covered platform to implement an age gating or age verification functionality on the covered platform.
SEC. 221. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION ON ENCRYPTION.
No requirement under this subtitle to restrict any feature for a user of a covered platform or to provide messaging controls for a direct messaging feature or ephemeral messaging feature of a covered platform may be construed to override any protection for an encrypted communication described in this subtitle and a provider of a covered platform shall adhere to any such requirement, to the maximum extent technically feasible, through means that do not compromise the integrity of strong encryption offered to any user of the covered platform.
SEC. 231. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Stop Profiling Youth and Kids Act" or the "SPY Kids Act".
SEC. 232. KNOW; KNOWS DEFINED.
The term "know" or "knows" means to have actual knowledge or to have acted in willful disregard.
SEC. 233. MARKET RESEARCH.
(a) Prohibition of Research on Minors.--A provider of a covered platform may not, in the case of a user or visitor of the covered platform who the provider knows is a minor, conduct market or product-focused research on such user or visitor unless any such research is--
(1) used solely to improve the privacy, security, transparency, or safety of the covered platform, including with respect to a design feature or any safeguard, setting, or tool offered to such user or visitor or a parent of such user or visitor; or
(2) necessary for compliance with a Federal or State law.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to limit the processing of personal information solely for measuring or reporting advertising or content performance, reach, or frequency, including through an independent measurement.
SEC. 234. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This subtitle shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious
Interactions on Network Games Act" or the "Safer GAMING Act".
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Definitions.--In this title:
(1) Covered communication tool.--The term "covered communication tool" means a capability available to a user of an interactive online video game that allows for the exchange of verbal, written, or visual messages between such user and any other user of such interactive online video game.
(2) Covered user.--The term "covered user" means a user of an interactive online video game if the online video game provider of such interactive online video game knows that such user is a minor.
(3) Interactive online video game.--The term "interactive online video game" means a video game that--
(A) connects to the internet; and
(B) allows a user of such video game to communicate with other users of such video game.
(4) Know; knows.--The term "know" or "knows" means know or should have known.
(5) Minor.--The term "minor" means an individual under the age of 17 years.
(6) Online video game provider.--The term "online video game provider" means a person engaged in the business of providing directly to a consumer over the internet or other online means a digital storefront, console network, mobile or cloud gaming platform, or similar means of digital distribution that offers access to an interactive online video game for use by the consumer.
(7) Video game.--The term "video game" means a software program that--
(A) receives and stores data or instructions generated by the user of such software program; and
(B) processes such data or instructions to create an interactive game for such user to play on a computer, gaming system, console, mobile device, or other technological means.
SEC. 303.
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SAFEGUARDS REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE VIDEO GAME
PROVIDERS.
(a) Communication Safeguards.--An online video game provider shall provide safeguards to a parent of a covered user of an interactive online video game of such online video game provider that allow the parent to limit communication between such covered user and any other user of such interactive online video game.
(b) Features.--
(1) In general.--An online video game provider shall ensure that the safeguards required by subsection (a) meet the following requirements:
(A) Be accessible and easy to use.
(B) Be enabled by default on an account of a covered user of the interactive online video game of such online video game provider.
(C) Be set to the most protective level of control by default on any such account.
(2) Protective level of control.--For purposes of paragraph (1)(C), the term "most protective level of control" means the relevant safeguards--
(A) are set to the most restrictive setting by default; and
(B) may be set to a less restrictive setting only by a parent of a covered user.
(3) Other safeguards required.--An online video game provider shall provide to a covered user and a parent of a covered user of an interactive online video game of the online video game provider readily accessible and easy-to-use safeguards to do the following:
(A) Prevent a profile of such covered user or personal information connected to such covered user from being recommended or suggested to any other user of such interactive online video game who is not a minor.
(B) Restrict purchases and financial transactions by such covered user.
(C) Limit the amount of time spent by such covered user on such interactive online video game.
(c) Device Controls.--Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit an online video game provider from making available to the parent of a covered user of an interactive online video game of the online video game provider a single user interface that permits such parent to do the following:
(1) Set the level or scope of any covered communication tool with respect to multiple other users or categories of users or set the level or scope of multiple covered communication tools.
(2) Control the safeguards required by this section.
(d) Notice to Covered Users.--An online video game provider shall provide clear and conspicuous notice to a covered user of an interactive online video game of the online video game provider when the safeguards required by this section are in effect that describes the settings or safeguards that have been applied.
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative BOTs Act" or the "SAFE BOTs Act".
SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Chatbot provider.--
(A) In general.--The term "chatbot provider" means a person engaged in the business of providing a chatbot directly to a consumer for the use of the consumer, including through a website, mobile application, or other online means.
(B) Limitation.--A person that provides a website, mobile application, or other online service that includes a chat function incidental to the primary purpose of such website, application, or service may not be treated as a chatbot provider solely on the basis of such incidental chat function.
(2) Covered user.--The term "covered user" means a user of a chatbot if the provider of such chatbot knows that such user is a minor.
(3) Know; knows.--The term "know" or "knows" means know or should have known.
SEC. 403. CERTAIN STATEMENTS PROHIBITED.
A chatbot provider may not provide to a covered user a chatbot that states to the covered user that the chatbot is a licensed professional (unless such statement is true).
SEC. 404. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.
(a) In General.--A chatbot provider shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to each covered user of a chatbot of such chat provider a disclosure of the following:
(1) The chatbot is an artificial intelligence system and not a natural person.
(2) Resources for contacting a suicide and crisis intervention hotline.
(b) Timing.--
(1) AI system disclosure.--A disclosure required by subsection (a)(1) shall be made--
(A) at the initiation of the first interaction of a covered user with a chatbot; and
(B) at any point at which, during an interaction between a covered user and a chatbot, the covered user prompts the chatbot about whether the chatbot is an artificial intelligence system.
(2) Crisis resources disclosure.--A disclosure required by subsection (a)(2) shall be made at any point at which, during an interaction between a covered user and a chatbot, the covered user prompts the chatbot about suicide or suicidal ideation.
(c) Use of Plain Language.--Any disclosure required by subsection (a) shall be made in a manner that is clear and age-appropriate using plain language such that the disclosure is reasonably understandable by a minor.
SEC. 405. POLICIES REQUIRED.
A chatbot provider shall establish, implement, and maintain reasonable policies, practices, and procedures--
(1) to ensure that a chatbot of the chatbot provider advises a covered user of the chatbot to take a break from the chatbot at the point at which a continuous and uninterrupted interaction of such covered user with such chatbot has lasted for 3 hours; and
(2) to address, with respect to covered users--
(A) sexual exploitation and abuse;
(B) the promotion of gambling that is restricted from or prohibited for minors by law; and
(C) the promotion of the distribution, sale, or use of narcotic drugs, tobacco products, or alcohol that are restricted from or prohibited for minors by law.
SEC. 406. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this title may be construed to require a chatbot provider to prevent or preclude any covered user of a chatbot of the chatbot provider from accessing resources and information regarding the prevention or mitigation of the harms described in section 405(2).
TITLE V--RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR PROTECTING MINORS ONLINE
SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Fentanyl.--The term "fentanyl" includes any fentanyl analogue and fentanyl-related substance.
(2) Fentanyl-related substance.--The term "fentanyl-related substance" has the meaning given that term in subsection (e) of schedule I of section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)).
(3) Relevant congressional committees.--The term "relevant congressional committees" means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(4) Social media platform.--The term "social media platform"--
(A) means a public-facing website, internet application, or mobile internet application, including a social network or video sharing service--
(i) that serves the public; and
(ii) that primarily provides a forum for user-generated content, including messages, videos, images, games, and audio files; and
(B) does not include--
(i) a provider of broadband internet access service (as described in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation); or
(ii) electronic mail.
SEC. 502. EXEMPTION.
Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the "Paperwork Reduction Act") does not apply to this subtitle.
SEC. 511. SHORT TITLE.
This part may be cited as the "Safe Social Media Act".
SEC. 512. REPORT BY COMMISSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE BY MINORS.
The Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use), shall do the following:
(1) Conduct a study on social media platform use by minors, including with respect to the following:
(A) What personal information is collected by social media platforms with respect to minors.
(B) How such personal information is used by the algorithms of the social media platforms.
(C) How such personal information is used with respect to targeted advertising.
(D) How often minors use social media platforms daily.
(E) Differences in use of social media platforms related to the age ranges of minors.
(F) Mental health effects on minors linked to the use of social media platforms.
(G) Potential harmful effects and benefits for minors from extended social media platform use.
(2) Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the relevant congressional committees a report on the findings of the study conducted under paragraph (1), including any recommended policy changes based on such findings.
SEC. 513. SHORT TITLE.
This part may be cited as the "No Fentanyl on Social Media Act".
SEC. 514. REPORT ON THE ABILITY OF MINORS TO ACCESS FENTANYL
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs), shall submit to the relevant congressional committees and publish on a website of the Commission a report on the ability of minors to access fentanyl, including through pressed pills, through social media platforms and that includes the following:
(1) The prevalence and ability for minors to access fentanyl from drug sellers on social media platforms.
(2) The impact of such prevalence and access on minors, including with respect to health risks and risks to physical safety.
(3) How drug sellers use social media platforms to market, sell, deliver, distribute, dispense, and engage in other transactions related to the provision of fentanyl to minors.
(4) How design features and other characteristics of social media platforms affect the ability of minors to access fentanyl.
(5) Other measures taken by law enforcement, the medical community, and others to address the issues described in paragraphs (1) through (4).
(6) Practices, policies, and other measures taken by social media platforms to address the ability of drug sellers to use social media platforms and the effectiveness of such practices, policies, and measures.
(7) Recommendations for Congress to eliminate the prevalence and ability for minors to access fentanyl through social media platforms.
(b) Consultation Required.--In developing the report required by subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with any relevant agencies and stakeholders, including parents, social media platforms, law enforcement, medical professionals, and other relevant experts.
(c) Redaction Permitted.--In publishing the report required by subsection (a), the Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General, may redact any information relating to paragraph (3) or (5) of such subsection that may compromise any law enforcement tactic, strategy, or technique.
PART 3--ASSESSING SAFETY TOOLS FOR PARENTS AND MINORS ACT
SEC. 515. SHORT TITLE.
This part may be cited as the "Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act".
SEC. 516.
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INDUSTRY REVIEW AND REPORT.
(a) Review.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with industry, parents, individuals with expertise in communications technologies, parental controls, privacy, and mental health, and any other appropriate entities as determined by the Commission, shall--
(1) initiate a review of industry efforts to promote online safety for minors through education, parental and child safety tools, age-appropriate labels for content, privacy and other safety settings, and any other relevant technologies or initiatives; and
(2) examine the effectiveness of industry efforts identified under paragraph (1) to mitigate online harms for minors and provide recommendations for industry, Congress, and agencies to improve online safety for minors.
(b) Submission of Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the relevant congressional committees a report with any findings and recommendations resulting from the review and examination required by subsection (a).
SEC. 517. STUDY REQUIRED.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall conduct a 4-year longitudinal study to evaluate the risks and benefits of chatbots with respect to the mental health of minors, including with respect to loneliness, anxiety, social skill building, social isolation, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
SEC. 518. CONSULTATION.
In conducting the study required by section 517, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall consult with the following:
(1) The Director of the National Institute of Mental Health.
(2) Pediatric mental health experts.
(3) Technologists.
(4) Ethicists.
(5) Educators.
SEC. 519. REPORT.
Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall submit to the relevant congressional committees and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the results of the study required by section 517 and any related recommendations.
SEC. 521. SHORT TITLE.
This part may be cited as the "Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act".
SEC. 522. ONLINE SAFETY EDUCATION FOR MINORS.
(a) Amendment.--Subtitle A of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (15 U.S.C. 6551 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking sections 211 through 214 and 216 and inserting the following:
"SEC. 211. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
"Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission, in partnership with the heads of other relevant agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, schools, industry, law enforcement, medical professionals, and other appropriate entities, shall carry out a program throughout the United States to promote the safe use of the internet by minors that includes the following:
"(1) The identification, promotion, and encouragement of best practices for educators, online platforms, minors, and parents and guardians to protect minors online.
"(2) The establishment and implementation of an outreach and education campaign throughout the United States that promotes online safety for minors.
"(3) The facilitation of access to, and the exchange of, information regarding online safety for minors to promote up-to-date knowledge regarding harms and risks negatively impacting or benefits positively impacting minors online.
"(4) The facilitation of access to publicly accessible online safety education and public awareness efforts by other relevant agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, schools, industry, and other appropriate entities.
"SEC. 212. ANNUAL REPORT.
"Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for 10 years, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that describes the program carried out under section 211.
"SEC. 213. DEFINITIONS.
"In this subtitle:
"(1) Agency.--The term `agency' has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
"(2) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Federal Trade Commission.
"(3) Minor.--The term `minor' means an individual under the age of 17.
"(4) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit organization' means an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
"(5) Online safety.--The term `online safety' includes issues regarding the use of the internet in a manner that promotes safe online activity for minors through the following:
"(A) Protecting minors from cybercrimes, access to narcotics, tobacco products, gambling, alcohol, and other adult content.
"(B) Preventing compulsive behavior online and other adverse impacts on the physical and mental health of minors.
"(C) Facilitating the effective use of safeguards, parental controls, and other tools to empower parents, guardians, and minors to protect minors online.
"(6) State.--The term `State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe."; and
(2) by redesignating section 215 as section 214.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (15 U.S.C. 6551 et seq.) is amended by striking the items related to sections 211 through 216 and inserting the following:
"Sec. 211. Public awareness and educational campaign. "Sec. 212. Annual report. "Sec. 213. Definitions. "Sec. 214. Promoting online safety in schools.".
PART 2--AI WARNINGS AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION (AWARE) ACT
SEC. 523. SHORT TITLE.
This part may be cited as the "AI Warnings And Resources for Education Act" or the "AWARE Act".
SEC. 524. SAFE CHATBOT USE FOR MINORS.
(a) Educational Resources.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with relevant agencies, shall develop and make available to the public educational resources for parents, educators, and minors with respect to the safe and responsible use of chatbots by minors.
(b) Contents.--The educational resources developed and made available under subsection (a) shall include resources on the following:
(1) The risks and benefits of chatbot use.
(2) Privacy and data collection practices.
(3) Best practices for parents supporting the safe use of chatbots by minors.
(c) Youville.--The Commission, in a manner appropriate for minors, shall model the educational resources developed and made available under subsection (a) on the Youville program of the Commission.
SEC. 525. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act".
SEC. 526. KIDS INTERNET SAFETY PARTNERSHIP.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Kids Internet Safety Partnership.
(b) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint a Director to be the head of the Partnership.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Partnership shall be the following:
(1) Coordinate with relevant agencies (including the Commission) and stakeholders to identify the following:
(A) The risks for minors with respect to the use of websites, online services, online applications, and mobile applications.
(B) The benefits for minors with respect to the use of websites, online services, online applications, and mobile applications.
(C) Widely accepted or evidence-based best practices, taking into account minors of different ages, to--
(i) address the risks identified under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) preserve and enhance the benefits identified under subparagraph (B).
(2) Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Partnership is established, and every 2 years thereafter, publish on a publicly available website a report that details--
(A) the identifications made under paragraph (1); and
(B) the efficacy and adoption by websites, online services, online applications, and mobile applications of--
(i) safeguards for minors; and
(ii) parental tools.
(3) Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Partnership is established, publish on a publicly available website a playbook for providers and developers of websites, online services, online applications, and mobile applications to facilitate the implementation of widely accepted or evidence-based best practices that account for minors of different ages and address the risks identified under paragraph (1)(A) and preserve and enhance the benefits identified under paragraph (1)(B), including best practices with respect to the following:
(A) Age verification, assurance, and estimation techniques.
(B) Design features.
(C) Parental tools.
(D) Default privacy and account settings.
(E) Reporting systems and tools.
(F) Third-party safety software services.
(G) Limitations and opt-outs related to personalized recommendation systems and chatbots.
(d) Stakeholders.--In coordinating with stakeholders as required by subsection (c)(1), the Partnership shall coordinate with the following:
(1) Academic experts with specific expertise with respect to the prevention of risks for minors online.
(2) Researchers with specific expertise with respect to social media.
(3) Parents and minors with demonstrated experience with respect to the safety of minors online.
(4) Educators with demonstrated experience with respect to the safety of minors online.
(5) Online platforms.
(6) Experts in academia and civil society with specific expertise with respect to constitutional law, privacy, free expression, access to information, and civil liberties.
(7) State attorneys general (or designees thereof who work in State or local government).
(e) Sunset.--The Partnership shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the Partnership is established.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Parental tool.--The term "parental tool"--
(A) means a tool that--
(i) the provider of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application provides to a parent of a user who such provider knows is a minor; and
(ii) the parent uses to support such user with respect to the use of the website, service, or application; and
(B) includes a tool that allows a parent of a user who the provider of such a website, service, or application knows is a minor to--
(i) view or change the privacy and account settings of such user;
(ii) grant or withdraw verifiable consent;
(iii) restrict the purchases and financial transactions of such user;
(iv) view metrics of the total time spent on such website, service, or application by such user;
(v) restrict time spent on such website, service, or application by such user;
(vi) report illegal or harmful conduct on such website, service, or application with respect to which such user may be a victim; and
(vii) limit or opt-out of personalized recommendation systems or chatbots.
(2) Partnership.--The term "Partnership" means the Kids Internet Safety Partnership established under subsection (a).
(3) Secretary.--The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act".
SEC. 602. ONLINE COLLECTION, USE, DISCLOSURE, AND DELETION OF
PERSONAL INFORMATION OF CHILDREN AND TEENS.
(a) Definitions.--Section 1302 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C.
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6501) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
"(1) Child.--The term `child' means an individual under the age of 14.";
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
"(2) Operator.--The term `operator'--
"(A) means any person--
"(i) who, for commercial purposes in interstate or foreign commerce, operates or provides a website on the internet, an online service, an online application, or a mobile application; and
"(ii) who--
"(I) collects or maintains, either directly or through a service provider, personal information from or about the users of that website, service, or application;
"(II) allows another person to collect personal information directly from users of that website, service, or application (in which case, the operator is deemed to have collected the information); or
"(III) allows users of that website, service, or application to publicly disclose personal information (in which case, the operator is deemed to have collected the information); and
"(B) does not include any nonprofit entity that would otherwise be exempt from coverage under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45).";
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
"(A) the release of personal information collected from a child or teen by an operator for any purpose, except where the personal information is provided to a person other than an operator who--
"(i) provides support for the internal operations of the website, online service, online application, or mobile application of the operator, excluding any activity relating to individual-specific advertising to children or teens; and
"(ii) does not disclose or use that personal information for any other purpose; and"; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting "or teen" after "child" each place the term appears;
(ii) by striking "website or online service" and inserting "website, online service, online application, or mobile application"; and
(iii) by striking "actual knowledge" and inserting "knowledge";
(4) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:
"(8) Personal information.--
"(A) In general.--The term `personal information' means individually identifiable information about an individual collected online, including--
"(i) a first and last name;
"(ii) a home or other physical address, including a street name and a name of a city or town;
"(iii) an e-mail address;
"(iv) a telephone number;
"(v) a Social Security number;
"(vi) any other identifier that the Commission determines permits the physical or online contacting of a specific individual;
"(vii) a persistent identifier that can be used to recognize a specific child or teen over time and across different websites, online services, online applications, or mobile applications, that--
"(I) includes--
"(aa) a customer number held in a cookie; "(bb) an Internet Protocol (IP) address; "(cc) a processor or device serial number; and "(dd) a unique device identifier; and
"(II) excludes an identifier that is used by an operator solely for providing support for the internal operations of the website, online service, online application, or mobile application;
"(viii) a photograph, video, or audio file that contains the image or voice of a specific child or teen;
"(ix) geolocation information;
"(x) information generated from the measurement or technological processing of an the biological, physical, or physiological characteristics of an individual that is used to identify an individual, including--
"(I) fingerprints; "(II) voice prints; "(III) iris or retina imagery scans; "(IV) facial templates; "(V) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) information; and "(VI) gait; and
"(xi) information linked or reasonably linkable to a child or teen or a parent of a child or teen (including any unique identifier) that an operator collects online from the child or teen and combines with an identifier described in this subparagraph.
"(B) Exclusion.--The term `personal information' does not include an audio file that contains the voice of a child or teen if the operator--
"(i) does not request information via voice that would otherwise be considered personal information under this paragraph;
"(ii) provides clear notice of its collection and use of the audio file and its deletion policy in its privacy policy;
"(iii) only uses the voice contained in the audio file as a replacement for written words to perform a task or otherwise engage with a website, online service, online application, or mobile application, including by performing a search and fulfilling a verbal instruction or request;
"(iv) only maintains the audio file during the period necessary to complete the relevant task or engagement;
"(v) does not make any other use of the audio file during such period; and
"(vi) deletes the audio file at the end of such period.
"(C) Support for the internal operations of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application.--
"(i) In general.--For purposes of subparagraph (A)(vii), the term `support for the internal operations of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application' means the activities necessary to such website, service, or application to--
"(I) maintain or analyze functioning;
"(II) perform network communications;
"(III) authenticate users;
"(IV) personalize content;
"(V) serve contextual advertising to users (if any persistent identifier is only used as necessary for technical purposes to serve the contextual advertisement or cap the frequency of contextual advertising;
"(VI) protect the security or integrity of the user, website, online service, online application, or mobile application;
"(VII) ensure legal or regulatory compliance, or
"(VIII) fulfill a request of a child or teen under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 1303(b)(2).
"(ii) Condition.--Except as specifically permitted under clause (i), information collected through the activities described in clause (i) may not be used or disclosed to contact a specific individual (including through individual-specific advertising to children or teens), to amass a profile on a specific individual, in connection with processes that encourage or prompt use of a website or online service, or for any other purpose.";
(5) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:
"(9) Verifiable consent.--The term `verifiable consent' means any reasonable effort (taking into consideration available technology) by an operator, including a request for authorization for future collection, use, and disclosure described in the notice, to ensure that a parent of a child (in the case of a child) or a teen (in the case of a teen)--
"(A) receives direct notice of the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure practices of the operator with respect to personal information; and
"(B) before the personal information of the child or teen is collected, freely and unambiguously authorizes--
"(i) the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure, as applicable, of the personal information; and
"(ii) any subsequent use of the personal information.";
(6) in paragraph (10)--
(A) in the heading, by striking "Website or online service directed to children" and inserting "Website, online service, online application, or mobile application directed to children";
(B) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking "website or online service directed to children" and inserting "website, online service, online application, or mobile application directed to children";
(ii) in clause (i), by striking "commercial website or online service" and inserting "website, online service, online application, or mobile application"; and
(iii) in clause (ii), by striking "commercial website or online service" and inserting "website, online service, online application, or mobile application";
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking "commercial website or online service" each place the term appears and inserting "website, online service, online application, or mobile application"; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
"(C) Rule of construction.--In considering whether a website, online service, online application, or mobile application, or portion thereof, is directed to children, the Commission shall apply a totality of circumstances test and will also consider competent and reliable empirical evidence regarding audience composition and evidence regarding the intended audience of the website, online service, online application, or mobile application."; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
"(13) Connected device.--The term `connected device' means a device that is capable of connecting to the internet, directly or indirectly, or to another connected device.
"(14) Online application.--The term `online application'--
"(A) means an internet-connected software program; and
"(B) includes a service or application offered via a connected device.
"(15) Mobile application.--The term `mobile application'--
"(A) means a software program that runs on the operating system of--
"(i) a cellular telephone;
"(ii) a tablet computer; or
"(iii) a similar portable computing device that transmits data over a wireless connection; and
"(B) includes a service or application offered via a connected device.
"(16) Geolocation information.--The term `geolocation information' means information sufficient to identify a street name and name of a city or town.
"(17) Teen.--The term `teen' means an individual who has attained the age of 14 and is under the age of 18.
"(18) Individual-specific advertising to children or teens.--
"(A) In general.--The term `individual-specific advertising to children or teens' means advertising or any other effort to market a product or service that is directed to a specific child or teen or a connected device that is linked or reasonably linkable to a child or teen based on--
"(i) personal information of--
"(I) the child or teen; or
"(II) a group of children or teens who are similar in sex, age, household income level, race, or ethnicity to the specific child or teen to whom the product or service is marketed;
"(ii) profiling of such child or teen or group of children or teens; or
"(iii) a unique identifier of such connected device.
"(B) Exclusions.--The term `individual-specific advertising to children or teens' shall not include--
"(i) advertising or marketing to an individual or to a device of an individual in response to a specific request by the individual for information or feedback, such as a search query by a child or teen;
"(ii) contextual advertising, including if an advertisement is displayed based on the content of the website, online service, online application, mobile application, or connected device on which the advertisement appears and does not vary based on personal information of an individual who views the advertisement;
"(iii) processing personal information solely for measuring or reporting advertising or content performance, reach, or frequency, including independent measurement; or
"(iv) advertising or marketing directed to a connected device used by both adult and child or teen members of a household, if such advertising or marketing is directed to a profile of an adult user.
"(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to prohibit an operator with actual knowledge or an operator who should have known that a user is under the age of 18 from delivering advertising or marketing that is age-appropriate and intended for a child or teen audience, if the operator does not use any personal information other than whether the user is under the age of 18.
"(19) Educational agency or institution.--The term `educational agency or institution' means--
"(A) a State educational agency or a local educational agency (as such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
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7801)); or
"(B) an institutional day or residential school, including a public school (including a charter school) or a private school, that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under State law.
"(20) Knowledge.--The term `knowledge' means the operator has actual knowledge or should have known that a user is a child or teen.".
(b) Online Collection, Use, Disclosure, and Deletion of Personal Information of Children and Teens.--Section 1303 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6502) is amended--
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the following: "online collection, use, disclosure, and deletion of personal information of children and teens.";
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
"(1) In general.--It is unlawful for an operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application directed to children or for any operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application with actual knowledge or any operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application who should have known that a user is a child or teen to do any of the following:
"(A) Collect personal information from a child or teen in a manner that violates the regulations promulgated under subsection (b).
"(B) Collect, use, disclose to third parties, or maintain personal information of a child
or teen for purposes of individual-specific advertising to children or teens (or to allow another person to collect, use, disclose, or maintain such information for such purpose);
"(C) Otherwise collect the personal information of a child or teen, except if the collection of the personal information is--
"(i) consistent with the context of a particular transaction or service or the relationship of the child or teen with the operator, including any collection necessary to fulfill a transaction or provide a product or service requested by the child or teen; or
"(ii) authorized or required by Federal law (including a regulation promulgated under subsection (b)) or State law.
"(D) Store or transfer the personal information of a child or teen outside of the United States, unless the operator provides direct notice to a parent of the child (in the case of a child) or to the teen (in the case of a teen) of such storage or transfer.
"(E) Retain the personal information of a child or teen for longer than is reasonably necessary to fulfill a transaction or provide a service requested by the child or teen, except as authorized or required by Federal or State law."; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the heading, by striking "parent" and inserting "parent or teen";
(ii) by striking "Notwithstanding paragraph (1)" and inserting "Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A)";
(iii) by striking "of such a website or online service"; and
(iv) by striking "subsection (b)(1)(B)(iii) to the parent of a child" and inserting "subsection (b)(1)(B)(iv) to a parent of a child or under subsection (b)(1)(C)(iv) to a teen";
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking "the operator of any website" and all that follows through "from a child" and inserting "an operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application directed to children or for any operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application with actual knowledge or any operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application who should have known that a user is a child or teen";
(II) in clause (i)--
(aa) by striking "notice on the website" and inserting "clear and conspicuous notice on the website, service, or application";
(bb) by inserting "or teens" after "children";
(cc) by striking ", and the operator's disclosure practices" and inserting ", the disclosure practices of the operator"; and
(dd) by striking "; and" and inserting ", the rights and opportunities available to a parent of a child or teen under subparagraphs (B) and (C), and the procedures or mechanisms the operator uses to ensure that personal information is not collected from children or teens (except as permitted by the regulations promulgated under this subsection);";
(III) in clause (ii)--
(aa) by striking "parental";
(bb) by inserting "or teens" after "children";
(cc) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting "; and"; and
(IV) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:
"(iii) to obtain verifiable consent from a parent of a child (in the case of a child) or from a teen (in the case of a teen) before using or disclosing personal information of the child or teen for any purpose that is a material change from the original purposes and disclosure practices specified to the parent of the child or the teen under clause (i);";
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking "that website or online service" and inserting "the operator";
(II) in clause (i), by striking "that operator" and inserting "the operator, the method by which the operator obtains the personal information, and the purposes for which the operator collects, uses, discloses, and retains the personal information";
(III) in clause (ii)--
(aa) by inserting "to delete personal information collected from the child or content or information submitted by the child to a website, online service, online application, or mobile application and" after "the opportunity at any time"; and
(bb) by striking "; and" and inserting a semicolon;
(IV) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv) and inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:
"(iii) the opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the personal information and, if the parent of the child establishes the inaccuracy of the personal information, to have the inaccurate personal information corrected;"; and
(V) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by inserting ", if such information is available to the operator at the time the parent makes the request" before the semicolon;
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:
"(C) require the operator to provide, upon the request of a teen who has provided personal information to the operator, upon proper identification of the teen--
"(i) a description of the specific types of personal information collected from the teen by the operator, the method by which the operator obtained the personal information, and the purposes for which the operator collects, uses, discloses, and retains the personal information;
"(ii) the opportunity at any time to delete personal information collected from the teen or content or information submitted by the teen to a website, online service, online application, or mobile application and to refuse to permit the further use or maintenance in retrievable form, or online collection, of personal information from the teen by the operator;
"(iii) the opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the personal information and, if the teen establishes the inaccuracy of the personal information, to have the inaccurate personal information corrected; and
"(iv) a means that is reasonable under the circumstances for the teen to obtain any personal information collected from the teen, if such information is available to the operator at the time the teen makes the request;";
(v) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated--
(I) by striking "a child's participation" and inserting "the participation of a child or teen"; and
(II) by inserting "or teen" after "the child"; and
(vi) by amending subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, to read as follows:
"(E) require the operator--
"(i) to establish, implement, and maintain reasonable security practices to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of personal information of children or teens collected by the operator; and
"(ii) to protect such personal information against unauthorized access.";
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "verifiable parental consent" and inserting "verifiable consent";
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting "or teen" after "collected from a child";
(II) by inserting "or teen" after "request from the child"; and
(III) by inserting "or teen or to contact another child or teen" after "to recontact the child";
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking "parent or child" and inserting "parent or teen"; and
(II) by striking "parental consent" each place the term appears and inserting "verifiable consent";
(iv) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting "or teen" after "child" each place the term appears;
(II) in clause (i)--
(aa) by inserting "or teen" after "child" each place the term appears; and
(bb) by inserting "or teen, as applicable," after "parent" each place the term appears; and
(III) in clause (ii)--
(aa) by striking "without notice to the parent" and inserting "without notice to the parent or teen, as applicable,"; and
(bb) by inserting "or teen" after "child" each place the term appears; and
(v) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting "or teen" after "child" each place the term appears;
(II) in clause (ii), by inserting "or teen" after "child"; and
(III) in the flush text following clause (iii)--
(aa) by inserting "or teen, as applicable," after "parent" each place the term appears; and
(bb) by inserting "or teen" after "child";
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4) and inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:
"(3) Application to operators acting under agreements with educational agencies or institutions.--The regulations may provide that verifiable consent under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) is not required for an operator that acts under a written agreement with an educational agency or institution that, at a minimum, requires the--
"(A) operator to--
"(i) limit the collection, use, and disclosure by the operator of the personal information from a child or teen to solely educational purposes and for no other commercial purposes;
"(ii) provide the educational agency or institution with a notice of the specific types of personal information the operator will collect from the child or teen, the method by which the operator will obtain the personal information, and the purposes for which the operator will collect, use, disclose, and retain the personal information;
"(iii) provide to the educational agency or institution a link regarding the disclosure practices of the operator described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i); and
"(iv) provide the educational agency or institution, upon request, with a means to review the personal information collected from a child or teen, to prevent further use or maintenance or future collection of personal information from a child or teen, and to delete personal information collected from a child or teen or content or information submitted by a child or teen to website, online service, online application, or mobile application of the operator;
"(B) representative of the educational agency or institution to acknowledge and agree that the representative has authority
to authorize the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information from children or teens on behalf of the educational agency or institution, along with such authorization, the name of the representative, and the title of the representative at the educational agency or institution; and
"(C) educational agency or institution to--
"(i) provide on a website of the educational agency or institution a notice that identifies the operator with which the educational agency or institution has entered into a written agreement under this subsection and provides the link described in subparagraph (A)(iii);
"(ii)
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upon request, provide the notice described in subparagraph (A)(ii) to a parent (in the case of a child) or a parent or teen (in the case of a teen); and
"(iii) upon the request of such a parent or teen, request the operator provide a means to review the personal information of such a child or teen and provide the parent or teen a means to review the personal information.";
(D) by amending paragraph (4), as so redesignated, to read as follows:
"(4) Termination of service.--The regulations shall permit the operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application to terminate service provided to a child for whom a parent has refused or a teen who has refused (under the regulations promulgated under paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (1)(C)(ii), respectively) to permit the operator any further use or maintenance, in retrievable form or future online collection, of personal information from the child or teen."; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
"(5) Continuation of service.--The regulations shall prohibit an operator from discontinuing service provided to a child or teen on the basis of a request by a parent of the child or by the teen (under the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1), respectively) to delete personal information collected from the child or teen, to the extent that the operator is capable of providing such service without such personal information.
"(6) Rule of construction.--A request to delete or correct personal information of a child or teen (under the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1), respectively) may not be construed to do any of the following:
"(A) Limit the authority of a law enforcement agency to obtain any content or information from an operator pursuant to a lawfully executed warrant or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
"(B) Require an operator or third party to delete or correct information that--
"(i) any other provision of Federal or State law requires the operator or third party to maintain; or
"(ii) was submitted to the website, online service, online application, or mobile application of the operator by any person other than the user who is attempting to erase or otherwise eliminate the content or information, including content or information submitted by the user that was republished or resubmitted by another person.
"(C) Prohibit an operator from doing any of the following:
"(i) Retaining a record of the deletion request and the minimum information necessary for the purposes of ensuring compliance with a request made pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1).
"(ii) Preventing, detecting, protecting against, or responding to any security incident, identity theft, or fraud, or reporting a person responsible for any such action.
"(iii) Protecting the integrity or security of a website, online service, online application or mobile application.
"(iv) Ensuring that any such personal information remains deleted.
"(7) Common verifiable consent mechanism.--
"(A) In general.--
"(i) Feasibility of mechanism.--The Commission, with notice and public comment, shall assess the feasibility of allowing operators the option to use a common verifiable consent mechanism that fully meets the requirements of this title.
"(ii) Requirements.--The feasibility assessment required by clause (i) shall consider whether a single operator could use a common verifiable consent mechanism to obtain the verifiable consent required by this title from a parent of a child or from a teen on behalf of multiple listed operators that provide a joint or related service.
"(B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report with the findings of the feasibility assessment required by subparagraph (A)(i).
"(C) Regulations.--If the Commission finds that the use of a common verifiable consent mechanism is feasible and would meet the requirements of this title, the Commission shall issue regulations to permit the use of a common verifiable consent mechanism in accordance with the findings outlined in such report."; and
(4) in subsection (c), by striking "a regulation prescribed under subsection (a)" and inserting "subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of subsection (a)(1) or of a regulation promulgated under subsection (b)".
(c) Safe Harbors.--Section 1304 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6503) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting "and teens" after "children"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
"(d) Publication.--
"(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commission shall publish on the internet website of the Commission any report or documentation required by regulation to be submitted to the Commission to carry out this title.
"(2) Restrictions on publication.--Notwithstanding the publication requirement described in paragraph (1), the restrictions described in sections 6(f) and section 21 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 46(f); 57b-2) applicable to the disclosure of information obtained by the Commission shall apply in the same manner to any publication under paragraph (1).".
(d) Actions by States.--Section 1305 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6504) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting "section 1303(a)(1) or" before "any regulation"; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting "section 1303(a)(1) or" before "the regulation"; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by inserting "section 1303(a)(1) or" before "any regulation"; and
(B) by inserting "section 1303(a)(1) or" before "that regulation".
(e) Administration and Applicability of Act.--Section 1306 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6505) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ", in the case of" and all that follows through "the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;" and inserting the following: "by the appropriate Federal banking agency with respect to any insured depository institution (as such terms are defined in section 3 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 1813));"; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively;
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking "a rule of the Commission under section 1303" and inserting "section 1303(a)(1) or a regulation promulgated under section 1303(b)"; and
(B) by striking "such rule" and inserting "such section or such a regulation"; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
"(f) Rule of Construction on Age Verification.--Nothing in this title may be construed to require an operator to implement an age gating or age verification functionality on a website, online service, online application, or mobile application of the operator.
"(g) Additional Requirement.--Any regulation promulgated under this title shall include a description and analysis of the impact of proposed and final rules on small entities under chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the `Regulatory Flexibility Act').".
SEC. 603. STUDY AND REPORTS OF MOBILE AND ONLINE APPLICATION
OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Oversight Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the processes of platforms that offer mobile and online applications for ensuring that, of those applications that are websites, online services, online applications, or mobile applications directed to children, the applications operate in accordance with--
(1) this subtitle, the amendments made by this subtitle, and regulations promulgated under this subtitle; and
(2) any regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices with respect to marketing.
(b) Enforcement Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that addresses the following:
(1) The number of actions brought by the Commission during the reporting year to enforce the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) (referred to in this subsection as the "Act") and the outcome of each such action.
(2) The total number of investigations or inquiries into potential violations of the Act during the reporting year.
(3) The total number of open investigations or inquiries into potential violations of the Act as of the date on which the report is submitted.
(4) The number and nature of complaints received by the Commission relating to an allegation of a violation of the Act during the reporting year.
(5) Policy or legislative recommendations to strengthen online protections for children and teens.
SEC. 604. GAO STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on
the privacy and mental health of teens who use financial technology products that shall do the following:
(1) Identify the type of financial technology products that teens use.
(2) Identify the potential risks to the privacy and mental health of teens that may result from the use of such financial technology products.
(3) Determine whether existing laws are sufficient to address any such risks.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report that details the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) and recommendations for any legislative or administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
SEC. 605. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this subtitle, or any amendment made by this subtitle, is determined to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions of and amendments made by this subtitle shall not be affected.
SEC. 611. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Covered data broker.--
(A) In general.--The term "covered data broker" means an entity that, for valuable consideration, sells, licenses, rents, trades, transfers, releases, discloses, provides access to, or otherwise makes available to another entity personal data of an individual the data brokers knows is a minor that the entity did not collect directly from such individual to another entity that is not acting as a service provider.
(B) Exception.--The term "covered data broker" does not include an entity to the extent that the entity does any of the following:
(i) Transmits personal data of an individual, including any communication of such individual, at the request or direction of such individual.
(ii) Provides, maintains, or offers a product or service with respect to which personal data, or access to such data, is not the product or service.
(iii) Reports or publishes news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest.
(iv) Acts as a service provider.
(2) Knows.--The term "knows" means to have actual knowledge or willful disregard.
(3) Minor.--The term "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years.
(4) Personal data.--The term "personal data" has the meaning given the term "personal information" in section 1302 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C.
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6501) (as amended by section 602(a)(4) of this Act).
(5) Service provider.--The term "service provider" means an entity that--
(A) collects, processes, or transfers personal data on behalf of and at the direction of--
(i) the minor to whom such information pertains;
(ii) a parent of such a minor;
(iii) a Federal, State, or local government entity; or
(iv) an entity acting as a covered data broker or another service provider; and
(B) receives data from or on behalf of an individual or entity described in subparagraph (A).
SEC. 612. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.
(a) Data Broker Registration.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, and annually thereafter, a covered data broker shall register with the Commission by paying the registration fee set by the Commission under subsection (c) and by filing a registration statement that includes the following information:
(1) The legal name of the covered data broker.
(2) A contact person and the primary physical address, human-monitored email address, human-monitored telephone number, and website address for the covered data broker.
(3) A description of each category of personal data sold by the covered data broker.
(4) A statement of whether the covered data broker implements a purchaser credentialing process.
(5) A description of any incident of unauthorized access to personal data that the covered data broker has reported to a Federal or State governmental entity pursuant to an applicable law, rule, or regulation during the year before the year in which the registration is filed and, if known, the total number of consumers affected by each previously reported incident of such unauthorized access.
(b) Data Broker Registry.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this subtitle, the Commission shall establish and maintain on a publicly available website of the Commission a searchable, central registry of covered data brokers registered under subsection (a) that includes--
(1) a search feature that allows members of the public to search for and identify covered data brokers; and
(2) for each covered data broker, the information required by paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a).
(c) Annual Registration Fee.--The Commission may charge a covered data broker an annual registration fee of at least $22,500 (as adjusted on January 1 each year by the percentage increase (if any), during the preceding 12-month period, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
SEC. 613. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Compliance with this subtitle shall not relieve a covered data broker of an obligation to register with any State covered data broker registry.
SEC. 701. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Enforcement by Commission.--
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
(2) Powers of commission.--The Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act, and any person who violates this Act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.
(3) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this title may be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.
(b) Actions by States.--
(1) In general.--In any case in which the attorney general of a State, or an official or agency of a State, has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of such State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by an act or practice in violation of this Act, the State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United States to--
(A) enjoin such act or practice;
(B) enforce compliance with this Act;
(C) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of residents of the State; or
(D) obtain such other legal and equitable relief as the court may consider to be appropriate.
(2) Notice.--Before filing an action under this subsection, the attorney general, official, or agency of the State involved shall provide to the Commission a written notice of such action and a copy of the complaint for such action. If the attorney general, official, or agency determines that it is not feasible to provide the notice described in this paragraph before the filing of the action, the attorney general, official, or agency shall provide written notice of the action and a copy of the complaint to the Commission immediately upon the filing of the action.
(3) Authority of commission.--
(A) In general.--On receiving notice under paragraph (2) of an action under this subsection, the Commission shall have the right--
(i) to intervene in the action;
(ii) upon so intervening--
(I) to be heard on all matters arising therein; and (II) to file petitions for appeal.
(B) Limitation on state action while federal action is pending.--If the Commission or the Attorney General of the United States has instituted a civil action for violation of this Act (referred to in this subparagraph as the "Federal action"), no State attorney general, official, or agency may bring an action under this subsection during the pendency of the Federal action against any defendant named in the complaint in the Federal action for any violation of this Act alleged in such complaint.
(4) Rule of construction.--For purposes of bringing a civil action under this subsection, nothing in this Act may be construed to prevent an attorney general, official, or agency of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general, official, or agency by the laws of such State to conduct investigations, administer oaths and affirmations, or compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence.
SEC. 702. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any challenge to the constitutionality of this Act or the constitutionality of any action, finding, or determination under this Act.
SEC. 703. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to do any of the following:
(1) Allow a governmental entity to enforce this Act based on a viewpoint expressed by or through any speech, expression, or information protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(2) Prevent--
(A) the taking of reasonable measures to block or filter spam, prevent criminal activity, or protect the security of a platform or service; or
(B) compliance with the duties and reporting requirements set forth in 18 U.S.C. 2258A.
(3) Require the disclosure of the browsing behavior, search history, messages, contact list, or other content or metadata of the communications of a minor.
(4) Limit or impair the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) or any rule or regulation promulgated under such Act.
(5) Expand, limit the scope of, or alter the meaning of section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230).
(6) Restrict the ability to do any of the following:
(A) Cooperate with a law enforcement agency regarding activity reasonably and in good faith believed to violate a Federal, State, or local law, rule, or regulation.
(B) Comply with a lawful civil, criminal, or regulatory inquiry, subpoena, or summons from a Federal, State, local, or other governmental authority.
(C) Investigate, establish, exercise, respond to, or defend against a legal claim.
(D) Prevent, detect, or respond to a security incident, identity theft, fraud, harassment, or any other malicious, deceptive, or illegal activity.
(E) Investigate or report a person responsible for an activity described in subparagraph (D).
(7) Decrypt or ensure an ability to decrypt an encrypted communication of a user.
(8) Preclude the use of any form of encryption, including end-to-end encryption, for any communication of a user.
(9) Require indefinite retention of data of a user.
(10) Require the affirmative collection of any personal information with respect to age that is not already collected in the normal course of business.
SEC. 704. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS.
(a) In General.--The provisions of this Act shall preempt any law, rule, requirement, or regulation of a State, or a political subdivision of a State, only to the extent that such law, rule, requirement, or regulation conflicts with a provision of this Act.
(b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), nothing in this Act may be construed--
(1) to preempt any law, rule, requirement, or regulation of a State, or political subdivision of a State, with respect to contract, tort, or product liability; or
(2) to prohibit a State, or a political subdivision of a State, from enacting or enforcing any law, rule, requirement, or regulation that provides greater protection to minors than the protection provided by the provisions of this Act.
(c) Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.--Section 1303 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 6502) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
"(d) Relationship to State Law.--
"(1) In general.--The provisions of this title shall preempt any law, rule, requirement, or regulation of a State, or a political subdivision of a State, only to the extent that such law, rule, requirement, or regulation conflicts with a provision of this title.
"(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this title may be construed--
"(A) to preempt any law, rule, requirement, or regulation of a State, or political subdivision of a State, with respect to contract, tort, or product liability; or
"(B) to prohibit a State, or a political subdivision of a State, from enacting or enforcing any law, rule, requirement, or regulation that provides greater protection to minors than the protection provided by the provisions of this title.".
SEC. 705. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act or the application of this Act to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of this Act and the application of this Act to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.
SEC. 706. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7757.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or the KIDS Act.
This legislation is the most comprehensive, impactful children's online safety package Congress has considered.
I thank Ranking Member Pallone for his partnership and leadership on this issue. Protecting children should not be a partisan issue, and I appreciate his commitment and working with us to find common ground to address the very real challenges facing families today.
Before I continue, I will recognize two parents who are with us in the gallery today: Deb Schmill, mother of Becca, and Maurine Molak, mother of David. They have experienced every parent's worst nightmare: losing a child because of online harms.
Mr. Speaker, I thank them for their courage in sharing their stories and for turning unimaginable loss into tireless advocacy to help protect other children and families. Their presence here today reminds us of what is at stake, and their voices have helped shape this legislation.
A key part of our approach was negotiating a package of impactful provisions. We worked hard to reach a workable compromise. The KIDS Act incorporates 13 bipartisan Member priorities from across the House to empower parents, protect children's and teens' privacy, and hold Big Tech and online forums accountable.
The bill requires platforms to protect kids by default, including limiting addictive and dangerous design features and risky messaging functions.
It gives parents stronger tools to monitor and manage their children's online experiences, establishes safeguards for AI chatbots, creates new protections in online gaming environments, and requires age verification for pornography websites to ensure kids cannot access explicit content.
The legislation also modernizes children's privacy protections by requiring parental consent before collecting information from children under 14 and extending important new privacy protections to teenagers under 18.
At its core, this legislation sends a simple message: Children deserve a safer online experience, parents deserve a greater voice in their children's digital lives, and technology companies must be held accountable when they fail to protect young users.
While no single bill will solve every challenge facing families online, this legislation represents a significant and long-overdue step forward in establishing meaningful safeguards. It is an important milestone, not a finish line, in the effort to better protect children online and hold bad actors accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Members are reminded not to refer to persons in the gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the KIDS Act, which is, as my chairman has mentioned, bipartisan legislation to protect kids online and rein in Big Tech. I thank Chairman Guthrie for all his work on this.
The internet, social media, and now artificial intelligence have profoundly changed how kids and teens connect with families and friends, how they learn about what is happening around them, and how they participate in an ever-changing online world.
While there have been positive advancements, our kids are also suffering from Big Tech's choke hold on their attention and their relentless pursuit to keep them connected to their platforms. Big Tech is using reckless practices to surveil our kids and teens, exploit vulnerabilities to turn a profit, and promote engagement regardless of the consequences.
For too long, Big Tech has had a free pass while kids and teens face real harm online, including predatory design features, dangerous AI chatbots, and data brokers profiting off of their personal information.
We simply cannot allow this to continue. It is long past time for Congress to step in and pass legislation that protects our kids and teens and reins in Big Tech.
Now, the bipartisan KIDS Act does just that. It is a comprehensive bill that addresses a problem everyone in Congress cares deeply about, and that is keeping kids and teens safe online.
The KIDS Act mandates safeguards, parental tools, and policies across video games and social media platforms, including social gaming platforms like Roblox and chatbots. Platforms are required to limit addictive design features, restrict sharing minors' geolocation data, turn off personalized recommendation systems that drive user engagement, and a lot more.
The KIDS Act also changes the business incentives driving Big Tech's desire to keep kids on their platforms by protecting minors' data and expanding these critical privacy protections from the current age of 12 to teens up to the age of 17.
The bill also bans targeted advertising to kids and teens and ensures that websites can collect and retain only limited kids' data that is necessary to provide a product or service.
It also requires data brokers that sell minors' data to register with the Federal Trade Commission and pay an annual fee, bringing transparency to a secretive process and a crucial first step toward ending the practice of data brokers selling kids' data.
Mr. Speaker, I can't express enough gratitude to all the parents who have shared their stories and fought for Congress to come together to take action to save other parents from ever experiencing what they went through.
I know there are parents who would like Congress to go even further in the KIDS Act. I will be clear: The KIDS Act is a floor, not a ceiling. The preemption language in the KIDS Act is written with the explicit intent of ensuring that States have the authority to pass and enforce stronger State laws, including those with a duty of care. It is also intended to ensure that ongoing lawsuits against social media companies, chatbot providers, and social gaming companies brought by State attorneys general and attorneys on behalf of parents and kids can continue, including those based on a duty of care and consumer protection laws.
I am proud to lead this legislation alongside Chairman Guthrie. For many months now, the Energy and Commerce Committee has been working on legislative solutions to protect our kids and teens online, and this comprehensive, bipartisan bill is the result of those ongoing negotiations. This is an example of the Energy and Commerce Committee at its best.
Mr. Speaker, I am also grateful for the tireless work of Representative Castor, a senior committee member, who has been a steadfast champion of the strongest possible protection for kids online.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on the KIDS Act to make the internet a safer place for our kids and teens, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend who is the author and chairman of the subcommittee who has worked tirelessly on this piece of legislation.
Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong in support of H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or the KIDS Act.
This package will finally give parents real tools to protect their kids online. A key provision in the KIDS Act is my Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA. I have been working on KOSA, Mr. Speaker, for 3 years, and I am proud to see it finally reach the House floor.
The need for action has never been clearer. Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online almost constantly, about half spend 4 or more hours a day on screens for leisure, and 95 percent have a smartphone in their pocket, placing them in a digital environment that too often prioritizes engagement and profit over safety.
Big Tech platforms are not neutral. Their algorithms are designed to maximize attention, not protect kids.
Mr. Speaker, kids are pushed toward harmful content, targeted by predatory actors, and funneled into design features built to keep them scrolling longer.
Families across the country have paid the price, Mr. Speaker, from exploitation and harassment to content that fuels anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-harm, unfortunately. That is why this bill and KOSA, in particular, are so very important.
It establishes clear, targeted obligations for large online platforms to take steps to prevent and mitigate specific harms to minors.
It focuses on addressing documented risks, such as sexual exploitation, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and self-harm content that can be amplified through algorithmic recommendation systems and engagement-driven design.
KOSA requires platforms to put in place concrete safeguards, limiting harmful design features, improving transparency around how systems impact children, and giving parents strong tools to understand and manage their children's online experiences.
It also ensures Big Tech is held accountable for their decisions through FTC enforcement and State attorneys general.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee and the excellent staff. We never gave up. We persevered, and we have a good product, thanks to them.
I thank the ranking member as well, Mr. Pallone, and Ms. Castor, for working with me on this piece of legislation. Again, the chairman gives me credit, but he is responsible as well. The goal is to protect the kids, and I appreciate all the input from the parents over the years.
Mr. Speaker, let's get this across the finish line and protect our children.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan), a member of our committee.
Jennifer L. McClellan (D-VA)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7757, the bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or the KIDS Act.
As a member of Gen X, who is a mom to a Gen Z teen and Gen Alpha tween, I struggle every day to find the balance between giving our kids the freedom they need to develop and grow and keeping them safe. I see every day that the digital world kids face today is unlike anything previous generations have faced before.
Every day innovators launch new technologies, applications, and online platforms that create incredible opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. Those same innovations also create new opportunities for those who would do our kids harm. New risks for invasive data collection, cyberbullying, online exploitation, and harmful content.
It is much harder for parents or other trusted adults today to protect kids from these harms that they often don't see in an ecosystem they often don't understand.
It is past time for Congress to act before more children are put at risk. We are probably 20 years too late. We can't wait anymore.
The KIDS Act closes critical gaps in Federal law by strengthening privacy protections for children and teens; banning targeted advertising to minors; limiting unnecessary data collection, giving parents and teens greater control over personal information; increasing transparency for data brokers; and requiring online platforms to implement stronger default safety tools that reduce harmful interactions. Notably, it preserves every State's ability to go even further.
While this package does not include everything that we would like to see, we cannot let the perfect become the enemy of the good, and this bill is a critical first step.
Our children deserve to enjoy the benefits of technology without sacrificing their privacy, their safety, or mental health.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone and Chairman Guthrie for bringing Democrats and Republicans on the committee together to produce this significant bipartisan legislation at a time when most people believe bipartisanship is dead.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), a good friend who is a fantastic member of our committee and has worked hard on these issues protecting children.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie, who has done a fabulous job of shepherding this through the Committee on Energy and Commerce in a bipartisan manner.
Protecting children and teens online is one of the most urgent responsibilities we face as policymakers. As digital platforms become central to how young people learn, communicate, innovate, and navigate the world, we must ensure that these spaces are safe, transparent, and designed with their well-being as the driving priority.
My bill, the SPY Kids Act, included in title II of the KIDS Act, takes an important step toward that goal by prohibiting online platforms from conducting market research or product-focused research on children under 13 and by requiring verifiable parental consent before such research can be conducted on teenagers.
The bill applies to user-generated content platforms that use engagement-driven design features and personal data to tailor ads or recommendations, such as social media companies and social gaming platforms.
This legislation matters because the online environment our kids encounter today is fundamentally different from anything previous generations experienced.
Platforms are engineered to capture attention, collect sensitive information, shape behavior, force content, and it is in ways that young users may not recognize or be able to navigate safely.
Children and teens should not be profiled, studied, or targeted for commercial advantage, especially without parental oversight.
By limiting how platforms can analyze and monetize minors' data, the SPY Kids Act helps reduce the risk of manipulative marketing practices, strengthens privacy protections, and reinforces the principle that the well-being of America's youth must come before the business models of technology companies.
Our goal is simple: to build an online ecosystem where children can grow, learn, innovate, and connect without being exploited in the process.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on the bill.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan), a member of our committee.
Lori Trahan (D-MA)3:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his strong leadership on this vitally important issue.
When I joined the Energy and Commerce Committee 6 years ago, I committed to doing everything in my power to make the internet a safer place for my children, my two young daughters, specifically.
In the years since, I have sat in hearing after hearing where we have talked about doing something to deliver on that promise.
I met with parents who have lived every family's worst nightmare, parents whose children harmed themselves and even ended their lives because executives in Silicon Valley cared more about their stock price than the safety of our children.
I looked those parents in the eye. I cried with them as they told their story. Then I went home to have hard conversations with my two girls about how the apps they use, Instagram, TikTok, and others, are engineered to make them doubt their image and question their worth.
For years, this crisis has gone unanswered, decades at this point. Our children have been left to navigate one of the most powerful and manipulative technologies ever built, and they have been left to do it alone.
This bill ends that.
To be clear, Mr. Speaker, the KIDS Act doesn't solve every problem, but it makes one heck of a dent. It finally gives kids and teens overdue privacy protections. It forces platforms to turn on safeguards by default instead of burying them where no parent can find them. It puts tools in the hands of moms and dads, and it makes companies answer for the worst harms that they allow on their platforms.
Is it everything I want? No. I have heard from parents and advocates who believe we should go further, and they are right that this fight isn't over. We can and we must continue to build upon this progress, but I refuse to tell families to wait for a better political moment or for a perfect bill that may never come when meaningful protections are in front of us right now.
Critically, these are protections built to last, not ones written to be struck down in court on the day they take effect.
I thank Ranking Member Pallone for his commitment to these negotiations, and I acknowledge the work of leaders on the committee on this issue, including Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.
Today, we pass the KIDS Act. Tomorrow, we keep fighting for safer digital spaces for every child, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote "yes."
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee), who not only is a great committee member on our committee, but is also one of the judicial minds on our committee who is a great legal scholar.
Laurel M. Lee (R-FL)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or the KIDS Act.
Children today are growing up in a digital world that looks dramatically different than it did just a generation ago.
While technology has created tremendous opportunities to learn and to connect, it has also exposed young people to online predators, sexual exploitation, privacy violations, and increasingly sophisticated threats driven by artificial intelligence.
Parents are doing everything they can to protect their children online but should not have to navigate these challenges alone.
This legislation includes two bipartisan bills that I have been honored to lead. The first is the Promoting a Safer Internet for Minors Act.
I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), my colleague and fellow Floridian, for his support and partnership on this legislation.
This bill recognizes that education is one of the strongest tools we have to protect children before they become victims.
It directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish a nationwide public awareness campaign that equips parents, educators, and communities with practical, up-to-date guidance on helping children navigate the internet safely and responsibly.
The second is COPPA 2.0, which I am proud to lead along with Congressman Tim Walberg.
When Congress enacted the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act nearly three decades ago, social media did not exist, and online platforms were not collecting massive amounts of personal information to build user profiles and deliver targeted advertising.
This bill brings our privacy laws into the modern era by extending important protections to teenagers, limiting unnecessary data collection, prohibiting targeted advertising to children and to teens, creating clear expectations for tech platforms, and giving families greater control over their personal information.
Together, these provisions reflect a simple principle: Protecting children online requires both empowering families with the information they need and ensuring that online platforms handle children's personal information responsibly.
Technology will continue to evolve, and our laws must evolve with it.
I am grateful to Chairman Guthrie, Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis, and my colleagues on the committee for their partnership in advancing this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support the KIDS Act.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier), who is another member of our committee.
Kim Schrier (D-WA)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as a mom, a pediatrician, and a Member of Congress, I rise today to support the advancement of the KIDS Act to take some serious steps to protect our kids and their data online and hold Big Tech accountable.
The KIDS Act includes my bill, the Kids Online Safety Act, which will ensure that social media companies provide protections and guardrails for kids online and are held accountable for the many harms they are causing to our kids, from sleeplessness, to eating disorders, to self-harm, and even harm from others.
Social media companies have gone largely unregulated for decades, all while they have become an omnipresent and bigger and bigger part of everyday life, including for kids.
In my 20 years as a pediatrician, I have seen the rise of mental and behavioral health concerns for kids and teens coincide directly with the rise of screen time and social media.
It is long past time to hold Big Tech and social media accountable.
This package includes many useful tools for parents to keep their kids safe online, but parents can't do it alone. This package isn't perfect, and I wish to see even more come out of negotiations with the Senate. That is why I am continuing to call for a duty of care and language that goes further to hold social media companies accountable for the many harms that their platforms are causing, including serious mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders, and suicidality.
But this package represents the first time in decades that we have had a chance in the House to take a step forward, to finally passing comprehensive legislation to protect our kids. I strongly urge my colleagues to support it today so we can make it even stronger.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller), my good friend who has worked really hard to be an important part of this package.
Mary E. Miller (R-IL)3:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for his important leadership.
Mr. Speaker, the statistics are alarming. The average age of a child's first exposure to pornography is just 12 years old, and nearly 80 percent of America's children between 12 and 17 have already been exposed to it.
Not only has the sexual content become intentionally easier to access, but it has also become increasingly violent, abusive, normalizing sexual assault, physical violence, and nonconsensual acts for young, impressionable minds. The consequences are devastating.
Research has linked early exposure to pornography with anxiety, addiction, depression, low self-esteem, body image disorders, and an increased likelihood that minors will engage in risky and harmful sexual behavior.
States across America have recognized this crisis. More than a dozen have declared children's exposure to pornography a public health crisis, and more than two dozen States have enacted age verification requirements for adult websites.
Last year, the Supreme Court upheld Texas' age verification law. The court ruled that the burden placed on adults to verify one's age is incidental when the intent is to protect the innocence of the children.
For that reason, I am grateful that Chairman Guthrie included the SCREEN Act in this legislative package.
Senator Mike Lee and I drafted this legislation to establish age verification requirements for adult websites, creating a minimum requirement that every State must meet while allowing flexibility to enact stronger protections for children.
I am a strong supporter of the First Amendment, but constitutional law has long recognized that its protections do not extend to obscenity.
Our laws already require age verification to purchase alcohol, tobacco, firearms, or to enter a casino.
We recognize that some products and activities are simply inappropriate for children. Pornography should be no different. The SCREEN Act is one of the most consequential bills to protect children in the digital age.
Today, we have an opportunity to make the internet safer for the next generation, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.
I thank Chairman Guthrie for including my bill in this package.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor), another member of our committee who also happens to be the ranking member of our Energy Subcommittee and has been very much involved with this issue and the KIDS Act from the very beginning.
Kathy Castor (D-FL)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very important step forward to protect our kids online. I really arrived here more as a parent than a Member of Congress, watching two daughters grow up at a time when the internet and social media was evolving, and I just understood from a very personal level what was happening.
Being here in Congress, listening to parents whose children had suffered online harms, whether that was suicide or cyberbullying, the evidence really is overwhelming now about the online risks and the physical and mental harms suffered by kids.
Over 40 percent of kids under 12 are exposed to inappropriate material within their first month on social media: cyberbullying and violent and graphic content.
Excessive screen time is linked to significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression among teens. Those spending 4 or more hours online daily are more than twice as likely to report symptoms of both.
My colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee and I have spent many Congresses--a number of Congresses--working with advocacy groups and parents about the best way to combat the harms experienced by young people online.
The underlying record is replete with evidence from psychologists, pediatricians, and teachers about the impact that Big Tech has on our kids. I have submitted their stories, reports, and research for the Record as we update the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, a law that is outdated, that now will cover teens and provide much greater safety and privacy for young people.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record all of these stories and everything by reference here today. This includes the testimonies, coalition letters, and advisory from the Surgeon General, all showing that compulsive social media use is harmful to the health of our kids. The documents can be found at the following links: Anxious Generation: The Evidence (2026) https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/research/the-evidence; Master Complaint in Meta Lawsuit (2025) https:// www.motleyrice.com/sites/default/files/documents/Less-Redacted-Omnibus-Opposition-Brief.pdf; Pew Research Center Report: Teens, Social Media and Mental Health (2025) https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/ uploads/sites/20/2025/04/PI_2025.04.22_teens-social-media-mental-health_REPORT.pdf; Fairplay: Teen Accounts: Broken Promises, How Instagram is Failing to Protect Minors (2025) https:// fairplayforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Teen-Accounts-Broken-Promises-How-Instagram-is-failing-to-protect-minors.pdf; FTC Report: A Look Behind the Screens, Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services (2024); https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-911-2024.pdf; U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health (2023) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594761/pdf/ Bookshelf_NBK594761.pdf; American Psychological Association: Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence (2023) https://www.apa.org/ topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use.pdf
As digital threats evolve, so must our laws. The bipartisan KIDS Act before us today responds to these realities with strong, commonsense safeguards.
This has been a long time coming, and I really thank Chairman Guthrie for bringing it in for a landing. My good friend, Chairman Gus Bilirakis, and I have worked on KOSA. I appreciate the support from my allies on privacy, Representative Walberg and now Representative Lee who came on this Congress.
I appreciate the work of Ranking Member Pallone, Representative Trahan, and the professional staff who really listened to the parents. I know it is not the be all-end all, and they have my commitment to keep pressing for the strongest privacy protections and design code protections.
I hope the Senate adopts a very strong bill. It is there. The ball is going to be in their court now after the House passes the KIDS Act today, but this is an important step for kids, parents, and families in America. How do we keep up with the technological innovations? How do we keep up with what Big Tech wants to do to monetize children's time online? They deserve the protections here today. They deserve this strong step forward, and I again thank my colleagues and urge a strong "yes" vote.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I want everyone to understand that this KIDS Act mandates safeguards, parental tools, and policies to keep kids safe across the internet, from social media to video games to chatbots.
Secondly, the bill adds data minimization language, and this is so important. It minimizes the amount of data that can be collected. This is to prevent excessive data collection for kids and teens, provides rights to delete access and correct data to teens and parents of children, and bans targeted advertising to kids and teens.
This bill reflects months of bipartisan negotiation between myself and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Guthrie, Mr. Bilirakis, and Ms. Castor to arrive at a package of bills that will provide meaningful baseline protections for kids online without stopping further progress in the States. We do not preempt the States from taking further action.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe this bill provides a path to passage here in the House and also in the Senate.
I ask Members on a bipartisan basis to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for those data protections. That has been very important and a big part of the negotiations, and the gentleman has been a great advocate for that. I really appreciate it.
I mentioned Ms. Schmill and Ms. Molak when we first started. I should mention the staff and their hard work. They had countless hours meeting with different groups. Members were meeting with different groups and working hard on this, but the staff has, as well.
When I first took the chairmanship, very early in my chairmanship when my colleagues asked me to chair this committee, we sat down with a group of people to determine our priorities.
Number one was this bill. Number one was this effort. Number one was this issue. People talk a lot of times about how we have so many young staffers on Capitol Hill. They are, and they are also young parents. I have seen from both sides of the aisle, a couple of our staff members have different opinions on other issues but sit down and put that all aside when it comes to their children, America's children.
Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the hard, hard work. I really encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill tonight. I really encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill tonight because when we vote for this bill tonight, the House will put its imprint--and we have worked with the Senate, but the House will put its imprint to make sure that children are protected, parents are empowered, and Big Tech is held accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Moran)4:00 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7757, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:00 p.m.
In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:00 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act
Pages H4296–H4297 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7257) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require States to include supporting the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in State energy security plans, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (5,188 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act" or the "SECURE Grid Act".
SEC. 2. CONSIDERATION OF THE SECURITY OF LOCAL DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEMS IN STATE ENERGY SECURITY PLANS.
Section 366 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
"(3) Local distribution system.--The term `local distribution system' means any energy infrastructure owned and operated by an electric utility at a voltage of 100 kilovolts or less.";
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ", and suppliers of equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to," after "owners and operators of";
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
"(3) address potential hazards to each energy sector or system, including--
"(A) physical threats and vulnerabilities, including--
"(i) weather-related threats and vulnerabilities;
"(ii) physical attacks on local distribution systems and the bulk-power system; and
"(iii) supply chain risks for equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and
"(B) cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, including threats to, and vulnerabilities of, local distribution systems that may impact the bulk-power system;"; and
(B) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
"(5) provide a risk mitigation approach to enhance reliability and end-use resilience, including methods of responding to, mitigating, and recovering from potential hazards described in paragraph (3); and";
(4) in subsection (d)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking "and" at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
"(B) supplying equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and";
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking "A State is not eligible" and inserting the following:
"(1) Submission required.--A State is not eligible";
(B) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively (and by moving the margins accordingly); and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
"(2) State determination.--A submission under paragraph (1) is not required to be approved by the Secretary.";
(6) in subsection (f), by striking "may" and inserting "shall";
(7) in subsection (h), by inserting ", local distribution system," after "electric utility"; and
(8) by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:
"(i) Sunset.--This section shall expire on September 30, 2031.".
SEC. 3. GAO REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2030, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the efficacy of State energy security plans that includes--
(1) an evaluation of whether and how State energy security plans have improved the ability of States to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to energy infrastructure and supply chains and to plan for, respond to, and recover from events that disrupt energy supply;
(2) recommendations for--
(A) improving the ability of States described in paragraph (1); and
(B) actions the Secretary of Energy may take to improve coordination with States with respect to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to energy infrastructure and supply chains and planning for, responding to, and recovering from events that disrupt energy supply;
(3) information on Federal financial assistance made available to States under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) that was used to implement State energy security plans;
(4) information on activities carried out by States using such financial assistance;
(5) an analysis of the efficacy of the implementation of section 366 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326), as amended by this Act; and
(6) information on State use of assistance provided under section 366(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(f)) (as amended by this Act), including any revisions of State energy security plans made by States resulting from assistance provided under such section 366(f).
(b) Protected Information.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in a form that may be made available to the public, except that any information protected from disclosure under section 366(h) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(h)) shall be included in the report in an annex that shall not be publicly disclosed, consistent with such section.
(c) State Energy Security Plan Defined.--In this section, the term "State energy security plan" has the meaning given such term in section 366(a) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(a)).
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7257.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, sponsored by my colleague and Energy Subcommittee chairman from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District, Mr. Latta.
State energy security plans are an important tool for States to consider the vulnerabilities in their energy systems. The interconnected nature of our energy system requires constant information sharing and cohesive planning to assess, identify, and address potential threats.
During this historic period of exponential demand growth caused by next-generation industries, we need to be even more vigilant against adversaries that seek to undermine U.S. competitiveness.
The SECURE Grid Act is a timely bill that would enhance a State's ability to manage the security of their energy systems. H.R. 7257 will improve visibility into an evolving threat landscape while ensuring that experts in the energy field can help provide critical insights into complex engineering operations.
As technology improvements have the potential to positively transform our economy, these tools can also be used and exploited by bad actors. This bill will ensure that States remain on the cutting edge of innovation and security.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, is a bipartisan bill that renews and enhances a State's ability to consider cyber and physical security protections to their energy systems, and it promotes collaboration between partners as they develop State energy security plans.
These State plans are a part of DOE's State Energy Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to help States with energy planning. It was reauthorized and updated in the bipartisan infrastructure law in 2021. As part of that reauthorization, plans must include energy emergency planning to secure the United States against physical and cyber threats.
The State energy security plans are an important tool that ensures States are prepared for the worst. The planning process brings together stakeholders and enables a level of coordination across Federal and State actors. This bill helps enhance the parts of those plans that guard against physical and cyber threats by ensuring that they encompass more of our energy system, local power lines, as well as facilities critical to ensuring the supply chain of energy infrastructure-related components.
Finally, the bill also bolsters a State's ability to obtain assistance from the Department of Energy, something I hope they will take advantage of as they regularly update their energy security plans.
This bill also ensures that the Government Accountability Office will review how DOE and the States execute these programs, to ensure that Congress has the best information possible the next time the provision needs to be renewed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta), chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.
Robert E. Latta (R-OH)4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky, the chair of the full committee, for recognizing me today.
I rise in support of H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, which I sponsored with the gentlewoman from California's Seventh Congressional District.
State energy security plans, or SESPs, provide States with an opportunity to identify threats and vulnerabilities in their respective energy networks. This collaborative process ensures that States can stay on the cutting edge of an evolving threat landscape.
While the initial exercise of SESPs has meaningfully assisted States in managing their energy systems, there is room for improvement to enhance visibility and threat detection and to holistically consider disparate vulnerabilities across the sector.
The SECURE Grid Act achieves this goal by ensuring States incorporate security and resilience of distribution networks. Distribution networks bring wholesale power directly to homes and businesses to keep the lights on and keep our businesses up and running. Any threat to the distribution system is a threat to our communities.
Importantly, the legislation also brings industry experts to the table during the development of SESPs to ensure State governments are equipped with the resources and operational understanding of the complex infrastructure.
In addition, the bill affirms the important leadership role of State governments to protect their energy systems while fostering collaborative partnerships with Federal counterparts.
Given the States' authority and understanding of their own unique energy needs, it is imperative that they are empowered to develop their own plans while working collaboratively with Federal partners.
This legislation comes at a timely moment in our Nation's history. Throughout the 119th Congress, the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has held several hearings with experts and administration officials to examine the state of our Nation's energy systems.
Each day, it becomes ever more apparent that our reliance on energy is growing because of AI advancements, reshoring of manufacturing facilities, and general economy-wide electrification.
Families across the country can be burdened by high energy costs, and we know that there is nothing more expensive than a blackout.
We also know that adversarial nations and nefarious actors are actively seeking out any vulnerability in our interconnected energy infrastructure to sow chaos and cause harm to everyday Americans.
To combat these efforts, the legislation requires proactive information sharing, constant vigilance, and clear visibility into the widening threat landscape. The SECURE Grid Act ensures that State energy offices and their respective Governors are able to put processes in place to detect, mitigate, and respond to potential attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
The everyday lives of families and businesses are wholly reliant on a secure, reliable, and affordable energy system.
Mr. Speaker, for the reasons stated, it is important that the House pass H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act.
Again, I thank the gentlewoman from California's Seventh District for her help on this legislation.
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say briefly that I think this is an important bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I agree that this is a very important bill. We have an interconnected grid, and we have to make sure that all States are ensuring that it is secure.
I appreciate my friend from Ohio for bringing this before his subcommittee and the full committee, and I appreciate his efforts.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 7257, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller of Illinois)4:10 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7257, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Energy Emergency Leadership Act
Pages H4297–H4299 · Official textMadam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7258) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act with respect to functions assigned to Assistant Secretaries, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,267 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Energy Emergency Leadership Act".
SEC. 2. FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED TO ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.
(a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 203 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7133(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
"(12) Energy emergency and energy security functions, including--
"(A) responsibilities with respect to energy infrastructure, security and resilience, emerging threats, cybersecurity, supply, and emergency planning and preparedness, coordination, response, and restoration, as appropriate; and
"(B) upon request of a State, local, or Tribal government or energy sector entity, and in coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, provision of technical assistance and support to protect against, detect, and respond to energy security threats, risks, and incidents.".
(b) Coordination.--The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that the functions of the Secretary described in section 203(a)(12) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (as added by this Act) are performed in coordination with relevant Federal agencies.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 7258.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, sponsored by my colleague Ms. Lee of Florida.
The bill was considered and reported favorably by the committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote because it will strengthen the Department of Energy's important energy emergency mission. The bill requires that the well-established energy emergency and cybersecurity functions at DOE are organized under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary, which is important to maintaining a high level of leadership in DOE's emergency response and cybersecurity functions. The Energy Emergency Leadership Act will ensure the Department has the focused and accountable leadership to more fully protect the public from all the hazards to the energy system, natural or man-made, including emerging threats from our foreign adversaries to the Nation's electric grid. A vote for H.R. 7258 is a vote for ensuring strong leadership during energy emergencies for the benefit of public safety and welfare and for stronger cybersecurity protections in our electricity systems. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Kathy Castor (D-FL)4:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that our energy system faces numerous threats, whether it is from skyrocketing demand, climate change, or cyberattacks, and it is undeniable that our systems need support to continue delivering reliable and affordable power for Americans.
H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, sponsored by Representative Lee of Florida and Representative Landsman, is an important bill. It amends the Department of Energy Organization Act.
This bill elevates emergency response and cybersecurity responsibilities to the level of Assistant Secretary at DOE. It effectively ensures that the Director of DOE's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, or CESER, goes through Senate confirmation.
As the grid becomes increasingly complex and faces a host of new challenges, it is critical that ensuring the security of the grid is managed by top officials. DOE already plays an important role in ensuring rapid response to an energy emergency. The subject matter and sector expertise concentrated at DOE is vital for ensuring that threats to the grid are handled quickly and appropriately.
H.R. 7258 clarifies in statute the emergency response responsibilities that are assigned to an Assistant Secretary. This ensures that there will be a consistent and effective leader and coordinator at DOE.
Finally, I also note that while this bill is focused on the leadership of DOE offices, the reality is the Department's ability to respond to threats depends on its capable career staff. The Trump administration has devastated the Department of Energy's professional staff across the board, and I don't want that to be lost in this discussion about how to enhance its response capabilities.
Nevertheless, I encourage everyone to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee), my good friend and the author of this legislation.
Laurel M. Lee (R-FL)4:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. I thank Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Castor for their leadership in moving this bill through committee, and also my colleague Representative Landsman for co-leading this bill with me.
This legislation passed out of the Subcommittee on Energy unanimously because both Republicans and Democrats on the Committee recognized how critical it is to have accountable leadership protecting our electric grid.
Today, the United States is experiencing record energy demand, driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, renewed domestic manufacturing, and widespread electrification across our economy. Meeting that demand safely requires not only robust and reliable generation but also a secure and resilient grid to deliver it.
At the same time, the threats to that grid have never been more serious. State-sponsored actors like Volt Typhoon are actively targeting American critical infrastructure. Physical attacks on grid infrastructure are also on the rise. For those of us from Florida, energy emergencies are not theoretical. They are a constant reality. After major hurricanes, a large number of Floridians lose power, and rapid Federal coordination becomes a serious matter of public safety.
H.R. 7258 addresses this directly. It ensures that the Department of Energy's emergency and cybersecurity responsibilities are led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary, a clear, accountable leader whose role is codified in statute, not left to chance.
This is a practical, bipartisan solution that will help our Federal response and our agencies keep pace with the reality of today's threats. This bill ensures that when an energy emergency strikes, a designated Federal official can cut through bureaucratic barriers, coordinate a clear response, and help keep the lights on for American families.
I appreciate the cooperation of Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Castor, and all of my colleagues in working together on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7258.
Kathy Castor (D-FL)4:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:20 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for working together. I really appreciate working together with both my friends from Florida, both from the Tampa area.
It is important to have the right leadership in the right place to make sure we protect ourselves at this vulnerable time.
I encourage my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 7258, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:20 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7258.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act
Pages H4299–H4300 · Official textMadam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7266) to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,839 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act".
SEC. 2. RURAL AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY ADVANCED CYBERSECURITY
GRANT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18723) is amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 40124. RURAL AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY ADVANCED
CYBERSECURITY GRANT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
"(a) Definitions.--In this section:
"(1) Advanced cybersecurity technology.--The term `advanced cybersecurity technology' means any technology, operational capability, or service, including computer hardware, software, or a related asset, that enhances the security posture of electric utilities through improvements in the ability to protect against, detect, respond to, or recover from a cybersecurity threat.
"(2) Bulk-power system.--The term `bulk-power system' has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act.
"(3) Cybersecurity threat.--The term `cybersecurity threat' has the meaning given the term in section 2200 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
"(4) Defense critical electric infrastructure.--The term `defense critical electric infrastructure' has the meaning given the term in section 215A(a) of the Federal Power Act.
"(5) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
"(A) a rural electric cooperative;
"(B) an electric utility owned by a political subdivision of a State, such as a municipally owned electric utility;
"(C) an electric utility owned by any agency, authority, corporation, or instrumentality of 1 or more political subdivisions of a State;
"(D) a not-for-profit entity that is in a partnership with not fewer than 6 entities described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C); and
"(E) an investor-owned electric utility that sells less than 4,000,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year.
"(6) Program.--The term `Program' means the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program established under subsection (b).
"(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall maintain a program, to be known as the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, to provide technical assistance and award funding, including grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes, to eligible entities to protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.
"(c) Objectives.--The objectives of the Program shall be--
"(1) to deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies for electric utility systems; and
"(2) to increase the participation of eligible entities in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs.
"(d) Awards.--
"(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary--
"(A) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide technical assistance, and award funding, including grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes, to eligible entities on a competitive or noncompetitive basis;
"(B) shall develop criteria for providing such technical assistance and awarding such funding;
"(C) may enter into agreements that can facilitate the objectives described in subsection (c) with eligible entities to provide technical assistance or award funding, including grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes; and
"(D) shall establish a process to ensure, to the extent practicable, that all eligible entities are informed about opportunities to receive technical assistance or funding, including grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes.
"(2) Priority for funding and technical assistance.--In providing technical assistance and awarding funding, including grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes, under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that, as determined by the Secretary--
"(A) has limited cybersecurity resources;
"(B) owns assets critical to the reliability of the bulk-power system; or
"(C) owns or operates defense critical electric infrastructure.
"(e) Protection of Information.--Information shared by or with the Federal Government or a State, Tribal, or local government under the Program shall be deemed voluntarily shared information and exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act), or any provision of any State, Tribal, or local freedom of information law, open government law, open meetings law, open records law, sunshine law, or similar law requiring the disclosure of information or records.
"(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $250,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 7266.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, sponsored by Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks from Iowa's First Congressional District.
Throughout the 119th Congress, the Energy and Commerce Committee has held several hearings examining the state of our Nation's energy system and the persistent threats facing critical infrastructure. We heard directly from industry experts and administration officials about the ability of adversarial nations to exploit vulnerabilities in our energy infrastructure.
We know that rising energy demands and a growing reliance on intricate networks of energy delivery systems could widen attack surfaces and opportunities to cause harm and sow chaos in the daily lives of hardworking Americans.
These threats are uniquely concerning for rural communities and small utility operators that do not have the same resources as their investor-owned counterparts. These rural cooperatives and municipal utilities are economic drivers for small towns and remote areas of our country to ensure they can participate in the 21st century economy.
H.R. 7266 reauthorizes the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program for 5 years to equip small utilities with the resources necessary to secure their systems and keep the lights on for their communities.
Importantly, the RMUC Act streamlines burdensome grant application practices at the Department of Energy to reduce unnecessary regulatory bureaucracy. By simplifying the funding process, we can get dollars from the agency into the hands of cybersecurity professionals in a way that meets the urgency needed to address our system needs.
In addition, this program will leverage the expertise of the Department of Energy by providing targeted technical assistance to cybersecurity operators to enhance threat visibility and implement security protections.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) and the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), reauthorizes a critical program from the bipartisan infrastructure law. This initiative is designed to aid municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and small investor-owned utilities.
The reason this is important is that the cyber threats to our Nation's power grid are growing every day, from sophisticated cyberattacks from nation-state actors to AI-enhanced cyberattacks from single criminals. The offensive capabilities of people who would attack our power grid are growing.
The only solution is an investment in a robust defense of the grid. While larger utilities may have more resources to invest in cybersecurity, the smaller utilities and nonprofit cooperatives and municipal utilities may not have the resources to spend on sophisticated cyber defenses.
The rural and municipal utility cybersecurity program steps in to fill the gap, ensuring that those smaller entities get the assistance and the guidance they need from the Department of Energy.
In addition to reauthorizing this important initiative, the bill makes it easier for smaller utilities to access DOE's technical assistance programs, a tweak that should result in more eligible utilities gaining access to DOE's knowledge and resources.
Madam Speaker, I thank Representative McClellan for her work as the co-lead on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote "yes," and I reserve the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), who has been a leader in this issue. She stands before us to protect rural and small-town America, and that is exactly what her legislation does.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)4:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, a bipartisan bill I am proud to lead with Congresswoman McClellan, to help reauthorize and strengthen a critical program that helps rural and municipal electric utilities defend against growing cybersecurity threats to our Nation's energy grid.
Just this spring, national security experts warned that hostile nation-states are shifting from isolated cyber incidents to sustained campaigns against U.S. critical infrastructure, including the energy sector. Yet, many small and rural utilities lack the capacity and expertise to act on this information.
RMUC is designed to close that gap. In Iowa's First District, rural electric cooperatives serve ratepayers across 20 counties and face the same threats as major urban systems but with fewer resources.
By reauthorizing the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program at DOE and authorizing $250 million over 5 years to deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies and support participation in information-sharing programs, this bill ensures rural electric cooperatives, public power, and other small utilities have access to advanced cybersecurity tools, technical assistance, and grant funding to protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats.
At a time when cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure are escalating, small and rural utilities need the resources to defend against nation-state actors and sophisticated threats. This bill provides that support.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Kathy Castor (D-FL)4:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan), and I thank her for her leadership on behalf of rural and smaller municipal utilities in communities across the country.
Jennifer L. McClellan (D-VA)4:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, which I am proud to co-lead with Representative Miller-Meeks of Iowa.
This bill represents the sort of bipartisan work that is important for the security and stability of the American grid and the safety of the American people.
This bill reauthorizes the vital RMUC program, which helps rural and small municipalities to protect themselves against ever-multiplying and more sophisticated cybersecurity threats that could prove severely disruptive to small and rural communities alike, just like the ones I represent in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District.
Far too often, these communities lack the resources and the support necessary to defend against malign actors targeting important infrastructure and services, and AI has made it easier for such malign actors to do so.
For example, rural Prince George County, Virginia, in my district, just a few weeks ago, fell victim to a cyber incident that impacted the county's payment services. Fortunately, the attack didn't impact other, more consequential services, but it serves as an example of why we must take proactive steps to ensure the security of our grid, especially in small and rural communities that are especially vulnerable.
Our bill fills those gaps by ensuring that these communities can face the challenges of our increasingly digital world and, in turn, bolster cybersecurity defenses for the entire Nation's grid.
Madam Speaker, I am glad to work with my colleague from Iowa to advance this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support our legislation to reauthorize this vital program.
Kathy Castor (D-FL)4:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I urge a "yes" vote on the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:30 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my good friends from Virginia and Iowa working together on this bill. I encourage my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 7266, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:30 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7266, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026
Pages H4300–H4302 · Official textMadam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7305) to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Department of Energy's Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyberresilience Program to provide operational support for energy sector cybersecurity and resilience, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (4,659 characters)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. ENERGY SECTOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR CYBERRESILIENCE
PROGRAM.
Section 40125(c) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18724(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as subparagraphs (B) through (F), respectively;
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, the following:
"(A) to strengthen the collective defense, response, and resilience of the United States energy sector--
"(i) by enhancing collaboration between the government and the energy sector to analyze threats to the energy sector and to deny, disrupt, and mitigate operational impacts to energy systems--
"(I) by exchanging information at the classified and unclassified level, collectively analyzing potential and realized threats, and providing recommendations to mitigate these threats that benefit the broader energy sector; and
"(II) by increasing operational collaboration through establishing the technical infrastructure necessary to house, access, and perform advanced analytics and experimentation to enable analysis, discovery, alerts, and collaboration activities of intelligence-driven and intelligence-informed technical data and knowledge, threat information and to share actionable insights and threat mitigation;
"(ii) by advancing the collective understanding of national security risks and vulnerabilities associated with the energy sector that may be exploited by adversaries; and
"(iii) by increasing the energy sector's understanding of threat actor tactics, techniques, procedures, indicators of compromise, capabilities, and activities that present risks to the energy sector;";
(C) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking "sector;" and inserting "sector; and";
(D) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking "; and" and inserting "."; and
(E) by striking subparagraph (F), as so redesignated;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (7);
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
"(2) Energy threat analysis center.--The Secretary may carry out any activity of the program developed and carried out under paragraph (1) through an Energy Threat Analysis
Center, which may be established at one or more physical locations.
"(3) No right or benefit.--
"(A) Secretarial authority.--The provision of assistance or information under the program developed and carried out under paragraph (1) to a governmental or private entity shall be at the sole and unreviewable discretion of the Secretary.
"(B) Provision of assistance or information.--The provision of assistance or information under the program developed and carried out under paragraph (1) to a governmental or private entity shall not create a right or benefit, substantive or procedural, for any other governmental or private entity to similar assistance or information.
"(4) Nonapplicability of faca.--The program developed and carried out under paragraph (1) shall not be considered an advisory committee under chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.
"(5) Exemption from disclosure.--Information shared by or with the Federal Government or a State, Tribal, or local government under the program developed and carried out under paragraph (1) shall be--
"(A) deemed voluntarily shared information and exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, and any State, Tribal, or local provision of law requiring disclosure of information or records; and
"(B) withheld, without discretion, from the public under section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code, and any State, Tribal, or local provision of law requiring disclosure of information or records.
"(6) Transaction authority.--
"(A) In general.--In addition to any other authority granted to the Secretary under any other provision of law, the Secretary is authorized to enter into and perform contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, and other transactions with public agencies, private organizations, and persons to carry out the program developed and carried out under paragraph (1).
"(B) Minimizing delays.--The Secretary may establish and utilize pre-approved national security contracting mechanisms, model partnership agreements, and expedited review procedures for purposes of entering into transactions under subparagraph (A)."; and
(4) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking "2022 through 2026" and inserting "2027 through 2031".
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 7305.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7305, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans), my good friends.
The bill was reported favorably on a unanimous, bipartisan vote by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The United States has one of the most complex energy systems in the world, and those systems are essential for the health and welfare of the public, our economy, and our security. Our adversaries know this, and they work persistently to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in our critical energy infrastructure, creating a looming threat few Americans may appreciate. We must take action to improve our ability to identify, analyze, and share information about these threats to safeguard our systems and mitigate risks and impacts. The Energy Threat Analysis Center, or ETAC, was established as a DOE pilot program just a few years ago. The program convenes energy sector stakeholders and Federal Government experts to more effectively identify and address the threats to our critical infrastructure, especially those posed by our nation-state adversaries. Identifying and mitigating threats will become even more urgent as technology advances. The ETAC enables grid operators to see threats and our intelligence community and Federal experts to better understand system vulnerabilities, improving threat identification. H.R. 7305 reauthorizes ETAC for 5 years and clarifies authorities to enhance collaboration between grid operators, utilities, and the government, including the intelligence community. This is a critical operational program to strengthen the collective defense, response, and resilience of our energy sector. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank Chairman Guthrie and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for moving forward H.R. 7305, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026.
I rise in support of my bipartisan bill with Representative Evans of Colorado.
Madam Speaker, as you know, across the country our energy infrastructure is under attack from cybersecurity threats, and I think anyone who is tuned into this debate this afternoon understands it is very serious.
Cyberattacks can cause significant disruptions to the reliable flow of energy to American homes, businesses, and communities. Protecting our energy infrastructure against these attacks is critical to keeping the lights on, the air conditioning on where I am from, and lowering energy costs for hardworking American families and businesses.
I know that Chairman Guthrie agrees with me on this. The U.S. energy grid is remarkable. It is one of the largest, most interconnected systems in the world. It serves over 330 million people, includes over 7,300 power plants, and spans over 600,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. It underpins our economy. If it fails, it cascades into failures in multiple other sectors, like healthcare, water, transportation, and communications.
Unfortunately, our energy system and our grid are also very old. About half of U.S. oil and gas pipelines are over 50 years old, and most transmission lines are well over 25 years old. They were not designed with modern technology and security in mind.
These dangers are not hypothetical. In 2024, U.S. intelligence agencies reported that China had successfully infiltrated and pre-positioned on U.S. critical infrastructure, including our energy systems.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation estimates that the U.S. grid is gaining about 60 new vulnerable points per day as we use more digital services, deploy new software, and expand distributed energy.
Eighty percent of U.S. energy infrastructure is owned by the private sector, so we need to make sure that they are working with the Federal Government and our intelligence community to confront the risks.
Fortunately, we have taken action to address these challenges. In 2023, the Department of Energy launched the Energy Threat Analysis Center. We call it ETAC. ETAC brings together the classified intelligence community with private energy sector operational professionals in real time. It produces sector-specific threat analysis and mitigation advisories.
This is the type of commonsense, bipartisan cooperation that we should all celebrate. My bill today with Representative Evans strengthens the Department of Energy's ability under ETAC to use information exchanges and facilitate greater public-private collaboration. It helps secure our critical infrastructure, keeps us safe from threats, and lowers energy costs for our neighbors back home.
Madam Speaker, I urge everyone to vote in favor of this bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY)4:40 p.m.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I thank everyone for their hard work on this bill, and I thank Ms. Castor for her comments about our aging grid or aging infrastructure. I know the big work of this committee going forward through this summer and fall is making sure we have permit reform in place so not only can we move the energy like we talked about with pipelines and generation but transmitting it to where it needs to go. I look forward to those efforts, and I will make that commitment on this floor. I know we will work together to get there, but on this particular piece of legislation, I thank Congresswoman Castor for her hard work on the ETAC, along with Congressman Evans.
Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote "yes" on H.R. 7305, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore4:40 p.m.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7305, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H4302 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 4 of rule I, the following enrolled bill was signed by the Speaker on Thursday, June 25, 2026:
H.R. 6644, to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.
Recess
Page H4302 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until approximately 6:30 p.m. today.
Accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 44 minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess.
After Recess
Page H4302 · Official textThe recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Fine) at 6 o'clock and 30 minutes p.m.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
Page H4302 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Proceedings will resume on motions to suspend the rules previously postponed. Votes will be taken in the following order:
H.R. 7757; and
H.R. 7128.
The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the remaining electronic vote will be conducted as a 5-minute vote.
Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act
Page H4302 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7757) to protect children and teens online, empower parents and strengthen families, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 267, nays 117, not voting 47, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,733 characters)
Adams Aderholt Aguilar Alford Allen Amo Amodei (NV) Auchincloss Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Barrett Baumgartner Bean (FL) Beatty Begich Bentz Bera Bergman Bice Biggs (SC) Bilirakis Bost Bresnahan Brown Brownley Budzinski Calvert Cammack Carbajal Carey Carter (GA) Carter (LA) Carter (TX) Case Castor (FL) Chu Ciscomani Cisneros Clark (MA) Cleaver Cline Clyburn Cole Comer Conaway Correa Costa Crank Crawford Crenshaw Cuellar Davids (KS) Davis (NC) De La Cruz Dean (PA) DelBene Diaz-Balart Dingell Edwards Elfreth Ellzey Estes Evans (CO) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Fields Fine Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Fletcher Flood Fong Foster Foxx Frankel, Lois Franklin, Scott Fry Fuller Gallagher Garamendi Garbarino Garcia (TX) Gillen Gimenez Goldman (TX) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Gooden Gottheimer Graves Green, Al (TX) Griffith Grothman Guest Guthrie Hamadeh (AZ) Haridopolos Harshbarger Hern (OK) Hill (AR) Himes Hinson Houchin Houlahan Hoyer Hudson Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Jack Jackson (TX) Jeffries Johnson (LA) Johnson (SD) Johnson (TX) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (NY) Kennedy (UT) Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Kustoff LaHood LaLota Landsman Langworthy Larsen (WA) Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Lee (NV) Letlow Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Luttrell Mackenzie Magaziner Malliotakis Maloy Mann Mannion Mast McClain McClellan McCollum McDonald Rivet McDowell McGuire Meeks Menefee Menendez Messmer Miller (IL) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Moolenaar Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WV) Moran Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Mrvan Mullin Murphy Nadler Neal Newhouse Norcross Nunn (IA) Obernolte Olszewski Onder Pallone Palmer Panetta Pappas Pelosi Perez Peters Pfluger Pou Quigley Reschenthaler Riley (NY) Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Ross Rouzer Rulli Rutherford Salazar Sanchez Scalise Schakowsky Schmidt Schneider Schrier Sessions Sewell Sherman Shreve Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Sorensen Soto Stansbury Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Strickland Stutzman Suozzi Taylor Tenney Thompson (CA) Thompson (PA) Timmons Tonko Torres (CA) Trahan Tran Turner (OH) Valadao Van Drew Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Vasquez Veasey Wagner Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Wied Williams (TX) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Ansari Arrington Balint Bell Beyer Biggs (AZ) Bishop Boebert Bonamici Boyle (PA) Burchett Burlison Bynum Carson Casar Casten Clarke (NY) Cloud Clyde Courtney Crane Crockett Crow Davidson Davis (IL) DeLauro Deluzio DeSaulnier DesJarlais Dexter Doggett Downing Escobar Espaillat Evans (PA) Foushee Friedman Frost Fulcher Garcia (IL) Gill (TX) Golden (ME) Goodlander Gosar Grijalva Hageman Harder (CA) Harrigan Harris (MD) Harris (NC) Hoyle (OR) Huffman Ivey Jackson (IL) Jacobs Jayapal Johnson (GA) Khanna Krishnamoorthi Larson (CT) Latimer Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Loudermilk Luna Massie Matsui McBath McBride McClintock McCormick McGarvey McGovern McIver Mejia Meng Min Moore (AL) Moore (WI) Neguse Norman Ocasio-Cortez Ogles Omar Patronis Perry Pingree Pocan Pressley Randall Raskin Roy Ruiz Ryan Salinas Scanlon Schweikert Scott (VA) Scott, Austin Self Simon Smith (WA) Stanton Stevens Subramanyam Takano Thanedar Titus Tlaib Tokuda Torres (NY) Underwood Vargas Velazquez Watson Coleman Whitesides Williams (GA)
Barr Barragan Brecheen Buchanan Castro (TX) Cohen Collins Craig DeGette Donalds Dunn (FL) Emmer Figures Garcia (CA) Goldman (NY) Gray Hayes Higgins (LA) Horsford James Kean Knott Lucas Lynch Mace McCaul McClain Delaney Meuser Mfume Miller (OH) Mills Moulton Nehls Owens Pettersen Ramirez Rivas Rose Scholten Spartz Strong Sykes Thompson (MS) Tiffany Vindman Walberg Wilson (FL)
Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mrs. LUNA, and Ms. RANDALL changed their vote from "yea" to "nay." Messrs. BAUMGARTNER, BACON, CORREA, and Ms. ADAMS changed their vote from "nay" to "yea." So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Tria Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
Pages H4302–H4303 · Official textThe SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7128) to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Flood) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 373, nays 15, not voting 43, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (3,733 characters)
Adams Aderholt Aguilar Alford Allen Amo Amodei (NV) Ansari Arrington Auchincloss Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Balint Barrett Baumgartner Bean (FL) Beatty Begich Bell Bentz Bera Bergman Beyer Bice Bilirakis Bishop Boebert Bonamici Bost Boyle (PA) Bresnahan Brown Brownley Budzinski Burchett Bynum Calvert Cammack Carbajal Carey Carson Carter (GA) Carter (LA) Carter (TX) Casar Case Casten Castor (FL) Chu Ciscomani Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Cleaver Cline Clyburn Cole Comer Conaway Correa Costa Courtney Crank Crawford Crenshaw Crockett Crow Cuellar Davids (KS) Davidson Davis (IL) Davis (NC) De La Cruz Dean (PA) DeLauro DelBene Deluzio DeSaulnier DesJarlais Dexter Diaz-Balart Dingell Doggett Downing Edwards Elfreth Ellzey Escobar Espaillat Estes Evans (CO) Evans (PA) Ezell Fallon Fedorchak Feenstra Fields Fine Finstad Fischbach Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Fletcher Flood Fong Foster Foushee Foxx Frankel, Lois Franklin, Scott Friedman Frost Fry Fulcher Fuller Gallagher Garamendi Garbarino Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Gill (TX) Gillen Gimenez Golden (ME) Goldman (TX) Gomez Gonzalez, V. Gooden Goodlander Gottheimer Graves Green, Al (TX) Griffith Grijalva Grothman Guest Guthrie Hageman Hamadeh (AZ) Harder (CA) Haridopolos Harrigan Harris (NC) Hern (OK) Hill (AR) Himes Hinson Houchin Houlahan Hoyer Hoyle (OR) Hudson Huffman Huizenga Hunt Hurd (CO) Issa Ivey Jack Jackson (TX) Jacobs Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (LA) Johnson (SD) Johnson (TX) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Kamlager-Dove Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) Kennedy (NY) Kennedy (UT) Khanna Kiggans (VA) Kiley (CA) Kim Knott Krishnamoorthi Kustoff LaHood LaLota Landsman Langworthy Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Latimer Latta Lawler Lee (FL) Lee (NV) Lee (PA) Leger Fernandez Letlow Levin Liccardo Lieu Lofgren Loudermilk Luna Luttrell Lynch Mackenzie Magaziner Malliotakis Maloy Mann Mannion Mast Matsui McBath McBride McClain McClellan McCollum McCormick McDonald Rivet McDowell McGarvey McGovern McGuire McIver Meeks Mejia Menefee Menendez Meng Messmer Miller (IL) Miller (WV) Miller-Meeks Min Moolenaar Moore (AL) Moore (NC) Moore (UT) Moore (WI) Moore (WV) Moran Morelle Morrison Moskowitz Mrvan Mullin Murphy Nadler Neal Neguse Newhouse Norcross Nunn (IA) Obernolte Ocasio-Cortez Ogles Olszewski Omar Onder Pallone Palmer Panetta Pappas Patronis Pelosi Perez Perry Peters Pfluger Pingree Pocan Pou Pressley Quigley Randall Raskin Reschenthaler Riley (NY) Rivas Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Ross Rouzer Ruiz Rulli Rutherford Ryan Salazar Salinas Sanchez Scalise Scanlon Schakowsky Schmidt Schneider Schrier Schweikert Scott (VA) Scott, Austin Sessions Sewell Sherman Shreve Simon Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smith (WA) Smucker Sorensen Soto Stansbury Stanton Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Stevens Strickland Stutzman Subramanyam Suozzi Takano Taylor Tenney Thanedar Thompson (CA) Thompson (PA) Timmons Titus Tlaib Tokuda Tonko Torres (CA) Torres (NY) Trahan Tran Turner (OH) Underwood Valadao Van Drew Van Duyne Van Epps Van Orden Vargas Vasquez Veasey Velazquez Vindman Wagner Walkinshaw Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Westerman Whitesides Wied Williams (GA) Williams (TX) Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Yakym Zinke
Biggs (AZ) Biggs (SC) Brecheen Burlison Cloud Clyde Crane Gosar Harris (MD) Harshbarger Massie McClintock Norman Roy Self
Barr Barragan Buchanan Castro (TX) Cohen Collins Craig DeGette Donalds Dunn (FL) Emmer Figures Garcia (CA) Goldman (NY) Gray Hayes Higgins (LA) Horsford Jackson (IL) James Kean Lucas Mace McCaul McClain Delaney Meuser Mfume Miller (OH) Mills Moulton Nehls Owens Pettersen Ramirez Rose Scholten Spartz Strong Sykes Thompson (MS) Tiffany Walberg Wilson (FL)
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). There are 2 minutes remaining. So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA)7:08 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I missed votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 228 and YEA on Roll Call No. 229.
Permission for Member to Be Considered as First Sponsor of H.r. 3300
Page H4303 · Official textMr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 3300, a bill originally introduced by Representative LaMalfa of California, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. DesJarlais)
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Honoring Congressman Frank J. Guarini
Page H4303 · Official text(Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. Speaker, we are here today to honor Congressman Frank J. Guarini, who passed away on Saturday, June 20, at the age of 101.
As a distinguished World War II veteran, Congressman Guarini's service to our country began at a young age.
He continued that service in the New Jersey State Senate, passing groundbreaking environmental protection laws and bringing the Giants to New Jersey.
In Congress, he represented his beloved Jersey City where he was born and raised. In over 14 years in the House, he set a standard that we all aspire to today.
Congressman Guarini built a remarkable record on trade, international affairs, education, housing, and environmental protection, all while never losing sight of his community and the people he fought for every day of his distinguished career.
After retiring from the House and serving as U.S. Representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations, Congressman Guarini dedicated himself to the revitalization of Jersey City and philanthropy, both missions in which he achieved great success and left a lasting impact.
He leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten by the countless people whose lives he touched in his eight decades of service.
Mr. Speaker, now it is my honor to invite the House for a moment of silence for our colleague and friend Congressman Frank Guarini.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The Chair invites all Members in the Chamber to stand and observe a moment of silence.
MAKING IN ORDER AT ANY TIME CONSIDERATION OF H. CON. RES. 108, DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM LEBANON
Pages H4303–H4304 · Official textMr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider H. Con. Res. 108 in the House if called up by the chair on the Committee of Foreign Affairs or his designee; that the concurrent resolution be considered as read; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to adoption without intervening motion except for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by Representative Mast of Florida and Representative Meeks of New York, or their respective designees.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM LEBANON
Pages H4304–H4309 · Official textDIRECTING THE PRESIDENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c) OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO REMOVE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM LEBANON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to order of the House of June 29, 2026, I call up the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 108) directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the concurrent resolution is considered read.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
Text printed in the Record (956 characters)
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM ANY
HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON.
Termination.--Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from any hostilities in Lebanon by not later than the date that is 7 days after the date of the adoption of this concurrent resolution.
SEC. 2 RULE OF CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.
Nothing in this concurrent resolution may be construed to prevent or limit security cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces or the protection of diplomatic facilities.
SEC. 3 RULE OF CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO THE NONAUTHORIZATION
OF THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE.
Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1547(a)(1)), nothing in this concurrent resolution may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
The concurrent resolution shall be debatable for 1 hour, equally divided and controlled by Representative Mast of Florida and Representative Meeks of New York, or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 108. While I voted against a previous iteration of this resolution, I believe this updated version has corrected the flaws of H. Con. Res. 84.
The updated text is an important legislative assertion of Congress' constitutional authority over matters of war and peace that will not infringe upon America's national security interests in Lebanon, while ensuring we stay out of another forever war that is not in our national interest.
We consider this resolution in the wake of the recently announced trilateral framework between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. I welcome this agreement, which represents a critical step away from continued escalation and violence.
However, what comes next is most critical: Ensuring a ceasefire is indeed observed by all, fully disarming Hezbollah, and preserving Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Since the start of Trump's illegal war of choice with Iran, civilians in both Lebanon and Israel have suffered the consequences of continued strikes by both Hezbollah and the Israeli military.
Now, I strongly condemn violence against civilians in all forms and support efforts by both the Israeli and Lebanese Governments to ensure the safety and security of their people.
Every government has a right and a responsibility to protect its citizens, and Israel has a right to defend itself. However, this does not justify disproportionate airstrikes which have killed too many civilians, including medical workers and journalists, as well as destroyed civilian infrastructure throughout Lebanon.
As I continue to condemn Hezbollah's drone and rocket fire into Israel, I note with deep concern the Israeli Defense Minister's public pronouncement to destroy all homes in southern Lebanon border villages and "follow the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza" where the Israeli military systematically destroyed thousands of Palestinian homes and civilian infrastructure. These are not words of self-defense. They are the language of collective punishment, and that must be condemned.
As we look to efforts to deescalate and move toward peace and stability for both Israelis and the Lebanese, I will state for the record that, to my knowledge, United States Forces are not currently engaged in any active hostilities in Lebanon with the Israeli military. Nonetheless, this resolution ensures that does not change without congressional authorization. We must not enter another illegal, reckless, and counterproductive war in the Middle East.
While this resolution prohibits U.S. Forces from engaging in hostilities in Lebanon, it makes clear it shall not prevent or in any way limit the important mission that the United States Armed Forces are engaged in with Lebanon; that is, the longstanding training and support of the Lebanese Armed Forces, also known as the LAF, which are critical to Lebanon's stability and that of the region.
In my many meetings with both Lebanese and Israeli leaders over the years, I deeply understand and appreciate the importance of supporting building up Lebanon's Armed Forces--a goal which successive administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have furthered. Protecting that mission, which has enjoyed bipartisan support across administrations, is precisely why this resolution is carefully drafted to preserve it.
This resolution stands on the side of ending forever wars and ensuring U.S. forces are not drawn into hostilities in Lebanon.
Any colleague who believes Congress must reassert its constitutional authority over matters of war and peace should stand with us today.
Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)7:20 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I oppose this resolution. However, I will say that I am very glad to hear the debate offered by my colleague, Ranking Member Meeks. He spoke about Hezbollah. We went through an entire debate several weeks ago where the opposition refused to mention that Hezbollah even existed, so I am glad to hear Ranking Member Meeks bring that up.
Hezbollah specifically targeting civilians with their every action, that is their MO. Israel specifically targeting terrorists, that is what is going on here.
Now, as it relates to this piece of legislation, we have done this exercise before, and I am glad to hear the ranking member acknowledge that the United States is not engaged in any hostilities in Lebanon against Hezbollah. The U.S. is not at war in Lebanon. The U.S. is not engaged in hostilities in Lebanon. There are not U.S. combat forces conducting operations or engaged in hostilities in Lebanon.
They are training the Lebanese Armed Forces. Why are they training them? Because there are at least 40,000, probably more, Hezbollah terrorists spread across the south of Lebanon that are actively engaged in targeting Israel and have been doing so for many years. Israel is over there doing a good job working to wipe those terrorists out right now, but this resolution is impossible to implement. Even if it passed, could the author explain to me which forces would be removed? If we don't have combat forces there, what forces are being removed? That is a very commonsense question. I don't think we will get an answer to it, Mr. Speaker.
I will say something else that I am glad about in today's debate: The really stupid mistake that was made in the last attempt to do this was removed, where the author was seeking to remove the marines from our embassies, from the gates, from the front doors. I am glad that that was removed from this one, thankfully.
This resolution still is not any less ridiculous than the last one. Again, the U.S. is not at war in Lebanon.
Since we are here, let's address something today that this resolution fails to mention and what the author of this bill I think wants to avoid.
Hezbollah is one of the world's most capable and dangerous terrorist organizations. They have killed hundreds of Americans, which makes it interesting to me that my colleague, who opened the remarks saying that it is not in our national interest to address them, they have killed hundreds of Americans. That is a pretty damn big national interest to me.
As a U.S. servicemember, as an American, as somebody with teenagers that will hopefully put on a uniform in defense of this country at some point, I would say it is in our national interest. But, again, they are one of the world's most capable, dangerous terrorist organizations who have killed hundreds of Americans and attacked U.S. diplomatic and military personnel over and over again.
I am not sure why my colleagues don't want to talk about that, and especially, again, the author of this bill last time failed to even mention the word "Hezbollah" or refused to mention the word "Hezbollah" because this resolution is a win for terrorists. That is what it is.
If you are trying to decide who should have control of Lebanon, who should it belong to, should Lebanon belong to the Lebanese or should Lebanon belong to the terrorists, this resolution is a win for Lebanon to belong to terrorists.
Let's also be clear that Hezbollah is the one holdout that is standing in the way of peace between Israel and Lebanon.
The Lebanese Government wants the fighting to stop. Israel wants the fighting to stop. Who is it that wants the fighting to continue? That would be the one entity that is supported by this resolution, and that is Hezbollah.
This is not about U.S. Forces. As was acknowledged already by my colleague, the ranking member, there are no U.S. Forces engaged in hostilities, and we all know that. Again, there are no forces fighting in Lebanon.
This resolution is to undermine our national security. It is to embolden Hezbollah, which it absolutely does. Just its presence on the floor here, just its mere being brought up here emboldens Hezbollah and other terrorists, and all for the sake of political messaging.
I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. It is just as ridiculous--well, it is not quite as ridiculous this time as it was last time, given that it did finally remove that we wouldn't have to take our marines out of the embassy. It is not quite as ridiculous, but it is still significantly ridiculous.
I urge a "no" vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time.
Our country was rightly shocked and horrified when over 150 schoolgirls were killed in the opening hours of our strikes on Iran. It will be remembered as one of our darkest hours.
As I stand here, over 253 children have been killed in Lebanon. Are those lives no less a tragedy? Are we so callous as to believe that when we provide intelligence, provide coordination, and green strikes, that our responsibility for the results of that work ends there?
We are not bystanders to the ongoing horror that is the war on Lebanon. We have seen this before. High-ranking members of the Israeli Government are threatening mass extermination of Lebanese civilians. They are broadcasting their intentions just as they did in Gaza.
This Congress did nothing to stop the horror that befell Gaza. This Congress took bipartisan measures to let an ally commit genocide on the Palestinian people in Gaza with our bombs, with our intelligence, and with our tax dollars. We cannot feign ignorance here again.
This resolution offers a very clear moral choice. It offers those who failed to act in Gaza a chance to do something right now.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that we would all support this resolution.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as we look at the attacks that go on, where is it that all of these Hezbollah terrorists--where is it that they hide? Where is it that they choose to encamp themselves? In the middle of civilians, on purpose.
There is no desire at any point for any one civilian casualty in any circumstance. I have seen it play out on the battlefields that I was a part of. "Regrettable" is not a strong enough word. It is well beyond regrettable every single time that anybody trying to live their life becomes a victim of a catastrophic attack because of what they are adjacent to: the terrorists that are surrounding their community.
But that is exactly what Hezbollah does by design: embed themselves into schools, embed themselves into places of worship, embed themselves into the bedrock of any community that they can go forcefully take over.
That is the way that they operate with purpose and operate specifically to create civilian casualties everywhere--civilian casualties around them and civilian casualties around where they launch their attacks. That is their MO.
Mr. Speaker, as I look at Hezbollah, I look at, again, what are our interests? We have labeled them and have designated them a foreign terrorist organization. That has gone on since, I want to say, the mid-1990s that they were designated a foreign terrorist organization.
More than 60 countries across the globe, including the EU, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, have all designated Hezbollah as part of a terrorist organization. They are a scourge. They are a direct arm of Iran, directly funded by Iran, receiving targets from Iran, and receiving benefits from Iran when they hit targets that Iran tells them to hit.
Everything that can be done and the work that Israel is doing to destroy this scourge is something that we should be supporting through the training of the LAF and supporting through our intelligence resources that are being offered.
This bill is meant to drive a stake between allies. It is meant to drive a wedge between allies. It is not meant to drive a stake into the hearts of our enemies, into the hearts of terrorists. That is the unfortunate part about it. It is meant to hurt our allies. It is not meant to hurt terrorists. That is beyond regrettable on this floor.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib), the sponsor of this resolution.
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, this week's vote is about immediately ending all U.S. participation in the Israeli Government's violent assault against the people of Lebanon.
Over 4,200 people have been massacred since the start of the Israeli apartheid regime's brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing and territorial expansion in Lebanon, and nearly 1,000 additional people have already been killed since Congress refused to pass the Lebanon War Powers Resolution earlier this month. That is 1,000 additional people in just 25 days.
Over 4,200 beautiful souls have been taken from our Earth and from their loved ones by U.S.-funded bombs and with operational and targeting support from the U.S. military. Indiscriminate bombings continue to this day. Children, medics, journalists, parents, students--everyone wants to label them as Hezbollah, but they were civilians. They were intentionally targeted.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a June 17 report from UNICEF titled: "Lebanon: 12 children killed, maimed daily, despite Hezbollah-Israel truce."
Lebanon: 12 Children Killed, Maimed Daily, Despite Hezbollah-Israel Truce
Text printed in the Record (6,119 characters)
More than 100 days of war reveals a shattering snapshot of life for civilians in Lebanon amid Israeli strikes and forced displacement, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Wednesday.
Since hostilities escalated between Israel and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon on 2 March, 247 children have been killed and 992 injured, an average of 12 children killed or maimed every day, according to the agency.
"For more than three months, children in Lebanon have lived through experiences no child should ever endure," UNICEF country representative in Lebanon, Marcoluigi Corsi, said in a statement issued on Wednesday following the 15 June announcement that the United States and Iran had reached agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding.
"We hope that this ceasefire will be indeed a real ceasefire because since the declaration of the previous one, violence against children and the conflict hasn't really stopped," he told UN News.
Despite a reduction in the intensity of hostilities, UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL continue to observe trajectories since Monday and extensive Israeli military activity, the UN Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Their observations include Israel Defense Forces (IDF) high-density armoured movements, sustained logistical traffic and large-scale engineering and demolition works across the area alongside reports of 26 violations of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli military between midnight and 4 pm local time and one air attack.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains fragile and needs immense and severe despite the recent US-Iran agreement and subsequent signs of regional de-escalation. Here are some highlights from the latest flash update from the UN relief agency, OCHA:
Returns remain limited and cautious despite reduced amount of hostilities
Israeli airstrikes and seven renewed displacement orders covering 37 localities across the South and Nabatieh governorates triggered additional displacement between 12 and 14 June
3,798 deaths and 11,781 injuries since 2 March: Lebanese Public Health Ministry
131,200 internally displaced persons remain in 644 collective shelters
Aid efforts reached over 1.1 million people through water and sanitation services and 13.6 million meals delivered
2026 Lebanon Flash Appeal only 32.7 per cent funded, with approximately $209.6 million received against $639.9 million requested
UNIFIL recorded 312 trajectories between midnight and 4 pm on Wednesday, a total of 291 attributed to the IDF and 21 attributed to Hezbollah, compared with, 174 and 189 trajectories were reported over 24 hour periods on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
"Outside UNIFIL's area of operations, we are aware of reports of Israeli artillery shelling and airstrikes targeting multiple locations, including Nabatieh, Saida and Jezzine, as well as repeated drone overflights over Beirut and its southern suburbs," the UN Spokesperson said. "At least one strike on a vehicle in Shukin reportedly resulted in four fatalities and several injuries."
UNIFIL reported a violation of Lebanon's maritime space by two IDF vessels conducting a patrol roughly 600 metres off the shores of Naqoura in southern Lebanon, which is also the home base for UN peacekeepers, the UN Spokesperson said.
UNIFIL, and its naval "blue helmets", announced on Wednesday ongoing efforts to assist the Lebanese navy in assuming greater responsibility for securing its territorial waters throughout 2026, based on an agreement signed last December.
"A long-term stability on land is intrinsically linked to security at sea," said UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara.
Widespread destruction has scarred large parts of the country, affecting homes, schools and essential services, including water, sanitation and hygiene systems, further compounding already severe humanitarian needs and dealing a devastating blow to children living through the bombings and violence.
Mr. Corsi said a meeting with teenaged girl at a UNICEF-supported hospital remains "stuck in my mind and my heart".
"Collateral damage" from an attack included the deaths of her father and three brothers, leaving her mother alive and the girl in a coma, he said, recalling the first two questions she asked him while she was recovering: Where is humanity? Where is a sense of justice?
"Those are tough questions coming from a 14-year-old child that you cannot answer," he said. "No child should go through that nightmare."
More than 770,000 children are experiencing heightened distress from repeated exposure to violence, loss and displacement, with many unable to return home because of ongoing fighting and the threat of unexploded ordnance, Mr. Corsi's statement declared.
"Behind these staggering figures are lives cut short or forever changed, and families facing profound loss, trauma, and uncertainty," he wrote. "Many have fled their homes multiple times, witnessed violence first-hand, lost loved ones and seen their schools, communities and sense of safety shattered."
But, the numbers alone cannot convey the full scale of the crisis, he explained.
"Beyond those killed and maimed, an entire generation of children has seen its childhood disrupted," he stated. "Their sense of safety, one that every child needs to grow and thrive, remains profoundly undermined."
"The scale of physical and psychological harm we are witnessing is unacceptable, and children continue to pay a terrible price for this conflict," the UNICEF representative said, urgently calling for a sustained cessation of violence.
The true cost of this crisis will not only be measured in lives lost today, but in the opportunities missed tomorrow.
Children must be protected from further harm and schools, hospitals, water systems and other civilian infrastructure urgently safeguarded, Mr. Corsi implored.
Moreover, humanitarian access must be ensured and international law must be respected.
"Most importantly, Lebanon's children must be given the chance not only to survive this crisis, but to recover from it and reclaim the future that conflict has placed at risk."
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, that is an innocent child being killed or maimed every 2 hours in this U.S.-assisted invasion.
The apartheid government of Israel is intentionally killing civilians, again, in Lebanon, in Palestine, and in Iran. It is the same genocidal playbook.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a link to a June 18 report from the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry titled: "'The essence of childhood has been destroyed': Israel's deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023." https://www.ohchr.org/ sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/ session62/a-hrc-62-crp-2.pdf Mr. Speaker, everyone should read this horrifying report. It finds that the Israeli military deliberately targets and kills children as part of their ongoing genocide in Gaza.
When Israeli leaders talk about applying the "Gaza model" in Lebanon, this is what they mean. They never mention Hezbollah.
They say that we have already seen the Israeli military kill 251 Lebanese children during the U.S.-assisted invasion.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to be clear. I include in the Record a link to a June 17 report from Amnesty International: "Lebanon: Israel radically expands use of unlawful mass `evacuation' orders and commits war crime of unlawful transfer." https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ news/2026/06/lebanon-israel-radically-expands-use-of-unlawful-mass-evacuation-orders-and-commits-war-crime-of-unlawful-transfer/
Mr. Speaker, more than 1.3 million people have already been forced to leave their homes or been killed, with the Israeli military telling them that they will not be allowed to return.
Mr. Speaker, 81 Lebanese neighborhoods have been violently depopulated and demolished, erased from the map entirely.
I want to make this very clear. The United States is not a bystander to these war crimes. It is an active participant. The United States is currently engaged in illegal and unauthorized hostilities, supporting the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, in violation of the War Powers Act.
The Trump administration is providing intelligence, coordinating strikes, demonstrating overt command over the Israeli military decisions, including green-lighting specific Israeli attacks and operations.
The Trump administration is also providing spare parts and maintenance to keep Israeli jets in the air. Without that support, those jets cannot drop bombs to kill Lebanese children.
Congress must reassert its constitutional authority and immediately vote to end all unauthorized U.S. participation in the destruction of Lebanon.
Israeli leaders have been open about their plans. This is about seizing Lebanon's territory, expelling its people, expanding the government of Israel's borders. This is about ethnic cleansing and what they call, in their own words, their "Greater Israel project."
Just this past week, genocidal maniac Netanyahu has said that Israel does not plan to withdraw from the territory that they seized in Lebanon and that they will forcibly displace Lebanese and the people of Lebanon will not be able to return to their homes.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a June 24 Haaretz article: "Netanyahu: Israel Won't Withdraw From Lebanon `As Long as I am Prime Minister'."
Soldiers In, Residents Out'. Netanyahu: Israel Won't Withdraw From Lebanon `As Long as I Am Prime Minister'
Text printed in the Record (8,177 characters)
Defense Minister Israel Katz also said Israel will not withdraw from the territories the IDF captured in Syria either. `This is the security doctrine. The IDF must be on the enemy's turf and protect the communities from within the territory itself,' he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the Israeli military will not withdraw from the IDF-occupied buffer zone in southern Lebanon as long as he is in office.
"As long as I am prime minister, we will maintain the security zone in southern Lebanon," he said, speaking in MUNIEXPO conference for municipal development. "We will be the first in the world to solve the explosive drones problem," he added, referring to Hezbollah's primary weapon against Israeli soldiers since fighting in Lebanon began in March.
Meanwhile, Lebanese reports said that two people were killed in a drone strike on a vehicle in Kfar Roummane, near the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF said its forces struck two armed Hezbollah operatives in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area. The IDF later said it struck a vehicle "posing a threat to IDF soldiers" in the same area.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel has consistently said it has no territorial claims in Lebanon, saying that withdrawal depends on the Lebanese army's ability to secure its territory.
"The Israelis have been clear they don't have any quarrels with the Lebanese people nor do they have any claims on the territory of Lebanon," Rubio said. "One of the issues that's been discussed in these negotiations is about the creation of pilot zones--specific, defined areas where the Lebanese Armed Forces can go in, take control and secure that territory, and then move on to the next pilot zone."
According to Rubio, "it'll be a process. This is not going to happen overnight." The secretary of state added, "The more of the area the Lebanese Army is able to secure, the less in Hezbollah's control and the less Israel will be in Lebanon."
Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed that that Israel will not withdraw from IDF-occupied areas in Lebanon, "even if there is an American demand to do so," leaving 200,000 displaced Lebanese residents "who will not return."
"There will be no civilians and no terrorists," Katz said. "Why? Because what happened in the past in security zones where there was also a civilian population was that there were explosives and attacks against soldiers, and therefore, we do not allow that," he added.
"Soldiers in, residents out. The infrastructure is destroyed, the houses are dangerous and ruined. We are not withdrawing," Katz said.
"We have significant achievements that began with a terrible blow on October 7," the defense minister continued. "Since then, the entire people, the leadership, and the army have acted with great determination. I am not aware of any situation in which, without that terrible blow, someone would have gone in to deal with the tunnels in Gaza."
Katz also said Israel will not withdraw from the territories the IDF captured in Syria either. "This is the security doctrine. The IDF must be on the enemy's turf and protect the communities from within the territory itself."
Earlier Wednesday, the Lebanese newspaper Ad-Diyar reported that the second round of Israel-Lebanon talks is set to take place in Washington on Wednesday under U.S. mediation, focused on defining the south Lebanon pilot zones to be handed to Lebanon's Armed Forces, as well as ways to strengthen the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to the report, the U.S. Central Command has been tasked with establishing a military operations room to oversee, monitor and track the situation in southern Lebanon.
The reporting suggests that this new operations room will work with the "deconfliction cell" whose creation was announced at U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland this week, paving the way for the dismantling of the existing mechanism that was set up in 2024 between Israel, the United States and Lebanon.
According to Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, Israel is demanding that Lebanon's army be stationed in the Ali al-Taher ridge and destroy Hezbollah's facilities under U.S. supervision. Israel is also demanding that Lebanon disclose the fate of the Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who went missing in Lebanon in 1986, and propose an offer to return his remains before Lebanese POWs are released, the report said.
Also according to the report, Israel is seeking to keep a foothold in the buffer zone in southern Lebanon and is requesting direct military coordination with Lebanon to carry out these measures.
Israeli and Lebanese representatives are set to meet on Wednesday at the U.S. State Department in Washington as part of the fifth round of direct negotiations since the end of the war with Iran.
The talks, which began Tuesday, are expected to continue for three days under the supervision of Dan Haller, an adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Discussions will focus on the terms of the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah and the redeployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon following the IDF's withdrawal.
The U.S.-brokered efforts to stabilize the border are complicated by a new Iran-U.S. understanding that has shifted the regional balance and, according to officials, strengthened Hezbollah's position while weakening Beirut's leverage.
Beirut is pressing ahead with direct negotiations even as the process is overshadowed by Iran's decision to insert Lebanon into its talks with the United States, and by concerns in the Lebanese capital that the Iran-U.S. understanding has weakened its bargaining position and raised doubts over the utility of the talks.
Lebanese officials have insisted that face-to-face negotiations with Israel are the only way to secure an end to the war raging since March 2, when armed group Hezbollah fired at Israel in support of Iran and triggered Israeli air and ground attacks that have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon.
Israel, meanwhile, has said Hezbollah's disarmament remains a central condition for any long-term arrangement and views the group as the main obstacle to a durable settlement.
Opening the talks on Tuesday, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter described the process as a "train wreck" and warned it was "in danger of going off the rails," saying Hezbollah may have been "emboldened" by recent developments. He added that the original premise of the talks--that Iran would remain outside the framework--was now in question.
He added that "there is a danger that Hezbollah has received a boost. There is no doubt that it feels strengthened and emboldened." Leiter also questioned whether dismantling Hezbollah still remains the foundation of the talks.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he would accept "nothing short of an end to the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon" and added that the current round of talks could prove "decisive."
According to an Israeli source, Israel is seeking solutions that would reduce Iranian involvement in southern Lebanon. The source said that during the negotiations, the Israeli team is expected to present a framework for a phased IDF withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, to be followed by the deployment of Lebanese army forces to those areas under U.S. backing.
The source added that it remains unclear whether an IDF withdrawal from the Beaufort Castle area is being considered at this stage.
Last month, Israeli troops captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon. The military said it intends to remain there until further notice, signaling a shift from previous operations in the area that were temporary.
The capture of Beaufort Castle near the city of Nabatieh came after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages, where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the rugged area. The Israeli push came despite a nominal cease-fire that has been in place since April 17. Israeli troops previously captured the castle in 1982 and held it until they withdrew from Lebanon in 2000.
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)7:30 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, what a great slogan for his campaign.
Israeli defense minister said that, in villages in south Lebanon: We are going to be destroying all the houses. The residents will never see them standing before their eyes again.
He never mentions Hezbollah.
The Israeli national security minister, in his own words said: All of Lebanon should burn . . . all of Lebanon should become our playground.
Since the beginning, Mr. Speaker, the Israeli political and military leaders have repeatedly stated that their aim is to implement the "Gaza model" in Lebanon.
Over the past 4 months, we have seen these horrific threats become a reality. This is a genocidal government that we are arming and supporting as they ethnically cleanse the Lebanese people.
Prominent figures in both Israel and the Trump administration are now openly rooting for the new Lebanese civil war to further destabilize the country and prolong this invasion. It is sickening.
Mr. Speaker, to the Lebanese Government, I say: Learn the lessons of the countries before you and the lessons of Lebanon's own history. The Israeli Government does not abide by any agreements. They have violated every single cease-fire in all the so-called peace agreements.
Time and time again, a cease-fire with Israel means: You cease; they fire.
Wake up. The so-called agreement is not protecting Lebanese people. This is about apartheid government and structure expanding into your country. Do not abandon your land and your people and become another subcontractor for the Israeli occupation.
Shame on those who separate Beirut with south Lebanon. Lebanon is Lebanon. They are one people. Letting outsiders divide your people will only lead to greater instability and another civil war.
Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, on the ground, Lebanese people continue to endure horrific violence. The Israeli Government has killed 10 more Lebanese in the past 24 hours as we speak on this floor. The destruction of Lebanon continues with U.S. military support.
We must act now to save lives, no matter faith. We must end U.S. support for these atrocities and force an end to the Israeli Government's invasion and illegal military occupation of Lebanese territory.
This vote is not only about ending the invasion of Lebanon. It is about bringing an end to the disastrous war with Iran. It is connected. Israel's ongoing military occupation and campaign to destroy Lebanon threatens to undermine any chance of success for a peace deal and bring our troops home, to end the war with Iran, a war which has killed countless civilians and has caused extreme economic suffering for ordinary Americans right here at home, who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The American people are tired of watching their tax dollars fuel death, destruction, and endless war. They are tired of hearing that we don't have money for healthcare or childcare at home--
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:40 p.m.
The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. TLAIB.--while watching U.S. bombs.
This vote on the Lebanon War Powers Resolution is clear.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:40 p.m.
The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
The gentlewoman is no longer recognized.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)7:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, there is a lot to unpack right there. I think I would start with this: The word "genocidal" was used. I would remind the floor that there was only one person on this floor right now who has been reprimanded for calling for genocide. That person is walking out as we speak. That person didn't want the transcript of that allowed into the Record last time. It was the person that was just speaking.
Maybe that is not the best person--or maybe that is a good person to give us definitions on genocide, but I don't think she has read them.
What kind of ethnic cleansing takes place from a country, a leadership, or a military that warns people to get out? That doesn't sound like ethnic cleansing: Get out. Get out if you are a civilian. Get out of this area. There are attacks coming to kill terrorists.
That is not what ethnic cleansing looks like. That is not a genocidal attack, as was the accusation.
Clearly, the individual has no real interest in debate because the individual left. I think, as much as we heard conversation about civilians, there was not one mention of the actual targeted civilian population, Israelis. That is the targeted civilian population, day in, day out, by Hezbollah. There was no mention of that.
Again, the gentlewoman does not seek to have a debate about her own resolution, which is an odd thing, to not want to debate your own resolution.
I would have asked the individual over there if she supports the Lebanon-United States-Israel framework for peace that is going on right now.
As was mentioned, I believe that, in the remarks that she gave, she doesn't support the Lebanese Government. I am not trying to put words in her mouth. I am trying to recall everything that was stated.
If she is not supporting the Lebanese Government, maybe she doesn't support the framework for peace, and she wants people to fight. Maybe she wants people to fight instead of peace. I am trying to unpack a lot of what was put there.
In the end, I think the most significant reason to vote against this resolution is a couple of the following: Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. They are directly targeting civilians constantly in Israel. It is their day-to-day way of life. There are probably at least 40,000 of them, as we speak, in the south of Lebanon.
There are not U.S. forces engaged in hostilities in Lebanon, but the resolution demands that we remove all U.S. forces from hostilities in Lebanon. It is an impossible thing to do. The ranking member has acknowledged there are no U.S. forces engaged in hostilities in Lebanon.
Again, it is important to support our ally in their combat operations against this foreign terrorist organization that was responsible for killing 63 people, 17 Americans, in the U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut. The Marine barracks bombing, which killed 241 U.S. servicemembers, was, again, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks against the United States of America prior to 9/11.
In the TWA Flight 847 hijacking, Hezbollah terrorists hijacked the aircraft and brutally tortured and murdered a U.S. Navy diver, Robert Stethem. In hostage campaigns, Hezbollah would continually take hostages over and over again. There are too many stories of that to list.
Repeatedly targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, diplomatic facilities, and commercial aviation, that is the M.O. of Hezbollah. Since October 2023, Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets, missiles, drones, and anti-tank missiles into Israel, which is holding the largest American population anywhere in the Middle East. Those are attacks against Americans indiscriminately, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to evacuate the area, and many have been killed.
Hezbollah deliberately targets not only military objectives, but civilians, diplomatic facilities, aviation, population centers, malls, cafes, buses, anyplace that they can target. Where there is an innocent civilian, that is their goal as a place to target, not military targets, but innocent civilian targets. Again, this is juxtaposed to Israel, which is conducting operations against terrorists specifically who hide among civilians, very unfortunately, but whom they give a warning to over and over again to try to get any civilians exposed to any danger out of that danger zone.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure we can talk more about this, but I will let the ranking member speak about what he wants. I reserve the balance of my time.
Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)7:40 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, while I have zero confidence this administration will be transparent with Congress, let me restate clearly that I have seen no information to indicate United States Armed Forces are engaged in combat hostilities on the ground in Lebanon.
Nevertheless, this resolution is a timely and important assertion of Congress' constitutional authority, one that requires the administration to come to Congress before sending U.S. forces into another war.
Conflict in Lebanon is not new. In 1975, Lebanon's Civil War began a conflict that would kill over 150,000 people in a country with a population of just several million.
The United States sent troops to the country as part of a multinational force. On October 23, 1983, terrorists drove two truck bombs into our Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, killing 241 of our soldiers. It was the deadliest day for our Marines since World War II. President Reagan made the right call and pulled out our Marines within 4 months.
We must not, Mr. Speaker, repeat the failures of the past, be they 40 years or 40 days ago. We must not allow this administration to undermine the fragile cease-fire now in place, drag our troops into another conflict, or hand Congress' warmaking authority to a President who has shown no interest in wielding it responsibly.
Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution and encourage all of my colleagues to do so, as well. I yield back the balance of my time.
Brian J. Mast (R-FL)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, as we speak, we have the best chance for peace between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States of America that has existed in decades. There is a framework in place that has been met between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States of America. The one holdout is Hezbollah.
This resolution does absolutely nothing to help garner that peace. This resolution only seeks to embolden Hezbollah. That is the only thing that it does because, again, as was pointed out by my colleague--and I appreciate him saying this very firmly; he was very clear about this--there are no U.S. forces engaged in hostilities.
Do we train Lebanese armed forces? Yes, we do. Do we provide intelligence? Yes, we do. We don't have forces engaged there, but we are working for a peace that has evaded the world for decades, and we are closer than ever.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage a "no" vote against this resolution because, again, it is simply undermining the peace process and really, actually serves no purpose because it asks that we remove forces that are not present.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:50 p.m.
All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is ordered on the concurrent resolution.
The question is on adoption of the concurrent resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.
Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)7:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore7:50 p.m.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question are postponed.
Recognizing Ed Sheehan on His Retirement
Page H4309 · Official text(Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ed Sheehan, president and CEO of Concurrent Technologies Corporation. Ed will retire this week, leaving a position he has committed many years to.
For more than three decades, Ed's commitment to excellence has helped CTC become a leader in applied scientific research and development. In his position, he has helped foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, strengthening the company and its workforce.
Ed's leadership extends well beyond CTC, having served as chair and on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the United Way of Pennsylvania, and president of the Pennsylvania Society.
Ed also served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education for 5 years. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Ed for his role in supporting the Commonwealth's students and teachers.
It has been a privilege to get to know Ed and his wife, Julie, over the years. He is a great community leader and an even better friend. I congratulate Ed on his retirement.
Thanking Jessica Lee
Page H4309 · Official text(Ms. KELLY of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my communications director, Jessica Lee, for her service to my office and the Second Congressional District of Illinois.
Jessica came to my office from Giffords, bringing a steady commitment to public service and community safety that has shaped everything she touches.
Jessica excelled at elevating the stories of those who were too often overlooked and felt powerless. She brought national attention to moms forced into dangerous births and families who continue to lose loved ones due to gun violence.
She is small but mighty, quiet in presence, but always exactly where she is needed when the work demands it. Somewhere along the way, in studio and during filming, she started calling me "One Take Kelly," a title I will accept with pride.
Jessica's leadership and good humor have made this office and the softball team stronger. I am deeply grateful for her service, and I wish her every success in her next chapter and beyond.
Remembering Mary Ross Cunningham
Page H4309 · Official text(Mr. SCHNEIDER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember a remarkable community leader and a dear personal friend, Mary Ross Cunningham.
Born in rural Alabama on November 19, 1945, one of 22 children, Mary was a force of nature, larger than life, with the biggest of hearts, and the most indomitable of spirits.
For more than two decades, in her hometown of Waukegan, Illinois, and across Lake County, she served her community with dignity and grace, fiercely advocating for those whom she represented.
Mary was first elected to the Lake County board in 2002, and in 2018 was elected by her colleagues to be county board vice chair.
She moved to Waukegan, Illinois, in the 1960s with her husband, Samuel, to start her family. Tragically, Samuel was murdered in 1968, and Mary was left to raise their four children alone. She raised four incredible children: Emerson, Sam, Jackie, and the late Alvin.
Mary epitomized public service and was a fierce advocate for her constituents. She fought to expand access to affordable housing and quality healthcare, and she was an unwavering voice for those experiencing homelessness.
Her commitment to equity and justice was matched only by her love of community.
Mary leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. I will miss her as a colleague and a mentor, but most as a friend.
I send my deepest condolences to the entire Cunningham family and the community mourning a great loss. May her memory forever be a blessing.
Honoring the Camden Pharmacy
Pages H4309–H4312 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Carter of Georgia was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Camden Pharmacy in St. Marys, Georgia, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary on June 13, 2026.
For two decades, Camden Pharmacy has served the people of Camden County with personalized community-focused healthcare. Located across from Camden Medical Center, the pharmacy offers prescription services, over-the-counter medications, wound care supplies, veterinary medications, long-term care and hospice services, and much more.
Under the leadership of pharmacist Anthony Kicklighter, Camden Pharmacy has built a reputation for exceptional service and a commitment to caring for every patient who walks through its doors.
As a pharmacist myself, I understand the importance of forming a reliable repute within one's community, and Anthony has done great work for the people of St. Marys.
I am happy to congratulate Anthony and the entire Camden Pharmacy team on 20 years of dedicated service to our community and wishing them continued success in the years ahead.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Paul R. Watkin, as he retires from Federal service after an extraordinary 48 years of dedicated service to our Nation.
Mr. Watkin began his distinguished career in 1978 with Company C, 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment, where he served with honor and distinction in some of our Nation's most challenging operations.
While serving, he deployed in Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 mission to rescue 53 American hostages in Iran, and later participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada.
After earning both the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs and serving 7 years in the special operations community, he became a senior counterintelligence special agent and retired honorably from the U.S. Army in 2000.
Mr. Watkin transitioned directly into Federal civil service, serving in key security and intelligence leadership positions across the Army.
Mr. Watkin has served our Nation faithfully, and I wish him the best in the next chapter of his life.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kennedy Ingram and Macie Phillips. The two Georgia graduates have made history as the first Black women to receive a bachelor of science in ocean science from the University of Georgia.
The program provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the structure and function of marine systems from global oceans to local estuary environments and their interaction with the Earth-atmosphere system.
The two were inspired to become pioneers in their field hoping to have a lasting impact and inspire others like them to pursue groundbreaking endeavors. I am proud to say that they were successful in their goals.
Kennedy and Macie have become trailblazers, creating a tradition and legacy of academic achievement in their school.
I thank Kennedy and Macie for their contributions to the scientific community. I am excited to see the tremendous things they will accomplish in the future.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize chef Mashama Bailey who is credited with reinventing Southern and Black American food traditions.
Beginning her career, she worked as a private chef in New York City and was later persuaded to undertake professional cooking. In 2014 she entered a partnership to open The Grey in Savannah, Georgia. In 2019 and 2022, she earned the James Beard Award for her dishes that featured history and culture through mixing traditional Southern techniques with contemporary influences.
As chairwoman of the Edna Lewis Foundation, she preserves African-American culinary traditions and develops educational opportunities in cooking, agriculture, food studies, and storytelling.
Most recently, she was named to the TIME100 list of the most influential people in the world as an influential culinary figure. She received the North America's Best Female Chef Award for 2026.
Chef Bailey is paving the way for rising chefs and inspiring others through her work.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Greg Tanner, recently named South Georgia State College's president.
As interim president, he increased the college's enrollment in the summer of 2023 by 14.7 percent, earning the Chancellor's Cup award for enrollment growth. In 2025 he was presented with Phi Theta Kappa's Paragon Award for New Presidents, honoring his dedication to the college and its students.
More recently, he earned the Dr. Zeb L. Burrell MD Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to a new emergency services concentration in the college's School of Business.
The foundation of his career consists of a bachelor's degree in education from Georgia Southern University, a master's degrees in physical education and educational leadership from Valdosta State University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and supervision from Nova Southeastern University.
From a K-12 school principal to president of South Georgia College illustrates his dedication to education and to leadership.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Gina Rigby-House for a remarkable career defined by hard work, faithful leadership, and a genuine commitment to serving others.
Gina's journey began as a part-time employee at Aflac while she was still a senior in high school in Columbus, Georgia. Through dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering work ethic, she built a career spanning nearly four decades and became one of the most respected leaders in public policy and government affairs.
For more than 26 years, Gina represented Aflac in Washington, helping guide the company through complex legislative and regulatory challenges while earning the trust and respect of colleagues, policymakers, and friends on both sides of the aisle.
Yet what sets Gina apart is not simply her professional success, but the way she has invested in others. Through her leadership with the University of Alabama's Blackburn Institute, she has mentored countless young leaders, generously sharing her wisdom, encouragement, and belief in the next generation.
Those who know Gina know her greatest joy has always been found in her family, the relationships she has built throughout her life, and her signature sense of style, notably shown through her shoes. Whether as a mentor, colleague, wife, grandmother, or friend, she has led with grace, humility, and a servant's heart.
I congratulate Gina on an extraordinary career. I thank her for the countless lives she has touched, and I wish her and her husband, Mike, every blessing in the years ahead.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Sandra Fryhofer on becoming president-elect of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Fryhofer is an Atlantic-based internal medicine physician who has previously served in numerous roles in the AMA and has worked tirelessly to advance the roles of both patients and physicians.
Following a vote by physicians and medical students at the AMA annual meeting, Dr. Fryhofer garnered the support to begin her year-long term stating in June of 2027.
Dr. Fryhofer spent numerous years as the AMA's liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. She contributed greatly to the development of vaccines protecting against COVID-19, influenza, HPV, and many others.
Aside from the AMA, Dr. Fryhofer served as president of the American College of Physicians. When she was elected in 2000, she became the youngest person and the second woman to have served in the role.
I wish her the best of luck and sincere congratulations as she begins her role.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my friend Martha Zoller, whose voice and service to Georgia will be deeply missed.
For more than three decades, Martha informed, challenged, and connected Georgians as a broadcaster, columnist, author, and political commentator. She earned the respect of listeners across our State through analytical, honest conversation, and an abiding love for Georgia and our country.
I have had the privilege of joining Martha on her radio show many times over the years. Our conversations were always thoughtful, candid, and rooted in our shared commitment to serving the people of Georgia. She had a remarkable ability to ask the right questions and to listen carefully, offering valuable insights to listeners.
Martha embodied the gold standard of professionalism, always acting quickly to offer her support as a mentor to countless people in politics and journalism.
My prayers are with Martha's family, friends, and colleagues, and the countless listeners whose lives she touched. Her legacy will live on through them.
May God lift them up in His arms and help them find comfort in this challenging time.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Josh Brooks, who has been athletic director of the University of Georgia since 2021.
He recently received a contract extension after back-to-back Southeastern Conference championships in football and national championships in women's tennis, women's track, and equestrian.
During his time as athletics director, the Bulldogs have earned 9 national championships, 14 SEC crowns, and 33 individual national titles across 21 sports.
Many facilities upgrades were under his management and supervision, including the new Lindsey Hopkins indoor tennis courts, improvements to the south side of Sanford Stadium, a new men's and women's basketball weight room, and more.
He demonstrates leadership as an active member on the SEC Executive Committee and as vice chair of the NCAA Football Oversight Committee, and chair of the NCAA Football Practice and Playing Seasons Committee.
Brooks' extended contract will allow him to continue making momentous milestones for the University of Georgia.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Lawrence Cohen "Larry" Walker, Jr. who passed away on June 9 at the age of 84.
Mr. Walker was a lifelong resident of Perry, Georgia. He graduated from Perry High School in 1960 and attended the University of Georgia where he earned a bachelor's in business administration and a juris doctorate.
In 1966, Mr. Walker was appointed Perry's first municipal court judge and later as the city attorney, a role he held for 40 years.
Larry was later elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives where he served for 32 years and became majority leader. While in the State legislature, Mr. Walker played a key role in bringing Frito-Lay and the Georgia National Fairgrounds to Perry, Georgia.
After his time in the State house, Larry was elected to the Georgia Transportation Board and appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to the Georgia Board of Regents.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Walker's family as they mourn his loss.
Text printed in the Record (57 characters)
Honoring the Life and Service of Specialist Adrian Bonsey
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Specialist Adrian Bonsey, a dedicated soldier of the United States Army who tragically lost his life during a training exercise earlier this month.
Specialist Bonsey answered the call to serve his country when he joined the Army in 2023 and quickly distinguished himself through his professionalism and selfless service.
As a combat engineer, he played a vital role in supporting our Nation's military readiness. Prior to arriving at Fort Stewart, Specialist Bonsey served at Fort Carson, Colorado, and deployed to Poland in support of our allies and partners abroad.
During his service, he earned two Army Achievement Medals, reflecting his dedication and contributions to the Army and his fellow soldiers. While training, Specialist Bonsey made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, we mourn this tragic loss; extend our deepest condolences to his family, his friends, and his fellow soldiers; and honor his memory with gratitude for his service.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Angel Cabrera on his appointment as the next president of the Aspen Institute.
The Aspen Institute is a globally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to unlocking human potential, fostering understanding, and creating new possibilities for a better world.
Dr. Cabrera currently serves as the 12th president of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since taking office in 2019, he has led the university through a period of extraordinary growth and achievement. Under his leadership, enrollment has grown by 55 percent to more than 56,000 students, while annual sponsored research awards have exceeded $1.4 billion.
His impact has been felt far beyond campus, helping strengthen innovation, develop talent, and drive economic opportunity across Georgia and beyond.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Dr. Cabrera on this well-deserved appointment and wish him continued success in this next chapter.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of Melinda Schneider, affectionately known as the Yellow Bow Lady, whose dedication to service left an enduring mark on her community and on our State.
Born in Savannah, Melinda spent decades serving others through civic leadership, volunteerism, and unwavering support for veterans and military families. She was a tireless advocate for veterans, holding leadership roles with DAV Auxiliary Unit 46, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 789, the Hinesville Military Affairs Committee, and the Veterans Memorial at Bryant Commons.
Melinda also served as a member of the Liberty County Board of Elections, secretary of the Liberty County Republican Party, and a volunteer at Winn Army Community Hospital. Her devotion to the soldiers and families of Fort Stewart earned her the affectionate title of "Marne Rock Star."
Mr. Speaker, Melinda leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service, compassion, and community leadership. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and honor a life well lived.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the recent winners of Miss Georgia 2026 and Miss Teen Georgia 2026.
At the 81st annual Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition, Sophia Wootten, representing northwest Georgia, was crowned Miss Georgia, and Melony Tidmore, representing Capital City's Teen, was named Miss Georgia's Teen.
The candidates competed for scholarships and the opportunity to represent the State of Georgia in the Miss America and Miss America's Teen competitions this September.
Sophia, from Peachtree City, is currently a student at the University of Georgia, with her community service initiative focusing on disability advocacy in education.
Melony, from Powder Springs, currently attends Liberty University Online Academy, with her community service initiative being "Initiative Dance: A Movement Toward Better Health."
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these young women and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming Miss America competition.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Willie Underwood III, a distinguished urologic surgeon, educator, and advocate, on his inauguration as the 181st president of the American Medical Association.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Dr. Underwood for assuming his presidency at a defining moment for American healthcare.
Dr. Underwood is only the second urologist and third Black physician to serve as AMA president, a historic milestone for American medicine.
A graduate of Morehouse College and SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dr. Underwood brings more than 25 years of urologic surgery experience, including 15 years specializing in robotic urologic oncology.
He is a proud prostate cancer survivor whose personal experience deepened his commitment to closing gaps in care and ensuring every patient receives the treatment they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, as a pharmacist, I look forward to working alongside Dr. Underwood to build a healthcare system that provides more choices, lower costs, and better outcomes for all Americans.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)8:10 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my middle son, Barrett Carter, a proud southeast Georgia native and accomplished PGA Head Golf Professional.
Barrett graduated from the University of Georgia before settling in the New Orleans area in 2009, where he has built an impressive career as a PGA Class A Professional. He has served at some of the region's premier facilities, including TPC Louisiana and Metairie Country Club, and now currently serves as head golf professional at Oak Knoll Country Club in Hammond, Louisiana.
Barrett is passionate about growing the game through instruction and by creating welcoming programs for golfers of all ages and abilities.
Although Barrett and his wife live in Metairie with their three precious daughters, the First District of Georgia is still proud to claim him as one of our own.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my son on all he has done to inspire new players and grow the game of golf. His mother and I are very proud of him.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Forming a More Perfect Union for All
Pages H4312–H4314 · Official text(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. McClellan of Virginia was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.)
Mr. Speaker, 250 years ago, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, gave birth to a new Nation built on the revolutionary idea that the power of government is derived from the people. The Continental Congress gave birth to a government by, of, and for the people based upon principles of liberty and justice for all.
Today, we can be extraordinarily proud that the United States of America still stands upon those principles, but we also have to acknowledge that the promise of America remains unfinished 250 years later.
Today, for Black Americans in historically marginalized communities, the ideals upon which this Nation has been founded have too often been delayed, denied, or defended only after bitter struggle.
From the fight to end slavery to the struggle against Jim Crow to the ongoing battles for voting rights, equal justice, economic opportunity, and quality healthcare, the story of America has always been a story of both promise and unfinished progress.
At this critical moment, we must be clear: Celebrating America's extraordinary history cannot mean ignoring the work that is still before us to form that more perfect Union. A true commemoration of 250 years must reckon with the reality upon which this country was founded, reconcile it with the ideals upon which this country was founded, and reckon with the communities who built this Nation, fought to perfect it, and continue to demand that its promises are made real for all people.
Tonight, the Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to ensuring our Nation's progress is measured not only by its past but by its continued pursuit of liberty and justice for all as we strive for that more perfect Union:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
Mr. Speaker, when Thomas Jefferson wrote those words in the Declaration of Independence, which the Continental Congress adopted on July 2, 1776, he did not include me. He did not include nearly half a million enslaved men, women, and children in the Thirteen Colonies, including his own children at his beloved Monticello.
Over a decade later, when James Madison wrote "The Virginia Plan" that formed the foundation for our U.S. Constitution, creating a government by, of, and for we the people, in order to form a more perfect Union, he and the delegates to that convention did not include me. They did not include over 300 enslaved people who lived and labored at his Montpelier estate, over three generations of the Madison family.
Indeed, the Constitution adopted in 1789, considered enslaved individuals, like my ancestors, only three-fifths of a person for the purpose of how many people would serve in this body and for taxation. Beyond that, they were treated as property.
For 250 years, the story of America has been one of each generation trying to reconcile the ideals upon which this country was founded with the reality and to make the ideals true for everyone.
It has taken a Civil War, the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments, at a minimum, to get us closer to that more perfect Union.
We have made progress. I would not be standing before you as the first Black woman elected to this body or to serve in this body, period, from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the birthplace of American democracy and the birthplace of American slavery. I wouldn't be standing here if we hadn't made progress.
Every time we have made progress as a Nation toward that more perfect Union, there has been a backlash, and that backlash has involved propaganda, violence, and voter suppression. Yet, we continue to strive for that more perfect Union.
I am proud to be part of the Congressional Black Caucus, the conscience of the Congress, that has fought for that progress, to keep that progress, and to build upon that progress.
Virginia has played a leading role in this struggle of reconciling the ideals upon which our country was founded with its reality. Established on July 30, 1619, Virginia boasts the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere. The first elected legislative assembly in the New World, the Virginia General Assembly, in which I and many of my fellow members of the Virginia delegation have served. It was the birthplace for the birth of American democracy.
One month later, a Dutch privateer arrived on the shores of Virginia with 20-and-odd Africans, captured by Portuguese slavers in West Central Africa, and they were traded for provisions.
Three months after that, Virginia took steps toward becoming a permanent colony by recruiting English women to Jamestown to make wives for the inhabitants. When those women arrived, they had no right to vote, no right to hold public office, no right to control their own property.
Since 1776, and particularly since 1789, America has been faced with a question of how to make true for all Americans the promise of our founding documents.
How do we make true a government by, of, and for the people when for so much of our history too many people weren't allowed to participate.
We have, again, as I said, made progress. A lot of that progress was bought with the blood of the Civil War, bought with the blood of people during the civil rights movement, marching, fighting, and, in some cases, dying for the right to vote.
Yet today, we face a rollback of that progress. We have a President who insists he will not sign another bill unless it is a modern day poll tax, the SAVE America Act, which would require every American to prove their citizenship before they can vote through documents that cost money.
That is just as much a poll tax as the poll tax my father paid when he first registered to vote in Tennessee. It is on the Bible where he kept that receipt that I took my oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States--all of it, not just the convenient parts.
We will continue, as the Congressional Black Caucus, to fight for progress. We stand on the shoulders of those who paved the way before us. We are building a path for those who will come after us.
As John Lewis said, democracy is not a State. It is an act that requires every generation to do its part to build a beloved community. Democracy in and of itself is not the point. It is what you do with it. It is what you do to build that more perfect Union.
My parents, growing up during the Depression, under the tyranny of Jim Crow, as they fought to participate in their government, saw the best of government when the full force of the Federal Government was used during the New Deal to help people solve problems beyond their control caused by the Depression.
They saw the worst of government, a government that oppressed them solely for the color of their skin, for the benefit of others.
They sparked in me a desire to make government that force that helps people and solves problems.
That is what gets me through the chaos, quite frankly, Mr. Speaker. I am very cognizant every day that I serve in this body, and especially on certain days when court decisions come out of the Supreme Court, I am very cognizant that I am fighting the same fights that my parents, my grandparents, and my great-grandparents fought.
I could be angry about that, but I am joyful. I am joyful because I fight those fights from a position of more strength and power than they ever imagined. I fight those fights so that my children and their children don't have to. But, if they do, they fight from a position of more strength and power than I do.
At the end of the day, in a government by, of, and for the people, government reflects the perspective and, therefore, meets the needs of the people who participate. That is why the right to vote is so sacred. That is why the Congressional Black Caucus will fight tooth and nail to protect it.
It was purchased through blood, sweat, and many tears. It was promised in our founding documents creating this government by, of, and for the people. We will not rest while some are denied the exercise of that right, because of barriers put in their way that have absolutely nothing to do with their ability to determine their own destiny.
Now, Mr. Speaker, behind every Founding Father and mother who fought to give birth to our Nation and make those ideals upon which this country was founded true for everyone, there is a family. Today, American families face serious strains as it becomes increasingly difficult to afford a home, childcare, education, healthcare, retirement, groceries, paying their energy bills. Black families especially face challenges amidst the cost-of-living crisis that makes it much harder to pay rent or mortgages, put food on the table, keep the lights on, and get the healthcare they need when they need it.
A year ago, the policies put forward by congressional Republicans in what I call the big, ugly bill made that even worse--stripping healthcare away from millions of Americans, shredding our healthcare safety net into tatters, taking food out of the mouths of hungry families, all to benefit the wealthiest top 10 percent in this country.
The administration's policies to separate families and slash healthcare funding continue to threaten the well-being of families across the country.
Our country faces not only a record-low fertility rate as the cost of raising a child surpasses $300,000, but it continues to face maternal mortality rates, infant mortality rates, and preterm birth rates that are worse than any other industrialized nation.
If you are a Black woman, you are more than three times as likely to die as a White woman from a childbirth-related death.
When you have a child in America, because we are one of the only developed nations without a national paid leave policy, one in four American mothers have to return to work within 2 weeks of giving birth because they cannot afford to stay home, even though you need at least 6 weeks to recover from childbirth, 8 weeks if you have had a C-section. Believe me, you really need more than 8 weeks, as I know as I had one when my placenta ruptured and my daughter was born 9 weeks before her due date.
I needed more than 8 weeks to recover.
For our families, the basic necessities of life: housing, healthcare, childcare are increasingly out of reach.
The Heritage Foundation has issued their blueprint for American families, the Saving America By Saving the Family blueprint, which is a blueprint for conservative domestic and social policy plans; but instead of putting forward solutions to the problems that all American families face, such as the high maternal infant mortality rates, high preterm birth rates, high cost of childbirth, high cost of childcare, high cost of healthcare, lack of national paid leave, and the skyrocketing costs of everyday life, the plan focuses on a narrow view of what constitutes a family and ignores the wide diversity of families that call America home.
I have a different vision, and that is why this week I will release the all American family agenda, which illustrates a plan to make family life accessible and affordable for every American family, not just the ones that look like mine--regardless of how they are formed, regardless of where they live, what they earn, how they worship, but everyone.
The all American family agenda will call for a future where America families are free to plan when, whether, and how to have children; free from the fear that a pregnancy may be too costly or complicated; free from the fear that if they need medical intervention that their provider will have to wait until they are close enough to death to intervene; one where they are free to work and care for loved ones without living paycheck to paycheck.
As we mark 250 years of this Nation, American families deserve opportunities to grow, afford, and care for their families for the next 250 years--every American family, not just a few.
Mr. Speaker, there is so much more I could say as we celebrate 250 years of this extraordinary country. It is one I am proud to live in. It is one I am proud to serve as a Member of Congress. It is also one I love enough to ask it to live up to its promises to all people who live here.
We have come a long way, but we also have seen a lot of that progress rolled back. We are in that backlash again. We are in the same backlash that my great grandfather saw: the backlash to reconstruction, the backlash that told him that he had to take a literacy test in Alabama and find three White men to vouch for his character just to be able to register to vote. It was the backlash that he faced in his community as racial terror lynchings tried to put Black people back in their place as defined by white supremacists and former Confederates who came back into power. It was the same backlash in his generation that created the live white supremacy to break up coalitions between formerly enslaved people and poor nonlandowning White people that was beginning to make progress for life, liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness for all.
We are now in the same backlash that my parents faced. My mother, who was the third youngest of 14 children, who was the first in her family to go beyond the eighth grade because, in her town, the State of Mississippi didn't think it was important enough to educate Black children, she had to move after working for a year just to get a high school diploma. She had to move to go to college. She saw firsthand in her family because her siblings, her parents, and her other family members and friends didn't have that opportunity, that they were limited in the jobs they could take. That is why every woman in her family was a domestic, caring for White people's children, and every man in her family was a laborer, because that is all that was available to them under the tyranny of Jim Crow.
My father who had to pay that poll tax and my mother who didn't vote until after 1965, we are facing that backlash now. We are facing the violence of people who stormed this building to take by force what they couldn't win at the ballot box for only the second time in American history. We are facing the voter suppression of a modern-day poll tax. We are facing the propaganda of stolen elections, birtherism, and the creation of villains in a limited view of what the American Dream and the American story should be.
But just like generations before us fought that backlash, the Congressional Black Caucus is standing up here today to fight back against this one. In a government by, of, and for the people, government reflects the perspective and, therefore, meets the needs of the people who participate.
We fought long and hard to expand that participation beyond the White landowning men that signed the Declaration of Independence and ratified the Constitution. We fought too hard for too long to ensure every American had the ability to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is our job as Members of Congress to help the American people today achieve those by protecting their rights, not rolling them back.
Mr. Speaker, we are not going back. Mr. Speaker, we are going forward.
We are fighting to ensure that the ideals upon which this country was founded become true for everybody, that when we say liberty and justice for all, we mean all, not just people who look like us, not just people who worship like us, not just people who were born in this country, or not just people who love like us, but everybody.
We will fight for that more perfect Union every single day. If necessary, we will die for it because too many people did.
Mr. Speaker, I will close with this. As the President wants to reshape what history is taught in our schools, what history is shown in our public spaces, and what history is shown in our museums, as he wants to ignore what he considers to be uncomfortable or puts America in a dark and unflattering light, we are not that perfect Union yet. There is good; there is bad; and there is ugly. We have to embrace all of it because it makes us who we are today, and we will never achieve that more perfect Union if we don't understand where we are and how we got here.
It is also important that we learn the good, the bad, and the ugly because the bad and the ugly help us to celebrate how far we have come. That came home to me when I took my children back to the African-American history museum last year during spring break. As I stood in the exhibit on the Middle Passage, which I had been in many, many times, that time, in the midst of the chaos we find ourselves in, I realized that somebody survived that so that I could be here in this moment, right now, celebrating 250 years of the ideal of liberty and justice for all, that I can fight for the reality of liberty and justice for all.
I am not going to let anybody take away the ability to celebrate that. I am not going to let anybody take away my joy at coming from an unknown member of my family. We think we know, but we don't. DNA has allowed us to figure out maybe where they came from. We have no idea who they are, but to come through the Middle Passage and end up with a descendant serving in this body, that is an extraordinary American story. You can't celebrate it if you don't celebrate how it began. You can't fully celebrate how it began if you are not honest about how it began.
Mr. Speaker, as we each commemorate in our own way what 250 years of America means, it means to me that I will fight as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus with my now 61 colleagues, a record number, as we face challenges to our strength through redistricting and efforts to suppress votes. We are going to fight every day to strive for that more perfect Union because we believe in the promise of the Declaration of Independence.
We swore an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution that created a government by, of, and for the people. We will not rest until the ideals upon which this country was founded become true for everyone who calls America home.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Notice of Intention to Offer Resolution Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House
Page H4314 · Official textNOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.
The form of the resolution is as follows:
Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records relating to monetary settlements involving acts of sexual harassment.
Whereas transparency is essential for accountability in government;
Whereas sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances by Members, Delegates, Resident Commissioners, in violation of clause 9 and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House affect the safety, dignity, and integrity of the proceedings of the House of Representatives:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that with respect to reviews, investigations, or matters which the Committee on Ethics or the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights have reviewed, conducted, or facilitated, the Committee on Ethics and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights shall, not later than 60 days after the adoption of this resolution, make publicly available a single consolidated list that sets forth separately for each Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner the name of each Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who was the subject of any review or investigation involving a violation of clause 9 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment, or clause 18 of rule XXIII of the House of Representatives, or any case involving sexual harassment or sexual abuse if it resulted in a payment of taxpayer funds; and adjacent to each such name, the total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such matters;
The aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such reviews, investigations, or matters involving Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners that did not, in any portion of the settlement, involve sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct;
The aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such reviews, investigations, or matters involving, in part or in full, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct by employees of the House of Representatives; and
The aggregate total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such reviews, investigations, or matters involving conduct by employees of the House of Representatives that did not in any portion of the settlement involve sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct.
That for the purposes of this resolution, any such settlement, payment, reimbursement, award, or other financial consideration shall be treated as involving sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct if sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual misconduct was any component of the matter, regardless of whether the matter also involved, was classified as, or was resolved under another claim, violation, or category.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Van Epps)
Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed.
Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from Kentucky will appear in the Record at this point.
The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at a time designated for consideration of the resolution.
Enrolled Bill Signed
Page H4314 · Official textKevin F. McCumber, Clerk of the House, reported and found truly enrolled a bill of the House of the following title, which was thereupon signed by the Speaker on Thursday, June 25, 2026:
Text printed in the Record (87 characters)
H.R. 6644. An act to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.
Senate Enrolled Bill Signed
Page H4314 · Official textThe Speaker announced his signature to an enrolled bill of the Senate of the following title:
Text printed in the Record (222 characters)
S. 629.--An act to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to remove barriers to agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency measures under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.
Adjournment
Page H4314 · Official textMr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 48 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.
Executive Communications, Etc.
Pages H4314–H4315 · Official text3948. Under clause 2 of rule XIV, a letter from the Chair, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, transmitting the Commission's June 2026 Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1395b-6(b)(1)(D); Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, Sec. 1805(b)(1)(D) (as amended by Public Law 111-148, Sec. 2801(b)(2)); (124 Stat. 332), was taken from the Speaker's table, referred jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce.
Reports of Committees on Public Bills and Resolutions
Page H4315 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (1,125 characters)
Mr. CALVERT: Committee on Appropriations. H.R. 9495. A bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes (Rept. 119-715). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas: Committee on Small Business. H.R. 5498. A bill to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to provide information to small business concerns on individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 119-716). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. WALBERG: Committee on Education and Workforce. H.R. 7890. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to exclude certain instructional approaches from comprehensive literacy instruction, to prioritize certain funds to promote the use of evidence-based literacy instruction and supports aligned to the science of reading and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 119-717). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Public Bills and Resolutions
Pages H4315–H4316 · Official textUnder clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions of the following titles were introduced and severally referred, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (11,914 characters)
By Ms. TENNEY (for herself, Ms. Titus, and Mr. Beyer):
H.R. 9496. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to postpone tax deadlines and reimburse paid late fees for United States nationals who are unlawfully or wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. GRAVES (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington,
Mr. Collins, and Ms. Wilson of Florida):
H.R. 9497. A bill to provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
By Mr. STEUBE (for himself and Ms. DelBene):
H.R. 9498. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to authorize the National Taxpayer Advocate to appear as amicus curiae in Federal tax cases, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Ms. MALLIOTAKIS:
H.R. 9499. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to apply tax return preparation penalties to improperly altered returns, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. MILLER of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Suozzi):
H.R. 9500. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the limitation on deductions for personal casualty losses and to provide for increased taxpayer relief with respect to theft losses involving fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. BUCHANAN (for himself, Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr.
Schweikert, and Mr. Horsford):
H.R. 9501. A bill to require the Comptroller General to submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the potential of artificial intelligence to assist the Internal Revenue Service in detecting tax fraud; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. BRESNAHAN:
H.R. 9502. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to avoid duplicative, improper, or erroneous billings or payments for hospital care and medical services furnished under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. RUTHERFORD (for himself, Mr. Case, Mr. Guest,
and Mr. Moskowitz):
H.R. 9503. A bill to change the name of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division to the United States Secret Service Police; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. Smucker):
H.R. 9504. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish additional reporting requirements for hospital organizations, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. BABIN:
H.R. 9505. A bill to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam in recognition of her distinguished service to the United States Armed Forces through the Melody Maids and her lifelong contributions to patriotism, music education, and the leadership development of young women in the United States; to the Committee on Financial Services.
By Mr. BEGICH (for himself and Mr. Obernolte):
H.R. 9506. A bill to amend the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a prize competition program relating to artificial intelligence, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
By Mr. BEGICH:
H.R. 9507. A bill to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at its sources globally; to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. CASE (for himself and Mr. Moylan):
H.R. 9508. A bill to require Homeland Security Investigations to establish the Pacific Islands Liaison Initiative to strengthen the United States' strategic partnerships and ability to combat transnational criminal organizations in the Pacific region, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. DelBENE (for herself and Mr. Joyce of
Pennsylvania):
H.R. 9509. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act with respect to the coverage of kidney disease education services under Medicare and private health insurance; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. DEXTER (for herself and Mr. Murphy):
H.R. 9510. A bill to direct the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health to make publicly available all national policies of the Veterans Health Administration; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Mr. FIELDS (for himself, Mr. Carter of Louisiana,
Mr. Bresnahan, and Mr. Ezell):
H.R. 9511. A bill to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop a flood insurance information tool, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Financial Services.
By Mr. GALLAGHER:
H.R. 9512. A bill to reauthorize the water storage program under Subtitle J of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, to authorize environmental restoration and recovery in the Sacramento River Basin, to authorize nonreimbursable Federal contribution to operation and maintenance for public benefits of State-led storage projects, to establish a Federal Leadership Committee for the Sacramento River Basin, to authorize the retention of revenue from eligible temporary water transfers for drought resilience, extraordinary maintenance, and dam safety investments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Natural Resources.
By Mr. GARCIA of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Norton, and
Mr. Figures):
H.R. 9513. A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support the integration of school-based health services into community schools, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. GILL of Texas (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr.
Perry, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Ms. Mace, Mr. Cloud, Mr.
Moore of West Virginia, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Gosar, Mr.
Jackson of Texas, Mr. Fine, Mr. Clyde, and Mr.
Crane):
H.R. 9514. A bill to restrict the eligibility of mortgagors to citizens of the United States with respect to mortgage insurance provided by the Federal Housing Administration and the purchase and securitization of mortgages by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; to the Committee on Financial Services.
By Mr. GROTHMAN (for himself, Mr. Fine, and Mr.
Arrington):
H.R. 9515. A bill to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the use of multi-factor authentication to access certain information through healthcare.gov; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. HARRIGAN:
H.R. 9516. A bill to codify Executive Order 14412, entitled "Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks"; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees
on Science, Space, and Technology, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. HUIZENGA (for himself, Mr. Messmer, Mr.
Courtney, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Moore of Utah,
and Mr. Amo):
H.R. 9517. A bill to amend the Arms Export Control Act to modify a limitation relating to export and transfers of defense articles and services under the AUKUS partnership, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
By Mr. LaHOOD:
H.R. 9518. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow contributions to a health savings account when a spouse has a health flexible spending account; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Mr. LARSON of Connecticut:
H.R. 9519. A bill to protect our Social Security system and improve benefits for current and future generations; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. LAWLER:
H.R. 9520. A bill to amend the War Hazards Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act to require that the Federal government pay interest on late reimbursements, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Mr. McDOWELL (for himself, Mr. Edwards, and Mr.
Moore of North Carolina):
H.R. 9521. A bill to amend title VI of the Social Security Act to extend that date on which certain funds related to broadband infrastructure projects may be expended; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
By Mr. McGUIRE (for himself and Mr. Garbarino):
H.R. 9522. A bill to designate the Freedom Flag as the national symbol of remembrance for September 11, 2001, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MOULTON:
H.R. 9523. A bill to permit judicial review of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) claims; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MURPHY:
H.R. 9524. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to provide for coordination between the Secretaries in the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program and certain health plans under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. NORTON:
H.R. 9525. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to limit the ability to assess a fee for health care services for prisoners, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Ms. OMAR:
H.R. 9526. A bill to require the Department of State to consult with Congress on Islamophobia in Europe; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
By Mr. OWENS:
H.R. 9527. A bill to require the Office of Management and Budget to consider revising the Standard Occupational Classification system to establish a separate code for strength and conditioning coaches, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce.
By Ms. PINGREE (for herself and Mr. Massie):
H.R. 9528. A bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to protect tort claims under State law related to labeling or packaging of pesticides or devices, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture.
By Ms. SALINAS:
H.R. 9529.
Text printed in the Record (3,761 characters)
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a tax on net capital gain accrued while serving as President of the United States; to the Committee on Ways and Means.
By Ms. SCHOLTEN (for herself, Mr. Crawford, Mr.
Stanton, and Mr. Bresnahan):
H.R. 9530. A bill to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to prohibit certain cell phone voice communications on aircraft in scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
By Mr. SMITH of New Jersey:
H.R. 9531. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a report on testing for helicobacter pylori for members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. TORRES of New York (for himself and Ms. Clarke
of New York):
H.R. 9532. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit group health plan payment clawbacks in certain circumstances; to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. VINDMAN (for himself and Mr. Hamadeh of
Arizona):
H.R. 9533. A bill to amend the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to require the publication of certain information regarding staffing and vacancies in the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Mr. WHITESIDES (for himself, Mr. Gooden, Mr.
Garamendi, Mr. Carbajal, and Mr. Crow):
H.R. 9534. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Air Force to procure space-based commercial data and end products to support the efforts of the Department of Defense and the wildfire mission of the United States Northern Command; to the Committee on Armed Services.
By Mr. KEATING:
H. Res. 1393. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7016) to prohibit action to or the use of Federal funds to invade NATO countries and territories, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Rules.
By Mr. LaLOTA:
H. Res. 1394. A resolution condemning prosecution policies that give preferential treatment to foreign nationals over United States citizens; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. MOORE of North Carolina (for himself, Mrs.
Sykes, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Timmons, Mr.
Mullin, Mr. Fuller, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Taylor, and Mr.
Pappas):
H. Res. 1395. A resolution support for the designation of the week of June 29 through July 4, 2026, as "National Tire Safety Week" in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Tire Safety Week to educate American motorists about the importance of proper tire care and maintenance; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
By Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mr. Bergman, Ms. Norton,
Mr. Moulton, Mr. Mast, Mr. Thompson of California,
Ms. McDonald Rivet, Mr. McCormick, and Mr.
Mackenzie):
H. Res. 1396. A resolution expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2026 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2026, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day"; to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (for herself, Mr. Kelly of
Pennsylvania, Mrs. Dingell, and Mr. Fitzpatrick):
H. Res. 1397. A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 28, 2026, as "Community is Stronger than Cancer Day"; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Page H4316 · Official textPursuant to clause 7(c) of rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted regarding the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the accompanying bill or joint resolution.
Additional Sponsors
Pages H4317–H4319 · Official textUnder clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows:
Text printed in the Record (9,333 characters)
H.R. 34: Mr. Begich.
H.R. 135: Ms. Wasserman Schultz.
H.R. 138: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 484: Mr. Kennedy of New York.
H.R. 516: Mr. Harris of Maryland and Mr. Levin.
H.R. 539: Mr. Downing.
H.R. 642: Mr. Bilirakis.
H.R. 768: Ms. Mejia.
H.R. 999: Mr. Fitzpatrick.
H.R. 1131: Ms. Budzinski.
H.R. 1132: Mr. Krishnamoorthi.
H.R. 1227: Mr. Mills, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Moore of North Carolina.
H.R. 1317: Mr. Schmidt.
H.R. 1340: Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Crank, Ms. Titus, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Guest, and Mr. Mrvan.
H.R. 1502: Mr. Fong and Mr. Haridopolos.
H.R. 1505: Ms. McDonald Rivet.
H.R. 1522: Mr. Frost.
H.R. 1585: Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 1707: Mr. Miller of Ohio and Mr. Crawford.
H.R. 1732: Mr. Whitesides.
H.R. 1873: Mr. Walkinshaw.
H.R. 1951: Ms. Goodlander.
H.R. 2004: Mr. Menendez.
H.R. 2028: Ms. De La Cruz, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Budzinski, and Mr. Begich.
H.R. 2089: Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Kiley of California.
H.R. 2094: Mr. Kennedy of New York and Mr. Carter of Louisiana.
H.R. 2102: Mr. Rogers of Kentucky.
H.R. 2120: Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Ms. DelBene.
H.R. 2199: Ms. Adams.
H.R. 2333: Mrs. Foushee.
H.R. 2350: Mr. Harrigan.
H.R. 2369: Mr. Thanedar.
H.R. 2381: Mr. Bell, Mrs. Foushee, and Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 2410: Mr. Landsman, Mr. Weber of Texas, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Guest, and Mr. Latimer.
H.R. 2424: Mr. Cuellar.
H.R. 2531: Mr. Lieu, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Barragan, and Mr. Carbajal.
H.R. 2592: Mr. Guest.
H.R. 2664: Mr. Ivey and Mr. Goldman of New York.
H.R. 2672: Mr. Moulton.
H.R. 2673: Mr. Gimenez.
H.R. 2756: Mr. Finstad.
H.R. 2878: Mr. Begich.
H.R. 2911: Mrs. Miller of West Virginia and Mr. Stauber.
H.R. 2947: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 3011: Mr. Frost.
H.R. 3028: Mr. Moore of West Virginia.
H.R. 3037: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina and Mr. Bacon.
H.R. 3151: Mr. Rogers of Alabama and Mr. Carson.
H.R. 3164: Mr. Stauber and Ms. De La Cruz.
H.R. 3178: Mr. Bentz.
H.R. 3226: Ms. McDonald Rivet.
H.R. 3261: Ms. Schakowsky.
H.R. 3277: Mr. Morelle.
H.R. 3307: Mr. Haridopolos and Ms. Salazar.
H.R. 3367: Mr. Thanedar.
H.R. 3376: Ms. Pou.
H.R. 3415: Mrs. Hayes.
H.R. 3469: Mr. Smith of New Jersey and Mr. Vasquez.
H.R. 3506: Mr. Kennedy of New York.
H.R. 3512: Mr. Barrett.
H.R. 3513: Mr. Green of Texas and Mr. Menendez.
H.R. 3514: Ms. Foxx.
H.R. 3544: Mr. Green of Texas and Mr. Magaziner.
H.R. 3639: Mrs. Dingell.
H.R. 3694: Mr. Correa.
H.R. 3747: Mr. Bishop, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. McGovern, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Ross, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. Bynum, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mr. Dunn of Florida.
H.R. 3762: Mr. Bacon.
H.R. 3826: Ms. Pou and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina.
H.R. 3885: Mr. Van Orden.
H.R. 4145: Mr. Bilirakis.
H.R. 4180: Mr. Whitesides.
H.R. 4197: Ms. Jayapal.
H.R. 4206: Mr. Newhouse.
H.R. 4231: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina.
H.R. 4253: Mrs. Foushee.
H.R. 4348: Mr. Keating.
H.R. 4356: Mr. McGovern.
H.R. 4382: Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Obernolte, and Mr. Garcia of Illinois.
H.R. 4398: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia.
H.R. 4516: Ms. Dexter.
H.R. 4606: Mr. Soto.
H.R. 4662: Mr. DeSaulnier.
H.R. 4669: Mr. Garcia of Illinois and Ms. Norton.
H.R. 4731: Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 4733: Mr. Magaziner and Mr. Bell.
H.R. 4806: Mr. Kean and Ms. Williams of Georgia.
H.R. 4862: Mr. DeSaulnier.
H.R. 4863: Mr. Brecheen.
H.R. 4876: Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, and Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 4940: Mr. Gimenez and Mr. Fulcher.
H.R. 5091: Ms. Salinas.
H.R. 5178: Mr. Carbajal.
H.R. 5222: Mr. Vargas.
H.R. 5267: Mr. Hurd of Colorado, Mr. LaLota, and Mr. Barrett.
H.R. 5269: Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 5271: Mr. Walkinshaw.
H.R. 5343: Ms. Salazar and Ms. Barragan.
H.R. 5364: Mr. Taylor and Mr. Moore of North Carolina.
H.R. 5476: Ms. McCollum, Mr. Tran, and Mr. Vargas.
H.R. 5528: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia.
H.R. 5536: Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 5543: Mr. Hoyer.
H.R. 5549: Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Evans of Colorado, and Mr. Fuller.
H.R. 5589: Ms. Meng.
H.R. 5643: Ms. Meng.
H.R. 5883: Mr. Wittman.
H.R. 5891: Ms. Boebert.
H.R. 5894: Mr. DeSaulnier.
H.R. 5940: Mr. Cisneros.
H.R. 6130: Mr. Bera, Mrs. Fletcher, Ms. Waters, Ms. Fedorchak, Mr. Mannion, and Mr. Hudson.
H.R. 6170: Mr. Mann.
H.R. 6181: Mr. Huffman and Mr. Scott of Virginia.
H.R. 6199: Mr. Pocan.
H.R. 6213: Mr. Van Orden.
H.R. 6324: Mr. Norcross.
H.R. 6364: Mr. Menefee.
H.R. 6423: Mr. Sorensen.
H.R. 6459: Mr. Owens.
H.R. 6469: Mr. Sessions and Mr. Himes.
H.R. 6786: Ms. Ross.
H.R. 6799: Mr. Begich.
H.R. 6849: Mr. Levin and Mr. Bera.
H.R. 6983: Mr. Larson of Connecticut and Ms. Velazquez.
H.R. 6984: Mr. Larson of Connecticut and Ms. Velazquez.
H.R. 7035: Mr. McGovern.
H.R. 7118: Mr. Bacon and Mr. Pocan.
H.R. 7130: Mr. Harris of Maryland.
H.R. 7187: Mrs. Kim.
H.R. 7333: Mr. Vasquez, Mr. DeSaulnier, and Mr. Moskowitz.
H.R. 7363: Mrs. Ramirez.
H.R. 7409: Mr. Cloud.
H.R. 7450: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia and Mr. Patronis.
H.R. 7532: Mr. Mackenzie.
H.R. 7548: Ms. McBride.
H.R. 7645: Mr. Garcia of California.
H.R. 7651: Mr. Gosar and Mr. Fallon.
H.R. 7736: Mr. Gottheimer.
H.R. 7802: Mr. Fields.
H.R. 7853: Mr. Pappas.
H.R. 7855: Mr. Goldman of New York.
H.R. 7905: Mr. Veasey.
H.R. 7957: Ms. Schakowsky.
H.R. 7973: Mr. Vasquez.
H.R. 7985: Ms. Balint.
H.R. 8027: Ms. Pou.
H.R. 8033: Mr. Larson of Connecticut.
H.R. 8041: Mr. Peters.
H.R. 8056: Mr. Barr and Mr. Correa.
H.R. 8092: Mrs. Hayes.
H.R. 8176: Mr. Kean.
H.R. 8236: Mr. Biggs of Arizona.
H.R. 8239: Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia and Mr. Goldman of New York.
H.R. 8261: Ms. Bynum, Mr. Sorensen, and Mr. Veasey.
H.R. 8267: Mr. Cuellar.
H.R. 8330: Mr. Perry, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Begich, Mr. Steube, and Ms. Van Duyne.
H.R. 8367: Mr. Mills.
H.R. 8421: Mr. Cisneros, Ms. Morrison, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Foster.
H.R. 8433: Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 8555: Mr. Pocan and Mr. Johnson of Georgia.
H.R. 8582: Ms. Davids of Kansas, Ms. Brownley, and Mr. Conaway.
H.R. 8612: Mr. Carson.
H.R. 8630: Mr. McCaul.
H.R. 8666: Ms. Brown, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Case.
H.R. 8707: Ms. Morrison.
H.R. 8730: Mr. Balderson, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Doggett, and Ms. Brown.
H.R. 8742: Mrs. Hayes.
H.R. 8780: Mr. Steube and Mr. Bergman.
H.R. 8781: Mr. Fallon.
H.R. 8839: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania and Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 8892: Mrs. Kim.
H.R. 8894: Mr. Moulton, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Lawler.
H.R. 8909: Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and Ms. Clarke of New York.
H.R. 8914: Mr. Foster, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Min, Mr. Mrvan, and Mr. Magaziner.
H.R. 8939: Ms. Clarke of New York and Mr. Davis of Illinois.
H.R. 8957: Ms. Salazar.
H.R. 9000: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina and Mr. Suozzi.
H.R. 9032: Mr. Davis of Illinois.
H.R. 9105: Mr. Golden of Maine and Mr. Vasquez.
H.R. 9124: Mr. McGovern.
H.R. 9131: Mr. Smucker.
H.R. 9145: Mr. Steube.
H.R. 9169: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina.
H.R. 9183: Mrs. Grijalva.
H.R. 9194: Mr. Calvert.
H.R. 9210: Ms. Salinas and Ms. Mejia.
H.R. 9222: Ms. Stansbury.
H.R. 9236: Mr. Shreve.
H.R. 9250: Mr. Baird, Mr. Casten, Mr. Obernolte, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Moran, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Nehls, Mr. Pappas, Ms. Malliotakis, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Bishop.
H.R. 9254: Mr. Jackson of Texas.
H.R. 9265: Mr. Latimer.
H.R. 9289: Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Carbajal, and Ms. Stansbury.
H.R. 9298: Mr. Ezell.
H.R. 9311: Mr. Torres of New York.
H.R. 9328: Mr. Vindman.
H.R. 9329: Mrs. Kim.
H.R. 9331: Mr. Lawler and Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas.
H.R. 9337: Mr. Gosar.
H.R. 9339: Ms. Schrier and Mr. Evans of Colorado.
H.R. 9340: Mr. McCaul and Mr. Baumgartner.
H.R. 9347: Ms. Scholten.
H.R. 9351: Mr. Guest and Mr. Evans of Colorado.
H.R. 9367: Mr. Gallagher.
H.R. 9369: Mr. Evans of Colorado.
H.R. 9370: Mr. Cisneros.
H.R. 9387: Mr. Bost.
H.R. 9394: Mr. Kennedy of New York.
H.R. 9401: Mr. Meuser and Mr. Torres of New York.
H.R. 9404: Mr. Correa and Mr. Sessions.
H.R. 9408: Mr. Carson, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, and Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania.
H.R. 9414: Ms. Omar, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, and Ms. Salinas.
H.R. 9417: Mr. Lawler.
H.R. 9426: Ms. Bynum.
H.R. 9433: Mr. Goldman of New York and Mr. Thanedar.
H.R. 9440: Ms. Tokuda.
H.R. 9442: Mrs. McIver.
H.R. 9444: Mr. Lawler, Ms. Salinas, and Mr. Tran.
H.R. 9452: Mr. Guthrie.
H.R. 9453: Mr. Gosar.
H.R. 9482: Mrs. Beatty.
H.J. Res. 54: Mr. Bell.
H.J. Res. 108: Mr. Menendez.
H.J. Res. 189: Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Mr. Whitesides.
H.J. Res. 195: Ms. Friedman.
H.J. Res. 198: Mrs. Spartz.
H. Con. Res. 44: Mrs. Grijalva.
H. Con. Res. 108: Ms. Dexter, Mr. Doggett, Mrs. Foushee, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. Garcia of Texas, and Ms. Chu.
H. Res. 479: Mr. Bilirakis.
H. Res. 1035: Ms. Hoyle of Oregon.
H. Res. 1188: Mr. Lieu and Mr. Pallone.
H. Res. 1223: Mr. Amodei of Nevada and Mr. Subramanyam.
H. Res. 1334: Mr. Stauber, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Huizenga.
H. Res. 1350: Mr. Bishop and Ms. Salazar.
H. Res. 1380: Mr. Norcross, Mr. Tran, Mr. Conaway, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Garamendi, and Mr. Gottheimer.
H. Res. 1391: Mr. Pocan and Mr. Bell.
Petitions, Etc.
Page H4319 · Official textUnder clause 3 of rule XII,
Text printed in the Record (294 characters)
PT-14. The SPEAKER presented a petition of Caddo Parish Commission, Shreveport, Louisiana, relative to Resolution No. 12 of 2026, submitting Colonel Steven dePyssler for consideration as the subject of a U.S. Postal Stamp; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Amendments
Page H4319 · Official textUnder clause 8 of rule XVIII, proposed amendments were submitted as follows:
Text printed in the Record (8,970 characters)
Amendment No. 1: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "No Corrupt Agreements Requiring Taxpayer Expenditures Benefitting Lawbreakers and Assorted Non-Prosecution Covenants, Handouts, and Emoluments Act of 2026" or the "NO CARTE BLANCHE Act of 2026".
SEC. 2. RESTRICTION ON FEDERAL FUNDS IN CONNECTION WITH
TRUMP, ET AL. V. IRS, ET AL.
No Federal funds may be used to create or make payments to fund the compensation fund created by the settlement agreement entered into on May 18, 2026, in connection with the disposition of Trump, et al. v. IRS, et al., Civil Action No. 1:26-cv-20609-KMW, before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS FOR COMPROMISE
SETTLEMENTS OR AWARDS.
Section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
"(e) A compromise settlement or award may not be paid to--
"(1) the President or Vice President;
"(2) the parent, spouse, child, or spouse of a child of the President or Vice President;
"(3) a presidentially-owned entity;
"(4) any member of the cabinet;
"(5) any individual who is employed by the Executive Office of the President who is paid at a rate of basic pay equivalent to or exceeding the GS-15 level;
"(6) a political appointee; and
"(7) an individual who served in a position described under paragraph (4), (5), or (6) during the period for which the President who appointed such individual is in Office, including any period after such individual leaves such a position.
"(f) A compromise settlement or award may not be paid with respect to a claim alleging harm resulting from an investigation, prosecution, or conviction for an offense related to--
"(1) the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol; or
"(2) the same facts or circumstances as a civil action filed against the United States that was dismissed with prejudice.
"(g)(1) Not later than 30 days after the date on which a payment of more than $100,000 is made for a compromise settlement or award in accordance with this section, or a series of compromise settlement or award payments reaches a total of more than $100,000 within the previous 4 years, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Treasury shall report to the Chair and Ranking Members of the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the following:
"(A) The name of the plaintiff or awardee of such settlement or award.
"(B) The type of judgment for which the settlement or award was made.
"(C) The name of each attorney representing the plaintiff or awardee.
"(D) The name of each agency involved in the claim and the name of each official approving such settlement or award.
"(E) A brief description of the facts and circumstances that gave rise to the settlement or award and the authority authorizing such settlement or award.
"(2) The Secretary of the Treasury shall provide notice to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate prior to certifying a payment for a compromise settlement or award in accordance with this section if that payment--
"(A) is of more than $250,000 to be made for a compromise settlement or award in accordance with this section;
"(B) amounts to a total of more than $250,000 in payments for a series of compromise settlements or awards over the previous 4 years; or
"(C) is to be made on the basis of imminent litigation or suit against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States.
"(3) A payment for which a notice is required to be submitted under paragraph (2) may not be made for a period of 120 days after the date on which such notice is received.
"(h) In the case that a compromise settlement or award is made in violation of subsection (e) or (f), the Attorney General may bring a civil action against a plaintiff or awardee who received a settlement or award in violation of subsection (e) or (f) in an appropriate district court for injunctive relief and repayment of such settlement or award.
"(i) Nothing in this section, or an amendment made by this section, shall be construed to prohibit Congress from appropriating funds for a payment prohibited by this section on an individual per claim basis.
"(j) A settlement or award made on or after January 20, 2025, (including any settlement or award entered into prior to the date of the enactment of this subsection) shall be subject to the requirements of subsections (e) through (h).
"(k) The Secretary of the Treasury may not establish a compensation fund, or approve a payment to such a fund, and no Federal funds may be used by the Secretary to so establish such a fund or approve such a payment--
"(1) pursuant to a compromise settlement with the President; or
"(2) if such payment would be in violation of subsection (e) or (f) if made from the Judgment Fund.
"(l) In this section--
"(1) the term `presidentially-owned entity' means a corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, other legal entity, or sole proprietorship in which the President or Vice President has an ownership stake, except that such term does not include an entity in which more than 100 people have an ownership stake and the President or Vice President, as applicable, holds no more than five percent in a beneficial ownership stake and that--
"(A) issues securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l);
"(B) is an investment company registered pursuant to section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8) that does not have a stated policy of concentrating the investments of the investment company in any industry, business, single country other than the United States, or bonds of a single State within the United States; or
"(C) is a unit investment trust, as defined in section 4 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-4) that--
"(i) is a regulated investment company, as defined in section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
"(ii) does not have a stated policy of concentrating the investments of the investment company in any industry, business, single country other than the United States, or bonds of a single State within the United States; and
"(2) the term `political appointee' shall have the meaning given such term in section 9803 of title 5.".
SEC. 4. COMPROMISE SETTLEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 161 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2414 the following:
"Sec. 2414a. Compromise settlements between the President
and the United States
"(a) Invalidity.--In the case of any administrative claim,
civil action, or other claim against the United States filed
by the President (including a claim or civil action filed by
an individual who assumed the Office of the President while
such claim is pending), any covered agreement to resolve such
claim or action is void ab initio unless such covered
agreement is the subject of a court order giving it effect. A
court of the United States may not issue such an order
unless--
"(1) the President, if no such civil action has been
filed, files a civil action before the court and files the
proposed terms of the covered agreement with the court; and
"(2) the court conducts a hearing on the proposed terms of
the covered agreement, with presentation of evidence by the
parties, and thereafter enters the order giving effect to the
terms of the covered agreement, that includes explicit
findings of the court that--
"(A) the parties to the action are adverse;
"(B) the action was not brought to force a covered
agreement with the United States;
"(C) the United States made a good faith effort to explore
available defenses to the claims at issue and has a
reasonable legal basis for its decision to enter into the
covered agreement;
"(D) the covered agreement is not--
"(i) collusive; or
"(ii) the perpetration of a fraud on the court; and
"(E) the covered agreement is in the interest of justice.
"(b) Covered Agreement Defined.--In this section, the term
`covered agreement' means any settlement agreement, consent
decree, compromise settlement, or other agreement to resolve
an administrative claim, civil action, or other claim against
the United States.
"(c) Applicability.--This section shall apply to any
covered agreement between the President and the United States
concluded before, on, or after the date of enactment of this
section.".
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
161 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item related to section 2414 the following: "2414a. Compromise settlements between the President and the United
States.".