Leadership Steve Scalise RSS Articles

Scalise: Republicans Are Delivering Results While Democrats Embrace Extremism

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on NewsNation's Katie Pavlich Tonight to discuss Republicans’ work with President Trump to lower costs for working families, prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and contrast the GOP’s commonsense agenda with Democrats’ increasingly extreme rhetoric and policies.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full interview.

Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:

On the Trump Administration preventing a nuclear-armed Iran:

“The president's been trying to wind this thing down. You saw him just in the last few days talking about trying to get this negotiated to a ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz, working with the neighboring countries in the Middle East to get a peace agreement. So, I think Congress needs to continue to let the president do what he's doing to, number one, make sure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon. That's the main objective. And then ultimately get this resolved peacefully. And then let's move on and see great things happen in the economy.”

On Democrats prioritizing radical politics while Republicans prioritize working families:

“But at the end of the day, it's going to be a dogfight going into November. And really, this, Katie, is going to be a contrast election. And it's a contrast between what Republicans are doing, working with President Trump to make life more affordable for families, and the Democrat Party that's gone off the rails with the Mamdani wing that's literally crazy. You look at their policies, leftist policies all around the board. You know, the government-run grocery stores, higher taxes, open borders. They're still clamoring for open borders. They want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. It's like anything that President Trump wants, they just want to be against, even if it's good for America. They were adamantly against more money in the pockets of overtime workers, shift workers, cops, senior citizens that got a huge tax deduction. Every Democrat voted no. So those are the things we're going to be going into November talking about.

“I feel very strongly we're going to hold the House and we can grow the majority. It's not going to be a huge majority on either side because if you look at the district lines, everybody's lines are tighter. But at the same time, we've got a real compelling message. What we're fighting for: We are fighting for working families to try to get this economy in this country back on track. And Democrats are literally trying these crazy policies. And it's just hatred of Donald Trump every day. And, you know, hatred and anger is not an American value. And I think that's going to be what voters look at, the two sides, who's best to go fight for working families.”

On Democrats’ dangerous rhetoric:

“It's dangerous, you know, because you look— I mean, President Trump has had three — not one, not two— three assassination attempts on his life. And the people that tried to kill the President are using the exact rhetoric, violent rhetoric, from those Democrat elected officials. And they know it. And yet they're so scared of their radical base that they can't talk like normal human beings. You see, they think they have to curse at people and they have to use all this inflammatory language and talk about killing people. This, this is America. We solve our differences at the ballot box. You can't denounce political violence, and in fact, you have to advocate for it? You've already lost with the voters.”

On the Congressional baseball game, raising money for charity:

“We practice at six in the morning. [Rep.] Roger Williams is our skipper. He is a major league ballplayer. We care about this a lot. You know, we're competitive people, Katie. You know, we practice early, and then we go to our normal jobs over at the Capitol. But, you know, we want to win. We want to beat the Democrats.

“But it's also a great cause. You know, we raised last year over $2.5 million for local youth charities. This year, we're already ahead of that schedule. The Nationals, the Washington Nationals, have been great about letting us use their beautiful baseball park. It's carried live, so you can actually see it. 28,000 people came to the stadium last year to watch. We have more people than most Major League Baseball teams. Yeah, I don't even have an NIL deal, Katie. You know, the multimillionaire baseball players don't even have like 10,000 people. We have 28,000. Maybe not the same quality of baseball, but we're passionate. We want to win. We're going to win again this year. But, we, we surely, care about what we're doing to help those youth charities too. And it does bring everybody together.”

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Thursday, May 21, 2026

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Safeguarding Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights

For decades, VA bureaucrats have blocked over 250,000 veterans with fiduciaries from exercising their Second Amendment rights.

Under current law, the VA automatically reports veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) if they are assigned a fiduciary to help manage their VA benefits due to a disability. As a result, veterans can lose their right to bear arms simply for needing financial assistance.

Unlike civilians, veterans with fiduciaries are not guaranteed the same due process protections before being added to NICS. Instead of a judge determining whether someone poses a danger to themselves or others, VA bureaucrats can strip veterans of their constitutional rights without a court ruling.

The VA accounts for roughly 97% of all federal agency NICS submissions, while the policy discourages some veterans from seeking assistance and perpetuates harmful stigmas surrounding veteran mental health.

House Republicans are advancing legislation to protect veterans’ Second Amendment rights and prevent bureaucrats from stripping veterans of their constitutional freedoms solely because they need a fiduciary.

H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, sponsored by Chairman Mike Bost, bars Veterans’ Affairs from giving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) sensitive information without due process and protects veterans with fiduciaries.

House Republicans remain committed to ensuring America’s veterans receive the care, respect, and constitutional rights they fought to defend.

Allocating Federal Land for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

Since Congress established the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum in 2020, the Smithsonian Institution has worked to secure a permanent location for the museum.

During the 116th Congress, the House passed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, on a bipartisan basis, beginning the process of designating federal land for construction. However, the Act also prohibited the museum from being built on the Reserve of the National Mall — one of the most historic and visible locations in the country.

This bill authorizes the Smithsonian Institution to designate land and begin construction on the National Mall, creating a landmark honoring the achievements and contributions of American women alongside other historic Smithsonian institutions.

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis’ legislation, H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act, appropriates federal land on the National Mall for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and clarifies the scope and purpose of the museum.

House Republicans remain dedicated to honoring the generations of women whose leadership, innovation, and service helped shape our nation and ensuring their stories are recognized for generations to come.

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Scalise: Democrats' Politics of Hatred and Division Need to Stop

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox Business Network’s Kudlow to call out Democrats’ increasingly dangerous rhetoric, failure to confront rising antisemitism on the left, and continued opposition to commonsense election integrity and border security measures.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full interview.

Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview:

On the radical left's rhetoric inspiring violence:

“We know for sure that the rhetoric from the left, especially their elected leaders, is driving a lot of the violence that you're seeing. I mean, just look at some of the assassins, the people who tried to assassinate President Trump not once, not twice, three times. They're regurgitating the very same talking points from some of those Democrat leaders. If you look at some of their language recently from Gavin Newsom, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem on down, it's like their language is more aggressive. They curse out their own followers. They use, you know, curse language all the time. It's like they got to talk tough and then they've got to threaten people, and then they've got to talk about, you know, violent things against their enemy. And all it takes is one unhinged person to hear that. And obviously, we know, you know, when they say 'Nazi' and 'threat to democracy' and 'Hitler,' the comparisons over and over again that they make, those are trigger words to just a few people, and those people then go and try to kill the people they're talking about. It's got to stop.”

On Democrats refusing to condemn antisemitism:

“You've seen this growth in antisemitism coming from the left, and it's over and over again. It's not called out enough. I'm glad to see that every now and then somebody will. But look, their main candidate in Maine, the lead Democrat candidate for United States Senate in Maine, literally has a Nazi tattoo. And you don't see anybody backing away their endorsements. All the Democrat leaders have endorsed him, and they haven't withdrawn the endorsement when that came out. So what does that tell you about where the Democrat Party is? It's happening over and over again. You know, you look at Hakeem, you look at all of them. It's like they're desperate for power. They're so hungry to grab power. They don't care what they need to say to enrage their base. The American people are not a people that wake up every day wanting to be angry at everybody, wanting to be fueled by hatred. We're an optimistic people. We believe in that shining city on the hill Ronald Reagan talked about. And frankly, that's where we still need to go. And we need to strive for that. And so the politics of hatred and division need to fall by the wayside. I think the better angels will rise up this November.”

On Democrats prioritizing open borders:

“We're working to get [reconciliation] in, whether it's 2.0 or 3.0. I was in a meeting on reconciliation 3.0 today. We want to get the SAVE America [Act]. We passed it through the House. It's still over in the Senate. Let's get that done to protect the sanctity of the vote. Voter ID, everybody gets that. You can't get on a plane, you can't buy beer without an ID. Why not do that for the vote as well? And then if you look at funding Homeland Security, especially our border security, that's what this is all about. Every Democrat walked away from that. They showed you they don't believe in border security. Again, the Democrat Party, this is not your father's Democrat Party.”

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Protecting Parents’ Rights and Preventing Woke Gender Ideology Indoctrination in Schools

For years, schools across the country have increasingly cut parents out of decisions involving their children while promoting woke gender ideology in classrooms.

Under the Biden Administration, school boards tried to silence concerned parents while the Department of Justice and FBI investigated those who spoke out at school board meetings. At the same time, some schools encouraged students to transition to the opposite gender without informing their parents.

A report from Parents Defending Education found that 1,200 school districts—covering 21,000+ schools and 12 million students—have policies requiring or encouraging staff to withhold information about a child's gender transition from parents.

Parents deserve transparency and must remain central in their children’s lives. That’s why House Republicans are advancing legislation to stop schools from socially transitioning children without parental consent and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding gender ideology in classrooms.

Chairman Tim Walberg’s legislation, H.R. 2616, the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, ensures parents remain central in their children’s lives by prohibiting federally funded elementary or middle schools from socially transitioning a child – such as by changing their name, pronouns, or bathroom access – without parental consent, and blocking federal funding from supporting gender ideology teachings in classrooms.

It’s past time we stop taxpayer-funded indoctrination and the sidelining of parents in America’s schools. House Republicans are fighting to keep parents in the know when it comes to their children and make sure parental rights are protected and respected in schools.

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Scalise: House Republicans Deliver Results While Democrats Move Further Left

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Congressman Blake Moore (R-Utah), and Congressman Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) to highlight House Republicans’ efforts to support veterans, lower housing costs, honor women’s contributions, and back law enforcement while calling out Democrats for repeatedly opposing common-sense legislation.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full remarks.

Highlights from Leader Scalise's remarks:

On paying tribute to America’s fallen service members:

“I really want to thank my colleague and dear friend Jake Ellzey for those warm words and really kind of reminding everybody what Memorial Day is really all about, why we pause to pay tribute to those men and women, especially who gave their lives, who did not come home. And obviously, you know some of them, served with them. And it wears even heavier on your heart, but it wears on all of us. And so we remember them. We will say prayers for their family, but we're also taking action.”

On taking care of veterans and protecting their rights:

“The bills, as the Whip mentioned, that we're bringing to the floor, Chairman Bost's committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, is dedicated to making sure that we're properly taking care of our men and women in uniform, but especially those who don't make it back. And the fact that the survivor benefits have not been adjusted for decades is an embarrassment. And we correct that oversight that has gone on for way too long, by bringing that up to where it needs to be to help those families who don't have their loved ones with them, but still have bills to pay, have kids to raise. And that's an important bill.

“The Second Amendment protections, of all people, who should have those? It surely should be those who fought to defend the rights that we have. They surely should not have less rights than American citizens who did not participate in our military. And so that bill at least gives them equity and parity to make sure that our veterans are not treated less than every other American citizen when it comes to Second Amendment rights.”

On House Republicans prioritizing affordable housing:

“The housing bill that we're going to be voting on today is really, really important to lower housing costs for all American families. This is a bill that French Hill, the Financial Services Committee, did incredible work on to make sure we got the policy right. Clearly, there were some differences between the House and Senate. You see, many of those problems were addressed in the changes in the amendments that Chairman Hill is bringing forward in the bill that is on the suspension calendar today. I think you're going to see a very strong vote, which shows that all of us want to see lower housing costs, but we need to change laws. We need to simplify some of the laws so that we can lower those housing costs. This is something that every American in this country is going to be happy to see, to have lower housing costs.”

On Democrats rejecting common sense, Women’s History Museum:

“One of the bills you're going to be able to watch a really interesting vote on tomorrow is the Women's Museum. You know, we're bringing a National Women's Museum. Shouldn't be controversy at all, except for the fact that the Democrat Women's Caucus has now come out against a women's museum. And you would ask why. That doesn't make any sense. And it doesn't. But it shows you how crazy the other side is right now and how void of common sense the Democrats are. There is one condition that is in that bill that they took objection to. Now you think about it, everybody for years had been asking for a women's museum to be created. And in the creation of it, they said the only people that can be honored in a women's museum are biological women. And because that word 'biological women' is in there, every Democrat woman came out against the bill. So let's see how they explain that to people back home who would say, what world are you living in where you don't want to pay tribute to women? And we're going to have that vote anyway. But it just shows you how far their party has strayed.”

On Democrats turning their back on law enforcement:

“You saw that vote last week on Law Enforcement Week, a week, again, to pay tribute to our men and women in uniform who keep our communities safe. The police, a lot of them were up here from all over the country. We had a resolution by Zach Nunn to pay tribute to our men and women in law enforcement. Unbelievable that 86% of Democrats voted against that resolution. So when people go back home and say they support the men and women in blue, you don't support them when you vote no on a resolution that pays tribute to our men and women in uniform. So the defund the police movement is alive and well in the Democrat Party when 86% of Democrats last week voted against cops – it was disgusting to watch. But I think police and anybody who supports men and women in uniform all across the country were watching that vote. One more example of the sharp contrast between Republicans moving common-sense legislation and Democrats going off the deep end of crazy, totally void of common sense.”

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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of May 18, 2026

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for from House Republican committees during the week:

Appropriations

On Tuesday, May 19, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies will hold an oversight hearing on the "Department of Justice."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Appropriations will hold a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Legislative Branch Bill.

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing on the "Department of Transportation."

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will hold a joint markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill.

Armed Services

On Tuesday, May 19, the Committee on Armed Services will hold a full committee hearing called "U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Armed Services will hold a full committee hearing called "Department of the Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces will hold a hearing called "Navy FY27 Budget Request for Seapower and Projection Forces."

Education & Workforce

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing called "Bad Medicine: Politics, Unions, and Antisemitism in Health Care."

Energy & Commerce

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing called "Corrosion, Collapse, and Clean-Up: Examining the Potomac Interceptor Collapse."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing called "Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms."

Financial Services

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence will hold a hearing called "Partnering for Innovation: How Bank-Fintech Collaborations Enhance Financial Infrastructure."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Capital Markets will hold a hearing called "From Order to Execution: Ensuring Efficient and Transparent Equity Markets."

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions will hold a hearing called "Modernizing the BSA for Financial Crime in the 21st Century."

Foreign Affairs

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a full committee hearing called "FY2027 Budget Request: State Department Adjacent Entities."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee will hold a hearing called "Confronting the Totalitarian Ortega-Murillo Regime."

Homeland Security

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Homeland Security will hold a full committee hearing called "TSA Modernization: Industry Perspectives on Key Security and Travel Reforms 25 Years After 9/11."

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection will hold a hearing called "State and Local Cybersecurity: Escalating Threats, Federal Partnership, and the Resilience of America’s Communities."

House Administration

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Elections will hold a hearing called "Examining Best Practices for Strengthening Election Security."

Intelligence

On Wednesday, May 20, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a full committee hearing called "25 Years After 9/11 - Reviewing the 9/11 Commission & Intelligence Reform Impacts."

Judiciary

On Wednesday, May 20, the Judiciary Committee will hold a full committee hearing called "The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate."

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet will hold a hearing called "Court Packing: A Threat to the Supreme Court’s Legitimacy."

Natural Resources

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a hearing called "The Federal Reclamation Program’s Next Century."

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold an oversight hearing called "The Profit Engine Driving Environmental Nonprofits."

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 184, the Action Versus No Action Act (McClintock)
H.R. 2785, the New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act (Leger Fernandez)
H.R. 7695, To provide that the final rule titled “Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation” and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no force or effect and require the Secretary of Agriculture to construct certain roads on National Forest System lands, and for other purposes (Hageman)
H.R. 8682, the Accelerating Forest Management Act (Downing)
H.R. 8686, To amend the Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013 to withdraw and reserve certain public land in the vicinity of Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (Gosar)
H.R. 8688, the Forest Health and Wildlife Risk Reduction Act (Hurd)
H.R. 8735, the American Sovereignty and Monterey Historic Military Site Study Act (Panetta)

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 1010, the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act (Leger Fernandez)
H.R. 7954, the Don Young Doug LaMalfa Indian Buffalo Management Act (Hurd)
H.R. 8483, the Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025 (Issa)
H.R. 8658, the Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act (Kennedy)

Oversight and Government Reform

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a full committee markup on the following bills:

H.R. 8096, the Duplication Scoring Act of 2026: To require the Comptroller General of the United States to analyze certain legislation in order to prevent duplication of and overlap with existing Federal programs, offices, and initiatives (Burchett)
H.R. 8801, the DC Rejecting Oppressive Automotive Driving Surcharges Act: To prohibit a congestion toll in the District of Columbia (Perry)
H.R. 3087, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act: To amend the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 to strengthen the powers of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, and for other purposes (Watson Coleman)
H.R. 8844, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act: To correct the inequitable denial of enhanced retirement and annuity benefits to certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers (Fitzpatrick)
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" (Kim)
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" (Friedman)
H.R. 8669, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5951 Riverdale Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the "Eliot L. Engel Post Office" (Torres)

Rules

On Tuesday, May 19, the Committee on Rules will meet on the following measures:

H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (Bost)
H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026 (Barrett)
H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act (Malliotakis)
H.R. 4312, the SCORE Act (Bilirakis)

Science, Space, and Technology

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will hold a full committee markup on the following bills:

H.R. 8748, the Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026 (Fong)
H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act (Harrigan)
H.R. 7129, the Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act (Bonamici)

On Thursday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing called "Research-Driven Resilience: Applying Science to Secure U.S. Water Systems from Cyber Threats."

Select Committee on China

On Tuesday, May 19, the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party will hold a hearing called "Crime, Corruption, and Power: The Rise of CCP-linked Scam Networks Targeting Americans and Threatening U.S. Security."

Small Business

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Small Business will hold a full committee markup.

On Thursday, May 21, the Committee on Small Business will hold a full committee hearing called "Building the Future: How Small Home Builders are Closing America’s Housing Gap."

Veterans’ Affairs

On Wednesday, May 20, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs will hold a full committee legislative hearing on 19 bills.

Ways and Means

On Wednesday, May 20, the Subcommittee on Tax will hold a hearing called "Tax Subcommittee Hearing on Your Paycheck, Returned: How the Working Families Tax Cuts Delivered for Americans."

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Week of May 18, 2026

Sun, 17 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor this week:

Raising Benefits for Gold Star Families and Veterans with Service-Oriented Disabilities

When service members suffer catastrophic injuries or make the ultimate sacrifice, VA compensation programs are meant to help veterans and their families shoulder the burden. But many recipients have found these benefits no longer keep pace with rising medical costs, caregiving needs, and everyday expenses.

After Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donovan Lee ‘Bull’ Briley was tragically killed overseas in 1993, his wife, Sharri Briley, relied on the VA’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program. Like many Gold Star families, she found those survivor benefits fell short of meeting her family’s financial needs.

In 2005, Sgt. Eric Edmunson was serving in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an IED, leaving him in need of around-the-clock at-home medical care. Congress created Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) to help veterans with life-altering injuries cover medical expenses and caregiver costs, but outdated payment levels and eligibility requirements have left many struggling to afford the care they need.

No Gold Star family or disabled veteran should be left carrying these burdens alone after sacrificing for our nation.

This week, House Republicans are bringing a bill to the floor to raise DIC compensation rates for Gold Star families and double SMC benefits for veterans with service-oriented disabilities, ensuring these payouts are equitable to their level of need.

H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefit Expansion Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Barrett, increases disabled veterans’ monthly compensation by $833.33 – or $10,000 per year. Additionally, DIC for family members of deceased veterans would increase by 1.5% over the next two years. This would provide meaningful relief for over 500,000 veterans and their families for the first time in decades.

House Republicans will continue fighting to ensure service members, veterans, and their families receive the benefits, support, and care they earned through their sacrifice.

Standardizing NIL for College Athletics and Protecting Student-Athletes

For years, NCAA rules prevented student-athletes from profiting off their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). That began to change in 2021 after the Supreme Court’s NCAA v. Alston decision and other events prompted the NCAA to allow athletes to earn compensation through NIL deals.

But with more than 30 different state NIL laws now in effect and major changes following the House v. NCAA settlement, college athletics has entered an unstable and constantly changing environment. The lack of consistent rules around recruiting, transfers, eligibility, and athlete compensation has fueled uncertainty, intensified recruiting battles, and expanded “pay-for-play” arrangements through donor-funded collectives and boosters.

House Republicans are advancing legislation to create a national NIL framework that protects student-athletes and empowers college sports to govern itself. The legislation safeguards student-athletes’ rights to enter NIL agreements, protects benefits like medical coverage and scholarships, increases transparency of agents, allows an Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Association (IIAA) to oversee eligibility and recruiting rules, and clarifies that student-athletes are not employees.

H.R. 4312, the Student Compensation & Opportunity through Rights & Endorsements (SCORE) Act, introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, standardizes and establishes a national framework for NIL deals to provide consistency and stability for college athletics, supporting athletic opportunities, protecting student-athletes from exploitation, clarifying that student-athletes are not employees, and ending the mass ongoing litigation threatening college sports.

Student-athletes deserve compensation for their contributions to college sports, but the current NIL system lacks clarity, stability, and the guardrails needed to prevent exploitation. Establishing a national framework is long overdue and will bring much-needed consistency to college athletics.

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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of May 11, 2026

Sat, 16 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:

Appropriations

On Tuesday, May 12, the Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing called "The Department of Defense." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and Acting Under Secretary of Defense Jules Hurst testified before the Subcommittee on the FY27 budget request for the Department of Defense. Later that day, the Subcommittee heard from Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith on the FY27 budget requests for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Appropriators will use this testimony to inform the funding process as they move forward.

On Tuesday, May 12, the Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing called "Department of Housing and Urban Development." Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner testified before the Subcommittee on the FY27 budget request for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Appropriators will use this testimony to inform the funding process as they move forward.

On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Appropriations held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill. The FY27 CJS bill passed the full Committee with a vote of 32-28.

On Friday, May 15, the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies held a markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bill. The FY27 Energy and Water bill passed the subcommittee and will advance to full committee consideration.

Armed Services

On Wednesday, May 13, the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces held a hearing called "Department of the Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for Seapower and Projection Forces." Members discussed the Air Force’s bomber, tanker, and airlift programs. "In today’s constantly evolving threat environment, our adversaries are investing heavily in advanced capabilities as they try to close in on our lead. It is critical that we ensure that never happens,” Subcommittee Chairman Trent Kelly (R-MS) said.

On Thursday, May 14, the Committee on Armed Services held a full committee hearing called "Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request." Members discussed the need to increase shipbuilding, as well as the Navy’s critical missions of combatting narco-trafficking in the western hemisphere, ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and safeguarding freedom of navigation around the globe. America’s maritime industrial base has shrunk dramatically and that’s harmed both military and commercial shipbuilding. While China builds 47 percent of the world’s ships now, the U.S. builds one tenth of one percent.

“To maintain deterrence and ensure maritime dominance, we need a robust constellation of shipyards with modern infrastructure and a large, skilled workforce capable of meeting the increased demand for building and repairing ships." Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said.

On Thursday, May 14, the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation held a hearing called "Science, Technology, and Innovation Posture of the Department of Defense." Witnesses testified on the Pentagon’s strategy for developing and deploying new technologies, like quantum computing AI, autonomous systems, and biotechnology.

“The battlefield is changing on a fundamental level, and our opponents are dead set on using this paradigm shift in technology as an opportunity to degrade American dominance,” Chairman Don Bacon (R-NE) said. “One of the U.S.’s greatest competitive advantages is our ability to out-think and out-innovate our adversaries.”

On Friday, May 15, the Committee on Armed Services held a full committee hearing called "Department of the Army Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request." Members discussed the need for strategic modernization of the Army, while increasing readiness. Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) made it clear that revitalizing the defense industrial base is critical for America’s national security.

“Mission capable rates for critical weapon systems have fallen well below acceptable levels. I have been beating the drum for a long time on the decline of the organic industrial base and the defense industrial base as a whole," Rogers said. "I am glad President Trump shares my concerns and has released a budget that will finally addresses this problem. We need to enact that budget and we need to rapidly turn that historic investment into capability for the warfighter."

Education & Workforce

On Wednesday, May 13, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing called "Building a Safer Future: Private-Sector Strategies for Emerging Safety Issues." The hearing examined how workplace safety policies can keep up with changing jobs, new technology, and emerging risks. Members and witnesses discussed practical ways employers are already improving safety—including using data, AI, and proactive safety programs to help prevent injuries before they happen. The hearing focused on the need for workplace safety policies that are effective, flexible, and grounded in real-world experience.

On Thursday, May 14, the Committee on Education and Workforce held a full committee hearing called "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education." Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined the Trump administration’s push to give parents more control over their children’s education, expand school choice, support job training programs, protect girls’ sports, and hold colleges accountable for rising costs. These reforms are about making sure every child has the chance to succeed, no matter where they live or what school they attend. The hearing highlighted Committee Republicans’ belief that families—not Washington bureaucrats—know what is best for their children and should have the freedom to choose the education path that helps them thrive.

Energy & Commerce

On Wednesday, May 13, the Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing called "Wires, Rates, and States: Permitting Transmission for Reliable and Affordable Power." This hearing focused on the importance of ensuring investments are going to the most reliable and affordable transmission infrastructure to protect ratepayers, states, and utilities.

On Wednesday, May 13, the Subcommittee on Health held a markup on the following bills:

H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 (Joyce)
H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act (Higgins)
H.R. 2821, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 (Carter)
H.R. 3747, the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act (Balderson)
H.R. 4348, To reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes (Smith)
H.R. 4541, the EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2025 (Wasserman Schultz)
H.R. 5160, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2025 (Smith)
H.R. 5347, the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act (Buchanan)
H.R. 8205, Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 (Quigley)
H.R. 8209, the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2026 (Tonko)

On Wednesday, May 14, the Subcommittee on Environment held a markup on the following bills:

H.R. 8739, the Brownfields Revitalization for a Better Tomorrow Act (Guthrie)
H.R. 2145, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (Miller-Meeks)

Financial Services

On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Financial Services held a full committee markup on the following bills:

H.R. 2152, the Artificial Intelligence Practices, Logistics, Actions, and Necessities (AI PLAN) Act (Nunn)
H.R. 2978, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act (Nunn)
H.R. 4801, the Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act (Hill)
H.R. 5396, the Price Stability Act of 2025 (Hill)
H.R. 8278, the Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision (FUTURES) Act (Stutzman)
H.R. 8671, the Bank Fraud Technology Advancement Act of 2026 (Flood)

The Committee advanced six bills focused on promoting financial innovation, strengthening consumer protections, and ensuring our regulatory framework keeps pace with a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Foreign Affairs

On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee markup on the following bills:

H.R. 7037, To promote United States and allied energy and mineral security, and for other purpose (Kim)
H.R. 8661, To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan guarantees for the procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services, and for other purposes (Mast)
H.R. 8649, To amend the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the use of foreign military financing for direct commercial contracts, and for other purposes (Baumgartner)
H.R. 8665, To require the implementation of a strategy to encourage foreign partners to participate in the foreign military sales and direct commercial sales processes on a multinational basis, and for other purposes (Zinke)
H.R. 3563, To improve defense cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and for other purpose (Perry)
H.R. 8562, To designate a building of the Chancery of the United States in Pristina, Kosovo, as the "Eliot L. Engel Building" (Torres)
H.Res. 1179, Condemning attacks on civilians in Sudan and calling for an end to external support to the warring parties and for efforts to promote a negotiated settlement of the war (Jayapal)
H.R. 8019, To authorize International Military Education and Training Assistance for Greece (Pappas)
H.Res. 64, Affirming the Alliance Between the United States and the Republic of Korea (Suozzi)
H.R. 4332, To establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and for other purposes (Kamlager-Dove)
H.R. 8668, To reduce recurring reporting requirements imposed by law on the Department of State (Self)

On Thursday, May 14, the Europe Subcommittee held a hearing called "Securing NATO’s Eastern Frontier: Assessing the Strategic Landscape in the Baltic Region." Subcommittee Chairman Keith Self underscored the very present threat posed by Russia to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania— three allies on NATO’s front line. He emphasized the importance of credible, long-term deterrence by NATO to counter the complex, hybrid threat that will define the security landscape for years to come.

Homeland Security

On Thursday, May 14, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held a markup on the following bills:

H.R. 7443, the I&A Mission Reorientation Act of 2026 (Pfluger)
H.R. 7764, the National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Program Reassignment and Funding Reform Act of 2026 (Evans)
H.R. 7574, the ELO Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act of 2026 (Evans)
H.R. 8142, the Special Events Program Alignment Act of 2026 (Mackenzie)
H.R. 7448, the Modernizing and Improving the National Terrorism Advisory System Act of 2026 (Pou)
H.R. 7427, the Securing Access from Foreign Entities Visiting Internal Sites in the States (SAFE VISITS) Act (Goldman)
H.R. 7436, the Department of Homeland Security Intelligence and Analysis Training Act (Magaziner)

This markup is the first step towards bipartisan reform of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). I&A was created in 2004 to serve as the hub for intelligence information sharing between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector (SLTTP) partners. I&A has unique authorities, making it the only Intelligence Community (IC) element statutorily required to deliver intelligence to SLTTP partners and develop intelligence from those partners for DHS and the IC.

House Administration

On Thursday, May 14, the Committee on House Administration held a full committee markup on the following bills:

H.R. 8720, the Campaign Finance Transparency Act (CFTA) (Steil)
H.R. 8721, the Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act (Steil)
H.R. 7418, the Securing Tech and Election Administration Defenses for All States and Territories (STEADFAST) Act (Bice)
H.R. 3535, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act (Fitzpatrick)
H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act (Griffith)
H.R. 8738, the FEC Administrative Improvements Act (Morelle)
H.R. 7182, the Voter Outreach for Transparent Elections (VOTE) Act (Johnson)

Judiciary

On Wednesday, May 13, the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government held a hearing named "Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam & Sharia Law are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution: Part II." The hearing examined how the rise of Sharia law in America poses serious risks to our civil liberties, founding principles, and republican system of government. It discussed how Sharia-based institutions may violate federal law and the Constitution. In addition, the hearing discussed proposed legislative reforms on this topic.

On Thursday, May 14, the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing called "Fairfax County, Virginia: The Dangerous Consequences of Sanctuary Policies." The hearing examined how state and local policies that prioritize illegal aliens over U.S. citizens and prohibit cooperation with federal immigration authorities hurt public safety and have devastating consequences.

Natural Resources

On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee oversight hearing called "Examining the President's FY 2027 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior." This hearing focused on the Department of the Interior’s FY 2027 budget request and how House Republicans are working with the Trump administration to unleash American energy, strengthen domestic mineral supply chains and support responsible management of the nation’s public lands and natural resources. Members discussed streamlining permitting, improving wildfire response and expanding access to America’s abundant natural resources to support economic growth, energy security and long-term stewardship.

On Thursday, May 14, the Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markupon the following bills:

H.R. 741, the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025 (Stanton)
H.R. 3924, the Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act (Neguse)
H.R. 5694, the Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act (Begich)
H.R. 7250, To reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 (Downing)
H.R. 7487, the Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act (Boebert)
H.R. 7831, the License to Drill Act (Kennedy)

This markup advanced legislation to expand hydropower development, streamline drilling permits, strengthen water infrastructure and support Alaska Native communities.

Oversight and Government Reform

On Wednesday, May 13, the Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing called "DoW Financial Management: Examining Progress and New Audit Approaches." This hearing was part of the Subcommittee’s larger investigation into the Department of War’s (DoW) ineffective financial management that has been preventing them from achieving a clean audit. During the hearing, members analyzed the DoW’s revised audit strategy and assessed persistent roadblocks within the agency that prevent it from passing a financial audit.

On Thursday, May 14, the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement held a hearing called "Privacy Protections & the Second Amendment: Examining ATF’s Relationship to the Tiahrt Amendment." During the hearing, members discussed the history and purpose of the Tiahrt Amendment and the consequences of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ failure to abide by it. The hearing also examined the ATF’s track record protecting Second Amendment rights.

Rules

On Tuesday, May 12, the Committee on Rules met on the following measures:

H.R. 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act (Harris)
H.R. 6260, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act of 2025 (Fitzgerald)
H.R. 8365, the Monitor Accountability Act (Biggs)
H. Con. Res. 96, Expressing support for law enforcement officers (Nunn)
H.R. 8469, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 (Carter)

This week, the Committee considered measures designed to honor and support the work of our nation’s police officers and advance military construction and veterans affairs priorities for 2027. Rules Republicans discussed how difficult is to be a cop and how important it is to ensure their work isn't undone by radical left-wing policies. Members discussed how cashless bail and cashless bail funds make it easier for criminals to return to the streets. In addition, the committee discussed the historic investments in military family quality of life within the appropriations measure.

Select Committee on China

On Monday, May 11, Chairman Moolenaar introduced bipartisan legislation - the Connected Vehicle Security Act - to block Chinese-made trucks and automobiles from the United States. The American auto industry is vital for jobs, national security, and the future of America’s manufacturing base. China cheats in every industry, and in autos it is overproducing vehicles and components, and selling them for cheap in hopes they will put our companies out of business. The legislation is a follow-up to the committee’s earlier hearing: “Trojan Horse: China's Auto Threat to America.”

Veterans’ Affairs

On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a full committee oversight hearing called "Expanding the Mission: The Future of the National Center for Warrior Independence in West LA." GOP members emphasized their support for President Trump’s May 9, 2025, Executive Order which establishes the National Center for Warrior Independence on the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center's campus, and would house up to 6,000 homeless veterans. GOP Members questioned VA officials about why the implementation plan submission was 248 days late to Congress, potential need for funding, and the current state of the West LA VAMC Campus with the ongoing security concerns. Members also questioned entities that have leases and agreements on the VA campus to learn how each entity plans to follow the law and principally benefit veterans and learn how the West LA campus can be improved for veterans who live on campus.

On Thursday, May 14, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a full committee markup on 17 bills. Republican members emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for veterans to use their benefits to secure meaningful employment, build independence, and ensure that VA delivers high quality health care. Republican members also underscored the need for proper oversight over VA to ensure that VA remains transparent and accountable to the veterans they serve. Several Democratic amendments and proposals were raised that would advance legislation without an offset; however, Republican members successfully advanced their amendments and proposals with an offset to maintain fiscal responsibility.

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The Republican Recap: Week of May 11, 2026

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:

Expressing Support for the Brave Men and Women in Law Enforcement✅

This week, during National Police Week, House Republicans passed a resolution to express our gratitude for the brave men and women in blue and the sacrifices they make every day to keep our communities safe.

America’s police officers are the backbone of public safety. Every day, they put their lives on the line to uphold the rule of law, protect our communities, remove violent criminals from our streets, and respond in moments of crisis. Despite their service and sacrifice, law enforcement officers have increasingly become targets of radical activists and politicians, fueling a surge in violence against police officers.

Our law enforcement officers deserve our respect, support, and gratitude because every day they put their lives on the line to protect our communities. That’s why Republicans stand with the heroes who protect our streets and will reject the soft-on-crime policies pushed by the far left.

Rep. Zach Nunn’s legislation, H. Con. Res. 96, expresses congressional support for the brave men and women in law enforcement who risk their lives to uphold our rule of law and keep Americans safe, recognizes their extraordinary sacrifice, and acknowledges their many contributions to our communities.

“It shouldn’t be controversial to stand with the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Nunn. “But from the ‘defund the police’ radicalism to sanctuary city policies that prevent cooperation with federal law enforcement, too many politicians have put ideology ahead of public safety — and Americans are paying the price. This Police Week, the House sent a clear message: we back the blue. I'm proud to have led that effort."

What Members Said:

Rep. Ken Calvert underscored the importance of recognizing and honoring the officers who sacrifice daily to protect our country.

Rep. Troy Nehls called out House Democrats for continuing to choose partisanship over supporting the brave men and women in blue.

Preventing Violent Offenders from Being Released by Bail Charities✅

In the summer of 2020, charitable bail funds like the Minnesota Freedom Fund received massive donations from far left activists, politicians, and celebrities – including then-Senator Kamala Harris – to bail protesters out of jail.

But many of the people these organizations help release are facing serious charges. A CNN investigation found that between 2019 and 2021, 24% of defendants whose bail was posted by The Bail Project had been charged with a violent crime, while 35% faced felony charges and had at least one prior violent offense.

Despite the risks to public safety, some charitable bail funds openly admit they post bail for defendants without considering the pending charges. Greg Lewin, Executive Director of the Minnesota Freedom Fund, stated: “I often don’t even look at a charge when I bail someone out.” These organizations also reduce accountability by removing the financial incentive for defendants to appear in court.

H.R. 6260, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, introduced by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, amends the federal criminal statute dealing with insurance-related crimes to include corporate, for-profit, and non-profit entities that post bail for defendants, subjecting charitable bail funds to federal insurance fraud laws and state licensing requirements, and requiring their employees to pass criminal background checks.

“Americans are tired of watching violent criminals cycle through a bail system that is being exploited by left-wing groups at the expense of victims and public safety,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “The Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act brings long-overdue accountability to radical bail policies that allow activists to secure the release of dangerous offenders. Protecting our communities from violent crime must always be the top priority. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support in advancing this legislation, which is an important step in closing these reckless loopholes once and for all.”

What Members Said:

Rep. August Pfluger emphasized that H.R. 6260 stops political organizations from releasing violent offenders to the streets.

Rep. Morgan Griffith celebrated House Republicans holding political organizations accountable and making our communities safer.

Calling Out Dangerous Soft-On-Crime Cashless Bail Policies✅

Bail is not meant to punish defendants — it is designed to ensure those charged with crimes appear in court for required proceedings. If defendants attend all required appearances, all bail money is returned at the conclusion of the case, regardless of the outcome.

In recent years, however, many liberal states and cities have enacted cashless bail and so-called “bail reform” policies that minimize or eliminate cash bail requirements before trial. These reckless policies allow dangerous offenders back onto our streets with little more than a promise to appear in court — even in some cases involving violent crimes. The results have put public safety at risk.

This should be common sense: Families deserve to know which jurisdictions have adopted dangerous cashless bail policies when deciding where to live, work, raise a family, or travel.

H.R. 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, sponsored by Rep. Mark Harris, requires the Attorney General to publish a list of state and local governments that implement reckless bail “reform” policies allowing people who have been accused of certain violent crimes – including murder, rape, sexual assault, carjacking, assault, and robbery – to be released pending trial on personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond.

“Americans deserve to know whether the communities they live in or visit have soft-on-crime policies that could put them at risk,” said Rep. Harris. “My Cashless Bail Reporting Act brings needed transparency by requiring the Department of Justice to publicly identify jurisdictions that allow certain serious offenders to be released without cash bail. House Republicans will continue standing with law enforcement and victims to restore law and order.”

What Members Said:

Rep. Ronny Jackson highlighted that this legislation holds Democrat cities accountable for soft-on-crime policies that allow criminals to walk free.

Rep. Warren Davidson underlined that Democrats' senseless cashless bail policies are irresponsible and a threat to communities.

Establishing Accountability and Transparency in Court Monitorships✅

Today, federal district courts can appoint court monitors to oversee state and local agencies with few commonsense guardrails in place.

While monitors are intended to help agencies implement corrective action in cases involving misconduct or civil rights violations, some monitorships have become costly, open-ended arrangements with little transparency or accountability. In certain cases, monitors have remained in place for more than a decade, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars with few limits on their fees, duration, or scope of authority.

House Republicans passed this legislation to strengthen accountability, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure monitorships remain focused on delivering results — not becoming permanent bureaucracies.

Rep. Andy Biggs’ bill, H.R. 8365, the Monitor Accountability Act, codifies the Department of Justice's recommendations to establish term limits on monitors, cap fees, allow for public feedback on the selection of monitors, and provide a public accounting of monitors’ activities to ensure court monitors do not abuse their positions.

"For over a decade, a court-appointed federal monitor for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has cost $350 million in taxpayer dollars and undermined the work of brave men and women in law enforcement, compromising the safety of innocent Arizonans. This is just one story of these monitors operating without oversight across the country and creating chaos in their wake,” said Rep. Biggs. “The destructive effects of these monitors on government budgets and public safety necessitate congressional action, which is why I've introduced the Monitor Accountability Act. I'm thankful for its passage in the House, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and send it to the President's desk."

What Members Said:

House Republicans highlighted Rep. Biggs' legislation focused on bringing accountability and transparency to court monitorships.

Prioritizing Service Members, Military Families, Veterans, and Critical Infrastructure✅

At a time of growing threats around the world, it is more important than ever for Congress to provide America’s servicemembers with the support and infrastructure they need to defend our nation. This week, House Republicans passed legislation to strengthen our national security, support critical military construction projects, and support our troops, veterans, and military families.

The FY27 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill responsibly funds our military and strengthens America’s readiness by investing in critical infrastructure that supports advanced weapons systems while also helping military families through funding for barracks and child development centers.

Additionally, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill fulfills our nation’s promise to veterans by fully funding veterans’ health care programs and benefits, supporting mental health research and suicide prevention efforts, protecting veterans’ Second Amendment rights, and investing in VA facilities and national cemeteries.

Rep. John Carter’s legislation, H.R. 8469, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, provides FY27 appropriations to bolster our national defense and critical infrastructure, deliver on veteran care, and improve quality of life for military families.

“Our servicemembers and veterans have answered the call to serve our nation, and this legislation demonstrates our commitment to standing by them in return. The bill delivers robust funding for veterans’ medical care, mental health services, and community-based support programs to help ensure veterans can lead healthy and successful lives after their service,” said Rep. Carter. “It also invests in the everyday needs of military families through improvements to housing, childcare, and essential infrastructure that support morale and readiness. With today’s vote, we move one step closer to putting these resources into action and sending this legislation to the President. I want to thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and for keeping the appropriations process moving forward responsibly and efficiently.”

What Members Said:

Rep. Mike Simpson highlighted the critical benefits for veterans and military families in H.R. 8469.

Rep. Steve Womack touted House Republicans' passage of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill in regular order, benefiting our servicemembers, veterans, and military infrastructure.

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Friday, May 15, 2026

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Prioritizing Service Members, Military Families, Veterans, and Critical Infrastructure

As threats around the world continue to grow, it is more important than ever for Congress to provide America’s servicemembers with the support and infrastructure they need to defend our nation. This week, House Republicans are bringing forward legislation to strengthen our national security, support critical military construction projects, and deliver for our troops and veterans.

The FY27 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill responsibly funds our military and strengthens America’s readiness by investing in critical infrastructure that supports advanced weapons systems while also helping military families through funding for barracks and child development centers.

This legislation also strengthens America’s position against foreign adversaries by continuing critical investments in the Indo-Pacific region and prohibiting the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from Communist China.

Additionally, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill fulfills our nation’s promise to veterans by fully funding veterans’ health care programs and benefits, supporting mental health research and suicide prevention efforts, protecting veterans’ Second Amendment rights, and investing in VA facilities and national cemeteries.

Rep. John Carter’s legislation, H.R. 8469, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, provides FY27 appropriations to bolster our national defense and critical infrastructure, deliver on veteran care, and improve quality of life for military families.

House Republicans will always prioritize our veterans, the brave men and women who defend our nation, and America’s national security.

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