Weekly Newsletter, 4.28.26

Dear Friends,

We are now 9 weeks into President Trump’s war of choice in Iran and 73 days without funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  And this week is shaping up to be a doozy, with a royal visit from King Charles III, expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on April 30th, a partisan Farm Bill than doesn’t provide any real relief to American farmers, and a partisan Senate budget resolution that authorizes up to $140 billion more in funding for ICE and Border Patrol with no relief for the American people struggling under a cost of living crisis. 

Meanwhile, chaos continues to reign at the Department of Defense as the Pentagon announced the departure of Navy Secretary and prominent Trump donor John C. Phelan. I joined the Faithful Politics Podcast to discuss the  latest about the war in Iran, attacks on voting rights, the changing technological landscape with AI and much more.

Keep reading to learn what else you may have missed since my last newsletter.

RESPONDING TO CRISES AND BUILDING RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES:

AN UPDATE ON MY LEGISLATION

Despite all the chaos in Washington, I have had some legislative success meeting the needs of our communities. 

Last Monday, the House unanimously passed my bipartisan bill with Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02) to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority. On September 11, 2001, bifurcated public safety communications systems and congested cellular networks prevented first responders from communicating across jurisdictions, putting lives in further peril. Following this tragedy, the 9/11 Commission recommended that Congress establish a nationwide, interoperable public safety communications network that prioritizes first responders. The product of that mandate, FirstNet supports public safety under the direction of the First Responder Network Authority (FNA), an independent entity created in 2012 that manages and administers the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). Without Congressional action, FNA’s legal authority expires in February 2027.  H.R. 7386 extends and strengthens FNA’s authority and the FirstNet program. I celebrate this victory for first responders and public safety agencies, and I urge the Senate to pass this bill as soon as possible to reaffirm the reliability and resilience of the emergency communications network in times of disaster and recovery.

Last week, I introduced the Family Farm Transition Act alongside Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01). America’s more than 1.8 million family-owned farms serve as the backbone of our agricultural industry, amounting to $484 billion dollars in output each year. More than 90% of farms in Virginia are family-owned, and their hard work allows agriculture to lead as the number one private industry in the Commonwealth. Yet family farmers in Virginia and beyond are facing significant obstacles as prices rise, private equity and other large corporate interests buy up land and fewer young people pursue careers in agriculture. 

This legislation creates a federal pilot program designed to connect retiring and transitioning farmers with beginning farmers looking for land. In the midst of growing financial hardship, our local communities deserve legislative action to help keep families fed and our agricultural sector thriving.

As we celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, I joined Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-07), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Steve Cohen (TN-09) to lead a coalition of 56 lawmakers to introduce a resolution in commemoration of the 56th Earth Day. The resolution honors the progress we have made towards preserving our environment and addresses the work that remains to be done. As the climate crisis exacerbates natural disasters and threatens vulnerable communities across the nation, Congress must take action now to preserve our environment and protect fragile ecosystems. 

We face a difficult road ahead as the Trump Administration eliminates a plethora of environmental protections, revokes the Endangerment Finding, removes pollution restrictions, cuts investment in clean energy and seeks to sacrifice our public lands for corporate profit. I’ll continue opposing these rollbacks in any way I can and maintaining robust climate protections. The next generation is counting on us to act before it’s too late. I stand alongside my Democratic colleagues in this fight and we will not back down —because there is no Planet B.

ENERGY & COMMERCE UPDATE: SUPPORTING AMERICAN SATELLITE TECH AND NUCLEAR ENERGY SAFETY

A few weeks ago, the Artemis II crew returned to Earth following their historic mission around the moon. This incredible feat reminds us that the US remains a global leader in space and developing the technology this new horizon necessitates. Our leadership in satellite technology has allowed Americans to rely on satellite services for everything from entertainment to GPS. To ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in satellite technology, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing last week entitled “SAT Streamlining Act: Modernizing Satellite Licensing for the Final Frontier” to discuss how Congress can support the development and efficient licensing of American satellite technology.

The number of American satellites in orbit has skyrocketed over the last several years and continues to climb. In order to keep up with this demand, the SAT Streamlining Act will clarify the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) role in space and strengthen their statutory authority in reviewing satellite licensing applications. As the FCC faces budget cuts, Congress must ensure the commission has the expertise and resources it needs to support the growing demand for satellite technology. In our hearing, I asked industry leaders about the challenges they’re currently facing on this front and how Congress can work to alleviate them.

The next day, the Energy Subcommittee held a hearing discussing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027. For the past 51 years, the NRC has played a pivotal role in reactor safety, inspection and licensing practices and regulatory measures. To make sure that the commission can continue in this role, the NRC must remain independent, well funded and staffed by experts. Yet the Trump Administration has proposed an 8% cut to their budget, eliminating 196 full-time positions, limiting the NRC’s independence and creating major safety concerns. 

Under the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, the NRC would be forced to drastically reduce their reactor oversight capacity, cutting security inspections by 48% and emergency preparedness inspections by 56%, amounting to a 38% total reduction in baseline reactor inspection hours. In our hearing, I confronted the NRC Commissioner with these numbers and my concerns about how proposed changes will impact nuclear energy innovation and safety for the American people.

MY BRIGHT SPOT: KICKING OFF VA250S AMERICA’S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITH THE VIRGINIA TRIBAL NATIONS

As the birthplace of American Democracy, Virginia played a seminal role in the founding of our nation. Yet, before the first English settlers arrived at Jamestown in 1607, several indigenous tribes included elements of the democratic framework later adopted by the United States in their governance traditions. To kick off its celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial Celebration, VA250 launched its 2026 commemorations by centering the unvarnished history and lived experiences of the Tribal Nations who stewarded the lands across Turtle Island in its signature event entitled Inspiring a Season of Civic Renewal.

I had the honor of bringing greetings at the dinner kicking off the festivities over the weekend, which included presentations from elected Tribal leaders, scholars, and representatives from advocacy and legal organizations. 

You can explore the programming here.