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			<title>Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick</title>
			<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/</link>
			<description>A collection of the latest records posted to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.</description>
			

			<language>en</language>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 174 Jun 2026 00:00:01 GMT</pubDate>
			<lastBuildDate>Tue, 174 Jun 2026 00:00:01 GMT</lastBuildDate>
			
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/6/house-passes-fitzpatrick-led-bipartisan-ukraine-support-act</guid>
				<title>House Passes Fitzpatrick-Led Bipartisan Ukraine Support Act </title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/6/house-passes-fitzpatrick-led-bipartisan-ukraine-support-act</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Washington, DC&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ndash; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), &amp;nbsp;Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, along with Representatives&amp;nbsp;Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee;&amp;nbsp;Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05); Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus; Bill Keating (MA-09), Ranking Member of the Europe Subcommittee; Don Bacon (NE-02); and Kevin Kiley (CA-03) issued&amp;nbsp;the following&amp;nbsp;statement&amp;nbsp;on&amp;nbsp;the passage of&amp;nbsp;the bipartisan &lt;i&gt;Ukraine Support Act&lt;/i&gt;, the first comprehensive legislation to support Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia to pass the House in the 119&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;&amp;nbsp;Congress.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Putin is counting on America to grow tired, divided, and distracted. Today, with a historic bipartisan vote, the House sent the opposite message,&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty and survival, but the stakes do not stop at Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s borders. Standing with Ukraine is a matter of American security, allied strength, and moral clarity&amp;mdash;and it tells the world that aggression will not be met with hesitation or retreat. From the start of Russia&amp;rsquo;s illegal war of terror, I have worked to ensure America&amp;rsquo;s policy is rooted in peace through strength: equipping Ukraine to win, holding Putin accountable, and ensuring brutality never becomes leverage. This legislation gives force to that principle, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House who stood with us on the side of freedom. Now, the Senate must do the same.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Inaction on&amp;nbsp;Ukraine ends&amp;nbsp;now.&amp;nbsp;Today&amp;rsquo;s&amp;nbsp;bipartisan&amp;nbsp;vote to pass&amp;nbsp;the Ukraine&amp;nbsp;Support Act&amp;nbsp;demonstrates&amp;nbsp;that&amp;nbsp;the House&amp;nbsp;stands&amp;nbsp;with the Ukrainian people and&amp;nbsp;that we will&amp;nbsp;hold&amp;nbsp;the criminal Russian regime&amp;nbsp;accountable for its illegal war.&amp;nbsp;I thank&amp;nbsp;my Democratic colleagues and my Republican colleagues&amp;nbsp;who&amp;rsquo;ve&amp;nbsp;co-sponsored this bill, without whom this vote&amp;nbsp;would not have been possible.&amp;nbsp;And I especially&amp;nbsp;thank the&amp;nbsp;Ukrainian American&amp;nbsp;community&amp;nbsp;and all those Americans standing with Ukraine,&amp;nbsp;for their tireless efforts to see this&amp;nbsp;bill move forward.&amp;nbsp;Now the Senate must follow suit, and work with our bipartisan&amp;nbsp;group in the House to deliver the most comprehensive package possible to the President&amp;rsquo;s desk&amp;nbsp;for his immediate signature&lt;/i&gt;&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Ranking Member Meeks. &lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Today&amp;rsquo;s vote was a victory for Ukraine, for the United States, for freedom, and for international law.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;It was made possible because Democrats and Republicans came together behind an effort that is bigger than partisan politics &amp;ndash;&amp;nbsp;it&amp;rsquo;s&amp;nbsp;about whether our nation will hold firm to its ideals and stand up for democracy, and I thank my Republican colleagues who joined us.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;The people of Ukraine are&amp;nbsp;demonstrating&amp;nbsp;that they have what it takes to win this war and outlast what Vladimir Putin can throw at them.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;But they cannot do it alone.&amp;nbsp; Europe has stepped up, and America has been a critical partner &amp;ndash; but we have not approved a major Ukraine-assistance package since 2024.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;It&amp;rsquo;s&amp;nbsp;time for the Senate to follow the House and act quickly on this $8 billion in security&amp;nbsp;assistance&amp;nbsp;and broad, sweeping sanctions so Ukrainians can continue to push ahead toward victory,&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Hoyer.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;The Ukraine Support Act which the House passed today with Democratic, Republican, and Independent support was a choice between Liberty and Tyranny. Our Free World must stand tall against tyrants, not mollycoddle them. Liberty is not negotiable, It is fundamental,"&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said&amp;nbsp; Kaptur. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;"The war-torn people of Ukraine are not asking for charity, they&amp;rsquo;re asking for US partnership with that of our closest allies in the European Union. Today we said loud and clear: we stand with Ukraine, we need sanctions on Russia, and we will always stand by our allies. I urge the Senate to take up this legislation with haste and help us reassure our allies around the world of American&amp;rsquo;s unwavering commitment to Liberty loving people everywhere. If we do not, the next strategic reality we will face is defending our interests against an emboldened armed, expansionist Russia at a much, much higher cost.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;The importance of Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s success against Russia&amp;rsquo;s war of aggression cannot be overstated.&amp;nbsp; We should be assisting them because it is the right thing to do, but at the very least, we are obligated to do it in accordance with the Budapest Memorandum.&amp;nbsp; Passage of the Ukraine Support Act would demonstrate the House&amp;rsquo;s continued support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia. Critically, this bill includes billions in additional military assistance and comprehensive Russia sanctions,&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Ranking Member Keating&lt;/b&gt;. &lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;I am proud to have co-led the introduction of this legislation and greatly appreciate the strong bipartisan support this bill received from Democratic and Republican members of the House. I urge the Senate to take it up so the United States can continue to support our ally Ukraine in their defense against Russian aggression.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Tonight, the House faced a Churchill vs. Chamberlain moment. Stand on the side of freedom and democracy, or show weakness to an invading thug who wants to restore Russian domination over a free people. Tonight, we chose Churchill,&amp;rdquo; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said Bacon.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;In 2024, I visited Ukraine and witnessed firsthand the devastation and cruelty that Russia has inflicted on the Ukrainian people. That trip and the courage of the Ukrainians have bolstered my belief that America must continue to support Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s fight against Russia&amp;rsquo;s brutal invasion, and the bipartisan vote this evening proves that support still exists here in Congress. I strongly urge the Senate to take up and pass this legislation without delay to provide Ukraine the military aid it needs to win and impose tough sanctions that further isolate and punish Putin.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;I provided the decisive signature to force a vote on the Ukraine Support Act because the time for Congress to act is now.&amp;nbsp;Today, in a bipartisan way, we made it clear that the United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and provide the material support necessary for their self-defense. We made it equally clear that Russia will pay a severe price for its unprovoked aggression and ongoing violence.&amp;nbsp;This is the leverage needed for constructive negations to end this conflict. This is what is required for peace,&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Kiley.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="isSelectedEnd"&gt;Today&amp;rsquo;s vote builds on Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s broader work to advance a Ukraine policy rooted in peace through strength: sustaining critical security assistance, increasing pressure on Putin&amp;rsquo;s war machine, and ensuring any path to peace protects Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s sovereignty and is accepted by the free and independent Government of Ukraine.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="isSelectedEnd"&gt;As Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Fitzpatrick has helped lead bipartisan efforts to hold Russia accountable and confront the full scope of Putin&amp;rsquo;s aggression, from battlefield brutality to attacks on civilians, religious communities, and abducted Ukrainian children. He has seen the stakes firsthand on the front lines of Ukraine, meeting directly with Ukrainian leaders, servicemembers, and civilians defending their country and their freedom.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;His leadership on the &lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7D73BB43-8D51-44DD-870A-EF89575A1360"&gt;Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act&lt;/a&gt;, the&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4BA9339A-ACCB-43F5-AF91-8E64567C264B"&gt; Countering Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith Act&lt;/a&gt;, and the bipartisan discharge petition reflects a clear and consistent principle: America must equip Ukraine to win, impose consequences on Russia, and never allow authoritarian aggression to be rewarded.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 155 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/6/fitzpatrick-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Statement on Iran War Powers Resolution</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/6/fitzpatrick-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;When it comes to the conflict in Iran, these two statements of fact remain: 1) The world is a safer place after Iran&amp;rsquo;s nuclear capabilities have been degraded, and; 2) We are a nation of the rule of law and three independent, co-equal branches of government.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;We must keep the world safe, and we must also follow the law. The War Powers Act of 1973 states that any conflict exceeding 60 days must be brought to Congress. Today was the second&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/75/text?s=4&amp;amp;r=20"&gt;War Powers Resolution&lt;/a&gt; that was brought to the House Floor following the expiration of this 60-day clock. The law, as it is currently written, requires that the matter now be brought to Congress.&amp;nbsp; That is why I voted in favor of today&amp;rsquo;s resolution.&amp;nbsp; We must follow the law.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;I previously authored and introduced &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/156/text"&gt;my own War Powers Resolution&lt;/a&gt; that would comply with the War Powers Act of 1973, and that would also encourage, not discourage, cease-fires by tolling the 60-day clock to allow for negotiations.&amp;nbsp; Until my Resolution is passed by Congress, or until the United States Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the War Powers Act of 1973, we must abide by the law as it is currently written.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Wed, 154 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-suozzi-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-stop-taxpayer-dollars-from-funding-doj-s-anti-weaponization-fund</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick, Suozzi Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop Taxpayer Dollars from Funding DOJ’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund”</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-suozzi-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-stop-taxpayer-dollars-from-funding-doj-s-anti-weaponization-fund</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;WASHINGTON, D.C.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-3) introduced the &lt;b&gt;Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act&lt;/b&gt;, legislation to prohibit federal funds from being used to pay any claims submitted to the Department of Justice&amp;rsquo;s newly announced Anti-Weaponization Fund.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The legislation comes one day after &lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/_cache/files/5/a/5ac1920e-7d02-48ab-8d82-0d044e226c49/FC7C7AC84799F1F34FF27328902771DBCB1E12D6471EFCE15853F02C3E166196.rep-fitzpatrick-letter-to-doj-on-anti-weaponization-fund.pdf"&gt;Fitzpatrick pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for answers&lt;/a&gt; on the fund&amp;rsquo;s legal authority, funding source, eligibility standards, and lack of congressional oversight.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The DOJ announced on May 18, 2026, that the U.S. Department of Treasury would direct $1.776 billion to an account for the sole use of the Anti-Weaponization Fund. In response, Fitzpatrick raised urgent concerns that nearly $2 billion in taxpayer dollars could be diverted into a discretionary compensation fund without clear congressional authorization, court approval, or transparent guardrails.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The &lt;b&gt;Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act&lt;/b&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;makes clear that no federal funds, including funds appropriated under Section 1304 of Title 31 of the U.S. Code, may be used for the payment of any claim submitted to the Anti-Weaponization Fund established by the Department of Justice on May 18, 2026.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Congress has a constitutional responsibility to protect taxpayer dollars and oversee federal spending. Yesterday, I called on the DOJ to explain where this money is coming from, who may receive it, and under what authority this fund was created. Today, we are acting,"&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;The Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act ensures federal funds cannot be used for this fund without the transparency, oversight, and legal safeguards the American people deserve. Taxpayer dollars will not become a discretionary payout fund. Transparency is not optional. Accountability is not negotiable.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"This is a bipartisan bill to block the President&amp;rsquo;s $1.7 billion slush fund to pay off January 6th criminals and other maladjusted minions! To allow it to continue would set a dangerous precedent,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Suozzi.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;Costs are skyrocketing. Gas, groceries, utilities, healthcare&amp;mdash;everything costs more! Instead of fixing those problems, the President seems fixated going around the Congress to settle personal scores and making Americans pay for it. I join Congressman Fitzpatrick in saying &amp;lsquo;this is unacceptable!&amp;rsquo;&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=457F16A4-7199-4D45-9488-A251F79A9C12"&gt;The full text of the legislation can be found here.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s May 20 letter to Acting Attorney General Blanche can be found &lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/_cache/files/5/a/5ac1920e-7d02-48ab-8d82-0d044e226c49/FC7C7AC84799F1F34FF27328902771DBCB1E12D6471EFCE15853F02C3E166196.rep-fitzpatrick-letter-to-doj-on-anti-weaponization-fund.pdf"&gt;here.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 141 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-golden-bill-to-restore-retirement-benefits-for-cbp-officers-advances-to-house-floor</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick-Golden Bill to Restore Retirement Benefits for CBP Officers Advances to House Floor</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-golden-bill-to-restore-retirement-benefits-for-cbp-officers-advances-to-house-floor</link>
				<description>&lt;h3 align="center"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bipartisan legislation passed Oversight Committee 40-0, corrects CBP error, and adds accountability safeguards&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;WASHINGTON, D.C.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) announced that his bipartisan &lt;b&gt;U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act&lt;/b&gt;, introduced with Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), passed the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform unanimously by a vote of &lt;b&gt;40-0&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The legislation corrects a CBP error that caused certain officers to lose enhanced retirement benefits they were promised and planned around. The bill restores those benefits, adds accountability safeguards, and &lt;b&gt;is supported by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Our CBP officers stand on the front lines of America&amp;rsquo;s security every day&amp;mdash;protecting our ports of entry, stopping illicit activity, facilitating lawful trade and travel, and helping keep our communities safe,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;When these officers relied on guidance from their own agency, they made career and retirement decisions in good faith. This is not special treatment. It is basic fairness, government accountability, and keeping faith with those who serve our country. A bureaucratic error should never erase benefits these officers were promised, planned around, and earned. This bill corrects the record, restores fairness, and honors their service to our nation. I will always stand with the men and women who protect America, and look forward to bringing this bipartisan fix to the House floor. I am grateful to Congressman Golden, Chairman Comer, NTEU, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their unanimous support.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;What&amp;rsquo;s fair is fair, and clerical screw-ups shouldn&amp;rsquo;t be allowed to stand between federal law enforcement officers and the benefits they were promised,&amp;rdquo;&lt;b&gt; Golden said. &lt;/b&gt;&amp;ldquo;This bill is a simple solution to ensure the federal government lives up to its word. I urge my colleagues in the House&amp;nbsp;to support this bill to restore fairness for these essential federal workers.&amp;rdquo;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"NTEU is proud to support the US Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act. This bipartisan, common-sense legislation will fix a longstanding error affecting approximately 1,500 CBPOs who have planned their retirements around guidance they were given when they were hired. H.R 8844 fixes this error and makes sure the government keeps its promise to these workers. We appreciate Reps. Fitzpatrick, Golden, and the entire House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for standing up for our CBP workforce,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Since this small group of officers have planned their retirements and their lives and careers around incorrect guidance given to them by CBP, this bill corrects the misunderstanding by providing the enhanced benefits to this small group in the same way as existing officers. This bill also requires a Government Accountability Office report to ensure proper management of this benefit at CBP to prevent any similar mistakes from occurring. I am pleased this bill provides an opportunity to right a wrong for Customs and Border Protection officers while providing accountability measures to protect against similar mistakes from happening again,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Chairman Comer.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Specifically, the bill would:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ensure eligible officers receive the enhanced retirement and annuity treatment they were promised;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Require the Department of Homeland Security to identify and notify eligible officers;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Direct the Office of Personnel Management to make the necessary annuity corrections, including retroactive adjustments for eligible officers who have already retired;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Allow necessary waivers to ensure eligible officers can receive the corrected retirement treatment; and&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Require the Government Accountability Office to review CBP hiring practices, internal controls, personnel-file policies, and training related to enhanced retirement benefits to help prevent similar errors in the future.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act now heads to the House floor for consideration.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=0701DAA9-CC95-44FB-A51F-0DF97BF826AD"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read the full bill text here.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2008, CBP officers became eligible for enhanced law enforcement retirement coverage. During that transition, a limited group of officers received tentative job offers before the effective date but entered duty afterward, and were told they would remain eligible for proportional annuity treatment. Based on that guidance, they planned their careers and retirements around benefits they were later told they could not receive. The &lt;b&gt;U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act&lt;/b&gt; corrects that error, restores the retirement treatment these officers were promised, and requires a GAO review to strengthen oversight and prevent similar failures in the future.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 141 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-helps-secure-major-bipartisan-victory-to-expand-housing-supply-and-lower-costs-for-pa-1-families</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Helps Secure Major Bipartisan Victory to Expand Housing Supply and Lower Costs for PA-1 Families</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-helps-secure-major-bipartisan-victory-to-expand-housing-supply-and-lower-costs-for-pa-1-families</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Washington, DC&amp;mdash;&lt;/b&gt; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) helped lead passage of the&lt;b&gt; 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act&lt;/b&gt;, a sweeping bipartisan housing reform package to expand housing supply, modernize federal housing policy, strengthen community-based development, and restore affordability for working families in Pennsylvania&amp;rsquo;s First District and across the nation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The legislation passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of &lt;b&gt;396 to 13&lt;/b&gt; and now returns to the Senate for further consideration.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents one of the most comprehensive federal housing reform efforts in decades. It directly addresses the structural drivers of America&amp;rsquo;s housing shortage&amp;mdash;outdated regulations, duplicative inspections, financing bottlenecks, underused properties, and barriers that slow local development.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Earlier this year, Fitzpatrick helped advance the original House housing package, which included three of Fitzpatrick's housing priorities. The updated package passed today now includes a &lt;b&gt;fourth Fitzpatrick measure&lt;/b&gt;, further strengthening the bill&amp;rsquo;s focus on expanding supply, lowering costs, and helping communities turn vacant and blighted properties into affordable homes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes the following Fitzpatrick-supported provisions that will deliver for PA-1, including:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Accelerating Home Building Act (H.R. 5907): &lt;/b&gt;Authorizes HUD to award competitive grants to local governments and tribal entities to adopt pre-reviewed, ready-to-use housing designs for mixed-income developments of up to 25 units. By shortening permitting timelines and reducing costly delays, this reform accelerates responsible homebuilding with 10% of funding reserved for rural communities.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Choice in Affordable Housing Act (H.R. 1981): &lt;/b&gt;Modernizes the Housing Choice Voucher program by eliminating duplicative inspections and allowing remote reviews in rural and small jurisdictions. By reducing red tape and encouraging landlord participation, this reform expands housing access for working families.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;VA Home Loan Awareness Act (H.R. 2362): &lt;/b&gt;Requires mortgage applications to clearly notify eligible applicants that they may qualify for a VA Home Loan, ensuring veterans and service members are fully informed of benefits they have earned.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;RESIDE Act (H.R. 5591): &lt;/b&gt;Creates a new pilot program providing local communities with grants to rehabilitate vacant, abandoned, and underutilized buildings into affordable homes. This provision helps communities transform blight into housing supply, revitalize neighborhoods, and bring more homes within reach for working families.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Housing affordability is one of the defining economic challenges of our time because it shapes something deeply American: whether families who work hard, save responsibly, and play by the rules can still build a stable life in the communities they call home,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;Across Bucks and Montgomery Counties, I have sat down with &amp;nbsp;realtors, home builders, lenders, local officials, and families who are living this challenge firsthand. Those conversations became the foundation of this work. We listened to the people closest to the problem, identified the barriers driving costs and limiting supply, and worked together to develop practical solutions that can actually move the needle.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Today&amp;rsquo;s overwhelming House passage is a major step forward in that effort,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;Fitzpatrick continued&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act reflects the kind of two-party, common-sense leadership this moment demands: expanding supply, modernizing outdated federal barriers, restoring balance to the housing market, and giving communities the tools to turn vacant buildings into affordable homes. These reforms were shaped by real-world experience, built through bipartisan cooperation, and aimed at a clear purpose&amp;mdash;lowering costs, strengthening neighborhoods, and keeping the promise of home within reach for working families. The House has acted with clear bipartisan resolve. Now the Senate must do the same.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Realtors are on the front lines of this housing crisis every day. We see young families priced out of starter homes, seniors unable to downsize, and working households competing in markets where supply has simply not kept pace with demand. When housing production slows, affordability slips further out of reach &amp;mdash; and communities feel it,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Chris Beadling, PA-1 Constituent, Broker of Quinn &amp;amp; Wilson Realtors in Montgomery County, 2025 NAR Regional VP (Region 2), and Past President of Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS and Bucks County Association of REALTORS.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;Congressman Fitzpatrick has been a longtime partner in addressing these challenges, working directly with Pennsylvania Realtors and local housing leaders to understand the regulatory delays, financing constraints, and outdated policies limiting housing growth. The Housing for the 21st Century Act takes meaningful steps to remove unnecessary barriers, modernize federal housing programs, and strengthen the ability of community banks to finance responsible local development. By expanding supply and empowering local lenders, this legislation will help increase housing opportunities and bring affordability back within reach for Pennsylvania families. We appreciate Congressman Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s longtime partnership, support, and commitment to advancing policies that support sustainable housing growth across our Commonwealth.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Congressman Fitzpatrick has consistently led the charge on affordability&amp;mdash;and it remains his top priority for Pennsylvania&amp;rsquo;s First District. Earlier this year, along with his Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Representative Tom Suozzi, he introduced a &lt;a href="https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/media/press-releases/problem-solvers-caucus-releases-bipartisan-affordability-agenda"&gt;comprehensive bipartisan Affordability Agenda that outlines more than 40 commonsense bills capable of delivering immediate relief across five critical areas of household budgets: health care, housing, energy, child care, and food.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Each proposal in the framework has broad bipartisan support and is designed to pass both chambers of Congress &amp;mdash; reflecting Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s belief that lowering costs for working families must rise above partisanship.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In addition to the Housing for the 21st Century Act, his recent bipartisan efforts include:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/12/fitzpatrick-leads-bipartisan-effort-to-protect-patients-from-high-prescription-drug-costs"&gt;HELP Copays Act&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&amp;ndash; Legislation to lower the cost of life-saving prescription medications for patients with rare, serious, and chronic conditions.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/11/fitzpatrick-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-lower-housing-costs-and-expand-homeownership"&gt;Accelerating Home Building Act&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ndash; Bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at increasing housing supply and improving affordability nationwide.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/4/fitzpatrick-trahan-unveil-bipartisan-caring-for-our-seniors-act-to-expand-affordable-assisted-living-and-rebuild-the-long-term-care-workforce"&gt;Caring for Our Seniors Act&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ndash; Addresses the rising cost of senior care while strengthening the long-term care workforce.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/9/fitzpatrick-schrier-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-make-child-care-more-affordable-for-working-families"&gt;Affordable Child Care Act&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ndash; Doubles key tax credits to help working families access quality, affordable child care and put money directly back into parents&amp;rsquo; pockets.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Wed, 140 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-calls-on-doj-to-provide-answers-on-newly-announced-1-8-billion-anti-weaponization-fund</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Calls on DOJ to Provide Answers on Newly Announced $1.8 Billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund”</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-calls-on-doj-to-provide-answers-on-newly-announced-1-8-billion-anti-weaponization-fund</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;WASHINGTON, D.C.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) called on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to provide immediate transparency regarding the Department of Justice&amp;rsquo;s newly announced &amp;ldquo;Anti-Weaponization Fund,&amp;rdquo; a nearly $1.8 billion discretionary account intended to compensate victims of alleged lawfare.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a letter to the Department, Fitzpatrick raised serious concerns that the fund appears to have been created without congressional authorization or clear oversight mechanisms. He warned that directing nearly $2 billion in taxpayer funds into a discretionary account without answers about its legal basis, funding source, eligibility standards, or accountability structure represents a dangerous step backward for transparency, institutional integrity, and responsible stewardship of public dollars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;A massive discretionary fund, with no oversight or approval from Congress, represents a dangerous backsliding in the transparency of our institutions and our commitment to the American taxpayer,&amp;rdquo; &lt;strong&gt;Fitzpatrick wrote.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Fitzpatrick requested answers by June 1, 2026, including where the funds are being diverted from, the exact legal purpose of the fund, whether individuals convicted of federal crimes or associated with acts of violence may be eligible for payouts, and whether any prior administration has established a comparable compensation program without congressional approval or court oversight.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=5AC1920E-7D02-48AB-8D82-0D044E226C49"&gt;Read the full letter here&lt;/a&gt; and below:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;May 20, 2026&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Todd Blanche&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt; Acting Attorney General&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt; U.S. Department of Justice&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt; 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt; Washington, DC 20530-0001&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Dear Attorney General Blanche:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;I am writing to you to express my urgent concern surrounding the announcement of a newly formed &amp;ldquo;Anti-Weaponization Fund,&amp;rdquo; a plan to set up nearly $1.8 billion in funds to compensate victims of alleged lawfare. A massive discretionary fund, with no oversight or approval from Congress, represents a dangerous backsliding in the transparency of our institutions and our commitment to the American taxpayer.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The announcement from the Department of Justice on May 18, 2026, stated that the U.S. Department of Treasury will direct a payment of $1,776,000,000 to an account for the sole use by the Anti-Weaponization Fund.1 I am requesting more information on where these funds are being diverted from and how they will be used by this Designated Account.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;I am requesting answers to the following questions by June 1, 2026:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol start="1" type="1"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Where are the nearly $2 billion in funds being diverted from to be used for this fund?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;What is the exact legal purpose of the Anti-Weaponization Fund and will individuals convicted of federal crimes or associated with acts of violence be eligible to receive monetary payouts from the Fund?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Are there examples of previous administrations establishing discretionary compensation programs that are not authorized by Congress and do not have court approval or judicial oversight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt response.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sincerely,&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt; Brian Fitzpatrick&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt; Member of Congress&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Wed, 140 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-dingell</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick, Dingell Push Back on Proposed Rollback of PFAS Drinking Water Protections</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-dingell</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, DC--&lt;/strong&gt;Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01)&amp;nbsp;and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Co-Chairs of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, raised concerns following the Adminstration's proposal to roll back federal drinking water protections for toxic &amp;ldquo;forever chemicals&amp;rdquo; known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p data-start="491" data-end="770"&gt;The proposal would rescind limits on four PFAS chemicals under the nation&amp;rsquo;s first-ever PFAS drinking water standard and give water systems two additional years to comply with limits for two others&amp;mdash;potentially leaving communities exposed to contaminated drinking water for longer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;Safe drinking water should never be a luxury, a legal debate, or a question at the kitchen sink. For families facing PFAS contamination, this is about the water they pour into a glass, cook with, and give to their children. These forever chemicals are found in the blood of nearly 98% of Americans, and communities that did not create this pollution should not be forced to live with the risk or pay the cost of cleaning it up. America should be moving faster to get PFAS out of our drinking water&amp;mdash;not giving families more years of uncertainty and harm. We will not stand by while protections are weakened and working families are left waiting. We will continue fighting to protect clean water, hold polluters accountable, and put public health ahead of the interests that created this crisis,&amp;rdquo;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; said Fitzpatrick and Dingell.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Today's letter marks the latest step in Fitzpatrick and Dingell&amp;rsquo;s bipartisan effort to secure strong, enforceable protections for communities facing PFAS contamination.&amp;nbsp;&lt;span&gt;In June 2025, the lawmakers introduced &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2025/6/fitzpatrick-dingell-introduce-legislation-to-codify-pfas-national-drinking-water-standard"&gt;legislation &lt;/a&gt;&lt;span&gt;to put these safe drinking water regulations into law. The following month, they led 69 of their colleagues in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://debbiedingell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5874"&gt;urging the EPA&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span&gt; to uphold the first-ever national primary drinking water regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;A copy of the letter can be found &lt;a href="https://debbiedingell.house.gov/UploadedFiles/5.18.26_PFAS_Letter.pdf"&gt;HERE &lt;/a&gt;and text is below:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Dear Administrator Zeldin:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We write to express concerns surrounding the Agency&amp;rsquo;s decision related to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) rule. While we applaud efforts by the Administration to invest nearly $1 billion dollars in new funding to states to address PFAS in drinking water, potential for erosion of the SDWA must be taken seriously.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PFAS contamination is a real and urgent public health crisis across our country, and this rollback only serves to undermine the core purpose of SDWA to ensure communities have access to safe drinking water. Nearly 98% of Americans have PFAS detectable in their blood, and as of March 2026, about 176 million Americans drink water contaminated with PFAS. Rolling back drinking water standards for PFAS will further the existing public health crisis our communities are already facing due to these forever chemicals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The finalized 2024 rule established an enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) standard of four parts per trillion for two of the most dangerous PFAS variants, PFOS and PFOA. It also regulated other times of PFAS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX with an enforceable MCL standard of ten parts per trillion. It required that public water systems monitor for PFAS, notify the public of PFAS, and reduce PFAS in drinking water through phased-in approaches.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;EPA finalized its 2024 rulemaking in response to its own extensive scientific research that reflected the correlation of PFAS to high cholesterol, kidney cancer, decreases in birth weight, and other serious health risks. When issued, the EPA estimated that this rule would prevent PFAS exposure in drinking water for as many as 100 million Americans, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses. The finalization of the 2024 rule was an important step in the fight to keep forever chemicals out of our homes and communities and rescinding this standard means harmful PFAS contamination will continue to spread through drinking water.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Safe drinking water should never be a luxury or a legal debate. For families facing PFAS contamination, this is about the water they pour into a glass, cook with, and give to their children. America should be moving faster to get PFAS out of our drinking water&amp;mdash;not giving families more years of uncertainty and harm. We will not stand by while protections are weakened and working families are left waiting. We will continue fighting to protect clean water, hold polluters accountable, and put public health ahead of the interests that created this crisis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We encourage EPA to reconsider the dangerous rollback of its 2024 PFAS National Drinking Water Standard.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your response&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Mon, 138 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-drives-la-salle-bucks-partnership-to-lower-college-costs-and-expand-career-pathways</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Drives La Salle-Bucks Partnership to Lower College Costs and Expand Career Pathways</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-drives-la-salle-bucks-partnership-to-lower-college-costs-and-expand-career-pathways</link>
				<description>&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;New agreement follows Fitzpatrick-convened discussions to help combat rising tuition costs at Bucks County Community College, saves students nearly $114,000, and builds more pathways to high-demand careers&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bucks County, PA&amp;mdash;&lt;/b&gt;Today,&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announced a major new partnership between La Salle University and Bucks County Community College that will dramatically reduce the cost of earning a four-year degree, create a seamless transfer pathway for Bucks students, and expand access to the credentials needed for good-paying careers in high-demand fields.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The agreement follows a November meeting convened by Fitzpatrick with &lt;b&gt;La Salle University President Dan Allen and Bucks County Community College President Patrick Jones&lt;/b&gt;, where the three leaders focused on a shared challenge facing families across the region: making college more affordable, more attainable, and more directly connected to the workforce needs of tomorrow. The result is a lower-cost pathway from Bucks to La Salle that helps students save money, continue their education with confidence, and prepare for careers in high-demand fields.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Rising tuition costs in our community are putting too much pressure on too many families, and that is not acceptable,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Fitzpatrick&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;Higher education should be a ladder up, not a wall that keeps students from reaching their potential. Local families brought this concern to me, and I took it directly to President Allen and President Jones with a clear goal: lower costs, strengthen transfer pathways, and connect more Bucks students to the careers our region needs. This partnership delivers &amp;mdash; helping students save money, reduce debt, and continue their education with confidence. It is a major win for our students, our families, our workforce, and the future of PA-1. I am grateful to Dan and Patrick for their outstanding leadership and continued partnership, and I look forward to building on this work together to expand affordable opportunity for even more students and families.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;La Salle University is proud to strengthen our partnership with Bucks County Community College and create new pathways of opportunity for students. President Jones and the entire BCCC community share a clear commitment to transforming lives through education, and that mission strongly aligns with who we are at La Salle. We are energized by what this partnership will make possible for our students, our institutions, and the communities we proudly serve,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said La Salle University President Dan Allen.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;I am grateful for the support of Congressman and proud Explorer alum Brian Fitzpatrick, for his support of an initiative that will expand higher education for generations of students in the region.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"We are honored to partner with La Salle University and are grateful for their effort to make quality education affordable and provide a pathway for Bucks&amp;rsquo; honors students to join the La Salle honors community upon transfer," &lt;b&gt;said Patrick M. Jones, President &amp;amp; CEO of Bucks County Community College. &lt;/b&gt;"This is what a true partnership looks like."&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At its core, the La Salle&amp;ndash;Bucks partnership is about affordable opportunity &amp;mdash; making sure students are not priced out of their potential, families are not forced to choose between education and financial security, and local employers have access to the skilled workforce they need to grow.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By helping students start closer to home, save nearly $114,000, and move seamlessly into bachelor&amp;rsquo;s and graduate pathways tied to high-demand fields, this agreement reflects the kind of results-driven leadership Fitzpatrick has championed since entering Congress: lowering barriers, expanding opportunity, and ensuring PA-1 leads in preparing the next generation for the jobs and industries that will shape America&amp;rsquo;s future.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Through the new BCCC x La Salle partnership, students who graduate from BCCC&amp;rsquo;s Honors@Bucks program will be able to transfer seamlessly into La Salle University&amp;rsquo;s honors program. Bucks students who earn an associate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA and sign a dual-admission agreement in advance will be eligible to enter select La Salle business or technology bachelor&amp;rsquo;s degree programs with a guaranteed minimum merit scholarship of $20,000 per year for their junior and senior years.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For students pursuing an eligible combined bachelor&amp;rsquo;s and master&amp;rsquo;s degree in business or technology, the savings go even further: they will receive a 20 percent tuition discount toward the master&amp;rsquo;s portion, and both degrees can be completed at La Salle within three years. Students who complete their associate degree at Bucks before transferring to La Salle under the dual-admission agreement can save nearly $114,000 compared to enrolling directly at a four-year institution.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 134 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Statement on Iran War Powers Resolution</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;When it comes to the conflict in Iran, these two statements of fact remain: 1) The world is a safer place after Iran&amp;rsquo;s nuclear capabilities have been degraded, and; 2) We are a nation of the rule of law and three independent, co-equal branches of government.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;We must keep the world safe, and we must also follow the law.&amp;nbsp;The War Powers Act of 1973 states that any conflict exceeding 60 days must be brought to Congress.&amp;nbsp;Today was the first &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/75/text?s=4&amp;amp;r=20"&gt;War Powers Resolution&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;that was brought to the House Floor following the expiration of this 60-day clock. The law, as it is currently written, requires that the matter now be brought to Congress.&amp;nbsp; That is why I voted in favor of today&amp;rsquo;s resolution.&amp;nbsp; We must follow the law.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;I previously authored and introduced &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/156/text"&gt;my own War Powers Resolution&lt;/a&gt; that would comply with the War Powers Act of 1973, and that would also encourage, not discourage, cease-fires by tolling the 60-day clock to allow for negotiations.&amp;nbsp; Until my Resolution is passed by Congress, or until the United States Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the War Powers Act of 1973, we must abide by the law as it is currently written.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 134 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/langhorne-pa-19047</guid>
				<title>Ukraine Caucus Supports Ukraine Ceasefire, Calls on Russia to Demonstrate Good Faith</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/langhorne-pa-19047</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Washington, DC &amp;ndash;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Today, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement in response to Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s ceasefire proposal and Russia&amp;rsquo;s continued strikes that undermine any credible path to peace:&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Ukraine has extended an olive branch: an immediate, temporary ceasefire grounded in the protection of human life and the pursuit of a just peace. &amp;nbsp;In the face of Russia&amp;rsquo;s continued aggression, this proposal reflects the moral clarity of a free people: willing to seek peace, unwilling to surrender sovereignty, and determined to defend the dignity of their nation.&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;For years, the world has watched Russia strike Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure, and civilians while claiming to seek peace. Simultaneously, the Kremlin is only advancing a symbolic pause tied to its World War II Victory Day commemorations &amp;mdash; an observance Dictator Vladimir Putin has increasingly weaponized as a tool of propaganda and imperial grievance. A ceasefire cannot be selective, conditional, or timed for political convenience. It must be real, verifiable, and honored in good faith.&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Putin should accept and fully respect Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s ceasefire beginning tonight. The choice before the Kremlin is clear: continue a war that has brought devastation to Ukraine and isolation to Russia, or take a meaningful step toward peace.&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;The lesson is not distant history. It is the test before us now. Europe once again faces a war of conquest&amp;mdash;an effort to erase Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s borders, extinguish its identity, and deny a free people the right to determine their own future.&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;History has shown where wars of aggression lead when the world looks away. It has also shown how they end: aggression rejected, sovereignty defended, and peace secured through strength. &lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;We stand united&amp;mdash; Democrats and Republicans &amp;mdash; in support of Ukraine&amp;rsquo;s sovereignty, in defense of international law, and in recognition of the immense sacrifices already made by the Ukrainian people. We honor those who have fallen resisting tyranny and fighting for Liberty on the continent of Europe, just as we remember the lives of the 420,000 Americans and countless millions who gave their lives to defeat an ideology based on hatred and domination eight decades ago.&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;The path to peace is open. The responsibility to take it rests with the Kremlin. And as one united front, we say clearly: America stands with the people of Ukraine.&amp;rdquo;&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;u5:p&gt;&lt;/u5:p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Wed, 126 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-hoyer-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-honor-america-s-public-servants</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick, Hoyer Lead Bipartisan Effort to Honor America’s Public Servants</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/5/fitzpatrick-hoyer-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-honor-america-s-public-servants</link>
				<description>&lt;p align="center" style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;Washington, DC&amp;mdash;&lt;/b&gt; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating Public Service Recognition Week, observed from May 3 through May 9, 2026. The bipartisan measure honors the dedication, professionalism, and patriotism of America&amp;rsquo;s public servants, affirms the essential role they play in serving communities across the country, and calls on Americans to recognize the men and women who carry out this work on their behalf at every level of government.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;A nation is only as strong as the people entrusted to serve it,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;America&amp;rsquo;s public servants shoulder responsibilities that touch nearly every part of our national life &amp;mdash; from public safety and veterans services to infrastructure, research, national security, and the protection of constitutional rights. Their work is demanding, often unseen, and essential to a government that is accountable, capable, and worthy of the people it serves. As a former federal law enforcement officer, I have seen the discipline, integrity, and sense of duty this work requires. I am grateful to join Congressman Hoyer in honoring the Americans who choose public service as their mission and carry it out every day with professionalism, purpose, and devotion to country.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"During Public Service Recognition Week, we highlight the dedication and commitment of the public employees who make a difference in the lives of Americans every day and keep our country moving forward," &lt;b&gt;said Hoyer.&lt;/b&gt; "They have continued to show up and use their voices despite the threats to their careers and livelihoods over this past year - and with little recognition or reward. It is critical that Congress continues to ensure&amp;nbsp;that they receive the support and appreciation they deserve. That's&amp;nbsp;why&amp;nbsp;I'm&amp;nbsp;proud to join Rep. Fitzpatrick in introducing a bipartisan resolution to honor&amp;nbsp;Public&amp;nbsp;Service&amp;nbsp;Recognition Week. I hope that everyone will take this week to thank public employees for their contributions and their commitment, and those of us who appreciate all they do will continue our fight to protect them."&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"IFPTE thanks Representatives Hoyer and Fitzpatrick for sponsoring this bipartisan resolution honoring Public Service Recognition Week.&amp;nbsp; As a Union representing tens of thousands of government workers at all levels of government, it is critically important that lawmakers from across the political spectrum show their support and appreciation for the vital services that our government employees provide.&amp;nbsp; This is as needed now more than ever as the careers and rights of federal workers, including collective bargaining rights, are under assault.&amp;nbsp; We applaud our friends in Congress for supporting this resolution and continue to appreciate their support for government workers,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;President Matthew Biggs, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Public Service Recognition Week is a time to celebrate and honor our nation's public servants who go to work each day on behalf of their communities and our country. I applaud Representatives Fitzpatrick and Hoyer for leading the House resolution honoring our nation's public servants, and I encourage every lawmaker to take a moment this week to recognize those workers at the federal, state, county, local and tribal government levels who keep our nation moving forward,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Federal employees work every day with dedication and skill, despite the blatant attacks on their jobs, pay, benefits, and workplace rights.&amp;nbsp; I want to thank Representatives Hoyer and Fitzpatrick for leading the effort during Public Service Recognition Week to pay tribute to and thank federal workers for their service and commitment to improving the lives of all Americans,&amp;rdquo; said&amp;nbsp; &lt;b&gt;NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"Public Service Recognition Week serves as an opportunity to give thanks to the front-line heroes who keep our communities strong, safe and healthy. Whether they're keeping our streets clean, taking kids to school, or caring for us when we're sick, public service workers show up every single day because they are committed to helping others. When they have a voice on the job, they use that voice to strengthen the public services our communities depend on, strengthening our economy and providing relief to working families. As we pause to honor them this week, let's recommit to supporting their service by investing in them and their life-saving work,&amp;rdquo;&lt;b&gt; said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Public service employees represent the best of this country.&amp;nbsp; They are people who choose service over self-interest and put the public good ahead of profit. As we recognize them this week, we should be clear about the alternative: a system driven solely by private interests, where public assets are stripped for profit and accountability disappears. That&amp;rsquo;s not just unsustainable; it&amp;rsquo;s dangerous. Thank you to the members of Congress standing up for public service and supporting this resolution. This year, more than ever, that leadership is needed,&amp;rdquo;&lt;b&gt; said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=C7EEF315-9DDA-4BDF-97F1-65ED0080D7A3"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read the full text of the resolution here. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;###&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Mon, 124 May 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			</item>
			
			
				
			
			<item>
				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-leads-effort-to-honor-jewish-american-heritage-and-confront-antisemitism</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Leads Effort to Honor Jewish American Heritage and Confront Antisemitism</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-leads-effort-to-honor-jewish-american-heritage-and-confront-antisemitism</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Washington&amp;nbsp;D.C&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ndash; Today, Congressman &lt;b&gt;Brian Fitzpatrick&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(PA-1), alongside U.S. Reps. &lt;b&gt;Debbie Wasserman Schultz&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(FL-25), &lt;b&gt;Mariannette Miller-Meeks&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;(IA-01), &lt;b&gt;Troy A. Carter, Sr. &lt;/b&gt;(LA-02), introduced a &lt;a href="https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2026_JAHM_reso_LegCo.pdf"&gt;resolution to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;(JAHM) in the House of Representatives and condemn rising antisemitism.&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Observed each May, Jewish American Heritage Month honors the generations of Jewish Americans whose faith, service, sacrifice, innovation, patriotism, and leadership have helped shape the American story. This year&amp;rsquo;s resolution recognizes the essential role Jewish Americans have played throughout the 250-year history of our nation, including the more than one million Jewish Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and the Jewish servicemembers whose courage earned the Medal of Honor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Few stories speak more clearly to the promise of America than the story of Jewish Americans &amp;mdash; a story of faith, resilience, service, sacrifice, and an enduring devotion to freedom. Their contributions are not a footnote to American history; they are among its essential chapters,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Fitzpatrick&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;This bipartisan resolution honors that legacy and, amid the continued and alarming rise in antisemitism, reaffirms a solemn responsibility: to stand with Jewish Americans, confront hatred with moral clarity, and ensure that antisemitism finds no refuge in the United States of America. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Antisemitism, I will continue working across the aisle and within our PA-1 community to lead that effort.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;As we celebrate the 21st year of Jewish American Heritage Month, I&amp;rsquo;m proud to lead this effort to detail all the remarkable contributions that generations of Jewish Americans made to shape our nation&amp;rsquo;s history, culture and society,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Wasserman Schultz&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;This celebration is also one of the most effective ways to combat rising antisemitism, as Jews and non-Jews alike come to learn about all the amazing Jewish men and women who played critical roles to advance the American experiment over the past 250 years, including those who defended our nation in the military. I&amp;rsquo;m so grateful to have strong, bipartisan support in this effort.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;During Jewish American Heritage Month, we come together to recognize our Jewish neighbors' rich legacy of history and culture. This month, and every month, we celebrate the incredible vibrancy and diversity of Jewish life and the critical contributions Jewish Americans have made to our nation,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Carter&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;At the same time, we must stand against the rising tide of antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination. This Jewish American Heritage Month, I will keep fighting to ensure everyone can live without fear.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;I am proud to join Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Carter, and Fitzpatrick in leading this bipartisan effort to recognize May as Jewish American Heritage Month,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Miller-Meeks&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;As antisemitism continues to rise across our country, it is more important than ever that we stand united in confronting hatred and honoring the contributions of Jewish Americans. I will continue working to combat antisemitism and stand firmly with our Jewish friends and neighbors.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This year&amp;rsquo;s JAHM resolution commemorates the contributions of more than one million Jewish Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and highlights the valiance of several Jewish servicemembers who earned the Medal of Honor. The resolution is endorsed by the &lt;b&gt;ADL&lt;/b&gt;; &lt;b&gt;American Jewish Committee&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(AJC); &lt;b&gt;Combat Antisemitism Movement&lt;/b&gt;(CAM); &lt;b&gt;Hadassah, the Women&amp;rsquo;s Zionist Organization of America&lt;/b&gt;; the &lt;b&gt;Jewish Council for Public Affairs&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(JCPA); the &lt;b&gt;Jewish Federations of North America&lt;/b&gt;; &lt;b&gt;Jewish War Veterans of the USA&lt;/b&gt;; &lt;b&gt;National Council of Jewish Women&lt;/b&gt;; &lt;b&gt;Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(Orthodox Union); &lt;b&gt;Rabbinical Assembly&lt;/b&gt;; &lt;b&gt;Sephardic Heritage International DC&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(SHIN-DC); and the &lt;b&gt;United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism &lt;/b&gt;(USCJ).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;Jewish American Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans who have helped shape our nation,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Jonathan Greenblatt&lt;/b&gt;, CEO and National Director of the &lt;b&gt;ADL&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;This recognition is especially important as antisemitism continues to rise. We are grateful to Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Fitzpatrick, Carter, and Miller-Meeks for their leadership on the JAHM resolution, and we look forward to working alongside leaders in Congress to help protect Jewish communities.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;According to American Jewish Committee&amp;rsquo;s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report, 91% of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States due to violent attacks on American Jews in the past year,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Ted Deutch&lt;/b&gt;, CEO of &lt;b&gt;American Jewish Committee &lt;/b&gt;(AJC). &amp;ldquo;When so many American Jews report feeling less safe in their daily lives, this resolution importantly affirms both the celebration of Jewish life in the United States and the shared responsibility to confront anti-Jewish hate in all its forms. We are grateful to Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Brian Fitzpatrick, Troy Carter, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for their leadership in advancing this important measure and reaffirming that America&amp;rsquo;s strength lies in the celebration of both our shared values and our distinct identities.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;For 250 years, Jewish Americans have had an indelible impact on society, helping shape national identity through contributions in science, medicine, business, law, public service, media, sports, and entertainment,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Alyza Lewin&lt;/b&gt;, President of U.S. Affairs for the &lt;b&gt;Combat Antisemitism Movement &lt;/b&gt;(CAM). &amp;ldquo;We commend this bipartisan resolution as a powerful affirmation of the integral role Jews have played in the great American story, and we thank Congress for honoring the richness of Jewish American life and sending a clear message that antisemitism has no place in the United States.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;One of the most important ways to counter rising antisemitism in the United States is to increase public awareness of the American Jewish community&amp;rsquo;s significant contributions to the country&amp;rsquo;s civic, cultural and scientific life,&amp;rdquo; said&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Carol Ann Schwartz&lt;/b&gt;, National President of &lt;b&gt;Hadassah, The Women&amp;rsquo;s Zionist Organization of America&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;Hadassah is grateful to Representatives Wasserman Schultz, Miller-Meeks, Carter and Fitzpatrick for their leadership in introducing this bipartisan resolution recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. We urge Congress to support this critical resolution and continue speaking out against the rise in antisemitic hatred.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;Jewish history is American history, and Jewish American Heritage Month offers us an opportunity to honor and celebrate the contributions that Jewish Americans have had in making this country what it is &amp;mdash; and to recommit ourselves to the critical work of building a better America,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Amy Spitalnick&lt;/b&gt;, CEO of the &lt;b&gt;Jewish Council for Public Affairs &lt;/b&gt;(JCPA). &amp;ldquo;Since this country&amp;rsquo;s founding, Jewish Americans have helped lead movements to strengthen our democracy and expand civil rights &amp;mdash; advocating for religious freedom, immigrant justice, workers&amp;rsquo; rights, and equal protection under the law. We are grateful for this bipartisan effort to honor Jewish Americans&amp;rsquo; critical contributions to our nation, to fight antisemitism wherever it is, and to reaffirm our clear understanding that Jewish safety and American democracy are inseparable.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Jewish American Heritage Month is a powerful celebration of the vibrancy, resilience, and enduring contributions of Jewish Americans to every chapter of our nation&amp;rsquo;s story,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Gary Torgow&lt;/b&gt;, Chair of the &lt;b&gt;Jewish Federations of North America &lt;/b&gt;(JFNA). &amp;ldquo;At a time of rising antisemitism and real security concerns for our communities, this recognition affirms our deep American roots, the contributions we have made to the great American experiment, and our right to live our communal lives safely as full members of American society. We are proud to support this bipartisan effort to honor Jewish life while standing united against hate in all its forms.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;American Jews are living through an unprecedented time of challenge in the United States, as antisemitism has reached unprecedented rates,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Nathan Diament&lt;/b&gt;, Executive Director of the&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America &lt;/b&gt;(Orthodox Union). &amp;ldquo;But we remain hopeful that Congress and other leaders of our society will remain true to the founding principles that gave Jews &amp;mdash; and Americans of all faiths &amp;mdash; unprecedented religious liberty in this great nation.&amp;nbsp;We pray that in the upcoming month, JAHM events will enable us to celebrate American Jewish history and the greatness of the United States of America.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;Sephardic Heritage International (SHIN-DC) proudly supports the 2026 resolution honoring Jewish American Heritage Month,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Afraim Katzir&lt;/b&gt;, Director of &lt;b&gt;Sephardic Heritage International&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(SHIN-DC). &amp;ldquo;Over the past 250 years, and as reflected by the resolution's narrative, the Sephardic community has made vital contributions to this great country, reminding us that Jewish American heritage is a rich, multicultural story spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas&amp;mdash;and thereby fostering understanding across diverse communities while countering prejudice and antisemitism by challenging simplistic narratives and harmful stereotypes about Jews.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The United States observes JAHM annually to encourage all Americans to learn more about Jewish culture and pay tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who have helped shape American history. With the continued rise of antisemitism. fueled by the spread of hatred, disinformation, and Holocaust distortion online, JAHM provides an opportunity to celebrate Jewish voices and bring together all our communities in the fight against antisemitism and hate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read the full resolution &lt;a href="https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2026_JAHM_reso_LegCo.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align="center"&gt;####&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 120 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			</item>
			
			
				
			
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-leads-resolution-recognizing-april-as-sikh-history-month</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Leads Resolution Recognizing April as Sikh History Month</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-leads-resolution-recognizing-april-as-sikh-history-month</link>
				<description>&lt;h2 align="center"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bipartisan resolution celebrates Sikh Americans&amp;rsquo; heritage, religious liberty, service, and lasting contributions to our nation&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;WASHINGTON, D.C.&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;mdash; For generations, Sikh Americans have served, built, led, and strengthened communities across the United States. Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing April as Sikh History Month and honoring Sikh Americans&amp;rsquo; faith, heritage, service, and contributions to our nation. The month provides a fitting point of recognition for Sikh history and identity, often coinciding with Vaisakhi, a defining observance that marks the founding of the Khalsa in 1699.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The resolution, introduced with Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), was inspired by the advocacy of Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, a PA-1 constituent and Sikh community leader, who worked with Fitzpatrick to bring Sikh History Month before Congress.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Sikh Americans have strengthened this nation through faith, service, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick. &lt;/b&gt;&amp;ldquo;In working with Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu of Bensalem and members of our PA-1 Sikh community, I have seen how deeply Sikh principles of equality, religious freedom, honest work, courage, and service reflect the best of the American spirit. This resolution is about honoring that legacy, deepening understanding, and ensuring the Sikh American story is told with the accuracy, respect, and gratitude it deserves&amp;mdash;as an essential part of the American story.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;As the founder of the Congressional American Sikh Caucus, I am proud to help lead this bipartisan resolution recognizing April as Sikh History Month,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Chu.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;The Sikh principles of equality, social justice, and community service inspire me as a public servant, and should guide us all as we embrace the diversity of our country and strive to create a more peaceful world. By uplifting the Sikh community and faith, we can continue to fight against harmful religious misunderstanding and discrimination through understanding and education.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&amp;ldquo;&lt;/b&gt;The Sikh community embodies the core values of both Jersey and the United States &amp;mdash; equality, justice, and service to others &amp;mdash; while making significant contributions across business, technology, education, the arts, the military, and public service,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Gottheimer. &lt;/b&gt;&amp;ldquo;I&amp;rsquo;m proud to co-introduce the Sikh History Month resolution to recognize this community&amp;rsquo;s heritage and contributions to our great nation.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;As co-founder and co-chair of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, I&amp;rsquo;m honored to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan resolution to designate April as Sikh History Month,&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;said Valadao.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;ldquo;This effort is an important opportunity to highlight the core principles of the Sikh faith&amp;mdash;earning an honest living, remembering God, and sharing with others&amp;mdash;while also recognizing the strong tradition of service that defines the Sikh community. This resolution is an important step toward religious tolerance for all, and I&amp;rsquo;m proud to support it.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The resolution recognizes Sikh Americans&amp;rsquo; contributions to the United States while promoting greater education, awareness, and respect for religious diversity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The resolution advances several key goals, including:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Recognizing the history, culture, heritage, and contributions of the Sikh community;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Highlighting Sikhism&amp;rsquo;s core principles of equality, social justice, community service, and human dignity;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Promoting education about Sikh identity, history, and articles of faith;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Encouraging public programs, classroom discussions, and cultural events to foster awareness and respect;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Honoring Sikh Americans&amp;rsquo; contributions through military service, entrepreneurship, humanitarian relief, civic leadership, and advocacy for human rights; and&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Reaffirming America&amp;rsquo;s commitment to religious liberty, pluralism, and the freedom of all people to live their faith openly and with dignity.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Sikhism is a monotheistic egalitarian religion, its teachings promote equal rights, religious freedom, human equality, with emphasis on gender equality. &amp;nbsp;Sikhism's three fundamental principles are remembering God, working hard, and sharing with and caring for others, as well as community service and ending the caste system.&amp;nbsp;It believes in protecting the weak and stopping the tyrants. Sikhs in their daily prayer wish for the wellness of the whole human race. I would like to thank Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman David Valadao, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer for leading this important legislation," &lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, MD, PA-1 Constituent, Co-founder of Sikhs for Justice, and President of the Council of Khalistan.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;&lt;i&gt;We thank the American Sikh Congressional Caucus and especially Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman David Valadao, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer for their leadership on this important resolution. Sikh Americans deeply cherish the economic, religious, and political freedoms that this country extends to all. The founding of the Khalsa is a reminder of the duty to stand for liberty, serve others, and keep working together to build a more perfect Union. This resolution honors the contributions Sikh Americans have made for generations and affirms that our community&amp;rsquo;s history, service, and aspirations are an enduring part of the American promise,"&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said&amp;nbsp;Dr. Pritpal Singh,&amp;nbsp;American Sikh Caucus Committee.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;In April, Sikhs in Gurdwaras across the world commemorate the founding of the Khalsa, when our tenth Guru codified enduring values of equality, freedom, justice, self-reliance, and service. We are deeply thankful to live in the United States, where we are free to practice these principles and pass them to future generations. We are grateful to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman David Valadao, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer for advancing this resolution and for recognizing that Sikh Americans&amp;mdash;who have been here since the late 1800s&amp;mdash;have long served this nation with distinction in the military, in federal and state law enforcement, in farming, in medicine, in business, and in our neighborhoods. We pray that people of all faiths, including members of our community around the world, may enjoy the same freedoms and dignity that we cherish here in America,&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said Gurdev Singh Nannan, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC).&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;We appreciate Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman David Valadao, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer for championing this resolution and recognizing the place of Sikh Americans in the life of this nation. Sikh values call us to serve humanity, and that commitment has guided humanitarian relief efforts, community support, and advocacy for those in need across the United States and around the world. This resolution is a meaningful acknowledgment of a community that is proud to be American, grateful for this country&amp;rsquo;s freedoms, and committed to serving all people with compassion and dignity,"&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said&amp;nbsp;Hardayal Singh, United Sikhs.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;Education, awareness and dialogue on culture, history and heritage are central to combat ignorance, bigotry and discrimination against the Sikh community. I commend Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for introducing this landmark resolution for designating the month of April as 'Sikh History Month' as it holds special significance on the birth of Sikh identity. By designating April as Sikh History Month, the awareness and education about the contribution of Sikhs through service, entrepreneurship, military service, advocacy of human rights and the awareness on culture, history and heritage through schools, universities and public institutions, can be included in the broader narrative of American society," &lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said Bhupindar Singh, Sikh Youth Alliance Inc (NJ).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;We are grateful to Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman David Valadao, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer for introducing this important resolution and for helping elevate Sikh American history and identity.&amp;nbsp;At Jakara, we see every day how education, youth engagement, and interfaith outreach can build stronger bridges across communities. Sikh History Month is an opportunity not only to recognize the contributions of Sikh Americans, but also to deepen mutual understanding and bring people of different backgrounds together in a spirit of respect, service, and shared citizenship," &lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said Gurjit Singh, Jakara Movement.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;This resolution affirms what Sikh Americans have known for generations: our history is part of the American story, and we are profoundly grateful for the freedom to live our faith, serve our neighbors, and contribute to this country we proudly call home,&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;b&gt;said Himmat Singh, Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=2DE9201A-46B4-442A-BA46-317CB1E94016"&gt;&amp;nbsp;Read the full resolution here.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Tue, 118 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-seed-act-passes-house-sending-bipartisan-early-childhood-education-bill-to-senate</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick SEED Act Passes House, Sending Bipartisan Early Childhood Education Bill to Senate</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-seed-act-passes-house-sending-bipartisan-early-childhood-education-bill-to-senate</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;WASHINGTON, D.C.&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;mdash; Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan &lt;b&gt;Supporting Early Childhood Educators&amp;rsquo; Deductions Act&lt;/b&gt;, or &lt;b&gt;SEED Act&lt;/b&gt;, legislation led by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) to correct an unfair gap in the tax code and support the early childhood educators who help shape children&amp;rsquo;s futures during their most formative years.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The SEED Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the existing educator expense deduction to eligible early childhood educators, allowing them to deduct unreimbursed classroom expenses such as books, classroom supplies, learning tools, and other materials they purchase for the children in their care.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Under current law, K-12 teachers can claim this deduction, but pre-K and early childhood educators are excluded &amp;mdash; even though many spend hundreds of dollars of their own money each year on the same kinds of classroom materials.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By extending this deduction, the SEED Act delivers a commonsense measure of fairness and ensures early childhood educators are not penalized for investing their own money in the children and classrooms they serve.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In Pennsylvania, more than 68,000 early childhood educators support young learners every day. They are among the first teachers in a child&amp;rsquo;s life, helping build language, confidence, social development, curiosity, and the foundation for lifelong learning. Their work strengthens children, supports working families, and helps sustain the workforce that local communities and employers depend on.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_vM8XQ6yOg"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;i&gt;Watch Congressman Fitzpatrick speak on the House Floor in support of the bill here.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Early childhood educators are teachers in every sense of the word, and today the House took bipartisan action to treat them that way,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Fitzpatrick&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;In working with early childhood educators across our community, I have seen the time, care, and dedication they pour into their classrooms, and the personal resources they invest to make sure children have what they need to learn and grow. To give every child a strong foundation, we must make sure the educators helping build that foundation have the support they need, and that is exactly what our effort is about: correcting an unfair gap, supporting the educators who have earned it, and investing in children during the years that matter most. Now the Senate should join us in standing with the teachers of our nation and getting this bill across the finish line.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In March, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s bipartisan, bicameral SEED Act, building momentum for today&amp;rsquo;s House passage. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are leading the companion measure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Early-childhood educators instill in our youth a love of learning and curiosity. Just like their K through 12 colleagues, they put in the long hours and often dip into their own wallets to provide educational materials for their classrooms,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08)&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;Yet, unlike their K through 12 colleagues, they are not afforded the same tax deduction to help cover those expenses. The SEED Act ensures we acknowledge and reward the contributions of all of our educators. Representative Fitzpatrick has championed this cause for years, and I thank him for his work standing up for America&amp;rsquo;s teachers.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="elementtoproof"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;ldquo;Early childhood educators often reach deep into their own pockets to cover the cost of classroom materials for their students,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Panetta.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;The &lt;i&gt;SEED Act&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;would allow pre-K teachers to claim the same tax deduction for those costs that is already available to those who teach K-12. My bipartisan legislation would ensure dedicated pre-K educators have the tools they need to help our children succeed. The House passage of the &lt;i&gt;SEED Act&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;is an important step, and I look forward to the work ahead to ensure that our bipartisan, bicameral legislation is signed into law.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=7969D013-C141-454D-B3D1-C7B380F428D7"&gt;The full text of the bill is available here.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The SEED Act builds on Congressman Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s longstanding record of fighting for early childhood education, working families, and the teachers who help give children a strong start.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;That work has been consistent in PA-1 and in Congress. Last year, when Bucks County&amp;rsquo;s Head Start funding was put at risk, Fitzpatrick fought to protect it and helped secure the full five-year renewal. He has also worked to help unlock billions in education funding, guided by a clear mission: invest in children, empower educators, and strengthen schools.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By extending the existing educator expense deduction to pre-K and early childhood educators, the SEED Act continues that work. It delivers a commonsense measure of fairness, strengthens the early childhood workforce, and supports children during the most formative years of their lives. With House passage secured, Fitzpatrick will continue working with bipartisan partners in the Senate to get the bill across the finish line.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Mon, 117 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-introduces-nabtu-built-energy-tax-credit-bill-to-lower-costs-and-power-american-growth</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Introduces NABTU-Built Energy Tax Credit Bill to Lower Costs and Power American Growth</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-introduces-nabtu-built-energy-tax-credit-bill-to-lower-costs-and-power-american-growth</link>
				<description>&lt;h2 align="center"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The American Energy Dominance Act restores long-term certainty for critical energy and efficiency incentives to support American investment, domestic supply chains, and the union workforce building the nation&amp;rsquo;s future&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Washington, D.C.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;mdash;Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the &lt;b&gt;American Energy Dominance Act&lt;/b&gt;&amp;mdash; legislation developed in direct partnership with the &lt;b&gt;North America&amp;rsquo;s Building Trades Unions (NABTU)&lt;/b&gt; to restore key energy and efficiency tax incentives that help lower costs, strengthen domestic supply chains, drive long-term investment in American energy infrastructure, and support good-paying union jobs. Joining Fitzpatrick in introducing the legislation were Congressmen Mike Lawler (NY-17), Max Miller (OH-7), and Mike Carey (OH-15).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Under current law, key incentives such as 179D and 45L are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026. For capital-intensive sectors, a shortened policy horizon does more than disrupt planning&amp;mdash;it raises the risk that critical projects are delayed, scaled back, or never built at all. When that happens, it is American workers, American employers, and American families who pay the price through slower growth, tighter energy supply, and continued cost pressure. At a moment when the country needs more capacity, more affordability, and more domestic strength, we cannot afford to make it harder to build. This legislation restores the certainty needed to move projects forward and help deliver a more affordable, secure, and American-made energy future.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;If America wants to lower costs, strengthen its energy supply, and build with confidence for the future, then we need a policy framework strong enough to support the scale of that work,&amp;rdquo; said &lt;b&gt;Fitzpatrick&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;That means certainty. When the rules are unstable, projects stall, hiring slows, investment hesitates, and the people counting on progress pay the price. The men and women of NABTU understand that better than anyone because they are the ones building America&amp;rsquo;s future with their hands, skill, and grit. This bill is a pro-worker, pro-growth, pro-America solution that will help drive investment, strengthen domestic energy production, expand affordability, and ensure the next chapter of American growth is built here at home by American workers.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"We thank Congressman Fitzpatrick for his continued dedication to providing America with the power it desperately needs. This legislation, reinforces a commitment to an all-of-the-above energy approach and will aid in&amp;nbsp;building our nation&amp;rsquo;s energy dominance in a way that supports hard working Americans with middle-class sustaining jobs,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said&lt;/b&gt; &lt;b&gt;NABTU President Sean McGarvey.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;No one knows the rising cost of living better than a New Yorker. That&amp;rsquo;s why we&amp;rsquo;re giving homeowners, builders, and businesses the certainty they need to invest in energy efficiency, lowering utility bills, and supporting good-paying jobs. By extending key tax incentives, including the 179D commercial buildings deduction, the 45L new home credit, and investments in hydrogen production, we&amp;rsquo;re helping deliver more reliable energy here at home,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Lawler.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"Providing long-term certainty in our tax code is essential for American energy dominance,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Miller. &lt;/b&gt;&amp;ldquo;By extending these critical credits, we are ensuring that businesses and families have the stability they need to invest in lower-cost energy solutions, strengthening our domestic supply chains and keeping the United States competitive on the global stage.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;What the American Energy Dominance Act does:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Restores the &lt;b&gt;179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction&lt;/b&gt; without a scheduled expiration.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Extends the &lt;b&gt;45L New Energy Efficient Home Credit&lt;/b&gt; through &lt;b&gt;December 31, 2032&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Extends the &lt;b&gt;45V Clean Hydrogen Production Credit&lt;/b&gt; construction deadline from &lt;b&gt;January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2033&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Preserves long-term certainty for the &lt;b&gt;45Y Clean Electricity Production Credit&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;48E Clean Electricity Investment Credit&lt;/b&gt; to help bring more affordable power online, support job creation, and strengthen domestic energy supply.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=D66755F7-06D3-4623-87CD-4E88A2FC3988"&gt;Read the full bill text here.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Together, these incentives provide more than tax relief&amp;mdash;they provide a stable foundation for long-term American growth. By restoring the certainty needed to plan, finance, and build major projects, this legislation helps expand domestic energy capacity, strengthen supply chains, support skilled workers, and make costs more manageable over time. That is how America builds a stronger economy, a more secure energy future, and lasting opportunity here at home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 113 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-leads-charge-to-expose-and-punish-russia-s-religious-persecution-in-ukraine</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Leads Charge to Expose and Punish Russia’s Religious Persecution in Ukraine</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-leads-charge-to-expose-and-punish-russia-s-religious-persecution-in-ukraine</link>
				<description>&lt;p align="center" style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;WASHINGTON, D.C.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, introduced the &lt;b&gt;Countering Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith Act&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expose and punish Russia&amp;rsquo;s systematic persecution of religious communities in Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Leading the effort with Fitzpatrick in the House are Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Don Bacon (R-NE), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Steve Cohen (D-TN), with companion legislation introduced in the Senate by Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The legislation requires the Secretaries of State and Defense to jointly report on Russia&amp;rsquo;s efforts to persecute, suppress, and violate the religious freedoms of faith communities in Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories. It also directs the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals found to have engaged in those abuses.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Russia&amp;rsquo;s war in Ukraine is not only an assault on sovereignty&amp;mdash;it is a calculated, systemic assault on religious freedom. For Americans, the freedom to worship is among our most fundamental liberties, and we do not stand by when it is crushed by force. This legislation ensures these crimes are documented, perpetrators are identified, and real consequences follow. Peace through strength requires accountability, and the persecution of people of faith cannot be met with silence,&amp;rdquo; said&lt;b&gt; Fitzpatrick&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Russia targets and kills persons of faith as a matter of policy wherever it invades. War criminal Putin seeks to prevent free worship of all believers and crushes any faith not subservient to its state-run church and corrupt former KGB agent Patriarch Kirill or otherwise submit itself to repressive state control,&amp;rdquo; said&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;Wilson&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;Believers in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are targeted with particular ferocity. It is critical that we counter Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Putin is a war criminal conducting genocide in Ukraine. He is also attempting to erase expressions of Ukrainian identity, including religious freedoms. This legislation makes plain that these human rights violations will be a focus of our foreign policy and that the United States will always defend religious liberty,&amp;rdquo; said&lt;b&gt; Cohen.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Russia's widespread religious persecution in Ukraine dates back centuries, and is a horrific reminder that this new war of occupation was never just about land, but about forcible Russification and the erasure of Ukraine's pluralistic and free way of life," said&lt;b&gt; Kaptur&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;This important legislation calls out the abuses committed by the Russian state and its agents against Ukrainian Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other faiths. Russia perversely portrays Ukraine as a persecutor of Christians, when it is Moscow that has destroyed over 600 churches, synagogues, mosques, and places of worship in Ukraine throughout this war. These new attacks are a shameful reminder of Russian pogroms and attacks on religious communities dating back centuries. The United States must hold these war criminals accountable and defend religious freedom and the right of all Ukrainians to worship as they choose.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Putin&amp;rsquo;s brutal invasion of Ukraine is not only an attack on a country that seeks democracy, free markets, and alignment with the West, but also includes a deliberate campaign to suppress and persecute religious communities,&amp;rdquo; said&lt;b&gt; Bacon&lt;/b&gt;. &amp;ldquo;&lt;i&gt;Countering Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith Act&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;will ensure we fully document these abuses and hold those responsible accountable through sanctions. I&amp;rsquo;m pleased to join Rep. Wilson and my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to stand up for religious liberty and the Ukrainian people.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Vladimir Putin's brutal war on Ukraine is not just about violating its sovereignty, but erasing the democratic values Ukraine has embraced. He seeks to erase freedom of religion in Ukraine by disproportionately targeting places of worship and practitioners of any religion other than his own," said&lt;b&gt; Quigley&lt;/b&gt;. "I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Wilson's&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;Countering Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith Act&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;to make it clear that those who burn churches, persecute religious communities, and try to erase religious diversity will be held accountable. The United States must lead with moral clarity by defending religious freedom and confronting Putin&amp;rsquo;s abuses.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Religious liberty is not a suggestion in America &amp;ndash; it&amp;rsquo;s one of our founding promises protected by the Constitution and lived out every day by generations of freedom-loving Americans. Anyone with a brain larger than a single cell organism knows that Vladimir Putin does not respect nor share that view. The&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;Countering Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith Act&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;shines a bright light on Putin&amp;rsquo;s religious persecution and responds with real consequences,&amp;rdquo; said&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;Sen. Kennedy&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Putin&amp;rsquo;s murderous regime has repeatedly bombed places of worship, murdered clergy members, and persecuted Ukrainian communities not aligned with the Putin-allied Russian Orthodox Church. It&amp;rsquo;s time for the U.S. to take a stand for religious freedom and explore sanctions against individuals engaging in these brutal human rights abuses in Ukraine,&amp;rdquo; said&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;Sen. Whitehouse&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The full text of HR-8433 (S-4379) is available&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://joewilson.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/joewilson.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/countering-russias-war-on-faith-signed.pdf"&gt;&lt;b&gt;here&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since Russia&amp;rsquo;s full-scale invasion in 2022, more than &lt;b&gt;600 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious sites&lt;/b&gt; have been damaged or destroyed, and more than &lt;b&gt;50 Ukrainian clergy members&lt;/b&gt; have been killed. In occupied territories, Protestant, Catholic, Crimean Tatar, and Orthodox Christian communities not aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church have faced raids, forced re-registration, detention, and criminal prosecution. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has gone so far as to characterize the invasion as a &amp;ldquo;holy war,&amp;rdquo; helping provide ideological cover for a broader campaign of religious repression and forced Russification.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Congressman Fitzpatrick has been one of Congress&amp;rsquo;s most consistent and outspoken advocates for the Ukrainian people and for a foreign policy rooted in strength, principle, and accountability. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, he has not only led legislative efforts in Washington, but has engaged this fight firsthand &amp;mdash; traveling to Ukraine, including areas near the front lines, to stand directly with those defending their country, their sovereignty, and their freedom of conscience. He has repeatedly made clear that peace cannot be built on appeasement, silence, or moral ambiguity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;That same conviction is reflected in Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s broader legislative leadership, including his &lt;b&gt;Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act of 2025&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; comprehensive bipartisan legislation designed to intensify pressure on the Kremlin, force meaningful negotiations, deter further aggression, and ensure that any peace agreement is real, durable, and accepted by the free and independent Government of Ukraine. That legislation would impose sweeping sanctions on senior Russian officials, oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, and entities fueling Russia&amp;rsquo;s defense, energy, and transportation sectors, while establishing a clear standard: sanctions can be lifted only if Russia fully ceases hostilities and enters into a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and subject to congressional review.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Together, the &lt;b&gt;Countering Russia&amp;rsquo;s War on Faith Act&lt;/b&gt; and the &lt;b&gt;Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act&lt;/b&gt; reflect Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s clear and consistent view that Putin&amp;rsquo;s war is not simply a territorial conflict &amp;mdash; it is a broader assault on freedom itself: freedom of nationhood, freedom of conscience, freedom of worship, and freedom from authoritarian tyranny. And the United States has a responsibility to meet that assault with clarity, resolve, and consequences.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 113 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-boyle-applaud-house-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-lung-cancer-research-prevention-and-awareness-for-women</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick &amp; Boyle Applaud House Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Lung Cancer Research, Prevention, and Awareness for Women</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-boyle-applaud-house-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-lung-cancer-research-prevention-and-awareness-for-women</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;WASHINGTON, DC&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ndash; Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act&lt;/b&gt;--critical legislation led by Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Brendan Boyle (PA-2) to strengthen the federal response to the leading cause of cancer death among women.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to conduct a comprehensive interagency review of lung cancer in women. The review will examine current research, identify gaps in women&amp;rsquo;s access to preventive services, and support stronger public awareness efforts. The legislation responds to a growing and urgent reality: lung cancer continues to take the lives of women at alarming rates, including many women with no history of smoking.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The legislation now moves to the Senate, where Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and are leading the companion measure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=277RfwvQ_VA&amp;amp;feature=youtu.be"&gt;Watch Congressman Fitzpatrick speak on the House Floor in support of the bill here.&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Today&amp;rsquo;s bipartisan House passage of our Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act sends a clear message: we are united in the fight for women&amp;rsquo;s health and we will not allow it to remain an afterthought in our nation&amp;rsquo;s cancer response,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Fitzpatrick.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among women, often striking women who have never smoked, yet our research, prevention, and public awareness efforts have not kept pace with that reality. Rep. Boyle and I have worked together for years to elevate this issue, and today&amp;rsquo;s vote is real progress&amp;mdash;but it cannot be the last step. I look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues in the Senate on this, because in a fight measured in lives, delay is not neutral.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Every eight minutes, an American woman loses her life to lung cancer. The status quo is unacceptable &amp;ndash; and with the passage of our bipartisan bill, we have taken a significant step forward in the fight against lung cancer,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Boyle.&lt;/b&gt; &amp;ldquo;We are taking action to address the persistent disparities in lung cancer prevention and treatment, particularly for women. I&amp;rsquo;ll continue working across the aisle to ensure that Congress delivers the research and action needed to confront this horrible disease.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;This bipartisan legislation represents a critical step toward closing longstanding gaps in lung cancer research and addressing outdated assumptions about who is at risk,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said GO2 for Lung Cancer Interim Co-CEO Danielle Hicks. &lt;/b&gt;&amp;ldquo;We urgently need a better understanding of why more young, otherwise healthy women with no traditional risk factors are developing this disease. Advancing this research will help clarify risk, improve early detection, and ensure patients and their families get the answers they deserve, benefiting everyone impacted by lung cancer.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;The Act advances our understanding of lung cancer while addressing stigma at its roots&amp;mdash;replacing blame with evidence and ensuring all at-risk patients are represented in research and have access to preventive services,&amp;rdquo; &lt;b&gt;said Elridge Proctor, Senior Director of Government Affairs at GO2 for Lung Cancer.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;We extend our sincere gratitude to Representatives Brendan Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick for elevating lung cancer as a national priority.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The full text of the bill is available&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4534/text__;!!Bg5easoyC-OII2vlEqY8mTBrtW-N4OJKAQ!P0syK-AFgPAg9TUVdHJfXZpLV1qT-v0Om78CimKLI59Md1okbGBefqwnddTBOE5bLJ5gZdxEXmxm8YHf2OBjqQoEU3cKSYeEIe6PQqWdZt7dPRYg$" target="_blank" title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4534/text__;!!Bg5easoyC-OII2vlEqY8mTBrtW-N4OJKAQ!P0syK-AFgPAg9TUVdHJfXZpLV1qT-v0Om78CimKLI59Md1okbGBefqwnddTBOE5bLJ5gZdxEXmxm8YHf2OBjqQoEU3cKSYeEIe6PQqWdZt7dPRYg$"&gt;&lt;b&gt;here&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As Co-Chair of the Congressional Cancer Caucus, Congressman Fitzpatrick has built a strong bipartisan record of leadership in the fight against cancer&amp;mdash;driving progress in early detection, expanding access to care, modernizing treatment reimbursement, and strengthening the federal research pipeline. His work reflects a sustained commitment to ensuring that patients are not left behind by delayed diagnoses, outdated systems, or barriers to lifesaving care. Recent efforts include:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type="disc"&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; A proven, lifesaving program improving early detection and risk awareness for young and high-risk women.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Knock Out (K.O.) Cancer Act of 2025&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; A bipartisan initiative delivering one of the most significant proposed increases in cancer research funding in a generation while addressing the national crisis of cancer drug shortages.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value-Based Program Act of 2025&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Modernizes Medicare&amp;rsquo;s radiation therapy reimbursement model to improve outcomes, reduce disparities, and generate substantial savings.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;SCREENS for Cancer Act&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program through 2030, strengthening access to screening services for low-income and underinsured Americans.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;b&gt;$1,000,000 Community Project Funding investment for the Grand View Health Pavilion expansion&lt;/b&gt; &amp;mdash; Enhancing local access to high-quality cancer care, diagnostics, and early detection services across PA-1.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Together, these bipartisan efforts underscore Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s consistent leadership in ensuring that prevention, early detection, treatment innovation, and research remain national priorities. The &lt;b&gt;Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act&lt;/b&gt; builds directly on that foundation by bringing long-overdue urgency, visibility, and action to one of the deadliest threats to women&amp;rsquo;s health.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Tue, 111 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
			</item>
			
			
				
			
			<item>
				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-introduces-iran-war-powers-resolution</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Introduces Iran War Powers Resolution</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-introduces-iran-war-powers-resolution</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick introduced a War Powers Resolution for Operation Epic Fury that will ensure compliance with the War Powers Act of 1973.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;amp;File_id=7A996031-7FE5-4EB0-84D9-2E529385653F"&gt;Read the full resolution here.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;The War Powers Act of 1973 is the law of the land. This consistent standard must be applied to all past, current, and future administrations when it comes to military hostilities abroad: 1) Congressional notification 48 hours prior to the commencement of hostilities; and 2) Congressional authorization and approval within 60 days of the commencement of hostilities. This is the law that has applied to past administrations, and it is the law that will apply to current and future administrations. This is the law and, until it is changed, it will be consistently applied and consistently enforced across all administrations and all conflicts."&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Thu, 106 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-defends-pope-blasts-trump</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick Defends Pope, Blasts Trump</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-defends-pope-blasts-trump</link>
				<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick issued the following statement in response to President Trump&amp;rsquo;s comments regarding Pope Leo:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;I condemn President Trump&amp;rsquo;s remarks about Pope Leo in the strongest possible terms.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Holy Father is the successor to Saint Peter, the shepherd of the Church, and a moral voice for more than 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. He is not a partisan figure, and the papacy is not an institution to be mocked, politicized, or diminished.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;To suggest that a Pope somehow owes his place to a politician is absurd. As a lifelong Catholic, these comments as an insult to the Church, an affront to the faithful, and to many Catholics, plainly sacrilegious. Demeaning the Holy Father while elevating oneself is not strength. It is arrogance.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Pope Leo has every right&amp;mdash;and indeed the solemn responsibility&amp;mdash;to speak clearly on matters of faith, conscience, war and peace, and human dignity. That is his role. And no one&amp;mdash;president, politician, or public figure&amp;mdash;can intimidate, demean, or bully the Church for carrying out its mission.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;President Trump&amp;rsquo;s comments were disgraceful, beneath the dignity of the presidency, and offensive to Catholics in every corner of the world. He should withdraw them and apologize.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Mon, 103 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<guid>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-kelly-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-letter-backing-afl-cio-ai-principles-to-protect-workers</guid>
				<title>Fitzpatrick, Kelly Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Backing AFL-CIO AI Principles to Protect Workers</title>
				<link>https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2026/4/fitzpatrick-kelly-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-letter-backing-afl-cio-ai-principles-to-protect-workers</link>
				<description>&lt;h2 align="center"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Lawmakers urge balanced federal approach to AI that promotes innovation while safeguarding workers.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;WASHINGTON, DC&amp;mdash;&lt;/b&gt;Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.kelly.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026.04.06-Letter-to-President-Trump-re-AFL-CIOs-AI-Labor-Principles.pdf__;!!BSgrhSFG!BzpUA8U6ALUL57Hf8da9HMyCtj0lO1yf_iHPyN6O2JBk-ac1jMGUOClozQPPtugY-q1i41odwYKfebzFnzB5l3BxYC1fheyIzt3vX9LcSjM3BN0$" target="_blank"&gt;called&lt;/a&gt; on the Administration to incorporate worker-centered principles into federal artificial intelligence (AI) policy, guidance, and procurement. As AI technologies are rapidly deployed across industries, the lawmakers highlighted&amp;nbsp;the&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/aflcio.org/reports/workers-first-ai__;!!BSgrhSFG!BzpUA8U6ALUL57Hf8da9HMyCtj0lO1yf_iHPyN6O2JBk-ac1jMGUOClozQPPtugY-q1i41odwYKfebzFnzB5l3BxYC1fheyIzt3vX9Lc0U9p2iU$" target="_blank"&gt;AFL-CIO&amp;rsquo;s&amp;nbsp;AI principles&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;as a roadmap to ensure that AI strengthens the American workforce while supporting innovation, economic growth, and U.S. global competitiveness.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;Making&amp;nbsp;AI benefit&amp;nbsp;American workers is not only a matter of fairness, but is essential to U.S. global competitiveness, economic leadership, and long-term security. Artificial intelligence can support innovation, new industries, and expanded opportunity, but its impact will&amp;nbsp;ultimately be&amp;nbsp;determined&amp;nbsp;by the working people whose skill and judgment&amp;nbsp;put those tools to use. That promise will only be realized if AI is developed and deployed with meaningful worker involvement and input,&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said the lawmakers&lt;/b&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;The pair stressed the importance of worker input&amp;nbsp;and human oversight as AI becomes&amp;nbsp;more prevalent at work:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into the workplace, it is essential that technology be developed and deployed in ways that elevate worker voices and support collaboration between labor and management. Workers should have clear information about how AI is used, what data is collected, and how decisions are made&amp;nbsp;[&amp;hellip;].&amp;nbsp;Human judgment must remain central, and workers should have recourse when automated systems affect job assignments, evaluations, or employment decisions.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Fitzpatrick and Kelly also urged the Administration to ensure workers have a seat at the table as federal AI policy continues to evolve&lt;/b&gt;: &amp;ldquo;We&amp;nbsp;respectfully urge the Administration to incorporate worker-centered guardrails&amp;nbsp;into federal AI policy, guidance, and procurement. We also&amp;nbsp;request&amp;nbsp;that the Administration include labor organizations, frontline workers, and workforce experts as part of ongoing AI policy development. We stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan manner,&amp;nbsp;so&amp;nbsp;that American workers are full partners in shaping the future of artificial&amp;nbsp;intelligence.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler applauded the effort and emphasized the importance of worker-centered AI policies saying:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;&amp;ldquo;AI is reshaping the future of work, and it is vital that workers&amp;rsquo; voices are centered in the adoption of&amp;nbsp;new technologies. America&amp;rsquo;s unions are meeting the AI innovation wave head-on with a vision for how AI can improve workers&amp;rsquo; lives, rather than threatening their freedoms or their livelihoods. I commend Senator Mark Kelly and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick for standing with workers and advocating for an AI agenda that puts working people first at every step. The AFL-CIO looks forward to partnering with members of Congress&amp;mdash;Republicans and Democrats alike&amp;mdash;who are committed to prioritizing working families over tech billionaires.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;This effort reflects Congressman Fitzpatrick&amp;rsquo;s broader commitment to ensuring America leads the world in artificial intelligence with both strength and responsibility. He has consistently advanced the view that if the United States is going to lead in AI, it must also lead in establishing the standards and safeguards needed to earn the public&amp;rsquo;s trust. He has been equally clear that American workers must not be sidelined by this transformation, but empowered within it. In his view, innovation and worker protection are not competing priorities&amp;mdash;they go hand in hand, and long-term American competitiveness will depend on building AI in a way that respects workers, strengthens the workforce, reinforces accountability, and serves the national interest. It is the same worker-first approach that has guided his broader efforts, like the Protect America&amp;rsquo;s Workforce Act.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Click&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.kelly.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026.04.06-Letter-to-President-Trump-re-AFL-CIOs-AI-Labor-Principles.pdf__;!!BSgrhSFG!BzpUA8U6ALUL57Hf8da9HMyCtj0lO1yf_iHPyN6O2JBk-ac1jMGUOClozQPPtugY-q1i41odwYKfebzFnzB5l3BxYC1fheyIzt3vX9LcSjM3BN0$" target="_blank"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to read&amp;nbsp;the full letter.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;###&lt;/p&gt;</description>
				<category>Press Releases</category>
				<pubDate>Wed, 98 Apr 2026 12:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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