﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
  <channel>
    <title>Lawler, Michael RSS Articles</title>
    <description>Lawler, Michael RSS Articles</description>
    <link>http://lawler.house.gov/</link>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss</docs>
    <generator>RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/</generator>
    <item>
      <title>Reps. Lawler, Min &amp; Stanton Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure</title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 4/2/26…&lt;/strong&gt; Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Dave Min (CA-47), and Greg Stranton (AZ-04) introduced the &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2222/text"&gt;Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act&lt;/a&gt;, bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening the protection and resilience of Taiwan’s undersea cables and critical infrastructure amid growing threats from the People’s Republic of China.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced companion legislation in the Senate, which has already passed the Foreign Relations Committee markup.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The bill prioritizes the deployment of advanced monitoring systems to detect disruptions or potential sabotage in real time and enhance early warning capabilities through global intelligence-sharing networks. It also establishes rapid response protocols to address damaged infrastructure and minimize downtime, while expanding coordination with allies and partners to strengthen regional resilience.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Undersea infrastructure is the backbone of global communications and economic stability. As threats from the PRC continue to grow, the United States must lead in ensuring these systems are protected, resilient, and secure. This bipartisan legislation strengthens our ability to deter sabotage, respond quickly to disruptions, and stand firmly with Taiwan and our allies in the Indo-Pacific,”&lt;strong&gt; said Congressman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Additionally, the legislation enhances maritime domain awareness around Taiwan, supports joint patrols and surveillance efforts with the U.S. Coast Guard in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and builds cooperative frameworks with international partners to safeguard undersea cable networks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The bill also establishes a Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group to conduct scenario-based exercises, identify vulnerabilities in global supply chains and critical infrastructure, and develop contingency planning with allies and partners.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;To counter gray zone tactics, the legislation requires the U.S. government to increase diplomatic pressure on the PRC to adhere to international norms, expand public diplomacy and information sharing, and elevate global awareness of threats to undersea infrastructure. It also mandates sanctions on individuals responsible for, or complicit in, acts of sabotage against critical undersea systems affecting Taiwan and U.S. allies and partners.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“China’s repeated sabotage of Taiwan’s undersea cables is not accidental—it is part of a deliberate campaign to isolate a democratic partner and test how far authoritarian coercion can go without consequence. Taiwan’s communication infrastructure is critical not just to its own security, but to global commerce and regional stability. This bipartisan legislation makes clear that the United States will not ignore gray zone tactics and aggression designed to undermine democracy and threaten peace in the Indo-Pacific,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Min.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Taiwan's undersea cables are vital not just to regional security and stability, but to America's and Arizona's economic interests. The PRC has been deliberately targeting this infrastructure as part of a gray zone campaign to isolate Taiwan without firing a shot. The Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act fights back against this aggression — hardening cable networks, deploying real-time monitoring, and imposing real consequences on those responsible for sabotage. As co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I'm proud to stand with Taiwan and ensure it stays connected, informed, and free,”&lt;strong&gt; said Congressman Stanton.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“We can’t stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables. By improving systems monitoring and helping increase cable resiliency, our bipartisan legislation sends a clear message: the United States stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom,”&lt;strong&gt; said Senator Curtis.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing efforts to target Taiwan’s undersea cable infrastructure don’t just threaten Taiwan’s national security, but connectivity and communication around the world. This bipartisan legislation will bolster collaboration between our two nations in order to protect these underground cables and impose sanctions on any adversary that targets this critical infrastructure. I will continue to push back on China’s growing aggression and its attempts to undermine democracy,” &lt;strong&gt;said Senator Rosen.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full text of the bill can be found &lt;a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2222/text"&gt;HERE.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5733</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5733</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler, Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Strengthen Credit Data Accuracy and Protect Consumers</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/30/26…&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Last week, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), members of the House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee,&amp;nbsp; introduced the&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/LAWLER_060_xml.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://lawler.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=7763-679296" data-outlook-id="7648bbf6-9cf4-4968-a120-b34e816c335e" title="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/LAWLER_060_xml.pdf"&gt;Fair Credit Reporting Reseller Accuracy Act&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;, legislation to improve the accuracy of consumer information shared by data resellers and strengthen protections for individuals.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This legislation adds a new requirement under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that requires credit report resellers to follow procedures to ensure “maximum possible accuracy,” a standard already applied to credit bureaus.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Consumers deserve confidence that the information being handled by the middlemen who pass along credit data takes reasonable steps to ensure accuracy before sharing that information. The credit data used in these decisions can shape the course of someone’s life, from whether they can buy a home, to land a job, to secure a loan, and it needs to be accurate. Americans shouldn’t be penalized by bad information they didn’t create,”&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;said Congressman Lawler.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This is about fairness and accountability. When inaccurate credit information gets passed around, it’s hardworking families who pay the price. Our bill ensures transparency for families when they go to do things like buy a car or a home. This bipartisan bill will protect Jersey families and make sure they're never penalized for someone else's mistake,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Gottheimer.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full text of the bill can be found&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/LAWLER_060_xml.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://lawler.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=7764-679296" data-outlook-id="5af2ab70-247c-42cb-8210-53ee77a160ab" title="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/LAWLER_060_xml.pdf"&gt;HERE.&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$" data-cke-saved-href="https://lawler.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=7765-679296" data-outlook-id="438ec488-87c5-40f8-a63a-b9cf8e74e924" title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$" data-cke-saved-href="https://lawler.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=7765-679296" data-outlook-id="b8268923-f18e-40f1-8a9f-068f9752ddfc" title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt;one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://lawler.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=7766-679296" data-outlook-id="ff9dca6b-cc88-4a61-828d-d56c97744519" title="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://lawler.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=7766-679296" data-outlook-id="05711e55-2462-4d76-bcd3-65cd416ad8a1" title="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt;most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;###&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5718</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5718</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Chairman Lawler Advances Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Foreign Aid Oversight </title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/26/26…&lt;/strong&gt; Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, announced that two of his bipartisan bills to strengthen transparency and accountability in U.S. foreign assistance passed the Committee.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/advance_global_health_act.pdf"&gt;Advance Global Health Act&lt;/a&gt; reduces duplicative reporting requirements by consolidating multiple State Department reports into a single, comprehensive, and searchable annual report, improving efficiency and making it easier for Congress to review critical global health data. The bill received bipartisan support, passing 41-6.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/transparency_in_foreign_assistance_act.pdf"&gt;Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act&lt;/a&gt; establishes a pilot program requiring more detailed information to be provided to Congress on foreign assistance programs, including objectives, total costs, and oversight metrics, ensuring lawmakers have the tools needed to evaluate effectiveness and protect taxpayer dollars. The bill received unanimous bipartisan support, passing 44-0.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Together, the bills aim to improve how Congress evaluates foreign aid programs by increasing visibility into spending and streamlining reporting requirements at the State Department.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Taxpayers in New York and across the country deserve to know how their money is being spent, and Congress needs clear, timely information to do its job. Both bipartisan bills are about strengthening oversight, reducing inefficiencies, and ensuring our foreign assistance programs deliver real results. This is a commonsense approach to accountability that will help ensure these programs are effective and aligned with our national interests,” said &lt;strong&gt;Chairman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full text of the Advance Global Health Act can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/advance_global_health_act.pdf"&gt;HERE.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full text of the Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/transparency_in_foreign_assistance_act.pdf"&gt;HERE.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5695</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5695</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler’s Bipartisan ADA 30 Days to Comply Act Passes House Judiciary Committee  </title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/26/26… &lt;/strong&gt;Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) announced that his bipartisan &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/ada_30_days_to_comply_act.pdf"&gt;ADA 30 Days to Comply Act&lt;/a&gt; passed through the House Judiciary Committee. The bill received bipartisan support in the House Judiciary Committee, passing 16-8.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The ADA 30 Days to Comply Act will create a notice and cure period for businesses to ensure compliance with accessibility standards enacted through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).&amp;nbsp; It specifically allows for a 30-day remediation window to address any problems.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities should always be the priority, not prolonged and costly litigation. The ADA 30 Days to Comply Act takes a commonsense, bipartisan approach by empowering individuals to raise concerns while giving businesses a clear opportunity to address issues promptly. I am proud to see this legislation advance and look forward to working with my bipartisan colleagues to get this signed into law,” &lt;strong&gt;Congressman Lawler concluded.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Cosponsors include Reps. Luis Correa (CA-46) and Brian Mast (FL-21).&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Full text of the bill can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/ada_30_days_to_comply_act.pdf"&gt;HERE.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5696</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5696</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler Introduces Legislation To Strengthen Railroad Safety Reporting </title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/20/26…&lt;/strong&gt; This week, Congressman Mike Lawler introduced the &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/HOWIEACT.pdf"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; (HOWIE Act), legislation to improve safety and transparency in railroad operations across the United States.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The HOWIE Act directs the Department of Transportation, through the Federal Railroad Administration, to update existing regulations so railroads are required to report accidents that result in certain types of damage. This includes incidents that cause fires, such as brush fires, near railroad tracks when there is reasonable cause that railroad activity contributed to the damage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Railroads are a vital part of our infrastructure system, but with that comes a responsibility to operate safely and transparently to better serve the communities they keep commuting. The HOWIE Act takes a commonsense step forward by requiring railroads to report accidents and fires they may have caused, so first responders and operators can respond quickly and prevent further harm should emergencies arise,” said Congressman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full text of the bill can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/HOWIEACT.pdf"&gt;HERE.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5691</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5691</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler Urges FY27 Appropriations For The Land And Water Conservation Fund </title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/19/26… &lt;/strong&gt;Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/LWCF_Letter_of_Support.pdf"&gt;sent a letter to the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Domestic Policy Council&lt;/a&gt;, urging the protection of the integrity of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;With President Donald Trump’s leadership, Congress passed, and he signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law, guaranteeing permanent funding for LWCF and fulfilling a decades-long promise to dedicate $900 million annually to conservation and outdoor recreation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“LWCF has proven to be a massive win for the President, for our districts and communities, and for the American people. We look forward to working with you to secure and celebrate the many LWCF successes that the FY27 budget submission can catalyze, and we appreciate your leadership and attention to this issue,” &lt;strong&gt;wrote the lawmakers.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;For more than 60 years, LWCF investments have supported parks, forests, wildlife habitats, and expanded outdoor recreation access across the country, including in New York State and the Hudson Valley, strengthening local economies and preserving open space for future generations.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Joining Rep. Lawler in sending the letter were Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Nick LaLota (NY-01), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The full letter can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/LWCF_Letter_of_Support.pdf"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5665</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5665</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, &amp; Clarke Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Health Care Workforce And Maintain Patient Access</title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/17/26… &lt;/strong&gt;Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the H–1Bs for&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/lawler_169_xml.pdf"&gt; Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act&lt;/a&gt;, bipartisan legislation with Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09). This legislation will exempt physicians and other health care workers from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions. It also prohibits new H-1B fees from being imposed on health care workers that exceed the existing fees under the U.S. Code.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;This effort comes after Reps. Lawler and Clarke organized 100 Members of Congress in urging the Department of Homeland Security to exempt the health care sector from the fee. With workforce shortages continuing to strain hospitals and health systems across the country, lawmakers are now moving forward with legislation to ensure physicians and other medical professionals can continue serving patients in communities that rely on them.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“As detailed in President Trump’s proclamation putting this fee in place, it is certainly in the national interest to exempt healthcare workers. Hospitals, community health centers, and other critical facilities are facing serious workforce shortages that threaten access to care. And they can't pay a $100,000 price tag on new immigrant workers. Without the clarification provided in this bill, the physicians and the wider healthcare workforce would effectively be shut out of the H-1B program, furthering workforce shortages and limiting care options. Communities in the Hudson Valley and across the country depend on healthcare workers, and this legislation makes sure they can continue delivering critical care,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The $100,000 H-1B filing fee adds insult to injury to hospitals, especially in rural areas. The fee will have a detrimental impact on their ability to recruit qualified health care professionals to some of the nation’s most underserved areas. The bipartisan legislation we are introducing today, however, will ensure that all physicians and health professionals are exempted from this fee so that they can continue to serve without fear or financial hardship,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Bishop.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Healthcare access starts with having enough doctors and medical professionals to serve our communities. As our nation faces a growing physician shortage, we must ensure that steep fees do not stand in the way of hospitals bringing in the medical talent American patients depend on. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, removing a financial barrier so providers can recruit the physicians they need and ensure families in Florida and across America receive the timely, high-quality healthcare they deserve,”&lt;strong&gt; said Congresswoman Salazar.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;"As they are in so many areas across our society and economy, immigrant Americans remain indispensable assets to keeping our hospitals and health systems running steadily, efficiently, and effectively. The bipartisan willingness to ensure migrant health care workers are exempted from the $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions stands as a testament to the widely accepted value and necessity of these workers in one of this country’s most vital, yet vulnerable sectors. I am proud to co-lead this effort to prevent dangerous workforce shortages from impacting the health and well-being of Americans, as well as to ensure that those who are willing to contribute their expertise and talents to our nation can continue to do so at the times when we most need them,"&lt;strong&gt; said Congresswoman Clarke.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The U.S. healthcare industry relies on the H-1B visa program to recruit physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, particularly in rural and underserved communities facing workforce shortages. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 87 million Americans live in areas federally designated as lacking enough medical professionals to meet community health care needs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act exempts health care workers, defined under the Affordable Care Act, from the $100,000 fee required for certain H-1B visa petitions under the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation and prohibits additional fees beyond those already established under existing immigration law for these workers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Endorsing organizations include the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Hospital Association, American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, Greater New York Hospital Association, Healthcare Association of New York State, Physicians for American Healthcare Access, American College of Radiology (ACR), National Rural Health Association,&amp;nbsp;American Pharmacists Association, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), and&amp;nbsp;California Medical Association.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The AAMC recognizes this important first step to addressing the H-1B issue that poses a significant, real challenge to the academic medicine workforce. To ensure the US maintains the world’s most talented health care professionals, we must have a viable pathway. This bipartisan legislation helps by supporting our nation’s medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals that rely on highly educated international talent,” &lt;strong&gt;said Danielle P. Turnipseed, Chief Public Policy Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Patients across the country are feeling the effects of the growing physician shortage. Medicare patients and people in rural and underserved areas already struggle to get the care they need. In many such communities, international medical graduates play an important role in providing care and ensuring patients can see a doctor when they need one. The AMA supports this legislation to ensure the new $100,000 fee does not make it harder to recruit highly skilled physicians. We thank Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY), for introducing this bipartisan bill. The AMA urges Congress to act quickly to protect patients’ access to care,”&lt;strong&gt; said Bobby Mukkamala, MD, President, American Medical Association.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;"International medical graduates are essential to health care delivery in communities that would otherwise struggle to access a doctor. The $100,000 H-1B fee could undermine the physician pipeline to the places that need it most, including rural communities, underserved areas, and safety-net hospitals. Physicians for American Healthcare Access (PAHA) applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to pass the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act to safeguard patients' access to care," &lt;strong&gt;said Dr. Ram Alur, President, Physicians for Americans Healthcare Access.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;"The $100,000 H-1B filing fee on health care entities poses a serious challenge to provider recruitment at a time when demand for physicians and other health care professionals continues to grow. Hospitals, health systems, and practices across the country rely on international physicians and health care professionals to meet patient needs. This fee could slow recruitment efforts and make it harder for employers to bring on the providers their communities depend on," said Carey Goryl, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR). AAPPR supports the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act and applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for their bipartisan leadership on this issue," &lt;strong&gt;said Carey Goryl, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The AHA commends Representatives Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, and Clarke for introducing bipartisan legislation that would help maintain patient access to care in communities nationwide. Specifically, this important bill will maintain critical staffing for areas of the country where there are well-documented shortages of health care workers,” &lt;strong&gt;said Stacey Hughes, Executive Vice President of the American Hospital Association.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“New York’s hospitals have long relied on the H-1B visa program to help address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved communities new $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa applicant is jeopardizing hospitals’ ability to fill open roles and maintain their patients’ access to care, while increasing the cost of providing care. By exempting healthcare workers from this burdensome fee, the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act will help our providers do what they do best – serve their patients. I commend Reps. Mike Lawler and Yvette Clarke for continuing to lead on this critical issue,” &lt;strong&gt;said Bea Grause, RN, JD, President, Healthcare Association of New York State.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The H-1B visa program helps ensure that New York hospitals can deliver world-class health care, train the next generation of physicians, and conduct cutting-edge research. The $100,000 filing fee for H-1B visa petitions poses a grave threat to this critical mission. It will further strain hospitals financially, exacerbate ongoing workforce shortages, and diminish access to care. The H-1B Visas for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act will eliminate this onerous fee and ensure that hospitals can continue to care for their communities. I thank Representatives Lawler, Clarke, Salazar, and Bishop for their commitment to strengthening the health care workforce,” &lt;strong&gt;said Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"This bill would also preventany new increases in H-1B filing fees, capping costs at a maximum of $1,500 for employers as outlined in section 214(c)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. As baby boomers continue to age and health care demands rise alongside continued population growth, reports1&amp;nbsp;have shown a projected shortfall of nearly 86,000 physicians by 2036, underscoring the need for a robust health care workforce. In the absence of additional Medicare-funded GME slots, highly trained international medical graduates (IMGs) have historically played a critical role in filling these workforce gaps," &lt;strong&gt;said Natalia S. Rost, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHA, President, American Academy of Neurology.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
"&lt;/strong&gt;On behalf of more than 330,000 pharmacists nationwide, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) writes in strong support and to thank you for your leadership in introducing the “H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act.” This legislation takes critical steps to ensure that essential health care professionals, including pharmacists, are not subject to unnecessary barriers that would further strain an already challenged health care workforce and limit patient access to care. APhA applauds your recognition of the significant and growing workforce shortages across the U.S. health care system. Pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring medication safety, managing chronic diseases, administering immunizations, and supporting public health initiatives&amp;nbsp;nationwide,”&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;Michael Baxter, Vice President of Government Affairs, American Pharmacists Association.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Full text of the bill can be found&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/lawler_169_xml.pdf"&gt; HERE.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!kIDG1etf57IOYjJ2rWYrUZuC_IdSctvvZWmImI_9Bp7VyU2VefgS9rqauG_dR0LfoE33etTRJeNqpQ74taf8vB0S8XpTACR2hs4WQZIC$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5658</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5658</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler Joins Bipartisan Safe Speeds Act To Strengthen E-Bike Safety Standards Nationwide</title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/17/26… &lt;/strong&gt;This week, Congressman Mike Lawler joined Reps. Dave Min (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to introduce the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/SAFESPEEDS.pdf"&gt; Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act&lt;/a&gt; (Safe SPEEDS Act), legislation to establish uniform consumer product safety standards for low-speed electric bikes and other off- road electric devices sold in the United States.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create a national standard to clearly classify and label e-bikes and similar devices and prohibits products from being marketed as low-speed e-bikes if they don’t meet federal definitions. It also requires the CPSC to review data on crashes, injuries, and fatalities and work with manufacturers, safety experts, consumer groups, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop the standard.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Electric bikes are becoming a popular and convenient way for people to get around, but safety standards and consumer information have not kept up with their rapid growth. The Safe SPEEDS Act will create clear national classifications and labeling requirements so riders and families know exactly what they’re buying and how they should be used,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“E-bikes are an affordable, convenient, and popular mode of transportation in my district and across the nation; however, the lack of oversight regarding e-bikes poses serious safety risks to our children and our communities. This bill will ensure federal e-bike standards are clearly defined while also empowering local governments to enhance their safety programs, keeping our communities safe while in transit,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Min.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Without clear federal standards, the rapid growth of unregulated e-bikes is creating real safety risks for pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists, and especially children. The Safe SPEEDS Act closes a decades-long gap in consumer protection by giving the CPSC the tools to set real safety standards, improve data collection, and help local communities respond to this growing challenge. Everyone who shares our roads, sidewalks, and trails across the North Coast deserves to feel safe,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Huffman.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“E-bikes are quickly becoming a more common sight in communities across the country, offering convenience and new opportunities for riders of all ages. As this technology continues to evolve, our safety standards must evolve with it. The Safe SPEEDS Act establishes clear federal classifications, strengthens transparency for consumers and families, and improves the data communities rely on to better understand crash trends and prevent injuries. This is a smart, common-sense framework that ensures innovation continues responsibly while helping keep riders and communities safe,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Fitzpatrick.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Endorsing organizations include PeopleForBikes, League of American Bicyclists, National Bicycle Dealers Association, Consumer Reports, Safe Routes Partnership, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction. The bill also directs the CPSC to adopt clear classification, age guidelines, and labeling requirements for these devices, including consideration of the three recognized classes of low-speed electric bicycles. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders,” &lt;strong&gt;said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The League of American Bicyclists celebrates biking in all of the diverse forms it takes, and e-bikes have become a common and essential type of bike for many people. While states have been active in defining e-bike classes that allow responsible regulation, the federal government has not yet stepped up in its role as a regulator to define what an e-bike is and what is not, based on speed and motor capacity. The Safe SPEEDS Act would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to conduct research, propose national e-bike classes, and help communities integrate those classes into their traffic safety efforts. The League applauds Representative David Min for introducing this bill and we are optimistic its passage would help states implement responsible regulation for this growing and transformative mobility option, and reduce confusion for consumers, law enforcement, and emergency responders around e-bike safety,”&lt;strong&gt; said Ken McLeod, Policy Director of League of American Bicyclists.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The NBDA strongly supports Congressman Dave Min’s leadership on this critical e-bike safety legislation. Establishing a clear, uniform federal standard for the classification and labeling of low-speed electric bicycles is long overdue and essential for protecting consumers, retailers, and the broader public. Specialty Bicycle Retailers see firsthand how confusion around e-bike classes, speed capabilities, and intended use can create real safety risks. This bill brings much-needed clarity by reinforcing consistent definitions, permanent labeling, and evidence-based recommendations grounded in data and stakeholder input. We appreciate Congressman Min’s thoughtful approach, one that balances innovation, consumer access, and safety, while supporting responsible manufacturers and retailers who are committed to compliance and education. This legislation represents an important step toward safer streets, better-informed riders, and a more accountable electric bicycle marketplace,” &lt;strong&gt;said Heather Mason, Executive Director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Full text of the bill can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/SAFESPEEDS.pdf"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5661</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5661</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lawler Joins Bipartisan Safe Speeds Act To Strengthen E-Bike Safety Standards Nationwide</title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/17/26…&lt;/strong&gt; This week, Congressman Mike Lawler joined Reps. Dave Min (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to introduce the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/SAFESPEEDS.pdf"&gt; Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act&lt;/a&gt; (Safe SPEEDS Act), legislation to establish uniform consumer product safety standards for low-speed electric bikes and other off- road electric devices sold in the United States.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;The legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create a national standard to clearly classify and label e-bikes and similar devices and prohibits products from being marketed as low-speed e-bikes if they don’t meet federal definitions. It also requires the CPSC to review data on crashes, injuries, and fatalities and work with manufacturers, safety experts, consumer groups, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop the standard.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Electric bikes are becoming a popular and convenient way for people to get around, but safety standards and consumer information have not kept up with their rapid growth. The Safe SPEEDS Act will create clear national classifications and labeling requirements so riders and families know exactly what they’re buying and how they should be used,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“E-bikes are an affordable, convenient, and popular mode of transportation in my district and across the nation; however, the lack of oversight regarding e-bikes poses serious safety risks to our children and our communities. This bill will ensure federal e-bike standards are clearly defined while also empowering local governments to enhance their safety programs, keeping our communities safe while in transit,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Min.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“Without clear federal standards, the rapid growth of unregulated e-bikes is creating real safety risks for pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists, and especially children. The Safe SPEEDS Act closes a decades-long gap in consumer protection by giving the CPSC the tools to set real safety standards, improve data collection, and help local communities respond to this growing challenge. Everyone who shares our roads, sidewalks, and trails across the North Coast deserves to feel safe,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Huffman.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“E-bikes are quickly becoming a more common sight in communities across the country, offering convenience and new opportunities for riders of all ages. As this technology continues to evolve, our safety standards must evolve with it. The Safe SPEEDS Act establishes clear federal classifications, strengthens transparency for consumers and families, and improves the data communities rely on to better understand crash trends and prevent injuries. This is a smart, common-sense framework that ensures innovation continues responsibly while helping keep riders and communities safe,” &lt;strong&gt;said Congressman Fitzpatrick.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Endorsing organizations include PeopleForBikes, League of American Bicyclists, National Bicycle Dealers Association, Consumer Reports, Safe Routes Partnership, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction. The bill also directs the CPSC to adopt clear classification, age guidelines, and labeling requirements for these devices, including consideration of the three recognized classes of low-speed electric bicycles. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders,” &lt;strong&gt;said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The League of American Bicyclists celebrates biking in all of the diverse forms it takes, and e-bikes have become a common and essential type of bike for many people. While states have been active in defining e-bike classes that allow responsible regulation, the federal government has not yet stepped up in its role as a regulator to define what an e-bike is and what is not, based on speed and motor capacity. The Safe SPEEDS Act would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to conduct research, propose national e-bike classes, and help communities integrate those classes into their traffic safety efforts. The League applauds Representative David Min for introducing this bill and we are optimistic its passage would help states implement responsible regulation for this growing and transformative mobility option, and reduce confusion for consumers, law enforcement, and emergency responders around e-bike safety,”&lt;strong&gt; said Ken McLeod, Policy Director of League of American Bicyclists.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The NBDA strongly supports Congressman Dave Min’s leadership on this critical e-bike safety legislation. Establishing a clear, uniform federal standard for the classification and labeling of low-speed electric bicycles is long overdue and essential for protecting consumers, retailers, and the broader public. Specialty Bicycle Retailers see firsthand how confusion around e-bike classes, speed capabilities, and intended use can create real safety risks. This bill brings much-needed clarity by reinforcing consistent definitions, permanent labeling, and evidence-based recommendations grounded in data and stakeholder input. We appreciate Congressman Min’s thoughtful approach, one that balances innovation, consumer access, and safety, while supporting responsible manufacturers and retailers who are committed to compliance and education. This legislation represents an important step toward safer streets, better-informed riders, and a more accountable electric bicycle marketplace,” &lt;strong&gt;said Heather Mason, Executive Director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Full text of the bill can be found &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/SAFESPEEDS.pdf"&gt;HERE&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;Congressman Lawler is&lt;a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html__;!!Fr0YZsIsFWxTZsBm-qTAg68!k3OFI1uZc44QQ1HPHamspRfuP7W2PJvRa33cEV-iuRCntmGDnOMGmWbcIF_t6d1g8YShS0rq7iyQJP9X-jnWv1s5dHHmLFDkRzPzKEDt$"&gt; one of the most bipartisan members of Congress&lt;/a&gt; and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the&lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/UploadedFiles/118th_highlights_FINAL_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt; most effective freshman lawmaker&lt;/a&gt; in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5662</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5662</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Chairman Lawler’s Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act Passes House</title>
      <description>&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Washington, D.C. – 3/16/26… &lt;/strong&gt;Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after his Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act passed the House. This critical legislation aims to strengthen the U.S. sanctions regime on foreign entities enabling Iran’s illicit oil trade.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;“The United States will not allow the Iranian regime to evade sanctions and bankroll terrorism through illicit oil sales. For too long, Iran has relied on a network of foreign banks, insurers, and logistics providers to move sanctioned oil. This legislation targets that entire network and ensures those financing the largest state sponsor of terrorism face real consequences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;After decades of chanting ‘Death to America,’ funding terrorist proxies, pursuing nuclear weapon and ballistic missile capabilities, and brutally repressing their own people, this evil regime is now being dismantled, opening the door for lasting peace in the Middle East and freedom for the Iranian people.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As Chair of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, holding the Iranian regime accountable is a top priority. Strengthening enforcement of our sanctions regime is critical to countering Iran’s destabilizing activities across the region and protecting our allies,” &lt;strong&gt;said Chairman Lawler.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act was passed by voice vote on the House floor.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Congressman Lawler is &lt;a href="https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-86.html"&gt;one of the most bipartisan members of Congress &lt;/a&gt;and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the &lt;a href="https://lawler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/118th_highlights_final_03_24_2025.pdf"&gt;most effective freshman lawmaker &lt;/a&gt;in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5657</link>
      <guid>http://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5657</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>