Stories / Issue · Sep 3 – Oct 2, 2026
Congress members are advancing multiple healthcare initiatives across nursing education, rural health services, mental health support, and disease research. Democrats introduced bills on nursing workforce expansion, maternal health, and health disparities, while Republicans focused on opioid disposal, ALS research, and ovarian cancer prevention. Members announced approximately $230 million in federal funding for rural healthcare, mental health services, and medical research across various states.
AI summary of the releases below · Oct 6, 2026
| Action type | Wk ofSep 315 | Wk ofSep 1026 | Wk ofSep 1738 | Wk ofSep 2459 | Wk ofOct 112 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials | 18 | |||||
| HearingsHeld, testified or questioned | 12 | |||||
| StatementsResponses to news | 5 | |||||
| CriticizedA policy, decision or person | 5 | |||||
| PraisedCredit for a decision or person | 7 | |||||
| Visits and eventsTours, town halls, site visits | 8 | |||||
| Announced fundingGrants and approvals | 26 | |||||
| Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed | +10 | +9 | 63 | |||
| Other | 6 |
+35 more with fewer actions
Introduced bipartisan bill to expand clinical training for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
DDuckworth IL $300K
Announced $300,000 in federal funding for rural emergency medical service training in Illinois.
Announced Senate passage of bipartisan traumatic brain injury reauthorization legislation.
Discussed Medicaid program changes and healthcare system stability with Puerto Rico hospital sector.
DSalinas OR $44.5M
Celebrated $44.5 million NIH funding extension for women's menopause research study.
Led bipartisan letter urging CMS to develop telehealth demonstration model for maternal health.
Issued statement on GAO report about FDA tobacco product application delays and regulatory challenges.
Congressional caucus released report on integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy into healthcare.
Celebrated restoration of specialized 988 crisis services for LGBTQI+ young people.
RCramer ND $12.4M
Announced $12.4 million in HHS funding for North Dakota community-based long-term care.
Cosponsored resolution commemorating 50th anniversary of Hyde Amendment.
Announced restoration of mental health services for LGBTQ youth on 988 crisis line.
Praised President Trump's executive order on alpha-gal syndrome treatment and food labeling.
Reintroduced bill requiring Medicare and Medicaid innovation center to address health disparities.
↳ John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act · Release ↗
Helped expedite federal approval for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare's new clinic opening.
Introduced bipartisan bill to provide federal funding for newborn screenings for rare health conditions.
Ossoff released investigation reports on insurance companies denying or delaying medically necessary care.
Sent letter demanding CDC transparency on delay in distributing COVID-19 vaccines to children.
Opposed Senate Republicans' vote to allow Trump's Affordable Care Act marketplace rule.
Co-sponsored bipartisan bill creating Medicare pilot program for medically tailored meals.
Praised Senate passage of ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act supporting research and drug development.
RBoebert CO $169.6M
Welcomed Trump Administration's $169.6 million Rural Health Transformation Program funding for Colorado.
DDurbin IL, DDuckworth IL, DBaldwin WI
Demanded OMB Director Vought abandon plans to exert political control over NIH funding.
DFetterman PA $101M
Sent letter urging HHS to reinstate over $100 million in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants.
RCornyn TX, RCloud TX $51M
Announced $51 million in federal funding for rural health care in Texas.
Attended ribbon cutting for Mount Sinai's new emergency center expansion in Westchester.
Announced bipartisan bill to expand behavioral health resources and support for first responders.
RGriffith VA $191K
Announced $191,331 HHS grant to Biotherapeutics, Inc. for psoriasis research.
Hosted House Energy and Commerce Chairman for Tampa Bay health care affordability roundtable.
Hosted health discussion and community fair for men at Bowie State University.
Led letter demanding OMB director abandon plans to politicize NIH grant-making.
Senate passed bipartisan John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act modernizing FAA mental health certification.
RGriffith VA $500K
Announced $500,000 HHS grant to Biotherapeutics, Inc. for Alzheimer's disease therapy research.
Introduced bipartisan bill to fund state newborn screening programs for serious health conditions.
DKaptur OH $800K
Announced $800,000 grant to train first responders in substance abuse treatment.
Introduced comprehensive health care bill to lower costs, expand coverage and improve access.
Introduced two bills to combat tick-borne diseases and protect Americans with alpha-gal syndrome.
Introduced bipartisan bill creating grants for suicide prevention barriers on bridges and infrastructure.
DMurray WA, DCortez Masto NV, DOcasio-Cortez NY, DPressley MA
Reintroduced bill to expand birth control coverage and criticized Trump administration contraception restrictions.
Announced roundtable discussion on COVID-19 hospital protocols and patient mistreatment during pandemic.
Reintroduced bill to track, treat and eliminate neglected diseases of poverty in America.
Questioned FDA commissioner nominee on vaccine schedule changes and microdosing proposals during Senate hearing.
Called on President Trump to rescind childhood vaccine executive order and fire HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.
Released report documenting RFK Jr.'s harmful actions as HHS Secretary and called for his resignation or firing.
Questioned FDA commissioner nominee on birth control and tobacco industry contributions; announced opposition to confirmation.
RGriffith VA $96K
Announced $96,000 HHS grant to senior citizens agency for medical equipment purchase.
Introduced bill to compensate firefighters and families harmed by PFAS-related illnesses and injuries.
Criticized Trump administration effort to strip health coverage from 750,000 Americans.
Introduced bipartisan bill to expand and strengthen senior care PACE programs.
Demanded Texas governor release maternal mortality report before midterm elections.
Introduced bicameral bills to expand sickle cell disease treatment and workforce.
Sought unanimous consent for bill requiring upfront healthcare price transparency for patients.
Introduced bipartisan bill to improve Medicare patients' access to timely coverage decisions.
↳ Ensuring Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act · Release ↗
Introduced bill to establish Medicare coverage decision deadlines for medical devices and services.
↳ Ensuring Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act · Release ↗
RRadewagen AS $251K
Announced $250,586 CDC grant for epidemiology and disease surveillance in American Samoa.
Wilson introduced bill to expand glaucoma screenings and invest in vision research.
Held briefing on Puerto Rico Medicaid funding crisis and 2027 fiscal cliff.
Introduced bipartisan bill to reduce maternal and infant mortality and racial disparities in maternal health.
Urged HHS to expand colonoscopy access for polyp surveillance under ACA preventive benefits.
Applauded passage of bipartisan medically tailored meals Medicare pilot program from Ways and Means.
Introduced resolution protecting continuous Medicaid coverage for cancer patients.
Spoke on Senate floor highlighting 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline during Suicide Prevention Month.
Urged airlines to include epinephrine in emergency medical kits on commercial flights.
Discussed health care affordability and Social Security insolvency at health care forum.
DPettersen CO $38M
Led 35 colleagues demanding Trump administration reinstate $38 million in canceled minority health grants.
Working with federal partners to address high maternal and infant mortality rates in America.
Advocated for six healthcare bills including bipartisan Patients First Act during Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.
Reintroduced bipartisan legislation to raise awareness and combat high heart disease rates in South Asian Americans.
Sent letter to HHS Secretary expressing concern about CDC Injury Center staffing cuts.
Applauded committee advancement of CHANGE Act for early Alzheimer's detection.
Discussed suicide prevention efforts and co-sponsored Campus Lifeline Act during Suicide Awareness Month.
Unveiled Declaration for Life with Christian leaders and called for legislation banning abortion drug mifepristone.
Introduced bipartisan bill to streamline federal grant application process for addiction prevention and treatment organizations.
Introduced bill to expand cardiovascular research and awareness for South Asian Americans.
RRadewagen AS $324K
Announced $324,271 CDC health grant to American Samoa for data collection and health equity.
Applauded Ways and Means Committee passage of medically tailored meals pilot program.
CHANGE Act advanced from committee to improve Alzheimer's early detection and diagnosis.
Advanced bipartisan Alzheimer's screening and prevention legislation through Ways and Means Committee.
Demanded HHS release information on plans to redirect healthcare research funding.
Questioned HHS nominees on AI denying seniors healthcare and abortion ban harms.
Announced roundtable discussion on COVID-19 hospital protocols and patient mistreatment.
Held first congressional hearing on menopause and requested GAO investigation of federal menopause research coordination.
Secured Trump administration commitment to restore 988 suicide lifeline LGBTQ+ services by September.
Introduced bipartisan resolution recognizing September 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day.
DScholten MI $11.7M
Announced $11.6 million for health care research and supportive services in West Michigan.
Advanced bipartisan bill to expand Medicare coverage for early Alzheimer's detection.
RCramer ND $2.2M
Announced $2.2 million in HHS funding for health initiatives in North Dakota.
Advanced two bipartisan health care bills in House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Praised House passage of four bills addressing public health threats including fentanyl and tickborne illness.
Sent letter to HHS secretary seeking answers on canceled health research grants.
Introduced bipartisan resolution recognizing September 17 as National Physician Suicide Awareness Day.
RRadewagen AS $255K
Announced $255,100 CDC grant for vaccine-preventable disease prevention in American Samoa.
Introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize the FDA's Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program.
Introduced bipartisan resolution designating September as National Suicide Prevention Month.
RHuizenga MI $1.6M
Announced $1.6 million in federal mental health and substance abuse recovery grants.
DDingell MI $258.7M
Secured $258.7 million in federal healthcare research grants for University of Michigan.
Introduced bill to reform FDA drug preclusion rules and protect dietary supplement access.
DWhitehouse RI $10B
Reintroduced bipartisan bill to invest $10 billion in primary care provider payments.
Introduced legislation to expand mental health workforce training in underserved communities.
Met with hospital leadership and demanded reforms to address patient safety and financial crisis.
Introduced bipartisan 988 Implementation Act to strengthen crisis care and mental health resources.
DThompson MS $450K
Announced $450,000 federal grant to Delta Health Center for maternal health care coordination in Mississippi Delta.
RCramer ND $408K
Announced $408,184 HHS grant to University of North Dakota for biomedical research.
Introduced bipartisan bill to fund mobile crisis response teams and Medicaid reimbursement for 988 services.
DTrahan MA $441M
Introduced bipartisan bill authorizing $441 million for 988 call center technology and staff.
RGriffith VA $249K
Announced $249,000 HHS grant to Virginia Tech for dementia caregiver research.
Introduced bipartisan bill to fund mobile crisis response teams and Medicaid reimbursement for 988.
RGriffith VA $589K
Announced $588,671 HHS grant to Virginia Tech for yellow fever mosquito research.
Introduced bill to expand food-is-medicine programs and nutrition support services for chronic disease prevention.
Introduced bill to strengthen coordination between 988 suicide prevention and 911 emergency call centers.
Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works