Titus, Dina RSS Articles

Titus Introduces Bill to Establish a Diplomatic Reserve Corps

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – This week Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) introduced the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026. This legislation would authorize the State Department to establish a 1,000-member ready reserve to carry out U.S. diplomatic efforts during times of heightened demand. This bill is co-led by Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) and supported by the American Academy of Diplomacy.

“While our armed forces are equipped to handle surges in demand with a ready reserve corps, the State Department, often called our first line of defense, is not,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “A Diplomatic Reserve Corps would ensure that the United States continues to put forth well-trained and experienced diplomatic professionals during times of international crisis. This is essential to maintain our relationships around the world, protect U.S. citizens abroad, mitigate conflict, and advance our national security interests.”

“Strengthening America’s ability to respond to global crises requires more than good intentions – it requires a trained, ready, and rapidly deployable diplomatic workforce. A Diplomatic Reserve Corps would give the State Department the surge capacity it has long lacked, ensuring we can protect Americans, support our partners, and advance our interests without pulling personnel away from essential missions. This is a practical reform that brings our civilian crisis response capabilities closer to the standard long set by our military reserves. It’s a smart investment in American leadership and preparedness,” said Congressman Michael Baumgartner.

“The American Academy of Diplomacy strongly endorses HR 8167, the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026. This Bill will greatly increase the Department of State's ability to react efficiently and effectively to protect American citizens in crises such as mass evacuations, wars, and disasters. It will ensure that the appropriate personnel with the right skills can be sent quickly to a crisis. The Academy urges the rapid passage of this bipartisan effort to improve the effectiveness of American diplomacy,” said Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy.

A robust and agile diplomatic service is essential to protect national security. Quickly unfolding crises such as the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation underscore the need for a modernized Diplomatic Corps. When they occur, the State Department cobbles together volunteers such as short-term hires, willing retired professionals, and contractors, all of whom leave behind important roles, creating a cycle of vacant positions. These solutions are also costly and unsustainable in a complex and demanding global environment. Instead of struggling with patchwork solutions, we need a longer-term solution. The Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026 is tailored to meet these complex challenges.

This bill would amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to establish a Diplomatic Reserve Corps under the State Department. This group of 1,000 trained, on-call professionals would become available to supplement, when the need arises, the Civil Service, Foreign Service, Personal Service Contractors, and Locally Engaged Staff who now carry out U.S. diplomatic efforts both day-to-day and in times of crisis.

The Corps would consist of four components:

“Senior Diplomatic Retiree Reserve” composed of retired senior State Department professionals, just as the U.S. military reserves include retired professionals from all the armed services.
“Diplomatic Retiree Reserve” composed of retired State Department professionals at lower grade levels.
“Senior Diplomatic Reserve” composed of members of the public drawn, for example, from academia; think tanks; experts in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cyber, and biotechnology; retirees from other federal, state, or local agencies; and the private sector with the experience to provide senior-level expertise in Washington and in the field.
“Diplomatic Reserve” composed of members of the public, also drawn, for example, from academia; think tanks; experts in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cyber, and biotechnology; other federal, state, or local agencies; and the private sector who have relevant experience to assist in executing required tasks.

The Corps would be fully formed over a five-year period. In “Year Zero,” the fiscal year of enactment of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026, the State Department would create the infrastructure needed to recruit, support, and manage the Corps and develop the training modules. Induction into the Corps would then commence during the following fiscal year.

Full text of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026 is available here.

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Rep. Dina Titus’s Bill to Modernize ACPAC Passes the House

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01)’s ACPAC Modernization Act passed the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support. The Congresswoman’s legislation would add a representative for ticket agents to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC). The ACPAC Modernization Act will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.

The ACPAC is a federal advisory body established by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2012 for the purpose of providing recommendations to the Department of Transportation for improving consumer protections in air travel. As required by its chartering statute, the current ACPAC membership comprises one representative each from U.S. airlines, airports, consumer groups, and State or local governments.

The ACPAC Modernization Act would expand its membership to include a representative for travel agents, better reflecting consumer relations with those entities and ensuring a more streamlined, customer-friendly travel experience. Travel agents build their business on their unmatched expertise leading with the wants and needs of travelers and thereby will provide valuable insight into ACPAC’s work.

“Ticket agents, including 2,700 travel advisors in Nevada, generated $1 billion in sales in 2024 and play a critical role in Las Vegas’s tourism industry,” said Rep. Titus. “I am proud that my ACPAC Modernization Act passed the House with bipartisan support and encourage my colleagues in the Senate to send this commonsense bill to the President’s desk. My legislation will help DOT better protect travelers’ interests and support our travel and tourism economy. When we prioritize consumer protection and the passenger experience in aviation, everyone wins.”

“Travel advisors are an integral part of the travel ecosystem, serving both as advocates for their clients and as key contributors to the broader marketplace,” said Zane Kerby, American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) President and CEO. “We are grateful to Rep. Dina Titus for introducing and championing this important legislation. Today’s action brings us closer to ensuring advisors’ real-world expertise helps inform the policies that directly affect both travelers and the businesses that support them.”

“With passage of H.R. 5663, the ACPAC Modernization Act, the U.S. House has taken an important step to ensure the Department of Transportation has the expertise needed to address today’s airline consumer protection challenges. We thank Congresswoman Titus for her leadership and for recognizing the essential role ticket agents play in supporting millions of consumers,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO, the Travel Technology Association.

Rep. Titus Welcomes Senate Companion Bill to Curb Prediction Markets Sports Betting

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus today applauded the introduction of a companion bill in the Senate to her Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act to ban prediction markets from offering sports bets outside of state regulation.

“The introduction of this legislation in the Senate is further evidence that awareness of the threats posed by unregulated sports betting is growing,” the Congresswoman said. “I applaud Senator Adam Schiff of California and Senator John Curtis of Utah for this legislation to protect consumers and ensure sports wagering revenues are properly directed to states to support education and other critical public services. So-called prediction markets are exploiting regulatory gaps, undermining state gaming laws, and exposing consumers to unnecessary risk.”

Like the Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act, the Senate legislation, the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, would prohibit entities regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from listing contracts that closely resemble a sports bet or a casino-style game. Billions are being wagered currently through platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.

Reps. Titus, Olszewski Introduce Bill to Make Disability Rights a Priority of U.S. Foreign Policy

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) introduced legislation to help ensure that the State Department makes disability rights an international priority.

The State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act would establish in law the Office of International Disability Rights at the U.S. State Department, to be supervised by a Special Advisor of International Disability Rights. The Special Advisor position has not been filled since the start of the Trump Administration.

Under the bipartisan bill, the Office of International Disability Rights would lead efforts to promote the rights of people with disabilities around the world. The legislation also requires State Department personnel to undergo disability inclusion training.

“The full inclusion of people with disabilities is a fundamental aspect of democracy, and it must be a priority for U.S. foreign policy,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-01), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “This legislation will help ensure that the State Department uses its diplomatic tools to lead by example and promote the empowerment of persons with disabilities worldwide. We must regain our footing on the world stage as the champion of human rights for all people.”

“America leads best when we lead with our values,” said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). “This bill ensures that inclusion isn’t an afterthought but a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. It gives our diplomats the tools, training, and structure to build a world where every person can contribute fully, freely, and has a seat at the table. It’s the right thing to do and the smart thing to do for long-term peace and prosperity.”

Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) also introduced their companion bill to the State Department Disability Policy and Accommodations Act today.

“Promoting international disability rights is the right thing to do and can significantly boost global security and prosperity,” said Senator Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees. “There’s so much more the U.S. can do on this issue. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to enhance U.S. engagement on disability rights around the world and ensure State Department staff with disabilities have access to equal opportunities.”

“Every single one of us is just one bad day away from becoming disabled, and we should do everything we can to ensure that members of the disability community can live full lives wherever they reside,” said Senator Duckworth (D-IL). “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill to highlight the importance of protecting the rights of people with disabilities around the world and to help ensure that all State Department programs provide equal access to the opportunities people deserve.”

Full text of the House legislation is available here.

Background

This bill seeks to strengthen how the U.S. Department of State promotes disability rights internationally and ensures accessibility and inclusion within its own workforce and overseas facilities.

1. Elevating Disability Rights in U.S. Foreign Policy

Declares that promoting international disability rights is essential to global peace, stability, and prosperity.
Requires the Secretary of State, within 180 days, to develop a formal policy guiding U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance on disability rights.
The policy must be developed in consultation with U.S. missions, civil society, international organizations, and individuals with disabilities, including women, indigenous persons, youth, and combat-injured partners abroad.
The policy must be incorporated into the Foreign Affairs Manual and made publicly available.

2. Strengthening the Office of International Disability Rights

Codifies and strengthens the Office of International Disability Rights at the State Department.
Requires the office to:
- Coordinate U.S. international disability policy and assistance across the government.
- Collect and track data on spending and programs promoting disability rights abroad.
- Facilitate interagency cooperation and promote exchanges with disability policymakers and advocates.
The office will be led by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large for International Disability Rights.
Requires the State Department to develop an International Disability Rights Strategy within one year, including priority countries, funding sources, and partnerships.
Mandates annual reports to Congress on implementation and funding.
Authorizes $6 million annually (FY2025–FY2030) to support the office.

3. Accessibility and Hiring within the State Department

Requires the State Department to ensure equal access to hiring, recruitment, and overseas assignments for employees with disabilities and family members with disabilities.
Mandates accessibility of embassies, consulates, websites, and communications, consistent with U.S. accessibility standards.
Encourages contractors and overseas partners to hire workers with disabilities.
Requires policies to ensure reasonable accommodations for both U.S. personnel and locally employed staff abroad.

4. Training and Capacity Building

Requires mandatory disability policy training for State Department civil service and Foreign Service personnel and chiefs of mission.
Training must cover inclusive policymaking, workplace compliance with disability law, engagement with disability organizations, and integrating disability considerations into humanitarian and development programs.
Foreign Service training must include country-specific disability rights contexts.

5. Reporting Requirements

Requires the State Department to provide annual reports and briefings to Congress describing:
- Implementation of the law
- Disability-inclusive diplomacy and programming
- Accessibility of overseas facilities
- Data collection and program outcomes
- Remaining policy or staffing gaps.

6. Judy Heumann Foreign and Civil Service Disability Fellowship

Establishes a Judy Heumann Disability Fellowship for State Department personnel.
Each year at least two civil or Foreign Service officers will complete 6–12 month placements with organizations led by persons with disabilities.
Fellows will study international disability frameworks and participate in global disability rights forums.
Annual reports to Congress will summarize the fellowship’s outcomes.

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Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Legislation to Reduce Harmful Fires Caused by Thermal Runaway

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-1), Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, today introduced a package of bills to strengthen federal regulation of the transport of lithium-ion batteries and equip firefighters with the tools needed to safely mitigate thermal runaway. This is one of Ranking Member Titus’s priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

In 2024, a fire involving six lithium-ion batteries on Interstate 15 shut down the highway between Barstow and Las Vegas for two days. The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act would update federal regulations for the transportation of lithium-ion batteries and set up a pilot program at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to test strategies for fighting thermal runaway. Congresswoman Titus also introduced a new bill, the Firefighter Lithium Awareness and Readiness Enhancement (FLARE) Act, to unlock federal funding for Fire Departments to purchase the equipment they need to effectively fight thermal runaway.

“The disaster on Interstate 15 was a wake-up call that we need to do more to protect the public from dangerous fires related to the transport of lithium-ion batteries,” Congresswoman Titus said. “An accident such as the one on Interstate 15 can result in ‘thermal runaway,’ when a battery enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state, which makes fires extremely difficult to extinguish.

“As more lithium-ion batteries are transported through our state and across the nation, we need to take additional precautions and ensure that our firefighters have the tools they need to fight thermal runaway,” Congresswoman Titus said. “An accident involving these batteries in highly populated urban areas could have tragic consequences.”

“Lithium batteries have presented new challenges for fire personnel due to the difficulties surrounding fire suppression,” said Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels. “In working with Congresswoman Titus, important legislation has been introduced that will put some additional practices in place to ensure these types of batteries are transported safely, as well as that grant dollars are available to fire departments to effectively train to suppress lithium battery fires. We would encourage Congress to pass these bills to protect the safety of the public and we appreciate the Congresswoman’s diligence in addressing this important issue.”

The Thermal Runaway Reduction Act focuses on ways to reduce the potential for thermal runaway during the transportation of lithium-ion batteries by doing the following:

• Requiring impact testing for lithium-ion batteries that account for forces experienced in transportation accidents; and

• Requiring the PHMSA to issue regulations that set a maximum state of charge of 30% for lithium-ion batteries set for ground transportation, similar to what is required for air transportation.

• Creates a new competitive grant program at PHMSA to test methods for combatting thermal runaway.

The Firefighter Lithium Awareness and Readiness Enhancement (FLARE) Act would make projects to combat thermal runaway eligible for FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grants.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Legislation to Improve Freight Rail Safety

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus, Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, introduced legislation today to ensure freight rail safety through communities by instituting comprehensive human and automated track inspection requirements.

“Trains carrying hazardous materials run right through my District in the heart of Las Vegas,” said Congresswoman Titus. “The Secure Tracks Act will help ensure that any track defects that put our safety at risk are identified and addressed right away, protecting rail workers and our community from the health and environmental risks associated with derailments. This common-sense legislation will save lives and protect our property and the environment. It is a win-win-win.”

Congresswoman Titus and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Secure Tracks Act which would require that visual track inspections be conducted by a human track inspector at least twice a week. Under this bipartisan legislation, if an inspector finds a track defect, the inspector would need to immediately address it.

This legislation also requires railroads to use Automated Track Inspection (ATI) technology at regular intervals to supplement and support visual track inspections. The Secure Tracks Act leverages safety technology while safeguarding the vital role visual track inspections play in protecting communities surrounding railroad tracks.

This legislation has been endorsed by Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT); the Teamsters Rail Conference; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); the National Conference of Fireman and Oilers (NCFO, SEIU); the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Division (SMART-MD); the Transportation Communications Union (TCU); and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA).

“Wisconsin families and businesses depend on safe and reliable railroads to get them to work, to get their products to customers, and for things they buy at the store. Railroads run through their cities and towns, and they deserve to know that every track is up to snuff and safe,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am all for using technology to keep our trains on the tracks and communities safe from derailments, but what we have learned is that technology can’t do it all alone. It misses things that humans see and hear, and if we want to make sure our railroads are safe, we need both technology and real people who have the experience and knowledge.”

“Safety must be our top priority when it comes to our nation’s railroads,” Senator Hawley said. “Technology can help us monitor our railways but there is no substitute for in-person inspections conducted by railroad professionals. We can’t cut corners, especially when it comes to keeping our trains on the tracks. Technology must serve workers—not the other way around.”

BMWED President Tony Cardwell said, “I want to commend Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) as well as Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV, 1^st District) for coming together to introduce the bipartisan Secure Tracks Act.

“The country’s largest freight railroads, increasingly consolidated in their stranglehold of America’s rail network, are actively attempting to reduce visual track inspections by 50 to 75 percent through what they’re branding as ‘automated track inspection’ (ATI). They are shamelessly putting the safety of communities and rail workers at risk of more track-caused derailments in the name of profit when they are already making more money than ever.

“Sens. Baldwin and Hawley and Rep. Titus recognize that fact. They all understand that ATI is nothing more than a tool — one that can enhance the imperative work that BMWED track inspectors perform daily, but which cannot replicate, let alone replace, the intuition, insight, expertise, and instinct that they have honed through decades of committed professionalism and stewardship of public safety.

“The Secure Tracks Act is a commonsense bill to protect union railroaders and the communities we serve. It will maintain the current twice weekly visual inspections that have kept our rail tracks and communities safe for decades and the requirement that inspectors start fixing track defects immediately when they are found — all while responsibly incorporating technological advancements.

“Rail safety is not a contentious partisan issue. Americans trust the railroads to be safe. The men and women of the BMWED take that public confidence sincerely. Let’s pass the Secure Tracks Act into law so that every American can sleep soundly at night knowing that a professional human track inspector ensured that every inch of our country’s railroad is safe.”

Background:

As the Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Congresswoman Titus has been a champion for rail safety. In June, she wrote a letter to Secretary Duffy urging him to deny a waiver request to drastically reduce the number of visual track safety inspections required of Class I railroads.

Ranking Member Titus has also made it clear that addressing rail safety is a top priority for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. In particular, she is advocating for provisions that take the lessons learned from the East Palestine train derailment to prevent another environmental and health disaster of that magnitude.

U.S. Senate Passes Rep. Titus Legislation to Safeguard Southern Nevada Water

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Senate today passed with bipartisan support legislation introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts.

“Senate passage of this legislation was a critical step in ensuring our water future,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Our precious water supply must be protected. The Horizon Lateral pipeline strikes an important balance. It will protect and enhance water access for Southern Nevada residents and businesses while preserving more of the unique habitat and cultural history of Sloan Canyon. I urge President Trump to sign this critical legislation as soon as possible.”

The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities from water infrastructure projects.

The legislation also would expand the 48,438-acre Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada. The Sloan Canyon NCA contains the Sloan Petroglyph Site, which includes thousands of petroglyphs created by native cultures.

The legislation was approved by the House late last year and now will be sent to President Trump for his signature.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Background:

The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.

Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Canada, Mexico trade ties

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus introduced legislation today to strengthen travel and tourism ties among the United States, Mexico, and Canada by directing the U.S. Trade Representative to convene a working group to develop new travel and tourism strategies.

“President Trump has alienated Canada and Mexico through his words and policies,” Congresswoman Titus said. “We need to rebuild our relationships with two of our largest tourism partners to restore travel to Las Vegas and other destinations. Our tourism economy declined in 2025, costing us jobs and revenue. Half of our international visitors come from Canada and Mexico. We need to win them back.”

The USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act would establish a working group under the auspices of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Representation from the U.S. would include members from the Departments of Commerce, State, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor and Transportation working under the umbrella of the Office of United States Trade. The working group would gather input and advice from trade and tourism companies and formulate strategies to enhance the international competitiveness of the travel and tourism industry in North America, with the goals of creating employment and economic growth.

Travel is America’s top services export and a major engine of jobs and economic growth nationwide. As international visitation to the United States declines, this bipartisan legislation ensures travel and tourism remain a priority in the upcoming USMCA joint review.

Rep. Titus Demands Trump Administration Turn Over Greenland Documents

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Dina Titus today introduced a resolution in the House demanding that the Trump administration provide all documents and communications relating to its threatened takeover of Greenland, including any plan to use military force to seize the Danish territory.

“We need to know if there is anything behind President Trump’s saber-rattling – whether there are concrete plans to invade a country that has been one of our strongest NATO allies,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Denmark fought with us in Afghanistan, and 44 Danes lost their lives. Is this how we treat our allies?”

Congresswoman Titus said the takeover of Greenland would be unprecedented and could mean the end of NATO.

“By levying threats of force against a NATO member, Trump has already broken Article 1 of the North Atlantic Treaty. If he continues down this path, NATO will be dissolved and the strongest, most effective military alliance in history will crumble because Donald Trump wants to play strongman in the hemisphere.”

The Resolution of Inquiry introduced by Congresswoman Titus directs the President and Secretary of State to turn over documents, communications, plans, analyses, and assessments by the Administration pertaining to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and the autonomous governing status of Greenland.

“We have heard Trump bluster about invading Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Congress and the American people need to know whether Greenland is a blueprint for other planned Trump conquests.”

Rep. Dina Titus Applauds Passage of FY2026 Appropriations Package

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced securing $4.8 million for community project funding on behalf of Southern Nevada. All five of Congresswoman Titus’s Community Funding Project requests received final passage as part of the Minibus bill to fund several federal government agencies for Fiscal Year 2026.

“This bipartisan appropriations agreement pushes back against Trump Administration cuts and makes investments in key priorities in Southern Nevada. This bill restores funding for the Bureau of Land Management and unlocks federal assistance for critical infrastructure improvements in Southern Nevada,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “I’m also pleased this spending package includes $4.8 million in funding for projects I proposed for District One. These projects will help Southern Nevada create jobs, improve our climate resiliency, support our law enforcement personnel, boost STEM education opportunities, and protect the health of our community.”

Projects Championed by Congresswoman Titus include:

$980,000 for Boulder City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades. This funding will be used to expand the treatment capacity of existing wastewater facilities while improving their safety and reliability. This project will invest in the water security of the Boulder City community as well as all of Southern Nevada.
Over $1 million for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s Instrumentation for Pathogen Detection in Water project. This funding will be used to purchase equipment to measure the levels of pathogens in water. The project will implement monitoring systems to detect illicit substances like fentanyl, track infectious diseases, deploy solar-powered technology to produce clean drinking water, and provide evidence-based strategies for enhancing health and water security throughout the state. Early detection of diseases like bird flu or mpox in wastewater will also enable rapid acquisition of vaccines and testing resources for at-risk communities.
$750,000 for the Henderson Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Command Vehicle. This funding will be used to replace a two-decades old mobile command vehicle and upgrade associated technologies to deal with community crises. The new Crisis Negotiation Command Vehicle will function as the Henderson Police Department's primary mobile command vehicle and will be outfitted with the latest technology to serve the citizens of Henderson in emergency situations.
Over $1 million for the City of Henderson’s Last Warning Shot Initiative. This will implement a comprehensive anti-violence initiative focused on: improving training for police and prosecutors; providing qualified, consistent forensic examinations; and providing intervention services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. This will prevent homicides through the early detection of non-fatal strangulation incidents as well as timely and appropriate prosecution of domestic violence perpetrators. This project is meant to address domestic and sexual violence, which remains a major concern in Southern Nevada with the state ranking second in the nation for domestic violence. Currently, the region lacks the critical infrastructure to reduce these incidents and implement a fuller community effort.
Over $1 million for the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Mitigating Wildfire Smoke Impacts in Nevada Project. This will enable the Desert Research Institute to partner with NASA to utilize satellite technology combined with AI to mitigate risks associated with wildland fire smoke in Las Vegas and across Nevada. As wildland fires grow in frequency and severity, the dangers to public health and safety have increased exponentially. This project will work to better track, map, and forecast fires and smoke.

Rep. Titus also helped secure significant investments for our public lands and natural landscapes:

Rejects President Trump's proposed cuts to Bureau of Land Management: Secured $1.26 billion for the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Management of Lands and Resources and $59 million for BLM's National Conservation Lands, rejecting deep cuts to both accounts proposed in President Trump's budget request. Congresswoman Titus led an appropriations letter calling for robust funding for both accounts, which are vital to the management and protection of public lands.
Protecting Jobs: The bill includes guardrails to ensure that the BLM maintains staffing levels to protect natural and cultural resources, maintain safe and appropriate access and recreation, and consult with tribes. As a proud member of the House Labor Caucus, Congresswoman Titus has spoken out against efforts by the Trump Administration to lay off federal workers or coerce them into leaving public service.
And $1 million for the Invasive Species in Alpine Lakes Pilot Program. Congresswoman Titus led provisions to reauthorize this vital program as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

The legislation also addresses some of our nation’s biggest challenges:

Maintaining Fiscal Responsibility: Reasserts Congress’s power of the purse through mandatory staffing thresholds and notification requirements;
Keeping Energy Costs Down: Helps address higher energy costs and rising utility bills, increasing investment in electric grid infrastructure by $375 million;
Delivering Justice for Women and Girls: Helps keep our communities safe by increasing funding for Violence Against Women Act grants by $7 million;
Protecting our Water Resources: Invests in water infrastructure and climate resilience by increasing funding for the Army Corps of Engineers by $1.8 billion ($10.4 billion total);
Investing in Clean Energy: Provides $3.1 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy funding, repudiating the Trump administration’s crusade against clean energy;
Confronting the Climate Crisis: Protects the environment with $8.8 billion in EPA funding – nearly double the White House budget proposal;
Creating American Jobs: Puts more Americans to work in good-paying jobs rebuilding our infrastructure; helps small businesses grow and thrive; fosters the green energy jobs of tomorrow; and supports high-quality job training and apprenticeship programs so every American can contribute and succeed.