Young, Shaheen Tout Endorsements for the SECURE Minerals Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to support domestic supply chains for critical minerals to meet national and economic security needs through the creation of a new Strategic Resilience Reserve (SRR).

The legislation is supported by the following organizations: The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, American Critical Minerals Association, Arizona State University, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Breakthrough Institute, Center for Public Enterprise, Employ America, Foundation for American Innovation, Institute for Progress, Jervois USA, New American Industrial Alliance, TechMet, and Zeno Power.

“Sens. Shaheen and Young understand reliable access to critical minerals is key to a healthy and competitive auto industry in America. The SECURE Minerals Act’s new Strategic Resilience Reserve can support secure and accessible critical mineral supply chains, and lessen reliance on China while strengthening American innovation, manufacturing and jobs, and national security,” said John Bozzella, President and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

“The American Critical Minerals Association (ACMA) is excited to see the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements (SECURE) Minerals Act, led by Senators Shaheen, Young, Cortez Masto, and Rounds, alongside Representatives Wittman and Moolenaar. For several years, ACMA and its members have called for federal policy to derisk investments in the critical minerals sector. Alongside permitting reform, workforce development and common-sense tax policies, a strategic resilient reserve will act as an engine of growth for domestic and allied investments in securing the materials supply chain that drives our economy. This bill is a meaningful step in countering China’s monopoly over global markets. It will help catalyze investment as well as support long-term predictability and price transparency for U.S. critical minerals producers, processors, and consumers. ACMA applauds the introduction of this bill and looks forward to engaging with Congress on this effort,” said Sarah Venuto, Executive Director, American Critical Minerals Association.

“The SECURE Minerals Act reflects a clear understanding that economic security and national security are now deeply linked,” said Arizona State University President and Chairman of the Board of In-Q-Tel, Michael Crow. “Securing a reliable, domestic supply of critical minerals is essential to protecting American industries, strengthening our workforce, and reducing dependence on concentrated global supply chains. This legislation positions the United States to compete, innovate, and build lasting partnerships with allies in areas vital to our future.”

“China’s dominance of the global critical minerals supply chain has created an unstable market that hinders domestic critical mineral projects. BPC Action applauds the introduction of the SECURE Minerals Act, which aims to combat price volatility, drive domestic investment in critical minerals, and strengthen American’s mineral security,” said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

“Critical minerals are key to American technological competitiveness and national defense and require a policy environment that supports innovation, protects the market from manipulation, and expands domestic production. A Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation equipped with versatile financial instruments can maximize the efficiency of public sector support while promoting more open and transparent critical commodity markets,” said Dr. Seaver Wang, Climate and Energy Director, Breakthrough Institute. “The SECURE Minerals Act is a crucial part of efforts to modernize and strengthen U.S. critical minerals policy, and will establish the market conditions America needs to compete with China across these vital supply chains.”

“Throughout history, the United States has used the power of its balance sheet to support important sectors and industries of the economy, from housing to energy to transportation. With the growing innovation in the energy sector today, and increasing global pressures on critical minerals, a strategic resilience reserve to support our own domestic supply chain will help create price stability, not just for companies in the short run, but for consumers in the long run,” said Paul Williams, Executive Director, Center for Public Enterprise.

“Employ America is pleased to endorse the SECURE Act, which establishes a strategic resilience reserve, a high priority for the organization since we first proposed it in 2023 and co-authored the proposal with Daleep Singh. We applaud the efforts of Senator Shaheen, Senator Young, Representative Wittman, and Representative Moolenaar towards legislative enactment. The bill would establish an independent government corporation that deploys a robust and varied toolkit for the development of independent, liquid, free, and competitive commodity markets, and thereby combat China’s current market dominance in critical minerals and markets,” said Employ America.

“Senator Shaheen, Senator Young, and Representative Wittman should be commended for their work on the SECURE Minerals Act. The bill’s Strategic Resilience Reserve will effectively combat CCP market manipulation while building transparent, American-led critical minerals markets and supply chains. Lawmakers should expeditiously work to enact this important piece of legislation into law,” said Pavan Venkatakrishnan, Policy Advisor, Foundation for American Innovation.

“China’s rare earth dominance gives Beijing dangerous leverage over America’s industrial base. The Institute for Progress (IFP) strongly endorses legislation to establish a Strategic Resilience Reserve — an independent entity with an expansive toolkit designed to build resilient critical mineral supply chains. Just as Operation Warp Speed proved the government can accelerate innovation through smart incentives, an SRR would support the development of a competitive critical minerals market to outcompete China’s state-directed dominance and secure America’s technological future,” said The Institute for Progress.

“As the owner of America’s only cobalt mine, built at a cost of over $150 million from 2021-23, but never operated, Jervois is case in point for the damage caused by Chinese manipulation of critical minerals markets. With mechanisms such as contracts for differences and advanced market commitments, the SECURE Minerals Act will be key to securing U.S. critical minerals supply chains,” said Matthew Lengerich, President and Executive General Manager, Jervois USA.

“NAIA is proud to endorse the SECURE Minerals Act to establish a strategic resilience reserve for critical minerals. As the importance of critical minerals only continues to rise, it is essential that we use all tools, both public and private, to secure our supply chains. The SECURE Minerals Act enhances our national security and broader economic resilience,” said New American Industrial Alliance.

“As a U.S. company developing nuclear batteries for national security and space missions, we know that secure and reliable supply chains, from critical minerals to strategic isotopes, are essential to American competitiveness in the 21st century,” said Tyler Bernstein, CEO and Co-Founder, Zeno Power. “The SECURE Minerals Act provides domestic and allied critical mineral projects with long-term certainty, shifting leverage away from adversaries and toward U.S. and allied supply chains. It gives companies like ours confidence that we’ll have access to the materials required to manufacture nuclear batteries, technology that’s critical to America’s ability to compete and lead in frontier environments.”


Rep. Balint Raises Alarm Over Reports of Vermont USCIS Employees Sent to Minnesota Amid ICE Enforcement Operations

“At a time when aggressive ICE operations in Minnesota have already led to deadly force and widespread fear in our communities, I am outraged to hear that Vermont USCIS employees are being sent to Minneapolis to play ICE enforcement roles that fall far outside of their mission or their training. These are highly skilled public servants who came to this work to help people navigate the immigration system fairly and lawfully, not to do dangerous door-to-door enforcement. DHS must explain why this is happening and ensure Vermont public servants are not being put in harm’s way or being compelled to carry out work they did not sign up for.”


CLARKE CONDEMNS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S BAN ON IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR 75 COUNTRIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 17, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement:

“Long before he retook office, we knew Donald Trump’s war against immigrants would never be limited to his sadistic obsession with certain undocumented people. Secretary Rubio’s recent announcement that immigrant visas for 75 countries, most of which are majority populated by persons of color, is just another chapter in the Trump Administration’s long crusade of xenophobic cruelty against the most vulnerable people in the world.

“Time and time again, this White House tries to masquerade its prejudices as policy and pretend that its actions are in the legitimate interests of Americans’ needs. As if an administration that slashes public benefit assistance at every opportunity truly cares about the hunger and economic stability of the American people. As if an administration that habitually breaks the law to inflict maximum harm on our immigrant neighbors could ever have a motive centered in anything but nationalist hysteria.

“I, like Secretary Rubio, am a child of immigrants. Who I am is inseparable from who I come from. No matter how desperately Mr. Rubio rejects his identity, the same will always be true for him. With this bigoted action, he has not only betrayed all those from around our world who believed in the American dream, he has betrayed his very heritage as a Cuban-American. I suggest that Marco Rubio take a look in the mirror. If his parents were treated the way immigrants are being treated under his leadership, he would never have had the opportunity to be referred to as Secretary Rubio.

“I demand Secretary Rubio to reverse this racist policy immediately. He should promptly apologize for the pain, confusion, and heartbreak that he has already inflicted on families and their communities all across these United States.”

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Larson Blasts Trump Tariffs Targeting NATO Allies Over Greenland

East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01), a member of the House Trade Subcommittee, blasted President Trump’s new tariffs targeting imports from eight NATO allies who oppose his threats to annex Greenland. This week, as the President’s threats against Greenland intensified, Larson cosponsored the bipartisan No Funds for NATO Invasion Act to block Trump from using military force against Greenland or any NATO territory.

“President Trump’s arrogance is on full display once again, upping the ante with new tariffs that will make life even more expensive for Americans,” said Larson. “As costs continue to rise, the last thing anyone is asking for are higher prices here at home and another trade war further degrading our standing on the world stage. These threats have almost no support – they are just another example of Donald Trump’s ‘narcissistic nihilism.’ When Congress returns on Tuesday, we must immediately vote to end this president’s costly tariff regime. I join with my Democratic colleagues who are ready to act. Where are House Republicans?”

Rep. Larson introduced the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act with Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Don Beyer (VA-08) to block presidents from unilaterally abusing emergency powers to impose tariffs that raise costs. He also introduced a bill with Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38) to suspend the President’s tariffs and require Congress to vote before new tariffs can go into effect, and filed a brief at the Supreme Court in support of a pending challenge to Trump’s tariff regime.


Rep. Maloy Co-Sponsors the Pharmacists Fight Back Acts

Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R, UT-02) last week joined as a co-sponsor of two bipartisan bills aimed at reforming the practices of pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, within Medicare, Medicaid, and federal health programs. The legislation includes the Pharmacists Fight Back in Medicare and Medicaid Act and the Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Health Benefit Plans Act.

The legislation is focused on increasing transparency, ensuring fair pharmacy reimbursement, and lowering costs for patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The bills standardize minimum pharmacy reimbursement rates, require full pass-through of manufacturer rebates to patients and plan sponsors, ban PBM steering toward PBM-owned pharmacies, eliminate spread pricing and clawbacks, and impose new transparency and certification requirements. Enforcement provisions include civil and criminal penalties for violations within federal health programs.

“PBMs play a powerful role in our healthcare system, but that power must come with accountability,” said Congresswoman Maloy. “These bipartisan bills promote transparency, fair dealing, and patient-focused care while helping ensure Utah pharmacies can continue serving the communities that rely on them. I am grateful to Representatives Auchincloss (D, MA-04), Harshbarger (R, TN-01), and Comer (R, KY-01) for introducing legislation that tackles predatory behavior that often victimizes the most vulnerable.”

For Utah, where many rural and independent pharmacies serve as the most accessible point of care, these reforms aim to stabilize local pharmacies and protect patient access to medications and pharmacist services.

State leaders and pharmacy advocates welcomed the legislation.

“Community pharmacy is collapsing, and patients are paying the price,” said Scott Robinson, an owner and operator of eight independent pharmacies with over 25 years of experience. “Pharmacy deserts are spreading across America while PBMs and corporate shareholders grow richer by siphoning money out of patient care. This system is unsustainable, unjust, and dangerous to public health. The Pharmacist Fight Back Bill and related reforms are not optional—they are necessary to stop the bleeding and restore fairness, transparency, and access to care. Every day Congress delays, more pharmacies close and more communities lose access to lifesaving medications and trusted healthcare professionals. Action is needed now—before irreversible damage is done to America’s healthcare system.”

Utah State Senator Evan Vickers, a pharmacist and leader in PBM reform, said, “I sincerely appreciate Congresswoman Maloy tackling this very difficult healthcare issue. These pieces of legislation are designed to cut patient costs, increase access to patients’ choice of pharmacy, and help local independent and chain pharmacies receive the reimbursement for their pharmacy services that will allow them to be profitable. Many small independent pharmacies have had to close their doors. These pieces of legislation will help reverse that trend.”

The Utah Pharmacy Association issued the following statement: "The Utah Pharmacy Association supports the Pharmacists Fight Back Acts currently before Congress and urges swift action to advance these critical reforms. Community and independent pharmacies across Utah are facing mounting financial pressure due to unfair and opaque pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, including below-cost reimbursement, retroactive fees, and patient steering. These practices threaten patient access to medications and essential pharmacy services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The Pharmacists Fight Back Acts would bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the prescription drug marketplace while ensuring pharmacies are fairly reimbursed for the care they provide. Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare providers, and these reforms will help preserve patient choice, protect local pharmacies, and strengthen the healthcare system for Utah families."

The bills apply exclusively to federal health programs and do not affect private commercial insurance plans.


Congresswoman McClain Delaney Statement on ICE's Cruel and Lawless Attacks in Minnesota

WASHINGTON, DC–Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) released the following statement:

"I stand with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey against ICE’s cruel and lawless attacks which are undermining public safety and spreading terror within communities.

"Having just returned from a field hearing in the Twin Cities with local elected officials and affected stakeholders, I realize this Administration’s inhumane immigration policies have nothing to do with the undocumented and everything to do with seizing power through military occupation over our country, exacting political retribution and bowing at the knee to Trump.

"The kind yet resilient people of Minnesota are standing strong, and so must we in Maryland and across this country. I will fight this assault on our democracy, on our American values and people and push back against these lawless kidnappings of our black, brown and AAPI communities – many of whom are citizens, Native Americans, have legal status or are legal observers. Make no mistake that Trump’s paramilitary forces are not just coming for immigrants, but for all of us who do not bend to the Administration’s will."


ICYMI: Rep. Meeks Votes for Over $4 Million in Community Project Funding for Queens Residents

I’d like to hear from my constituents about how the Republican Shutdown and Big Ugly Law will affect you or your loved ones.

I am fighting for lower health care costs, but I need your help. Please complete the form here to explain how the administration’s latest actions are affecting you.


Menendez Participates in Minneapolis Field Hearing on Trump Administration and ICE Abuses

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Just weeks after the killing of a woman by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Congressman Rob Menendez participated in the Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump’s Deadly Assault on Minnesota field hearing, hosted by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05). In Minneapolis, Menendez and a group of 27 House Democrats heard testimony from elected officials, advocates, and victims of ICE and DHS abuses.

“What we've seen unfold in Minnesota is the latest escalation of one of the most egregious attacks on due process, rule of law, and immigrant and human rights that our nation has experienced in decades,” said Congressman Menendez. “I saw the escalation of the Trump Administration's aggression firsthand at Delaney Hall when over 20 armed ICE and HSI agents confronted me, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, and Congresswoman McIver and attempted to impede us from conducting legal oversight. President Trump and Secretary Noem have created a country where no one is safe. We must hold them accountable and protect our communities.”

Witnesses at yesterday’s hearing included Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, advocates, and several community members who have been victimized by ICE’s abusive and aggressive actions.

In addition to Congressman Menendez, Members of Congress and Senators participating in the hearing included Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Ted Lieu (CA-36), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), , Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and James Walkinshaw (VA-11).

Congressman Menendez has been a leader on oversight of ICE. Last year, Menendez, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) were conducting legal oversight at the Delaney Hall detention facility when they were confronted by over 20 armed ICE and HSI agents in an incident that gained national attention. Menendez has signed onto articles of impeachment for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and led efforts to demand that ICE agents identify themselves when conducting enforcement operations.

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Congresswoman Torres Demands Immediate Release of Jose Oleaz, A Pomona Father Detained by ICE

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) is demanding the immediate release of Jose Oleaz, a Pomona resident and father to his 13-year-old nephew, after ICE detained him during a raid this week, leaving a child who has already suffered devastating loss without the father who has been raising him.

Jose Oleaz has lived in the United States for more than 20 years, works steadily, and poses no threat to public safety. Yet ICE detained him anyway, despite knowing he is the primary parent to a minor child.

“This is wrong, we cannot keep letting ICE terrorize our communities,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “ICE detained an innocent father and ripped him away from a 13-year-old child who depends on him for safety, stability, and love. This child has already endured unimaginable loss, and now the government is inflicting even more trauma. ICE should be focused on finding and removing people who pose real threats to public safety, not targeting hardworking fathers who are doing everything right, working day and night to care for their families and keep their children safe.”

Bryan Gonzalez, lost his aunt two years ago. After that tragedy, Oleaz stepped in as Bryan’s father, raising him.

ICE detained Oleaz on Wednesday during a raid in Pomona, ignoring the predictable harm this action would cause to a child who has already endured trauma. Oleaz is the family’s primary breadwinner and also cares for his father, who is battling cancer. He has worked for years at the same landscaping company and is described by family members, educators, and community leaders as responsible, hardworking, and deeply devoted to his family.

“ICE has full discretion to release fathers like Jose Oleaz,” Torres continued. “There is no justification for detaining an innocent man and traumatizing a child. Mr. Oleaz must be released immediately and reunited with his family. Children should never be collateral damage. Bryan deserves his father, and Jose Oleaz deserves to be home.”


ICYMI: Senator Banks Joins Aishah Hasnie on Fox News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) joined Aishah Hasnie on Fox News to discuss President Trump’s healthcare plan and reconciliation plan, and preview the College Football Championship, where Indiana will face Miami in its first-ever CFP title appearance.

Click the image above for the full discussion

Key Excerpts:

ON HEALTHCARE:

Sen. Banks: “President Trump did his job. He put out a concrete substantive plan to bring down the cost of health care for all Americans. And that’s the big takeaway here. The Democrats are pushing to extend the Obamacare COVID -level subsidies foranother three years.. The studies show us that that will only help about a half of 1% of the American people… I’m hearing from small business people. I’m hearing from farmers and families all over Indiana who are saying that their health care premiums are skyrocketing, and the Democrat plan will not help them at all. But President Trump’s plan, there are five pillars of it. It will create more competition, more transparency. It will expand health savings accounts for all Americans and send money to health savings accounts instead of to big insurance companies. His plan is very good, and now Congress needs to do his job and act and pass it. Unfortunately, a lot of the parts of President Trump’s plan were a part of the Senate Republican plan that every single Democrat voted against in the Senate just a month ago… So we got to put it back on the floor, vote for it again, and Democrats should come on board. Every part of President Trump’s plan is something that Democrats before President Trump would have gotten on board with. These are bipartisan ideas, but Democrats won’t vote for it because it’s President Trump’s plan, and in the process, a lot of people are getting hurt because of it.”

ON RECONCILIATION:

Sen. Banks: “…Reconciliation is one option. We can’t do everything that’s in President Trump’s plan with reconciliation because the rules prevent us from doing that. But we have to act now. We have to act quickly. President Trump has given us a framework to work with. And that’s the type of leadership that we’ve come to expect from the White House. And it’s time for Congress to act.”

ON IU FOOTBALL:

Sen. Banks: “I can’t wait. I have never been more excited about a sporting event than Monday night’s national championship football game. The Indiana Hoosiers. What a great story. You’re a Hoosier. I’m a Hoosier. When I was at Indiana University, they were so bad at football that they gave away free tickets just to get students in the stands. This season has been so magical, so much fun for our home state.”

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The Record Matters: Significant Progress and Funding on Regional Sewer Infrastructure Project

January 17, 2026

Note: The following op-ed column is submitted by the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors in response to a recent item posted on DeSoto County News. The opinions expressed are those of the board members and not necessarily that of this publication.

Large infrastructure projects are rarely visible in their early stages, but that does not mean work is not happening. Engineering, permitting, court oversight, phased construction, and funding coordination often occur long before residents see pipes in the ground. The Horn Lake Creek Basin Interceptor Sewer District project is one of those projects.

Recent commentary regarding wastewater treatment in DeSoto County does not fully reflect the actions already taken or the progress now underway. The record shows years of advocacy, significant local investment, and federal funding now advancing through the congressional appropriations process.

Most notably, U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker helped appropriate $17.5 million in federal funding in two bills currently pending before Congress: $2.5 million in the Environmental Protection Agency appropriations bill and $15 million in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers appropriations bill. This funding represents meaningful progress and reflects sustained engagement at the federal level.

At the local level, DeSoto County has already paid $3 million in funds for the project headed by the DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority. Southaven and Horn Lake also contributed $3 million each.

For years, the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors has recognized the complexity and urgency of addressing infrastructure needs tied to the Horn Lake Creek Basin Interceptor Sewer District and the court-ordered transition away from reliance on Memphis wastewater treatment. From the outset, it was understood that this challenge would require both local commitment and outside funding.

At the same time, DeSoto County, DCRUA, Southaven, and Horn Lake are actively lobbying state lawmakers to contribute millions during the current legislative session to help keep the project on schedule and maintain progress toward court-mandated deadlines.

While state funding remains a priority, the project cannot pause while those decisions are made. To ensure work continues without delay, DCRUA has initiated a $27.5 million low-interest loan through the State Revolving Fund. This financing will allow critical phases of the project to stay on track as additional funding sources are pursued.

Where the Project Stands Today

Substantial progress has already occurred, and several critical components are actively moving forward.

Peak flow storage facility: Construction is complete, funded in part by the County’s $3 million. Initial control calibration is underway, and the facility is expected to be fully operational in January 2026.

Effluent pump station and force main: Pre-construction activities are nearing completion. Bids have been received, and construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

Project design: Design for the remaining components is approximately 30 percent complete.

Funding efforts: Federal and state funding requests are advancing.

What Comes Next

The remaining phases of the project are sequenced and scheduled over the coming years.

Construction of the influent pump station and force main is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027.

Construction of the solids handling infrastructure is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2028.

Expansion and improvement of the Johnson Creek mechanical treatment plant is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2029.

Final startup and disconnection from the Memphis wastewater system is scheduled for the first quarter of 2031, ahead of the court-mandated deadline.

A Complex Challenge Requires Sustained Collaboration

This is a $300 million regional infrastructure project involving court oversight, multiple jurisdictions, complex engineering, and layered funding sources. Progress is measured in completed facilities, executed contracts, approved designs, secured funding, and met deadlines.

Additional funding will still be required, and continued collaboration among local, state, and federal partners remains essential. What the record clearly shows, however, is that this work has been treated as a priority and is moving forward.

DeSoto County, DCRUA, and the affected cities will continue advocating for funding, advancing construction, and working toward a permanent wastewater solution that protects public health, supports economic growth, and ensures reliable service for residents across the region.

The record matters — and it shows that this work is underway.


Slotkin Launches Middle Mile for Rural America Act to Strengthen Rural Broadband Infrastructure

Slotkin, Schumer, Baldwin Demand Trump Take Action Against Chinese Automakers, American Workers and National Security at Risk

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Slotkin, Peters, Walberg and Huizenga Call on President Trump to Deliver Aid to Michigan Communities Impacted by Deadly Tornadoes

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Slotkin Joins Colleagues in Raising Concerns to the USDA on Reliability of Data Reports

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Slotkin Statement on Iran War Powers Vote to Rein in President Trump’s War of Choice

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WATCH: In Committee Slotkin Presses Secretary of Homeland Security Nominee Markwayne Mullin on ICE and Elections

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Slotkin Joins Senate Colleagues in Demanding DHS Reduce Delays for DACA Renewals

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Boyle Statement on Trump Tariffs Targeting NATO Allies Over Greenland

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Lead Democrat of the U.S. Congressional Delegation to the NATO Parliament, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that he will impose tariffs on NATO allies that refuse to support his plan to own Greenland:

“President Trump’s belligerent threats against the sovereignty of a NATO ally are doing more damage to this important alliance than any attack from outside ever could.

President Trump is unilaterally slapping tariffs on six NATO nations, alienating our closest allies because he is throwing a tantrum over Greenland. He is succeeding in uniting the world, only against us.

Trump’s tariffs will further weaken NATO and also mean yet another national sales tax that American families will be forced to pay.

It is long past time for Republicans in Congress to stand up and stop the President’s catastrophic economic and foreign policy.”

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Cornyn Joins Fox News Sunday on Conservative Record, Greenland, and President Trump’s Peacemaking Efforts in Iran and Venezuela

AUSTIN – Today on Fox News Sunday, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) joined Shannon Bream to discuss the latest in Iran, Greenland, and Venezuela as President Trump puts American interests first around the world and highlighted his conservative voting record. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

On President Trump’s Pressure Campaign Against Iran:

“Iran has been at war with the West and has American blood on its hands in Iraq and, of course, has threatened to wipe Israel off the map, and developed a nuclear weapons program that thankfully President Trump had the courage and decisiveness to step in and set back months, if not years.”

“The sanctions regime that the President has put into place has weakened the economy, exerting maximum pressure on the regime. But he has multiple options, and only he knows which of those options he will choose, but I’m glad to see him standing up for these protestors.”

On a Potential Deal with Greenland:

“The President rightly understands that this is a strategically important piece of real estate.”

“The President is the consummate dealmaker, and I think he is looking for a deal.”

“I’m glad that Secretary Rubio and the Vice President have been engaging the Danes, because this is something we should be able to do in the best interest of both countries.”

On New Leadership in Venezuela:

“The way that the United States military acted in support of this law enforcement action, which is what it was, to arrest Nicolás Maduro was nothing short of magnificent.”

“The good news is the President has multiple levers to use with Delcy Rodríguez, and I know that Secretary Rubio, and more recently the CIA Director, were down there talking to her. This is going to be a multi-year transition, but I think, in the end, it will be a much better outcome for the people of Venezuela, and it will result in them not being the source of drugs that come into the United States and cause untold human misery.”

On His Conservative Record:

“My voting record is consistently in support of the President’s policies. I helped confirm three new members of the U.S. Supreme Court, we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act back in 2017, and more recently helped to get the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. I’ve been supportive of President Trump, I have a good relationship with him.”


As Housing Costs Continue to Soar, Duckworth Underscores Need for Veteran Affordable Housing

[CHICAGO, IL] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Hope Manor II, one of the first large-scale supportive housing developments for Veterans and their families, highlighting her commitment to affordable housing and access to affordable housing for our Veterans. Duckworth also met with leaders from Volunteers of America and female Veteran residents of Hope Manor II to hear firsthand about the challenges Veterans face in securing safe, affordable housing. Photos from the visit can be found on the Senator’s website.

“It shouldn’t be difficult for our nation’s Veterans to access quality, safe and affordable housing,” said Duckworth. “While President Trump has fired more Veterans from federal jobs than any other president in history and slashed critical VA benefits, I will keep fighting to ensure Veterans and all Americans have access to the affordable housing options they deserve.”

Duckworth has been an outspoken advocate working to expand affordable housing opportunities for Veterans and decrease Veteran homelessness rates. Last week, she joined the Center for American Progress (CAP), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) for a policy summit where they discussed common-sense solutions to address our nation’s housing shortage and lower housing costs for middle-class families and Veterans. The Senator recently helped introduce legislation to protect Veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination.

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As Trump Attempts to Block Billions in Funding for Child Care, Duckworth Meets with Illinois Care Providers

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois child care providers and families to learn more about how Donald Trump’s attempt to block $1 billion in funding for Illinois would gravely impact child care in our state. Duckworth met with Illinois Action for Children leadership including Executive Director April Janney, as well as leaders from It Takes a Village, YMCA, Our Loving Arms, Cuddle Care Child Care Center and PAW Preschool. Photos from today’s meeting are available on the Senator’s website.

“Trump tried to punish our kids and cut billions in child care and other services simply because our state voted against him,” Duckworth said. “Every day this Administration finds new and crueler ways to hurt our communities rather than actually work to make life for American families easier or more affordable. He should leave our children out of his vindictive political games, and I’ll keep doing everything I can to help ensure our families and child care providers have the support they need.”

Last week, the Trump Administration attempted to freeze distribution of $10 billion in federal funding for five Democratic-led states, including $1 billion for Illinois and impacting around 152,000 children. Illinois and the other impacted states filed a lawsuit challenging these attempts, and a federal judge for now has blocked the administration from freezing these funds.

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Gallego Slams Trump’s ICE Tactics on State of the Union

“That’s the danger of this president: he’s not looking out for the safety and security of Americans, he’s looking out for his own personal entertainment.”

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union to call out Trump’s reckless use of ICE, DHS funding, and the President’s threats to take over Greenland.

Watch the full interview here and read excerpts from the conversation below:

On the Pentagon’s reported plans to deploy active-duty soldiers to Minnesota:

“This is what the president has wanted the whole time. There’s no reason for us to even have this many ICE agents running around Minnesota. The president threw them into this very volatile area in order for them to create this environment, because he thinks the military is his toy that he could just use at any time. He wants nothing more than to be able to use them and deploy them to these blue cities to intimidate. Not because it’s going to bring any more safety – as a matter of fact, it will just cause more harm than any kind of safety – but that way he could just say that he did it. That’s the danger of this president: he’s not looking out for the safety and security of Americans, he’s looking out for his own personal entertainment, and he doesn’t care who gets hurt in the in the process of it.”

On reforming ICE:

“I think ICE needs to be totally torn down. It has to be created in the image of what people want. And what does that look like? From my experience running in Arizona – in a very hard, hard state when it comes to immigration and immigration issues – people want immigration enforcement that goes after criminals and focuses on criminals, and immigration enforcement [that] is actually focused on security, not the goon squad that has come from Stephen Miller and Donald Trump. One that issues warrants, one that doesn’t have people mask and acting like they’re a third world police force. What we’re seeing right now is not what we want from ICE, and we can create and have a force that’s actually focused on immigration and on security, and not this type of intimidation that’s happening right now.”

On the DHS funding bill:

“Again, we want a security force that is focused on targeting and deporting criminals. What they’re doing right now is none of that. […] You have men with very little training shooting U.S. citizens. This is not at all what we need. I’m certainly not going to fund something of that nature if it’s only going to cause more problems and more harm and less security for Americans and everyday people that are just trying to live their lives.”

“We cannot keep funding these types of goon squads that are just spreading throughout the whole country just to enforce some weird policy position that Stephen Miller has where he thinks that we have to punish blue cities.”

On what the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland think of Trump’s threats to take over Greenland:

“They’re shocked and they’re trying to find reason within what’s happening here. I try to explain to them there is no reasoning, the president just wants to have a legacy piece where he gets to claim that he brought in this big chunk of land that he sees on the map – even though it’s a distorted map. He’s willing to ruin our whole foreign policy, all of our alliances, our economy, just so he could get what he wants. This man is doing everything for himself and nothing for us.”

“Right now, we can’t even afford health insurance for U.S. citizens, and we’re talking about buying land.”

“Let me just say one more time, Denmark, the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland said, ‘we will give you everything you want short of giving you possession of our land.’ You want more bases, you get more bases. You want to put more people. you get it. The idea that we’re going to waste money for everything we want is the dumbest decision we can make. The only person who can make a decision this dumb is someone that would actually let a casino go under. And guess who’s president right now?”


Statement from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham

“I just finished one of the most consequential and important visits to our great friend Israel since I've been to elected office. We live in very challenging times full of danger but there are incredibly historic opportunities ahead.

“I listened to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ideas about how to build on existing partnerships to secure weapons of the future, and it made a lot of sense. The Prime Minister convinced me that Israel is developing weapons that will change the future of warfare. They would love to partner with the United States, which is the most important form of aid we could ever give them and the most important event that would provide security to both countries. Most importantly, the aid is a partnership and working together on weapons development would significantly enhance the security of both the United States and Israel. I told the Prime Minister this makes eminent sense to me, and I will go back to Washington, looking at this potential joint venture as a 21st century ‘Manhattan Project.’ Failure is not an option -- we have to get ahead of our enemies.

“I have been as clear as I know how to be for a very long time that the ayatollah’s regime in Iran is second to none in terms of threats to the United States, Israel, the region, and the world. If Iran had a nuclear weapon, I know they would use it. They are religious Nazis. We've been working with Israel for years to contain this threat and to cripple the ayatollah’s desire to enact his religious Nazi regime.

“President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have been one of the most successful duos for the security and prosperity for the United States and Israel since the founding of the one and only Jewish state. President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have done great and necessary things to protect Israel, and to make the United States and our allies safer.

“This is an invaluable relationship that will further America’s economic prosperity and security interests. When it comes to Israel, we have common enemies and common values. After my visit, I believe this partnership will continue to pay dividends in historic ways.”


Thurs., January 22: Rep. Chris Smith to chair Foreign Affairs hearing“Advancing Peace in DRC and Rwanda through President Trump’s Washington Accords”

On Thursday, January 22nd, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his fourteenth congressional hearing focused exclusively on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, including the political unrest and human rights violations occurring in the region.

In wake of President Trump’s historic peace deal between Rwanda and the DRC on December 4th, 2025, this hearing will examine the United States’ role in overseeing the peace process and how the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity will function to achieve lasting peace, stability, and wealth in the war-torn region.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on the status of the DRC-Rwanda conflict and the implementation of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity to attain concord in the region.

WHEN: Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

Ms. Sarah Troutman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, other members of the HFAC Africa Subcommittee, and witnesses


The Washington Times article on the dangerous accessibility of the abortion pill'Fueled by pills, the number of abortions nationwide keep rising after Supreme Court's Dobbs decision'

By Sean Salai

Published January 19, 2026

The number of abortions reported nationwide has grown steadily since the Supreme Court returned jurisdiction of the procedure to the states, driven by a surge in mail-order pills.

The pro-choice Society of Family Planning estimates that the U.S. averaged nearly 99,000 abortions per month during the first half of 2025, up roughly 4% from 2024.

The society found that 73% occurred at clinics, compared with 27% through telehealth prescriptions. That’s up from less than 10% of pregnancy terminations occurring remotely in the first six months of 2023.

Nearly half of all prescriptions mailed from April 2022 to June 2025 were issued by doctors in states with “shield laws” supporting pill access to women in states that restricted abortions after the high court’s ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June 2022.

Mifepristone tablets are seen at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Ames, Iowa, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

“Banning abortion does not stop people from doing it,” said Jessie Hill, a reproductive rights legal scholar at Case Western Reserve University. “A huge factor in the post-Dobbs period has been the availability of abortion pills online and the ability for providers operating under shield laws to discreetly mail them into states where abortion is banned.”

However, Ms. Hill noted that “it’s hard to know how real the increase has been” due to decades of incomplete reporting from states and clinics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which relies on voluntary reporting from states, estimates that abortions dropped by 5% from 2013 to 2022. But key jurisdictions such as California, the nation’s largest abortion-providing state, do not report their numbers.

Chaos from a lengthy federal government shutdown and layoffs delayed the CDC from releasing its annual abortion surveillance report at the end of last year.

That report is now expected this spring. It will offer the first federal snapshot of abortions through 2023, the first full year after the high court’s 2022 ruling.

Meanwhile, the Society of Family Planning’s “We Count” project has surveyed abortion providers and health departments directly since April 2022.

Michael New, a professor of social research at the Catholic University of America who studies the topic, said its numbers confirm that mail-order abortions have offset declines in states that have restricted the procedure.

At the same time, he noted that three separate studies of Texas data found that 1,000 more babies have been born each month since the state became the first to restrict abortions in September 2021.

“Telehealth abortions have weakened many of the strong pro-life laws that were enacted in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision,” said Mr. New, an affiliated scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute. “That said, there is a solid body of research that shows state birth rates are increasing faster in states with strong pro-life laws.”

The Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, a 1973 landmark case that legalized abortion nationally. Thousands of pro-life activists will mark Roe’s anniversary in the 53rd annual March for Life at the Supreme Court on Friday, Jan. 23.

Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who has attended every March for Life, pointed to reports that 200,000 fewer abortions have occurred in the 20 states that restricted the procedure at various stages of pregnancy after Dobbs. That includes Idaho, Indiana, Florida and Alabama.

“The existential threats to life and human dignity continue, however,” Mr. Smith said in a statement. “There is important work to be done in this new year, especially in exposing the risks posed to women and children by the chemical abortion drug mifepristone, which is used to procure at least six out of ten abortions in the United States.”

Bitter pill

Medication abortions, also known as chemical abortions, commonly involve a two-drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol. The pro-choice Guttmacher Institute estimates that the regimen was used in 63% of abortions reported in the U.S. in 2023, up from 53% in 2020 and 24% in 2011.

Since President Trump returned to office a year ago, pro-lifers have urged Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary to publish a review of the side effects of mifepristone and restrict it based on those findings.

In November, 175 Republican lawmakers signed a letter urging the FDA to reinstate in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone, which the Biden administration lifted during the pandemic.

“The primary action needs to take place at the agency level,” Kristi Hamrick, a vice president at Students for Life of America, said in an email.

Meanwhile, attorneys general in states such as Texas, Florida and Louisiana have sued to stop the flow of mail-order pills into their states.

“Trump could take action, or the Supreme Court could declare the shield laws unconstitutional,” said Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston. “What I would say is that the doomsday predictions in Dobbs have not come to pass, largely because of the mailing of pills.”

Experts on both sides say the Trump administration is unlikely to act before November’s midterm elections. That makes the federal courts the best chance pro-lifers have to stifle the flow of prescriptions between states.

“I think President Trump thinks that pro-life policies are a political loser that will hurt Republicans in the midterm elections,” said Mr. New of Catholic University. “The best short-term strategy for pro-lifers is to support litigation against out-of-state medical professionals who are mailing chemical abortion drugs into pro-life states.”

Mary Ziegler, a leading historian of the legal abortion debate, said federal courts have become the wild card as the Trump administration “postpones having a policy” on mifepristone.

“There’s been a lot of ’let’s do lunch’ coming from the Trump administration,” said Ms. Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis. “They’re not saying they won’t do it; they’re just taking their time and avoiding unpopular policies that could hurt Republicans in 2026.”

In a statement emailed to The Washington Times, the White House insisted that the FDA’s forthcoming “gold standard science” review of mifepristone requires time to complete.

“The White House maintains the utmost confidence in Commissioner Makary, whose leadership at the FDA has delivered and continues to deliver one landmark victory for the American people after another, from cracking down on artificial ingredients in our food supply to conducting the first safety review of baby formula in decades,” said Kush Desai, a White House spokesman.

More abortions

Abortions started increasing nationwide long before the Dobbs decision.

Researchers say the best estimates come from Guttmacher, which has periodically surveyed all known abortion providers since the procedure became legal in 1973.

According to the group’s data, abortions jumped after the FDA expanded access to abortion pills in 2016 and after it stopped requiring in-person medical visits in 2021.

Guttmacher found that 807 clinics conducted 930,160 abortions in 2020, up 8% from 863,320 in 2017 and reversing 37 years of decline.

Leading the way, the study found clinics and doctors’ offices reported pill abortions jumped by 45% from 339,650 in 2017 to 492,210 in 2020.

Guttmacher counted 1,038,000 abortions in states “without total bans” in 2024, up less than 1% from 2023 and 12% from 2020.

Kelsey Pritchard, communications director at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said abortion foes will not rest until the Trump administration restricts mifepristone.


LifeNews.com article on the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act'House Republicans Advance Bill to Protect Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers'

By Laura Echevarria

Published January 19, 2026 at 4:26 PM

Congress took a key step to protect pregnancy help organizations from ideological attacks, advancing legislation that affirms states’ authority to support pregnancy centers that provide critical assistance to women and families.

The legislation was introduced on January 6, 2026, by Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), with Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY).

“We applaud and thank Representatives Michelle Fischbach, Chris Smith, and Claudia Tenney for standing up for women, strengthening families, and recognizing the vital work of pregnancy centers,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life.

On January 14, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. The bill clarifies that states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to sup

port pregnancy centers and prevents federal agencies from blocking that support through regulation or reinterpretation of the law. Every Republican on the Ways and Means Committee voted to advance the bill, while every Democrat voted against it.

“National Right to Life strongly supports the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. Pregnancy centers often face discrimination simply because they are committed to protecting unborn life,” said Tobias. “The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act makes clear that states may support pregnancy centers without fear of federal interference, ensuring that women are not denied access to real help and meaningful alternatives.

H.R. 6945 amends Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act to make explicit that nothing in federal law may be used to prohibit states from directing TANF funds to pregnancy centers. The bill also clearly defines pregnancy centers as organizations that protect the lives of both mother and unborn child while providing services such as pregnancy testing, prenatal and parenting education, relationship counseling, and material assistance including diapers, baby clothes, and other essentials.

House leadership is expected to bring H.R. 6945 to the floor this week. If passed, the bill will move to the Senate for consideration.

National Right to Life’s scorecard letter to representatives can be found here.

This article was published on January 19, 2026 and can be found online at:


Crow Marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Denver’s Annual Marade

DENVER — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) marked this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in the Denver Marade, an annual march and protest honoring the memory of Dr. King, and by continuing King’s legacy of service making meals in Aurora for Coloradans in need.

At the Marade, Crow spoke alongside fellow elected officials; former Mayor Wellington Webb and the Honorable Wilma Webb; Vern Howard, Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission; Pastor Odie Kennedy, President of the Greater Metropolitan Denver Ministerial Alliance; and others. This year marked Denver’s 40th annual Marade.

See below for a full transcript of Crow’s remarks at the Marade.

Later in the day, Crow joined volunteers at the Mile High Commissary to make meals for Coloradans in need.

In his remarks at the Marade, Crow said:

“Dr. King was a man of faith, and he pulled and often talked about this idea of servant leadership that was discussed by Jesus in the book of Matthew, where he said that if you want to lead, you must first be a servant of people.

“It's rooted and grounded in service and servant leadership. That was the foundation of Dr. King. That was the foundation of all great leaders, in fact.

“Service and servant leadership, though, requires courage, and courage requires the willingness to make sacrifices and to put your own good aside for the good of others.

“We are in a moment that requires tremendous sacrifice, if you want to lead, because we are surrounded by a lot of cowardice. That is the truth.

“We are seeing so much cowardice. Law firms bending the knee. Universities capitulating. CEOs kissing the ring. Over and over again, people cowing, bowing, prostrating themselves to the altar of Donald Trump.

“But when this moment is written in history, it will not be their story—because great moments and great times are never the story of cowards. It is always the story of the heroes.

“It's the story of people like Yeoman Wilder—a Little League coach in Harlem—because when Coach Wilder was sitting there teaching his little league baseball players, ICE agents descended on that field and started to harass and intimidate his kids. Yeoman put himself in between the kids and those agents, and he said, ‘No, these are my kids. This is my field. Leave.’ He later said he'd be willing to sacrifice himself, his freedom, and his life if it came down to it.

“It's the story of the millions of Americans stepping up, the protests, the No Kings rallies, the story of people videoing and filming and documenting the abuses of federal agents and the abuses of this Administration. Because accountability will eventually require that documentation.

“People need to know that when they cow and they bow and they prostrate themselves and they turn their back on the law and the Constitution that we will remember. We are taking names. There will be accountability.

“So this is our moment. Fear is contagious. Donald Trump knows that. But so is courage. Courage is contagious. And if we are willing to sacrifice and to serve and to put ourselves into the fire, people will follow.

“Donald Trump thinks he can threaten and intimidate me. He thinks he can send the FBI after me and the DOJ after me. Well, he's chosen the wrong person. If he thinks that I will be threatened and intimidated and others like me will be threatened and intimidated, he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. Bring it on.

“I'm willing to sacrifice everything I have for this country. I have seen my friends and fellow Americans give their life for this country. I will not back down.

“I spent the formative periods of my life as a young man as a paratrooper. Paratroopers, first of all, are the most comfortable and at ease surrounded and behind enemy lines. But there's a tradition in paratroopers that when you're in the plane, the leader of the unit jumps first. And then the others follow—because courage is contagious.

“Dr. King knew that. He lived by it. This is our moment. I'm all in. The Webbs are all in. You're all in. It's time to get this done.”

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Congressman Don Davis Welcomes New Department of Defense Legislative Fellow

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) announced the start of his new Department of Defense Legislative Fellow, Master Sergeant Adan Garcia. A native of Mission, Texas, he has served in the United States Air Force for 13 years as an aerospace medical technician. Garcia has vast experience in clinical instruction, outpatient, and pre-hospital care. He holds an undergraduate degree in public health from American Military University (Charles Town, West Virginia) and a graduate degree in health administration from the University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas).

Garcia most recently served as a legislative fellow at the United States Air Force Surgeon General’s Congressional and Public Affairs Office, where he was the primary enlisted congressional advisor to the Surgeon General and Air Force Medical Command, impacting 56,000 personnel, 3,000,000 TRICARE beneficiaries, and operating with a $2.8 billion budget across 76 medical treatment facilities.

“North Carolina’s 1st District is fortunate to welcome Master Sergeant Garcia. His healthcare expertise will be put to good use as we work to ensure the well-being of our military families and veterans,” said Congressman Don Davis. “He is ready to serve the servicemembers and their families who call eastern North Carolina home. We are thrilled to have him on the team.”

Adan Garcia

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LEADER JEFFRIES IN NEW YORK CITY ON MLK DAY: “MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IS THE ONLY KING WE CELEBRATE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke at celebrations of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Brooklyn and Harlem where he emphasized how House Democrats will continue to keep Dr. King’s work alive in the face of attacks from extremists.

Zion Baptist Church’s MLK Day Celebration:

LEADER JEFFRIES: Dr. King, of course, taught us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and that we all have the responsibility to show up and stand up and speak up for what is right and to channel his courage, his character and his conviction to continue to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice. So I’m thankful for Dr. King in the midst of all these challenging times we can be inspired by what he and other civil rights heroes and foot soldiers were able to accomplish. Made the impossible possible. Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Fair Housing Act. Made the impossible possible to lay a foundation for us to take the baton and keep moving forward.

And in addition, of course, as I close, to Dr. King being a great civil rights leader, we know he was a Baptist preacher, a man of God. This is why here in Brooklyn, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King is the only king we celebrate, not the wannabe authoritarian.

National Action Network’s MLK Day Public Policy Forum:

LEADER JEFFRIES: We’re gonna continue to work hard to make life better for the American people while we push back against the extremism. We believe that in this great country, standing on the shoulders of Dr. King, if you work hard and you play by the rules, you should be able to live a comfortable life, an affordable life, live the good life, good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education for your children and a good retirement. Which by the way means, making sure these extremists keep their hands off your Social Security and your Medicare at all times. Work hard, play by the rules, live the good life.

But trouble all around us. Yet we’re not distressed, because we know that Dr. King gave us the vision, the dream, the blueprint, for addressing societal ills. Urging us at all times to show up, and stand up, and speak up for what we know is right. And to summon that courage, that character and that conviction of Dr. King and those civil rights heroes and foot soldiers. The same courage that Reverend Sharpton encourages us to continue to display today. And that in doing so, we can bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.

NOBLE MLK Day Celebration at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church:

LEADER JEFFRIES: You know, we want to move the country forward, these extremists are trying to turn back the clock. We’re fighting hard to bring people together. They’re tearing us apart. We believe in truth and reconciliation. They want to erase our history. But civil rights history and Black history, that’s American history. We will never let them erase it, which is why it’s important for all of us to continue to convene. Today there are going to be some folks who are gonna celebrate Dr. King, and then they’re gonna come to Washington tomorrow and denigrate diversity, equity and inclusion. Which, by the way, those are values that were articulated by Dr. King, because they are American values.

Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 40th Annual MLK Day Celebration:

LEADER JEFFRIES: I think I’ve learned throughout the years serving in Congress that while Jim Crow may be dead, he’s still got some nieces and nephews that are alive and well. Wickedness in high places. And so, of course, we’ve got challenges all around us as they’ve released this unprecedented extremism on the American people. An attack on the economy, an attack on healthcare, an attack on nutritional assistance, an attack on our veterans, an attack on law-abiding immigrant families who we will always defend with who we are as Americans, an attack on the rule of law, of course, on the American way of life and democracy itself.

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Release: Rep. Khanna’s Statement on Epstein Survivor Haley Robson’s Letter Urging Court to Enforce Epstein Files Transparency Act

Washington, DC — Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, released the following statement after Haley Robson, survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, filed a letter with Judge Richard M. Berman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asking the Court “to intervene and require the Department of Justice to comply with the Epstein Transparency Act.” The letter was also sent to Judge Paul Engelmayer.

The letter comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded to Judge Engelmayer’s order denying Reps. Khanna and Massie’s motion to appoint a special master to oversee the release of the Epstein files.

“Today marks one month since the December 19th deadline for the Department of Justice to release the full Epstein files with redactions to protect the identities of the survivors. The passage of my law was only possible because of Haley Robson and the survivors who courageously shared their stories and demanded justice and transparency. The DOJ’s failure to release the full files is a betrayal of the survivors and a flagrant violation of the law. As Haley’s letter notes, some of the most critical documents for transparency have not been released: the FBI 302 victim interview statements, a draft indictment and prosecution memorandum prepared during the 2007 Florida investigation, and hundreds of thousands of emails and files from Epstein’s computers. Refusing to release these files only shields the powerful individuals who were involved and hurts the public’s trust in our institutions,” said Representative Ro Khanna.

Read the text of Haley Robson’s here and below:

Dear Judge Berman,

My name is Haley Robson. I am a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, and I write this letter on behalf of myself and numerous other survivors whose lives were forever changed by crimes that were enabled, facilitated, and concealed by powerful individuals who have yet to be held accountable.

Many of us have spoken publicly, at great personal cost, in support of the Epstein Transparency Act. I personally spoke at both press conferences on Capitol Hill and have been very outspoken in advocating for its passage, believing—as we all did—that once Congress acted, the Federal government would comply with the law and finally allow truth and accountability to prevail.

The Epstein Transparency Act required the Department of Justice to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein and his criminal enterprise within 30 days. That statutory deadline has long since passed. To date, the Department of Justice has failed to comply. When they began releasing documents, they posted hundreds of thousands of pages of documents that had already been publicly available for years. These documents did not provide us with the transparency and accountability that Congress intended or that we deserve as survivors.

We know that the Department of Justice still has failed to release the most important documents for transparency including:

Hundreds of thousands of pages of emails other documents from computers that were taken from Jeffrey Epstein’s email accounts during the 2018 and 2019 investigations into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. We know these exist because even news organizations like Bloomberg have obtained and reported on them. How is the press releasing this type of evidence before the Department of Justice?

Our victim interview statements from the first investigation in Florida and the later investigations in New York. We know that the Department of Justice has our FBI 302 statements. Why haven’t those been released with our names redacted?

The 53-page draft indictment and an 82-page prosecution memorandum prepared during the 2007 Florida investigation that we hope will help us understand how Jeffrey got away with what he did to all of us when we were kids in Florida. We deserve to know what crimes the government knew he had committed because they gave him his immunity deal in Florida.

As survivors, this failure is not merely procedural—it is deeply personal. Continued noncompliance perpetuates the same secrecy that allowed these crimes to continue unchecked for years. It reinforces the painful and all too familiar message that while the law governs ordinary people, it does not govern the government and the wealthy, powerful individuals whose actions enabled widespread abuse. We do not seek vengeance. We seek accountability, transparency, and equal application of the law, just like our Congress promised us through the Act.

Each survivor has already paid a tremendous price. Coming forward has required extraordinary courage, exposing ourselves to public scrutiny, retaliation, and lifelong emotional consequences. We did so with belief in our government and trusting that when Congress passed this law, the Executive Branch would honor it. Instead, we are met with continued delay, silence, and ongoing protection of identities that should no longer remain hidden.

Judge Berman, the way that you have correctly enforced the Crime Victims’ Rights Act at every stage of the criminal process is something that we appreciate. We now respectfully ask the Court to intervene and require the Department of Justice to comply with the Epstein Transparency Act as enacted by Congress. The judiciary serves as a vital safeguard to ensure that no branch of government is above the law. When statutory mandates are ignored—particularly those intended to bring justice and transparency to victims—the integrity of our legal system is placed at risk.

We ask that the Court help ensure that the law is followed as written, that disclosures are complete and not improperly withheld or over-redacted with respect to those who are not survivors, and that continued delays or discretionary noncompliance do not further retraumatize us. Oversight would protect the integrity of the process while preserving the Court’s authority and ensuring fairness to all parties.

We understand the seriousness of requesting judicial intervention and oversight. We do not make this request lightly. We make it because survivors have waited decades for truth to be acknowledged and for accountability to follow. We were promised transparency. We were promised action. We are still waiting.

We are asking this Court to help ensure that the law is enforced as written, without further delay, and without continued shielding of those who enabled or participated in these crimes.


Larsen Releases Statement on Trump’s Greenland Comments

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement on Presidents Trump's comments about taking over Greenland:

“The Arctic has always been a keen focus of Scandinavian countries, including the Kingdom of Denmark. The President’s latest comments serve only to undermine NATO’s growing focus on the Arctic, a focus that NATO parliamentarians have successfully championed.

"His comments also continue to play into the Russian and Chinese narrative that the world should be split into areas of influence. The U.S. is stronger with allies and partners working towards democracy, freedom and opening markets and not by pursuing a national security based on hurt feelings.

"I will deliver this message in the opportunities I have over the next month when I visit with partners and allies.”

Rep. Larsen is a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), which facilitates awareness and understanding of the key issues affecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and supports national parliamentary oversight over defense and security.

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Rep. Nancy Mace Moves To Bar Violent Criminals From Government Jobs And Contracts

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 19, 2026) – Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced two bills to prohibit individuals with final convictions of violent crimes from working for the federal government and the District of Columbia government.

The No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act bars anyone convicted of a violent crime from accepting or holding any position in federal civil service or working on federal contracts. The No Convicts Running the Capital Act applies the same prohibition to D.C. government employment and contracts.

"This is common sense. If you've been convicted of a violent crime, you have no business working for the government or cashing taxpayer checks," said Congresswoman Mace. "Hard-working Americans shouldn't have their tax dollars funding the salaries of violent criminals, and the American people should not have to wonder if violent felons are put in positions of public trust."

The federal government and the nation's capital should be setting the standard for public safety and accountability, not employing people who have committed violent crimes. Rep. Mace’s newest legislation closes a dangerous loophole and ensures violent offenders are kept off government payrolls.

Key Provisions:

No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act:

Prohibits individuals with final convictions for crimes of violence from federal civil service positions.

Bars federal contracts with entities controlled by violent criminals or who have violent criminals working on the contract.

Requires removal of current employees with violent crime convictions.

Includes waiver authority for unique circumstances where contract termination would impose undue burden to the government.

See the bill text for the No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act here:

No Convicts Running the Capital Act:

Prohibits D.C. government from hiring individuals with final convictions for crimes of violence or dangerous crimes.

Bars D.C. contracts with entities controlled by violent criminals or who have violent criminals working on the contract.

Requires termination of current employees and contracts within 90 days.

See the bill text for the No Convicts Running the Capital Act here:

Both pieces of legislation define "finally convicted" as convictions where appeals have been exhausted or the time to appeal has expired.

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MATSUI STATEMENT ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) issued the following statement commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us that progress has never come from comfort, but from people willing to stand together and demand justice,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “In Sacramento, a city shaped by generations of civil rights leaders and community advocates, we know that the fight for racial justice has always been driven by love, compassion, and collective action. Dr. King stood up during an unprecedented time in history, when racism, fear, and division were used to hold people back. Today, as our country once again faces uncertainty and Americans’ civil rights are under attack, we are called to meet this moment with the same courage, moral clarity, and determination that defined his legacy.”


ICYMI: The New Yorker on The Congresswoman Criminalized for Visiting ICE Detainees

Facing 17 Years in Prison, McIver Highlights ICE Abuses and Political Targeting

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, this morning, The New Yorker published a long-form profile of Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), who is facing 17 years in prison over a legally authorized congressional oversight visit.

The piece sheds new light on the inner workings of the Department of Justice as it prosecutes McIver and contextualizes McIver’s oversight actions with new reporting, including that based on body cam footage from McIver’s May encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Below are excerpts from the reporting. The full piece is available here.

On the case in context:

“No one else in Congress is facing what she’s facing,” Lateefah Simon, a Democratic representative from Oakland, California, said. “Typically, we would say, ‘Oh, they’re just trying to scare her.’ They’re actively litigating this case.” At one point, a federal judge ordered Justice Department lawyers to instruct Administration officials to stop lying publicly about the incident.

In the months since, the President’s taunts on social media have brought Fox News coverage, death threats, and a motion by House Republicans to censure McIver on the chamber floor.

The prosecution of McIver was the first in a pattern of escalating attacks by the Trump Administration against Democratic officeholders.

On the need for unannounced oversight visits and the critical importance of protecting oversight responsibilities, especially of ICE:

[In 2019], members of the Homeland Security Committee published a report describing how ICE officials had “used the advanced warning to improve the conditions.” They observed fresh paint, cleaning supplies, the assignment of new guards, and the transfer of detainees from solitary confinement to the general population.

McIver and her legal team are appealing the judge’s ruling, arguing that her case for legislative immunity should carry more weight. There are compelling legal arguments for this. Josh Chafetz, a professor at Georgetown Law, told me, “Oversight of ICE would include monitoring their conduct outside the gates of Delaney Hall when they tried to arrest the Mayor.”

As a Black woman, [McIver] felt that the suggestion that she hadn’t been doing her job in May was like being told she didn’t deserve the job. “It brought me back to a different time, a time before the civil-rights movement,” she said. “It was racism. It was lack of respect.” (The morning of the incident, the agent who shoved McIver “used a racial slur to refer to African Americans” in a text message sent to the other agents at the facility, according to a recent court filing by McIver’s lawyers, who’ve seen the messages; for now the texts are under seal by the district court.)

On the unfolding of the case inside the DOJ and the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s office, which was, at the time of McIver’s indictment, led by Alina Habba, Trump’s former personal attorney:

Habba, who was in sporadic contact with McIver’s lawyers, then seemed to suggest that she might have McIver arrested—to choreograph a perp walk in front of news cameras.

I recently asked a lawyer who had worked at the Public Integrity Section whether the indictment seemed solid. “I don’t see there being a viable case at all,” the lawyer said. McIver had been at Delaney Hall for an official legislative function, and the officers themselves had seemed to cause “chaos and mass confusion.”

On the administration’s unlimited resources:

Legislative immunity was also important to [McIver] because, without it, the Administration could punish her even in the absence of a trial. Her campaign was running out of money; the government’s prosecutorial resources were infinite. “It’s all about tearing down a Democratic member of Congress,” she said. “It’s about embarrassing, bullying, intimidating so that everyone can watch.” McIver began to tear up. “They probably thought, No one’s gonna fucking pay attention to her. This is great. Let’s use her as an example.”

By December, [McIver] had already racked up close to a million dollars in legal fees. Owing to House rules, the expenses have come out of her campaign funds, meaning that, in the months before her 2026 reëlection campaign, the money she’s raising will go almost exclusively toward her defense.

On the abhorrent conditions at Delaney Hall and what McIver witnessed:

“I expect bad news all the time from these places,” McIver told me, in reference to ICEdetention centers. “But I knew something would happen at Delaney.” When she and the other representatives had toured the facility [in May], they noticed certain irregularities. The phones weren’t working, and they got stuck in an elevator. It was lunchtime, but the kitchen was empty. “You didn’t even have a sniff of food,” McIver told me.

[In December], ICE announced that Jean Wilson Brutus, a forty-one-year-old Haitian detained at Delaney Hall, had died while in custody. [...] McIver called me a few nights later, sounding both outraged and resolved. The next morning, she told me, she was planning on returning to Delaney Hall[.]

A Venezuelan woman [detained at Delaney Hall] told McIver that, weeks before, out of desperation to leave U.S. custody, she’d signed a so-called voluntary-departure order. Inexplicably, she’d been transferred to another facility, in Louisiana, then returned to Delaney Hall… McIver’s fiery, sometimes combative public persona was gone; in its place was the heavy-lidded look of someone overwhelmed by what she’d just witnessed.

McIver, on her work, as it continues:

“I came to Congress literally to do the job and work for people and protect them.”

The New Yorker profile comes as McIver nears an important deadline in her ongoing case. Tomorrow, January 20th, is the deadline for McIver to decide whether to appeal a pretrial motion on legislative immunity related to the final count in her indictment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

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Statement by Congressmembers Menendez, Watson Coleman, and McIver in Support of New Jersey Immigrant Protection Legislation

“Over the past year, our immigrant communities in New Jersey have lived in a constant state of fear as the Trump Administration has invaded our streets with ICE agents, tearing apart families and terrorizing our cities and towns.

“We firmly believe that we should be doing everything possible at all levels of government to protect all of our communities. That is why we strongly support the three immigrant protection bills on the Governor's desk. These bills, which we applaud our state legislature for passing, would stop sensitive data from being shared with the federal government, protect immigrants in sensitive locations, and codify the Immigrant Trust Directive.

We must and will continue to stand with immigrants and take urgent action to protect our neighbors.”


Walberg Recognizes Niles Veteran

Today, Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05) recognized Jim Gillis of Niles as the Veteran of the Month for January, presenting him with the Congressional Record containing his remarks honoring Jim's service and legacy.

Jim Gillis served for 21 years as a Military Policeman (MP) within the United States Army. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class and deployed repeatedly with some of America’s finest Brigade Combat Teams and Divisions.

Jim was awarded over 40 U.S. Army and Department of Defense medals. He was also named Division Iron Man, MP War Fighter, MP of the Quarter, Sergeant of the Year, and Distinguished Soldier of the Month for both Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps.

After his lengthy service to our nation, Jim spent an additional 18 years as a U.S. Army civilian. He was also a Troops to Teachers participant and has been working to establish a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at Edwardsburg High School to prepare our nation's youth for a life of service.

"It is a privilege to recognize Jim Gillis as the Veteran of the Month for January," said Rep. Walberg. "After dedicating over two decades of his life to defending our freedoms, Jim continued his service to our nation as a U.S. Army civilian. Throughout his life, he has led by example with integrity, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. Thank you, Jim, for answering the call to serve and ensuring the next generation is prepared to lead."


Senator Banks Statement on IU Football’s Historic Victory

MIAMI – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) released the following statement after IU Football’s 27-21 victory over the University of Miami. Indiana University becomes the first school to finish the season 16-0 in the modern college football playoff schedule.

Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “An incredible win to cap off a season that rewrote the record books. Coach Curt Cignetti raised the bar and built something special. The entire state of Indiana is proud of this team. What a time to be a Hoosier!”

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U.S. Senator Katie Britt Sends Letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Champions Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighting the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project and requesting the Department’s continued partnership in seeing this project completed.

“As you know, this is a large and complex project, but importantly, it is the largest shovel-ready infrastructure project in the country. Advancing it would be a significant milestone in President Trump’s commitment to improving American infrastructure,” Senator Britt wrote.

“After years of work on engineering, design, and financing, the project has reached a critical point of inflection before it can progress to construction and completion. Accordingly, I respectfully request your and the Department’s assistance in resolving the remaining obstacles so that the State can move forward and begin construction,” she noted.

Senator Britt continued, “To that end, I request your help in convening the right senior leadership and technical staff from the Department to meet with the relevant stakeholders from the State to assess feasibility, identify the best course of action, and determine next steps.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Senator Britt, who twice led the entire Alabama Congressional delegation in advocating on behalf of investing federal funds in this project, celebrated a $550 million investment in the project in 2024.

Last year, Senator Britt applauded Secretary Duffy’s announcement finalizing the $550 million in federal funding. “This strategic investment is exactly how federal transportation and infrastructure funds should be spent, and I am proud we worked together to bring these Alabama taxpayer dollars home,” she stated in part.

Senator Britt has repeatedly advocated for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project in the Senate and has received previous commitments from Secretary Duffy to prioritize this important infrastructure project.

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In Chicago, Duckworth Honors King’s Legacy of Service and Commitment to Justice

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) commemorated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today by joining local leaders and speaking about the value of service and the importance of community. Duckworth began her day at Rainbow PUSH’s annual breakfast, where she honored Dr. King’s words to Chicago 60 years ago and how his message is more pertinent than ever today. Photos from this event can be found on the Senator’s website.

“Here in Illinois, Dr. King asked us to imagine a better, fairer tomorrow,” Duckworth said. “He talked about justice, and of the great big power of even the smallest acts of kindness. He spread the message that if America was to become that more perfect Union our founders dreamed of, it would need to value compassion over might—a desire to be good over a need to be great. Today, nearly 60 years later, his words ring just as true.”

Duckworth continued her day at City Year Chicago’s annual MLK Day of Service where she joined City Year Chicago and Americorps members to help complete various beautification projects at Morgan Park High School, honoring Dr. King’s legacy through action, unity and service. Duckworth ended her day with a visit to the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s (GCFD) Prepared Meal Site, where she toured the facility she helped secure $450,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for in Fiscal Year 2023. GCFD distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and community programs, serving more than 800,000 adults and children every year. Photos from the City Year Day of Service are available on the Senator’s website, as well as photos from the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“Decades ago, Dr. King asked us one of life’s most persistent and urgent questions: ‘What are you doing for others?’,” Duckworth said. “We must remember that American service isn’t just about picking up a rifle and rucksack—it can also be about picking up a paint brush, piece of chalk or a clipboard to improve the lives of those around us. Through service, we can say a small thank you to the incredible Americans, like Dr. King, who work to make this nation better, safer and more just for all.”

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Senator Heinrich Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which falls on Monday, January 19.

“When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in December 1964, he spoke about the imperative to protest injustice and remedy poverty. He told the group gathered that he did so ‘with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind'.

“It had been only months since three men were murdered for trying to register Black voters in Mississippi and less than two years since fire hoses and dogs were unleashed on Black children protesting in Alabama.

“Even in the face of this brutality, King assured all listening: ‘We shall not flinch. We shall not be cowed. We are no longer afraid.’ To live together in brotherhood, he insisted we must ‘reject revenge, aggression and retaliation’.

“As we watch leaders today choose revenge, aggression, and retaliation over brotherhood, it can be easy to lose hope, to stand down, or to stay quiet.

“But we can also choose an abiding, audacious faith in one another and in this country. We can also say with clarity and confidence that we will not flinch and we will not be cowed.

“Today, as we honor the words and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope you will join me in committing to also honor him with our actions, as we face and overcome today's uncertainties.”

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Hoeven Joins Community Celebration for Acquisition of Devils Lake Hospital, Agreement was Approved by Pope Leo XIV, First American Pope, with Final Transition to Occur March 1

Senator Thanks Mayor Moe, Altru, CommonSpirit Health & Entire Community for Efforts to Bring Best Possible Health Care to the Lake Region

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today joined officials from Altru Health System and CommonSpirit Health for a community celebration to mark the acquisition of Devils Lake Hospital. Hoeven recognized Devils Lake Mayor Jim Moe, Altru CEO Todd Forkel and President Dr. Josh Deere, CommonSpirit Health Central Region President Tim Bricker, health care professionals and community members from the region for their work to advance this multi-year effort. The agreement was approved by Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, in December and the final transition of ownership will occur on March 1, 2026.

“The acquisition of Devils Lake Hospital is a pivotal milestone in our efforts to bring the best possible health care to the Lake Region. I appreciate the hard work of Mayor Moe and the teams at Altru and CommonSpirit Health to advance this agreement, as well as all of the community members who provided feedback and input as we worked to identify the right solution,” said Senator Hoeven.

Specifically, this effort sought to:

Identify and advance a community-led solution to address local concerns about health care access.

Hoeven arranged three community meetings across 2023 and 2024 with local residents, regional leaders and health care providers to gather feedback and address community concerns.

Secure commitments from CommonSpirit Health to make improvements to the hospital and work towards a long-term solution that benefits the entire region.

After the first community meeting, Hoeven met with CommonSpirit Health CEO Wright Lassiter III in Washington, D.C. to advance these priorities.

CommonSpirit subsequently undertook a $10 million renovation of the hospital’s emergency department.

Bring a unified health care system to the Lake Region and ensure access to the best possible health care for local residents.

Hoeven worked to advance the acquisition agreement between Altru and CommonSpirit Health to the benefit of both patients and health care providers.

“The timing of this acquisition is fitting, as North Dakota has just started moving on its plan to transform rural health care across our state. We’ve set a goal of securing $1 billion for this initiative, and we’re off to a strong start, having secured $200 million in the first year. Updating Critical Access Hospitals like Devils Lake Hospital is a central part of these efforts and one of the reasons our state has a head start, and I believe that we can bring state-of-the-art health care to this region, just as we’ve done for communities like Rugby, Grafton, Hazen and Cando,” said Senator Hoeven.

The efforts to improve health care in the Lake Region align with Hoeven’s broader work to advance North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program. Earlier this month, Hoeven, along with Governor Armstrong, set a goal to secure $1 billion of federal funding for this initiative. North Dakota has a head start in this competitive program due to its:

Statewide fiber optic infrastructure, which Hoeven has worked to advance both as governor and now as U.S. Senator, including through initiatives like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Program.

Network of new, state-of-the-art Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).

Hoeven worked through his role as Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee chairman to advance USDA loans and grants, which along with CAH reimbursement, helped make the new facilities a reality.

Hoeven believes a similar model could be used to bring additional improvements to the health care facility in Devils Lake.

Ability to leverage both telehealth and the CAHs to recruit and retain health care professionals and provide access to a comprehensive continuum of care.

That means patients have access to a full range of health care services through hospitals, nursing homes and home care that best meet their needs and individual situation.

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Senator Justice Applauds Continued Development of Frontieras North America in Mason County

CHARLESTON, WV – Today, Senator Justice released a statement regarding an announcement from April of 2022 of a major investment with Frontieras North America in partnership with the Justice Administration. This partnership was part of Senator Justice’s effort to attract major companies to West Virginia while Governor.

“It is fantastic to see the progress Frontieras North America has made in Mason County. We knew this project would be a home run when we first announced this investment over three and a half years ago. Keep up the good work, West Virginia!” said Senator Jim Justice.

BACKGROUND:

Frontieras first announced the Mason County project in April 2022, citing the location’s access to coal, skilled workers, and rail and water transportation links.

West Virginia was chosen over locations in Texas and Wyoming.

While Governor, Justice brought Nucor and Fidelis in addition to Frontieras North America to Mason County during his second term in office.

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Luján Statement Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Senator Luján Delivers Remarks at the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast

Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

“Equal justice under the law, the sacred right to vote, and the power of ordinary people standing up for what is right – those are the values Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought and died for. Dr. King’s leadership reshaped our nation and inspired a movement rooted in unity, justice, and inclusion.

“We must continue to fight to finish the work Dr. King started. In 2026, the simple act of voting is under threat. Voter discrimination, misinformation, and a lack of polling places continue to create unacceptable barriers. Congress must take meaningful action to ensure that marginalized communities in New Mexico and across the country can exercise their right to vote without obstruction.

“Today, I join New Mexicans and Americans across the country to honor Dr. King’s legacy and his vision of a society where all people are equal and free from discrimination.”

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