Congresswoman Simon Leads Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Restore Public Health Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12) co-led 77 of her colleagues, including every Democratic Representative of the California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota delegations in demanding the Trump Administration to immediately restore public health grant funding to those states. This comes after the Administration terminated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants that support core public health infrastructure and disease prevention.

Congresswoman Simon co-led the effort to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-07), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07).

“Reports have indicated the Administration intends to cut tens of millions in public health funding to California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota,” wrote the Members. “These cuts will unnecessarily hamstring our state and local public health departments and community organizations, putting our constituents’ health at risk. We urge you to restore this funding immediately.”

The funding cuts broadly target grants that support public health staffing, data modernization, and surveillance, as well as HIV and STI prevention programs, and health programs serving communities that have historically faced barriers to care. The Members warned these terminations would weaken states’ ability to detect, contain, and respond to outbreaks, which is especially reckless during the current active measles outbreak. They argued the cuts target the core infrastructure public health relies on.

They also argued the move fits a broader pattern: President Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal support from Democratic led states and cities in moments of crisis, from social services to disaster relief. Now, they write, the Administration is again pulling back congressionally approved funds for political reasons, not public health needs.

The members demanded the following:

A full list of terminated grants and grants under consideration to be cut in the coming weeks

A rationale for why impacted grants are “inconsistent with agency priorities.”

What the Department’s justification is for targeting grants only in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota

Whether the Department planning to rescind public health funding in additional states

“It is within your power to end this cycle of alarming actions to erode public health,” the Members concluded. “We strongly urge you to reverse these terminations, as the real-world consequences for the health and safety of all Americans is at stake.”

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

Congresswoman Simon has been a leader in health care access and public health. In October 2025, Congresswomen Simon, Kelly and Trahan demanded answers from the Department of Health and Human Services on the impact of the government shutdown on the development of and access to lifesaving, groundbreaking innovation. In September 2025, Congresswoman Simon called on Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to resign as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. You can find more on her work here.

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Democratic Women’s Caucus Caregiving Task Force Co-Chairs Simon, Dingell, and Pettersen and Rep. Bonamici Demand HHS Secretary Kennedy Withdraw Rule that Undermines Child Care Access

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Caregiving Task Force Co-Chair Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12) joined fellow Caregiving Task Force Co-Chairs Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), alongside DWC member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), to lead 23 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus in demanding Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reverse a proposed rule that would make child care less affordable and accessible.

The Members wrote to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, warning that the Restoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) (RIN) 0970-AD20 (proposed rule) would jeopardize the financial stability of women and families as well as child care providers.

The Members explained that the proposed rule would repeal the 2024 CCDF Final Rule (current rule), creating more barriers to accessible child care. The current rule protects families from excessive costs, stabilizes child care programs, and increases child care options for families.

“One of the most significant provisions in the 2024 CCDF Final Rule [current rule] capped child care copayments at 7 percent of household income. Prior to this change, some states already capped copayments at 7 percent of family income, but other states charged co-payments as high as 27 percent of family income. Additionally, before the 2024 Final Rule [current rule], copayments as a percentage of family income continued to increase for many families over the last two decades. The proposed rule, (RIN) 0970-AD20, asserts the 7 percent cap is not necessary. We disagree. Without the capped payments, families could be forced to pay even more for the child care they need.”

The Members also warned that repealing the current rule would further destabilize the child care workforce—primarily underpaid women, women of color, and immigrants.

“The 2024 CCDF Final Rule [current rule] provided greater stability for child care workers through improved payment rates and practices. This included shifting provider payments to be closer in alignment with the private-pay market through paying providers prospectively, a requirement of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration have alleged fraud in the child care system, in part due to paying providers for services before they render them even though this was a policy used in the first Trump administration. Child care providers operate on increasingly thin margins and paying providers in advance allows for greater stability in the child care market, which is why some states, both red and blue, already used this important payment practice.”

The Members concluded by calling for sustained federal investment in child care to expand access, improve affordability, and support working families.

“This proposed rule (RIN) 0970-AD20 does nothing to lower costs for working families and nothing to support women and children...Women and families must be able to access child care that best meets their children’s needs. For these reasons, we strongly oppose the proposed rule, (RIN) 0970-AD20.”

As Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus Caregiving Task Force, Congresswoman Simon is committed to defending against the Trump Administration’s attacks to child care and health care, as well as building a future where the care economy is prioritized, care workers have the rights and benefits they deserve, and child care is affordable and accessible. Recently, in January 2026, she joined her colleagues to demand a reversal of the Trump Administration’s illegal funding freeze for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) programs in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.

Read the full letter here.

In addition to letter leads Congresswomen Lateefah Simon, Debbie Dingell, Brittany Pettersen, and Suzanne Bonamici, the letter was signed by Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández, Jasmine Crockett, Judy Chu, Norma J. Torres, Sara Jacobs, Emily Randall, Nikema Williams, Jill Tokuda, Kelly Morrison, Joyce Beatty, Sarah McBride, Julie Johnson, Andrea Salinas, Deborah K. Ross, Pramila Jayapal, Lois Frankel, Sarah Elfreth, Rashida Tlaib, Nellie Pou, Nydia M. Velázquez, Frederica S. Wilson, Haley M. Stevens, April McClain Delaney, Laura Friedman, Veronica Escobar, Julia Brownley, Zoe Lofgren, Summer L. Lee, Delia C. Ramirez, Jahana Hayes, Linda T. Sánchez, and Jennifer L. McClellan.

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Stanton Slams Trump’s Tariffs on The Lead with Jake Tapper

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) joined CNN’s Jake Tapper on The Lead tonight to call out Trump’s self-defeating tariff policy on aluminum and steel on small American manufacturers.

Stanton was joined by his guest for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech tomorrow night, Greg Fraley. Fraley, a lifelong republican and three-time Trump voter, is the COO of FALCO, a small aluminum manufacturing company in Chandler, Arizona, that has been hit hard by Trump’s tariffs. FALCO specializes in aluminum products for the aviation and aerospace industries, supplying companies such as Boeing, Cessna, and Lockheed Martin. Stanton toured FALCO’s manufacturing facility in November 2025 with the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.

Stanton has helped to introduce the RELIEF ACT to return money back to the pockets of small business owners who were affected by the tariffs overturned by the Supreme Court; however, the tariffs on aluminium affecting Fraley’s business are imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Stanton has backed legislation, the Congressional Trade Authority Act, to require the president to submit to Congress any proposal to adjust imports in the interest of national security under Section 232.

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

Tapper: Congressman, the president spoke Friday about the U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling against his sweeping tariff regime. And he's been furiously firing off truth social posts all week. And he wrote this morning, quote, as president, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of tariffs. It has already been gotten in many forms a long time ago. They were also just reaffirmed by the ridiculous and poorly crafted Supreme Court decision. What do you make of the way he's responded to the Supreme Court's ruling?

Stanton: He's 100% wrong. His tariffs were illegal from day one. We all knew that from day one. A tariff is a tax, and a tax can only be put in place by the United States Congress. The Supreme Court, by a 6 to 3 ruling made that absolutely clear. And the president, instead of doing what a president should do, which is listen to the Supreme Court and follow the order, did exactly the opposite. He thinks that he can issue these tariffs unilaterally without regard to Congress. And so what he's trying to do is issue these tariffs illegally through a, another, legal justification. He's wrong on that as well.

—

Tapper: Greg, your company, FALCO, gets aluminum from suppliers and Los Angeles, which are primarily imported from Canada, as I understand it. What has been the impact of the tariffs for your business?

Fraley: Well, the impact is my cost for the raw material. Aluminum that I use has jumped 72% in the last 12 months. That's all really driven by the tariff costs. . . I just haven't been rehiring when I've lost employees through attrition, and that has prevented me from being able to expand the business as the aircraft manufacturers that I supply have been requesting us to hire up, but we haven't been able to just because I don't have the cash flow that allows me to be able to do that.

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Tapper: Congressman, the court did not come up with any sort of conclusion as to what will happen to the billions of dollars that the federal government collected from the tariffs. Speaker Johnson just told CNN he does not think that the government should pay back those costs. How do you think it should be decided?

Stanton: I can't believe the speaker takes that position. If you have illegally put tariffs in place, that means the resources from those tariffs have been illegally received by the government. They belong to the people of the United States of America. And we need to push forward right now to making sure that those dollars get back to our fellow Americans as soon as possible, and that the biggest businesses in America with the highest price lawyers don't get to the front of the line. We have to make sure that the American people and small and locally owned businesses have the fair opportunity to get their resources without having to hire a bunch of lawyers. That's the right approach. Now it's going to be a mess, but it's not a mess of our making. It's a mess of Donald Trump's making because he put into place these illegal tariffs.

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ICYMI: Stevens, Scholten Tour Largest ICE Detention Center in the Midwest

February 23, 2026

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, along with Michigan Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, toured the North Lake Processing Center ICE detention facility in Baldwin. The Members followed up with new demands for answers regarding the December death of detainee Nenko Gantchev.

During the visit, the lawmakers inspected living conditions, reviewed medical care protocols, and met with facility leadership to raise concerns about Congressional oversight and detainee health and safety.

Here’s what Michiganders are seeing and reading about Rep. Stevens’ continuous demand for transparency from ICE and her effort to hold the Trump administration accountable for its treatment of individuals in federal custody:

Detroit Free Press: Reps: Questions remain around death of ICE inmate in Michigan facility

By: Arpan Lobo

Two members of Michigan's congressional delegation say questions remain surrounding the December death of an inmate at a Baldwin processing facility for those detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, and Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, said their inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security about the death of Nenko Stanev Gantchev, a 56-year-old native of Bulgaria who died while being held at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, have not been returned.

"The oversight and the transparency of this center begins at the very top," Stevens told reporters, who were not allowed inside the facility during the tour. "Unfortunately, the outreach that Congresswoman Scholten and I made to (Noem) went unanswered around the death of Mr. Gantchev."

MLive: 64 days after man died at Michigan ICE facility, lawmakers say ‘still no answers’’

By: Rose White

Democratic U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten and Haley Stevens conducted an oversight visit of the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin on Tuesday, Feb. 17, after theirletter demanding a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the death of Nenko Gantchev was ignored by the federal government.

“We are here today with still no answers about what happened to Mr. Gantchev, why he died here at this ICE processing facility in Baldwin, and we are going to continue to keep asking,” Stevens said.

“I hope that we can get a full picture of the care and the treatment that he was receiving here and what biological causes or other factors contributed to his death,” she said.

“That is what I am looking into for so many other Michiganders who are frankly astonished and frustrated and heartbroken that these detainments are going on without answers and with medical situations that are unfolding,” Stevens said.

Michigan Public Radio: 'We still don't have answers': Michigan congresswomen visit ICE detention center in Baldwin

By: Claire Keenan- Kurgan

Two Michigan congresswomen visited the state’s largest immigrant detention center Tuesday. They are calling for stronger oversight of the Department of Homeland Security

By law, members of Congress are allowed to tour all immigration detention facilities unannounced, but the Trump administration has disputed that.

Representative Stevens said she has lost faith in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has not answered any of her questions about Gantchev’s death at North Lake.

In Detroit:

CBS News: Reps. Scholten, Stevens visit Michigan facility after ICE detainee's death

By: Julia Avant

"We went through the intake process of what it would be like to be an individual who was being brought in to the ICE detention facility," Stevens said.

While Stevens says she also got to talk with those behind bars, including a woman who was arrested in Macomb County and is currently pregnant.

"She was so shaken and so upset and so fearful missing her young child and of course worried about her pregnancy," said Stevens.

"Why we're using taxpayer dollars in this way? It's an extraordinary expense, and I think the public is also outraged, as am I," said Stevens.

"This is not who we are, this is not what we want in terms of achieving broader safety and security goals, and we can do better if we implement the safety security measures, reform, and the accountability," said Stevens.

WJBK

Congresswomen Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin. It follows lawmakers’ demands for answers after the death of a detainee back in December. Congresswoman Stevens says their conversations with detainees were eye-opening.

“The oversight and the transparency of this center begins at the very top, and unfortunately, the outreach that Congresswoman Scholten and I made to our Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went unanswered.”

WDET

Representative Haley Stevens of the Detroit area and Representative Hilary Scholten of Grand Rapids visited North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin in Lake County. That's after a man died there in December, Nanko Ganchev, a Bulgarian man arrested in Chicago.

Representative Stevens said she's lost faith in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has not answered any of her questions about Ganchev's death.

In Flint:

ABC12: 'Heartbreak': Congresswoman describes visit to Michigan ICE facility

By: Terry Camp

"I got a chance to speak to a handful of the people who are detained. The stories range from heartbreaking to frustrating," Stevens said.

"What I saw today was not the worst of the worst. In fact, I had to ask about the safety and security," Stevens said.

"Do you have weapons on you? Do you carry firearms? No. Do you carry Tasers? No. So if this is the worst of the worst, then why don't we need our guards? They said no one in the facility has arms," Stevens said.

She also sought answers regarding the December death of Nenko Gantchev, a 56-year-old Chicago resident and native of Bulgaria. Officials are still reviewing the autopsy.

WNEM

Across Michigan, Congresswoman Haley Stevens touring a detention facility a few months after an individual who was detained there died. Back in December, a Bulgarian citizen whom federal authorities say was in the US illegally and detained in the processing center in Baldwin, died. Stevens says the facility currently holds around 1300 men and 100 women, with most cases ending in deportation.

“Why we're using taxpayer dollars in this way. It's an extraordinary expense, and I think the public is also quite outraged, as am I.”

Last week, we learned the Department of Homeland Security is buying a facility in Romulus used as another detention facility. Stevens says it was a move that was made without coordination and transparency with local leaders and the surrounding community.

In Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo:

WOOD: Congresswomen Scholten, Stevens tour ICE facility following detainee death

By: Matt Jaworowski

U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, toured the North Lake Processing Center in Lake County after asking several questions about the December death of Nenko Gantchev.

Gantchev, a 56-year-old man from Bulgaria, was found unresponsive in his cell on Dec. 15 and eventually declared dead from natural causes.

Stevens told UpNorthLive that the tour is meant to get “answers for Nenko Gantchev’s family and demanding accountability from ICE on behalf of all the detainees who are being held in Michigan.”

WKBZ

Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the North Lake Processing Center in Lake County Tuesday. They walked through and spoke with some of the detainees. It's the largest processing center in the Midwest.

In December, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a detainee, Nenko Gantchev, was found dead in a cell. ICE said the 56 year old died from natural causes. Scholten and Stevens says the death raises concerns about conditions in the facility.

WXMI

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the ICE detention facility in Baldwin on Tuesday.

The purpose of their visit was to see firsthand living conditions for detainees and to push for answers in the death of an undocumented immigrant.

ICE reported 32 in custody deaths in 2025, the agency’s deadliest year in more than 2 decades according to data on its website.

Stevens and Scholten both expressed their frustrations with the agency, along with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, calling for her impeachment and to demand an immediate overhaul of ICE as the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown.

“We’re lawmakers. We need to also roll up our sleeves as we have done for the safety and security of our country, of our state of Michigan, but also to close loopholes and to make sure that we have fair processes and transparency from the top down to the bottom.”

WZZM

U.S Representatives Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the North Lake Processing Center today, to ask questions about an ongoing investigation into the death of a 56 year old detainee named Nenko Gantchev. Gantchev died in December, and ICE said it was due to natural causes.

“We’re lawmakers, we need to also roll up our sleeves, as we have done, for the safety and security of our country and of our state of Michigan.”

In addition to touring the facility and talking with a small group of detainees, the lawmakers are also attempting to find out more about the death of 56-year-old Nenko Gantchev. A Bulgarian national who died in the Lake County detention center. Gantchev's family in Chicago has accused The GEO Group of not providing adequate medical treatment to Gantchev. That accusation is just one of many.

After hearing about his death, Stevens and Scholten requested that Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, investigate Gantchev’s death. They said more than 100 detainees wanted to speak with lawmakers, but they only spoke with four.

“There are unanswered questions around Mr. Gantchev’s death, and his family and his loved ones, and people who have been frankly impacted or touched by his life story, they deserve answers.”

“I remain disappointed in Secretary Noem. I have lost faith in her leadership and her ability to run the Department of Homeland Security, and we are still waiting for answers from her.”

In Lansing:

WILX

Representatives, Hillary Scholten and Haley Stevens of Michigan toward an ICE detention facility in Baldwin, where a man died in custody last December. Nenko Gantchev, a 56 year old from Bulgaria, was found unresponsive in his cell at the North Lake Processing Center on December 15.

ICE says he died from natural causes. But the Representatives want more answers.

WLNS

Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the North Lake Processing Center near Baldwin after an ICE detainee Nenko Gantchev died there in December. ICE officials say the 56 year old died of natural causes, but both Congresswomen sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying that the death of Gantchev and other reports of mistreatment show the need for urgent answers and reforms.

“Secretary Noem for her actions at DHS, I, along with over 150 of my colleagues, believe that she is unfit for her role, that she has failed the American public.”

Representative Stevens and Scholten say they plan to come back and make follow up visits to the facility in the future.

In Alpena:

WBKP

In December, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a detainee, Nenko Gatnchev, was found dead in a cell in the detention facility. He was a 56 year old from Bulgaria and was arrested in Chicago.

ICE says his death was from natural causes. Representatives Stevens and Scholten are pushing for answers, as they say they haven't been given any further details about Gantchev's death.

“There are unanswered questions around Mr. Gantchev’s death and his family and his loved ones and people who have been frankly impacted or touched by his life story. They deserve answers.”

Both lawmakers say the death raised concerns about conditions. One of the four detainees they spoke to said they have been mistreated in the facility.

In Traverse City:

9 and 10 News: Lawmakers seek answers in detainee death at ICE facility in Baldwin

By: Jodi Miesen

U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the ICE detention center in Baldwin and said they are seeking more transparency after the death of a detainee at the facility.

“Unfortunately, the outreach that Congresswoman Scholten and I made to our Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went unanswered, around the death of Mr. Gantchev,” Stevens said.

Stevens and Scholten said they decided to visit in person after receiving no response to their message to Noem. They said they were given a tour as if they were coming in as a detainee, and said it was a planned visit that made it difficult to assess what day-to-day conditions are like.

Stevens and Scholten said they are calling for an overhaul of how ICE conducts its operations, and Stevens said she supports impeaching Noem.

“Secretary Noem, for her actions at DHS, I, along with over 150 of my colleagues, believe that she is unfit for her role, that she has failed the American public. The mismanagement that we are seeing of ICE begins with her,” Stevens said.

UpNorthLive: Reps. Stevens, Scholten tour Lake County ICE facility after detainee death in December

By: Kody Bair

United States Representatives Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten toured the North Lake Processing Center in Lake County Tuesday, seeking answers after a detainee died at the ICE detention facility in December. The lawmakers walked through the building and spoke with detainees.

They said nearly 100 detainees requested to speak with them, but they were told those conversations could not be in private.

The facility, owned by the GEO Group, has 1,800 beds. As of January, it has an average of 1,420 people being held per day, with 1,272 classified as non-criminal.

“There are unanswered questions around Mr. Gantchev’s death and his family and loved ones and people who have been frankly impacted or touched by his life story, they deserve answers,” Representative Stevens said.

She said she is calling for a complete overhaul of ICE nationwide, starting with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

"I, along with over 150 of my colleagues, believe that she's unfit for her role, that she has failed the American public. She's unfit for office and the mismanagement that we are seeing of ICE begins with her,” Stevens said.

WCMU

Two members of Michigan's congressional delegation are expressing concern about a lack of transparency from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. This came after they toured North Lake Processing Center yesterday, the largest ICE detention center in the Midwest.

Representative Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids and Representative Haley Stevens of the Detroit area spoke with four of the 1,500 detainees there.

“In terms of our congressional oversight, we need to ask why a private company is making money and profiting off of keeping people in detainment when they may have been granted release or bail,”

WGTQ

“There are unanswered questions around Mr. Gantchev’s death, and his family and his loved ones, and people who have been impacted by his life story, they deserve answers.”

The facility is owned by The GEO Group, and it’s the largest of its kind in the Midwest, with 1,800 beds. The lawmakers claim nearly 100 detainees requested to speak with them, but as they push for transparency, they were reportedly told the conversations could not be held in private.

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Rep. Subramanyam Statement on the Arrest of Peter Mandelson

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, released the following statement after news of Peter Mandelson’s arrest:

“Today’s arrest of Peter Mandelson is another step towards justice for Epstein survivors. I’ve asked him to come before the Oversight Committee and that offer still stands.

We’re starting to see movement from our Oversight investigation. Unfortunately, most of the accountability is happening outside of the U.S., with a former Prince and now a former ambassador arrested in the UK in just the last week. We cannot complete a full investigation without the DOJ following the law and releasing all of the files.”


Rep. Summer Lee Introduces Bill to Expand Head Start to 11 Million Children

PITTSBURGH, PA – FEBRUARY 23, 2026 — Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) alongside Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), introduced the Head Start for America’s Children Act, sweeping legislation to dramatically expand access to high-quality early childhood education and comprehensive services for working families across the country. This bill serves as the House companion to legislation led by Senator Bernie Sanders, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

The Head Start for America’s Children Act would expand the program to serve more than 11 million eligible young children nationwide, while raising wages for Head Start educators and strengthening support services for families.

“Head Start has transformed the lives of generations of children and families, and expanding it through the Head Start for America’s Children Act honors the dignity and potential of every child, no matter their zip code,”said Congresswoman Summer Lee. “Working parents deserve to know their kids are safe, supported, and receiving high quality early education while they pursue opportunity. As a co-lead of this legislation, I am proud it invests in early educators and strengthens our communities by building a more just future for our children.”

“Head Start is a lifeline to countless families in every state and our government must invest in this program to make sure it reaches every eligible young child, not cut it. As Chair of the Congressional Mamas’ Caucus, I will continue to lead efforts in Congress to defend this critical funding and do everything in my power to fully fund Head Start. I am proud to join Senator Sanders in introducing this legislation to expand Head Start eligibility to over 10 million new children, raise educator pay, and invest in comprehensive support services for our families,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.

“In the richest country in the history of the world, we have a moral responsibility to provide high-quality early childhood education and child care for our children. Instead, President Trump has illegally withheld funds from Head Start and slashed critical programs for children and families to pay for $1 trillion in tax breaks for the top 1% and over $900 billion in tax breaks for large corporations,” said Senator Sanders. “I have a different idea: Let’s expand and fully fund Head Start to make sure it reaches every eligible young child, extend the length of programs so working families don’t have to find additional child care and raise teacher pay so educators are not forced to leave the field or work a second job just to make ends meet. At a time of greater income and wealth inequality than ever before, it is unconscionable for President Trump and Republicans in Congress to hand tax cuts to billionaires while slashing education funding, including for Head Start. If we are serious about caring about our young children, we must expand Head Start programs across the country to reach every working-class family.”

For 60 years, local Head Start programs have provided high-quality early education and comprehensive services for more than 40 million children and working families. Today, nearly 800,000 children receive early education, health and dental care, and healthy meals through Head Start, while their families access referrals for job training, adult education, nutrition services and housing support.

Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for social, emotional, and cognitive development. Head Start children are better prepared for kindergarten, have better health outcomes and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Yet in America today, families in most states pay more for child care than rent, mortgage payments or in-state college tuition. High-quality early learning opportunities remain out of reach for millions, with 5.3 million children under the age of 6 — nearly 17% of children in America — living in poverty in 2023.

The Head Start for America’s Children Act would:

Fully fund Head Start to serve 11 million eligible young children and simplify enrollment;

Align program hours with working families’ schedules so parents do not need additional child care;

Raise Head Start educator pay to at least $60,000 a year and establish salary scales and competitive benefits;

Provide recruitment and retention incentives grants for up to 12,500 educators;

Expand co-location of Head Start programs on college campuses and partnerships with child care providers;

Strengthen and diversify the early educator pipeline to prepare at least 3,000 teachers over five years;

Improve mental health services for Head Start staff, families, and children; and

Invest in facility upgrades, including removing lead contamination in paint and water.

This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Adams (NC-12), Beatty (OH-03), Carbajal (CA-24), Carson (IN-07), Cisneros (CA-31), Clarke (NY-09), Davis (IL-07), Dingell (MI-06), Elfreth (MD-03), Evans (PA-03), Frost (FL-10), Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Garamendi (CA-08), Garcia (IL-04), Grijalva (AZ-07), Gomez (CA-34), Hoyle (OR-04), Jayapal (WA-07), Kennedy (NY-26), Lieu (CA-36), McClellan (VA-04), McGarvey (KY-03), McIver (NJ-10), Moore (WI-04), Omar (MN-05), Pingree (ME-01), Pocan (WI-02), Ross (NC-02), Simon (CA-12), Tokuda (HI-02), and Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

This legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The legislation is endorsed by The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), The Arc of the United States, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), Child Care for Every Family Network, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, EdTrust Midwest, Family Values @ Work, First Focus Campaign for Children, MiSide Community Impact Network, MomsRising, Mothering Justice Action Fund, The National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, New America’s Early and Elementary Education Policy Program, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, Pennsylvania Head Start Association, Starfish Family Services, UnidosUS, The Vermont Head Start Association, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, and Zero to Three.

Read the bill text here.

Read a summary here.


Rep. Summer Lee to Boycott State of the Union, Speak Directly to Working Families

Boycott Livestream

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 23, 2026 — On Tuesday, February 24th, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) will boycott Donald Trump’s State of the Union address and speak at the People’s State of the Union hosted by MoveOn and partner organizations. Rep. Lee is also set to deliver the progressive response to the State of the Union later that evening.

“The concept of American exceptionalism shields many from the reality our country is facing right now, but we must be clear: Trump’s governance is an act of authoritarianism and any response that doesn’t acknowledge that truth is a disservice to Americans who deserve honesty right now,” said Rep. Lee. “The state of our union is reflected in the affordability crisis working families are facing, the terror ICE is instilling upon our communities, and the division sowed between us. The Republican-led Congress has abdicated its post as a co-equal branch and yielded itself to the executive branch, so it’s time the people make their voices heard once again. The power of the people will always be greater than the people in power.”

To register for the livestream for the People’s State of the Union, click here.


Lee Announces Single Mom Facing Skyrocketing Health Care Costs as Guest for State of the Union

Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee announced Katie Provost, a social worker and single mom who relies on the ACA tax credits to afford health care for her and her four-year-old daughter, will be her guest to President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union.

“Because Republicans made the cruel and reckless decision to end the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, hardworking Nevadans are paying the price. One such Nevadan is my guest, Katie, who now finds health care unaffordable for her and her daughter. Sadly, her story is one that is all too common because this Administration would rather protect the interests of the wealthy and well-connected than those of working mothers like Katie,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “There will be a lot of talk tomorrow evening, but what the President won’t mention is how he’s made health care unaffordable for millions of Americans like Katie in order to give tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations.”

“For more than a decade, I’ve served our community in inpatient and outpatient mental health, managed care, crisis intervention during the Route 91 Harvest Festival, and hospital social work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. My career has been devoted to helping Nevadans navigate crisis and instability. I’m also a single mother to my four-year-old daughter, Charlee. I am her sole provider. I cover everything — housing, daycare, food, clothing, activities — and most importantly, health care,” said Katie Provost. “The ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits made health coverage possible for my family. With the expiration of the tax credits and the 26% premium increase given to insurance companies in Nevada, I’m now facing paying $745 a month for coverage. That’s simply not sustainable. It forces families like mine to consider cutting essentials or risk going uninsured.”

Before Republicans ended the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Katie paid $85/month for her health care. Now, without the tax credits and coupled with the rise in insurance rates across the board, the same plan costs $745/month for her and her daughter.

Katie’s not alone – nearly 30,000 southern Nevadans depended on the ACA tax credits to afford health care. Congresswoman Lee has continued to sound the alarm and fight to restore these tax credits. Lee visited Federally Qualified Health Centers that could be forced to cut services, met with southern Nevadans who will face debilitating cost increases, and heard from providers who worried about what these cuts could mean for their patients. Without these credits, costs for families could rise by up to fourfold. She also cosponsors the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, which would provide a one-year extension of the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, providing members of Congress time to negotiate a permanent solution.

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Rep. Sykes Welcomes $500,000 EPA Grant for Job Training and Cleanup in Akron and Northeast Ohio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) is celebrating a big win for Akron and Northeast Ohio. She announced a $500,000 federal grant will train local residents for environmental cleanup jobs while helping bring new life to old, contaminated sites.

The grant comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will go to the Summit and Medina Workforce Area Council of Governments. The program will train 40 participants and aims to place at least 30 into good-paying jobs in fields like asbestos abatement, lead paint remediation, radon mitigation, and vapor intrusion management.

“This grant is about creating real opportunities for our community,” said Rep. Sykes. “It gives people the skills they need to get good jobs and helps turn old, neglected sites into spaces that benefit everyone. This is a win for workers, neighborhoods, and our local economy. I will continue fighting to bring federal dollars back to Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to ensure members of our community have the skills they need to compete in today’s in-demand fields.”

“The Summit and Medina Workforce Area Council of Governments (“SAMWA COG”), which is the governing body for the public workforce system in Summit and Medina Counties, is thrilled to have received notice of an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for implementation of a Brownfields Workforce Initiative. The five-year initiative involves development of a brownfields job training program for 40 residents to become certified and employed with in-demand jobs that support remediation efforts within the construction industry,” said Christine Marshall, Executive Director of the Summit and Medina Workforce Area Council of Governments.

“The construction industry is considered by the State of Ohio as a critical employment sector. This grant complements the recent award by the U.S. EPA of a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant to the County of Summit in 2025,” she continued. “As areas of Brownfields are identified by the County of Summit, having a trained workforce with remediation expertise made possible through SAMWA COG’s Brownfields job training efforts are vital to our economic growth and helps strengthen our communities. As a cross-sector collaborative, local governments, chambers, employers, training partners, and non-profits have pledged their support to this training initiative.”

The program also prioritizes veterans and people who were formerly incarcerated, expanding access to life-changing career opportunities. Rep. Sykes said the grant shows how federal investments can make a tangible difference, strengthening communities, growing local economies, and preparing residents for in-demand careers right here at home.


Rep. Sykes Announces Application Process For 2026 Congressional Art Competition

AKRON, OH — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) has launched the application process for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, a nationwide high school arts contest sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The winning artwork of the district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, alongside winning pieces from all participating districts across the country. The deadline to submit artwork is March 27, 2026.

“I am excited to once again showcase the incredible talent of high school students in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District,” said Rep. Sykes. “The 2026 Congressional Art Competition is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their creativity. I encourage every high school student in our district with a passion for art to apply so we may proudly display their talent in our nation’s capital.”

All high school students in grades 9 through 12 who live in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District are eligible to submit one piece of artwork. Applicants must submit their original artwork. Scanned images of artwork will not be accepted. Along with their artwork, students must include the 2026 Student Submission Form. Submissions can be dropped off to Rep. Sykes’ Akron Office, located at 121 S. Main Street, Suite 107, Akron, Ohio.


Rep. Takano Invites ICE-Detained U.S. Citizen & Combat Veteran George Retes to State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) announced that he is inviting George Retes to be his guest at the State of the Union.

George Retes is a 26-year-old U.S. citizen and disabled U.S. Army veteran whose service included a deployment to Iraq before he transitioned into civilian life as a security guard in his native Ventura County, California.

In July 2025, during a large-scale federal immigration raid, George—while commuting to work—was stopped by ICE agents who broke his car window. He was subsequently pepper-sprayed, pinned down with officers kneeling on his back and neck, and detained for three days without charges, access to legal counsel, contact with his family, or medical care. All this was done by the federal government in full knowledge that George was a U.S. citizen and a veteran.

“George Retes is a U.S. citizen and an Iraq War veteran, and yet he was treated like an enemy by his own government,” said Ranking Member Takano. “His story exemplifies the overreach and cruelty of the Trump Administration and their heavy-handed immigration policies, sweeping up innocent men, women, and children in a desperate bid to fill arbitrary quotas. I am honored to have George as my guest at the State of the Union. His presence will speak volumes.”

“I served my country. I wore the uniform, I stood watch, and I believe in the values we say make us different. And yet here, on our own soil, I was wrongfully detained,” George wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle. “This isn’t just my story. It’s a warning. Because if it can happen to me, it can happen to any one of us.”

Requests to interview George can be sent to Matt.Schoonmaker@mail.house.gov.

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Congresswoman Norma Torres Statement on Ongoing ICE Abuses

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) released a statement in opposition to ICE Abuses:

“I believe that the ongoing broad enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, are abusive, illegal, and unconstitutional. They deny the humanity of our immigrant communities in California and across the country, and illegally racial profile individuals. Look no further than the case of Ramiro Santiago Pacheco Martinez, along with many others in our community. Ramiro is a longtime Pomona resident who is currently detained at the Adelanto ICE facility, despite severe health conditions and the impact on his family.

“I do not support the detention of individuals who do not have a criminal record, including those who are actively pursuing lawful immigration status or seeking protection under our nation’s asylum laws. Due process and equal protection under the law are fundamental principles that must be upheld without exception.

“I am outraged by the violent interactions and alleged misconduct in my district and across the country. I strongly encourage local law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate all credible allegations of physical abuse, unlawful entry, and violations of First Amendment protections. Earlier this year, I asked Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta to establish a way for Californians to report abusive conduct by federal officials at ICE and CBP. I’m pleased that just a few months ago, they took my suggestion and established a website to report abuse. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust, and all available video evidence related to these incidents should be preserved and reviewed in accordance with the law.

“I firmly believe in our government’s responsibility to support and protect the people of the United States, and to uphold our values in everything we do. Donald Trump and his minions appear devoted to undermining our rights, our democracy, and our Constitution. They are allergic to transparency and oversight. That is why I, along with 12 other Members of Congress, had to sue the Department of Homeland Security to stop its unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight of ICE facilities. I’ve been able to go to the LA Field Office and to Adelanto to inspect conditions on the ground and talk to constituents.

After repeated visits, it is clear that there is no place for for-profit prisons in our immigration system. There is too much room for abuse and neglect in pursuit of a profit margin. Adelanto, and others like it, must close. I’ll continue oversight visits at Adelanto, the LA Field Office, and every other place necessary to ensure that our families and loved ones are treated with dignity and fairness.

“We must take lasting action to ensure the abuses of the Trump Administration are never repeated. That means strengthening oversight, protecting constitutional rights, and holding institutions accountable so that our democracy remains just, transparent, and resilient for generations to come.”

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Congresswoman Torres Secures $5.2 Million in Federal Funding for the City of Ontario

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres and the City of Ontario announced a federal spending bill that includes $2 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) and $3.2 million water project through the US Army Corps for Ontario, projects secured by Congresswoman Torres, has been signed into law.

The funding includes:

$1 million for Vista Verde II Affordable Housing Development, a 150-unit development on Holt Boulevard that will provide a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, helping address the region’s severe housing shortage while supporting family stability and long-term economic security. This critical investment will increase the supply of affordable housing for working families and households in Ontario. In addition, Vista Verde II will generate local construction jobs, support the regional workforce, and contribute to economic growth. This investment advances the City’s housing and economic development priorities and delivers lasting benefits for families and the broader community.

$1 million for The Hub on Holt: Space for Entrepreneurship, Creation, and Innovation, which will transform a long-blighted and highly visible property on the 200 block of Holt Boulevard in Ontario into a vibrant community and economic asset. The Hub on Holt will revitalize a key downtown corridor with a new center for entrepreneurship, small business development, mentorship, and community engagement.

By investing in a critical gateway to Downtown Ontario, the project will drive foot traffic, reduce vacancies, enhance public safety, and stimulate the local economy . The project will create jobs, support small businesses, and provide new opportunities for innovation and programming, aligning with the City’s broader revitalization strategy and long-term vision for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

$3.2 million water project through the US Army Corps, The Euclid Ave. Recycled Water Project is a transformative investment in Ontario’s water future, constructing approximately 13 miles of new recycled water infrastructure to connect the Inland Empire Utilities Agency Regional Water Recycling Plant to downtown Ontario. Expanding access to recycled water, the project will reduce reliance on imported and groundwater sources, strengthen local water independence, and advance long-term conservation goals across the Inland Empire. Supporting both the design and construction phases, delivering smart, sustainable infrastructure that protects our water supply.

“These investments will deliver real results for the City of Ontario. By securing federal funding for Vista Verde II, an affordable housing development that will help address our region’s housing shortage, and for The Hub on Holt, which will create community innovation and engagement, we’re making smart, strategic investments in Ontario’s future,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “These projects will create jobs, reduce blight, strengthen public safety, and support long-term economic growth. I’m proud to work alongside the City of Ontario to bring these federal dollars back home and turn them into tangible improvements for families, workers, and neighborhoods.”

“On behalf of the City of Ontario, we thank Congresswoman Torres for her continued advocacy and partnership,” said Mayor Paul Leon. “This funding ensures that as Ontario grows, we are investing in infrastructure that protects our resources and supports our community.”

Congresswoman Torres has prioritized Community Project Funding to ensure federal dollars directly benefit Inland Empire communities. These projects reflect ongoing collaboration between her office and local leaders to address housing affordability, economic development, and infrastructure needs across the region.

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Rep. Norma Torres to Host Nurse and Labor Leader Linda Hippolyte as State of the Union Guest

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) will welcome Linda Hippolyte, a registered nurse and labor leader with United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), as her guest to the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 24th. More than 31,000 UNAC/UHCP members were on strike for better working conditions and wages at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California and Hawaii.

Linda Hippolyte brings more than a decade of frontline nursing experience and years of union leadership advocating for safe staffing, fair contracts, and respect for healthcare professionals. Her journey began in 2008 when UNAC/UHCP organized her hospital, inspiring her first involvement in union leadership. Since then, she has dedicated her career to representing healthcare workers and advancing policies that protect patient safety and workplace dignity.

“Healthcare workers are the backbone of our communities and the foundation of our economy,” said Rep. Torres. “In CA-35, from Pomona to Ontario to Eastvale, hospitals are stretched thin. Staffing shortages, cuts to Medicare and Medi-Cal, and rising costs are putting both patients and workers under immense pressure. Linda Hippolyte represents every nurse and healthcare worker whose expertise, courage, and dedication deserve action, not just applause. I am proud to bring her voice to the State of the Union.”

Hippolyte has helped shape contract language that reflects the realities of hospital care, strengthened collective bargaining protections, and ensured that the concerns of nurses and advanced practice providers are heard at every level.

“Our communities and the healthcare we rely on are under attack,” said Hippolyte. “Understaffed hospitals, overworked nurses, cuts to healthcare working families rely on, and rising costs, are making it difficult for nurses to provide the care their patients deserve and need, sometimes beyond safety limits. Nurses are seeing firsthand how these cuts are impacting their patients. They are standing together through our union to improve working conditions and create a healthcare system where patients are safe, our profession is respected, and the people doing the work have a seat at the table. We have raised serious concerns about unsafe staffing, improving the quality of patient care, and attempted to collaborate on solutions, yet our voices have been disregarded. Nurses are making real sacrifices every day. They want to protect the future of patient care [and] have a sustainable workload that allows them to provide the best care. By organizing and standing together, it gives them a structured way to advocate, to be heard, and [to] work towards real solutions, not just for themselves but for the community they serve. I am honored to bring that message to the nation at the State of the Union.”

Rep. Torres has been a consistent advocate for healthcare workforce funding, labor protections, and policies that ensure safe working conditions in hospitals. Her work ties worker dignity, patient care, and economic stability together as national priorities while highlighting the real impact these issues have on the communities of CA-35.

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LA-02 Constituent Mike Friedman to Join Congressman Carter as Guest to the State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) will be joined by one of his constituents, Mike Friedman, as his guest to the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 24.

Mike’s story underscores the urgent need to protect and extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are a lifeline for thousands of Louisiana families and small business owners.

After losing his job at age 60 when a federal contract was abruptly canceled, Mike turned to the ACA marketplace for coverage for himself and his husband. With the help of tax credits, they were able to afford a comprehensive plan. But once the subsidies expired, their premiums and out-of-pocket costs skyrocketed, putting essential care out of reach.

“Just last week I went for a routine, simple procedure. Or so I thought,” Friedman said. “I went to check in at the hospital for the outpatient procedure and was informed that my share of the cost would be $5,700. I had to cancel the procedure because I cannot afford that much money.”

Congressman Carter said Mike’s experience is a stark reminder of what is at stake.

“No one in the United States should have to choose between their health and their financial security,” said Congressman Carter. “Mike’s story is not unique — it represents thousands of families across Louisiana who rely on ACA tax credits to afford coverage. I was proud to vote to extend these lifesaving subsidies, and I will continue fighting to ensure that health care remains accessible and affordable for every American.”

Congressman Carter continues to fight for the extension of these tax credits and proudly voted to pass a three-year extension, with 17 Republicans joining Democrats to put people over politics and do the right thing for their constituents.

As President Trump addresses the nation, Congressman Carter will continue to advocate for policies that lower costs, strengthen health care access, and protect working families in Louisiana and across the country.

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Congressman Valadao Releases Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding Requests Portal

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) opened his Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) portal for Community Project Funding (CPF) requests. CPFs are federal funds that Members of Congress can request to help support specific projects within their districts to address critical local needs. These requests are designed to ensure federal investments reflect community priorities and deliver direct benefits to constituents of California’s 22nd Congressional District.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, it’s my honor to work directly with our local communities to deliver critical Community Project Funding investments,” said Congressman Valadao. “This past year, I was proud to secure over $49 million to help support projects from improving our local infrastructure and building new senior housing to increasing water supplies. These targeted investments help ensure CA-22 has the resources needed to thrive, and I look forward to reviewing requests for Fiscal Year 2027.”

The deadline for Community Project Funding requests is to be determined based on when the House Committee on Appropriations announces its Member submission deadlines. Our office encourages entities requesting CPFs to complete their requests as soon as possible.

For a full list of eligibility criteria and selection guidance, click here.


Congressman Van Drew Calls for Immediate Action to Guarantee Pay for Federal Workers and to Require Members of Congress Suspend Their Pay During Government Shutdowns

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew called for immediate action to pass legislation ensuring federal workers and service members are paid during any government shutdown, while calling for members of Congress to forgo their own pay.

"Using members of the Coast Guard at Training Center Cape May, TSA agents, FEMA personnel, and law enforcement officers as leverage in funding disputes is completely unacceptable," said Congressman Van Drew. "These are the people who keep our country safe every day. They should not lose a paycheck because of disagreements over spending. Members of Congress should be the ones who are not receiving pay during a shutdown. We need to pass legislation now so federal workers are never again caught in the middle of funding fights."


Rep. Vasquez Celebrates New Funding He Secured for New Law Enforcement Technology to Combat Crime and Reduce Response Times With Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On February 20, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) met with Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen and Major Patrick Burk for a drone demonstration and discussion about federal funding the Congressman secured for new public safety technology to combat crime and reduce response times.

Congressman Vasquez secured $500,000 for Bernalillo County to acquire industry-standard hardware, such as Automatic License Plate Readers and gunshot detection technologies, as well as key software, such as updating their Geographical Information Systems (GIS). These upgrades will help law enforcement’s efforts to curb violent crime, reduce response times, and combat traffic crime in Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's office also conducted a live demonstration of the police drone technology the office employs to identify criminals and solve traffic crimes. Congressman Vasquez is leading legislation and supporting efforts to enhance local law enforcement’s ability to counter criminal drone activity.

“Local law enforcement officers need every resource available to help fight violent crime,” said Vasquez. “I’m proud to be bringing funding home to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s office that will make our streets safer by reducing response times and helping identify criminal activity. I’ll keep investing in public safety projects that make Albuquerque and Bernalillo County a safer place to live.”

“The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the support from Representative Vasquez,” said Sheriff Allen. “This funding will allow the Sheriff’s Office to continue to protect the community it serves through technology upgrades and services.”

Congressman Vasquez is leading the charge to ensure that law enforcement agencies’ use of drones and counter-drone technology are keeping pace with rapidly evolving threats to public safety and national security.

He introduced the bipartisan Secure Our Skies Drone Safety Actto close gaps that are preventing law enforcement from effectively countering criminal drone activity after meeting with local law enforcement in New Mexico and the Fraternal Order of Police where the topic of combatting drones was raised as a high-priority.

He also helped pass the COUNTER Act, which strengthens the ability of base commanders to defend installations like White Sands Missile Range against dangerous drone incursions.

Congressman Vasquez sent a letter to the Departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration, Vasquez urging leaders to establish clear federal guidance and strengthen authorities for law enforcement at all levels to counter illegal drone activity on U.S. turf.

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Rep. Vasquez Secures Federal Funding to Boost Local Small Businesses, Meets With South Valley Business Owners

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On February 20, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) visited small businesses in the South Valley and attended the New Mexico Mainstreet Conference to discuss the funding he recently secured for small business improvements in Albuquerque and the impact it will have on local communities.

In the FY2026 budget, Congressman Vasquez secured $500,000 to help upgrade 200 local businesses’ storefronts and surrounding infrastructure in the South Valley — improving safety, helping advertising efforts, and creating better spaces for customers, investors, and workers alike. This South Valley Commercial Corridor Revitalization funding will allow the City to transition from a loan-based model to funding the repairs themselves, offering no-cost support to small businesses that otherwise lack access to capital.

“The Barelas neighborhood has been a center for community activity and small businesses for many years, and I’m excited to see this funding help grow the local economy, increase community pride, and generate more local dollars. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I am proud to have secured this federal investment,” said Vasquez. “Starting a small business is part of the American dream. As long as I’m in Congress, I’ll work to lower costs and make sure that dream stays in reach for hardworking New Mexicans.”

Congressman Vasquez is a longtime advocate for small business development in New Mexico. Before serving in Congress, he was a key player in helping revitalize downtown Las Cruces, both as a City Councilor and a Board member of the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership. He’s worked to hold the Administration accountable for the uncertainty its tariffs are inflicting on small businesses and is working across the aisle to support bipartisan legislation to curb tariffs on Mexico and Canada, our top trading partners. Congressman Vasquez is also pushing against attacks on the Small Business Administration, cosponsoring legislation to boost public safety funding and protect storefronts, and supporting efforts to convert vacant commercial real estate into affordable housing.

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Rep. Vindman Announces State of the Union Guest, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) announced that his brother, Alexander Vindman, will join him as his guest at the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 24.

Lt. Col. Vindman, a retired U.S. Army officer and Purple Heart recipient, testified before Congress during the first impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump, raising concerns about presidential misconduct and abuse of power. His decision to come forward was rooted in his oath to defend the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.

“As a 25-year Army veteran, I was taught that our oath is to the Constitution, not to a political party or a president. Bringing Alex as my guest is about honoring the principle that no one is above the law,” said Rep. Eugene Vindman. “At a time when democratic norms and accountability are under pressure, his service and courage represent the best of our country. His presence at the State of the Union is a reminder that constitutional duty and accountability are not partisan values, they are American values.”

The State of the Union Address will take place at the U.S. Capitol on February 24 at 9:00 PM.

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Walkinshaw Introduces Bill to Strengthen VA Tech Training to Deliver Stronger Job Outcomes for Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) introduced the Veteran Technology Employment Success Act to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program, which helps veterans and transitioning service members gain skills for high-demand technology careers and move into good-paying civilian jobs.

“Veterans are heroes who served our country with courage and sacrifice, and we must do everything in our power to support their transition into civilian life,” said Rep. Walkinshaw. “Central to that transition is ensuring our nation’s heroes have strong and competitive career prospects after their service. This program has real promise, and my bill strengthens transparency and accountability so veterans have clear information about outcomes and taxpayers can trust resources are being used responsibly.”

The bill would require the VA to publicly report employment outcomes, standardize how job outcomes are calculated to ensure accuracy, prevent inflated reporting tied to training providers, expand reporting on full-time, part-time, and self-employment outcomes, and strengthen participant feedback and program improvement.

Representative Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) joined as an original cosponsor of Walkinshaw’s legislation.

Background: Recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports found gaps in how employment outcomes and participant feedback are collected and reported, making it harder to evaluate results and improve the program. This legislation responds by strengthening oversight and ensuring veterans get a clear, accurate picture of performance to make an informed decision on whether to participate in the VET TEC program.

Read the bill text here.

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Wasserman Schultz Announces State of the Union Guest to Focus on Cutting Family Costs

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) put a spotlight on the high healthcare and housing costs her constituents confront, as she introduced Steve Reyes, her State of the Union guest. Yet Republicans refuse to address these rising costs, as mom-and-pop entrepreneurs like Reyes and his wife face skyrocketing healthcare, home insurance, and business costs. Their story is one that millions of Americans share. Listen to the specific price hikes Reyes and his family face, and his full discussion with Wasserman Schultz here.

“We need to hear the president talk about how he’s going to work with Democrats to bring grocery, utility and housing costs down,” said Wasserman Schultz. “We should be working together. But every day I put battle armor on to take on the Republicans in Congress, who only are fighting to make the rich, richer.”

Families in FL-25 and across America struggle to afford groceries, pay insurance premiums, and worry about President Trump’s illegal, inflationary trade policies, all while ICE’s violence in communities goes unchecked. Working men and women face real, pressing challenges, and House Democrats are working tirelessly to solve the urgent problems they need addressed.

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Womack Elected to Ninth Term as Chairman of West Point Board of Visitors

WASHINGTON, D.C.— February 23, 2026… Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) was reelected today to serve as the Chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors (BOV). The United States Military Academy at West Point BOV is charged with providing independent advice and recommendations on institutional matters, including morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other issues.

Congressman Womack said, “I am honored and privileged to be reelected as Chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors. Nothing inspires me more than seeing young men and women come to West Point and commit to the rigorous 47-month experience that develops them into officers of character in the greatest Army in the world. The cadets at West Point—including those from Arkansas’s Third District—are exceptional individuals who have chosen service over self, and ensuring their success strengthens our Army and our nation. I am thankful to my fellow Board members for this honor and the opportunity to continue serving alongside them.”

Current cadets from the Third District of Arkansas:

Class of 2026

Ellery Doyna; Fayetteville

Luke Monk; Fort Smith

Sydney Rhuda; Bentonville

Joey Sta Romana; Centerton

Luke Welcher; Fayetteville

Class of 2027

Carlee Casteel; Rogers

Josiah McCullough; Lowell

Class of 2028

Trystin Davis; Bentonville

June Dresel; Fayetteville

Tehya Meers; Fayetteville

Christopher Monk; Fort Smith

Cooper Thompson; Springdale

Jackson Witherington; Fort Smith

Class of 2029

Arthur Coomer; Bentonville

Ryan Johnson; Rogers

At today’s organizational meeting, board members received briefings on West Point’s academic, physical, and military priorities. Faculty led discussions on a wide range of topics, including developing leaders of character, branching and post assignments, the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, the Summer Leaders Experience and cadet summer training, infrastructure updates, annual intellectual themes, athletics updates, and academic modernization to meet the demands of future warfare.

Womack was first appointed to the BOV in 2012 by Speaker John Boehner and subsequently elected BOV Chairman in 2017. He is currently the only congressional representative from Arkansas to serve on the board.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov


Baldwin Leads Call for Watchdog Investigation of Trump’s Efforts to Dismantle Education Department

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS), announced she led her colleagues in calling on the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open an investigation into the Trump administration's moves to illegally dismantle and eventually abolish the Department of Education (ED). Specifically, the Senators are probing Trump’s push to transfer Education grant programs to agencies with no expertise in education policy, such as the Department of Labor (DOL), as Trump looks to offload programs from ED in his pursuit of shutting down the Department.

“We are deeply concerned that the administration’s decisions to [transfer] grant programs in this manner delayed crucial funding that millions of students and schools rely on, created administrative inefficiencies, increased the cost of program administration, and compromised the quality of technical assistance provided to states and grantees,” wrote Baldwin and the Senators.

In May 2025, the Trump administration formalized an interagency agreement (IAA) through which it moved the day-to-day management of career and technical education and adult education grant programs, including Perkins V and AEFLA, from ED to DOL. Perkins V grants annually provide over $1.4 billion in funding for career and technical education programs for about 11 million students around the country. AEFLA provides over $700 million in annual funding for adult education opportunities, most often for people without a high school degree or who are English language learners. In 2024, AEFLA served about 1.3 million adult students.

ED is reportedly paying DOL around $1 million to cover the cost of administering these programs during FY25 and FY26. Public reporting suggests that the transfer of these programs has been deeply flawed, leading to weeks-long delays in grant disbursements and harming students and schools.

In November 2025, ED announced six additional IAAs, pointing to the May IAA as a template for their work to dismantle the Department. These IAAs transferred significant responsibilities for grant administration for dozens of programs for early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education out of ED.

The lawmakers asked GAO to investigate these IAAs — and any future IAAs — and the agreements’ impacts on program costs, timely access to funding, access to services, and quality of technical assistance for grantees.

The letter is also led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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NEWS: Baldwin Announces Mindoro Constituent Whose Family Relies on Medicaid as State of the Union Guest

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that Kim Fredrick, a Mindoro constituent whose family relies on Medicaid, will be her guest at the State of the Union on Tuesday. Kim’s son, Matt, has Down Syndrome and has been on Medicaid since he was a few months old. In July 2025, President Donald Trump and Republicans passed into law their One Big Beautiful Bill, which gutted $1 trillion from the Medicaid program, introducing new red tape designed to kick people off their care and threatening care for people like the Fredricks.

“Last year, I heard from thousands of Wisconsinites who were terrified about what Republicans’ and Donald Trump’s bill would mean for their families and the Medicaid coverage they rely on. I fought like hell to stop President Trump’s agenda that will terminate Wisconsinites’ health care to pay for tax giveaways that will mainly benefit the super wealthy and big corporations,” said Senator Baldwin. “While we may have lost that battle, I’m not letting up on keeping Republicans’ feet to the fire and holding them accountable for gutting Medicaid and jeopardizing Wisconsinites’ health. Kim is one of the thousands of Wisconsinites whose family relies on Medicaid to afford the care they need. I’m proud to elevate her and her son Matt’s story on behalf of the 1.2 million Wisconsinites who know the Medicaid program is a lifeline and know the stakes if this essential coverage is cut off.”

Senator Baldwin first met with Kim in La Crosse last year as part of her “Hands Off Medicaid” tour, which made 10 stops around Wisconsin to talk about how Republicans’ budget bill would jeopardize care that families rely on. Kim shared the story of her son, Matt, who relies on services through Medicaid programs. Without the extra support programs provided through Medicaid, Kim said her son’s world “gets much smaller.”

“Medicaid is a lifeline for our family and without it, we would lose access to programs that help Matt have meaningful interactions in the community, allow him to participate in school, and help him learn job skills. Matt will need help throughout his lifetime and knowing that there are programs in place to keep him safe give me and my husband peace of mind for the future. With the impending cuts to Medicaid programs, there is no guarantee these essential services will remain in place. I know there are many other families just like mine in Wisconsin who are at risk of losing these valuable services covered by Medicaid. I am happy to come to Washington to highlight the harm that the President’s budget bill will cause for our family and advocate for it to be reversed,” said Kim Fredrick.

Last year, Republicans and Donald Trump passed their One Big Beautiful Bill, which took $1 trillion out of the Medicaid and ACA Marketplace programs to help pay for tax breaks for big corporations and billionaires. CBO estimates that 10 million people will become uninsured due to Medicaid and ACA marketplace cuts in the law, including 7.5 million people who will lose Medicaid in 2034. In Wisconsin, over 1.2 million are enrolled in Medicaid. About 1 in 3 children in both Wisconsin’s rural and metro communities have Medicaid coverage. More than 300,000 kids under age 19 are members of BadgerCare Plus or another Wisconsin Medicaid program.

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Senator Banks Calls for Investigation into Illegal Alien Trucking Networks in Indiana

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) sent a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs for an immediate investigation into potential “chameleon carrier” trucking networks operating in Indiana.

This follows the recent death of 64-year-old Terry Schultz, who was killed in a fatal collision involving a semi-truck driven by an illegal alien from India in Hendricks County. It also comes after a separate crash in Jay County earlier this month, in which an illegal alien from Kyrgyzstan killed four Indiana men in a semi-truck collision.

Read more about the letter here.

Read the full letter here or see below:

Dear Administrator Barrs:

I urge you to investigate potential chameleon carrier trucking networks operating in Indiana. Last

week, Terry Schultz became the latest Hoosier to lose his life to a driver who never should have

been in the country or gotten behind the wheel of a semitruck. Mr. Schultz died after being

struck by a semitruck driven by an Indian national who reportedly crossed the southern border

illegally and received trucking licenses from New York and Indiana.

Mr. Schultz’s death is not bad luck, and it is not just another accident. Seven Hoosiers have been

killed in six months by illegal alien truck drivers. This is a national crisis.

I am especially concerned that Indiana may be a hotspot for so-called chameleon carriers. Since

launching a tipline for truckers to report carriers engaging in unlawful practices last week, I have

received data on trucking carriers operating in Indiana. Nearly 10,000 Indiana-based trucking

companies have registered in the U.S. Department of Transportation database in the last six

years. Over 2,000 carriers have been registered under the same two surnames.

One suburb of Indianapolis, Greenwood, contains 1,000 newly-registered trucking carriers. Over

300 carriers are active in the University Park neighborhood, which has a population of about 600

people in roughly 250 homes. That’s over one carrier for each house. The carrier reportedly involved in last night’s accident was incorporated from a Greenwood address that is the principal

place of business for six other carriers.

Greenwood is not the only possible hotspot. Last night’s crash took place less than seven miles

away from a cul-de-sac in Avon with sixteen carriers. In Fishers, there are ten registrations on the

same neighborhood street.

Doubtless, trucking clusters by themselves do not constitute illegality. Some carriers may well be

operating within the boundaries of the law. But chameleon carriers operate through numbers, and

the sheer volume of registered companies within neighborhoods and at single addresses suggests

that Indiana communities may be functioning as hotbeds for illegal carriers.

Whatever is going on with Indiana’s trucking clusters, it is killing Hoosiers. I cannot stand by

and watch as more of my constituents are put in harm’s way by drivers who should never have

received a license in the first place. I urge you to use every tool at FMCSA’s disposal to

investigate potential chameleon carriers and put violators out of service permanently.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for all you are doing to make America great

again.

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Colorado Immigration Advocate Andrea Loya to Join Bennet at President Trump’s State of the Union

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced that Andrea Loya will join him as his guest at President Trump’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Loya currently serves as the Executive Director of Casa de Paz, a Colorado nonprofit that helps recently released refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants facilitate next steps toward reunification within their communities with dignity. Loya is an immigrant herself and came to the United States when she was a young child. She navigated the complexities of the immigration system on her own and understands the uncertain, isolating nature of being new to this country.

“The Trump Administration has brought fear and chaos to Colorado and across the country with their cruel immigration policies, leaving community members to pick up the pieces,” said Bennet. “Organizations like Casa de Paz and leaders like Andrea are setting the example for how Coloradans work together, stand up for each other, and protect our neighbors in the face of danger and uncertainty. I have had the privilege to see first-hand the work Andrea does for Coloradans and am honored she will join me for the President’s State of the Union Address. I am deeply grateful for all of her hard work in Colorado.”

“Casa de Paz is thankful for the honor of representing our important and dignifying work,” said Loya. “We appreciate Senator Bennet highlighting the importance of the immigrant community and our presence in this country and in Colorado. We appreciate the lines of collaboration and communication that the Senator and his staff have opened and hope that we shine the light on a crucial issue in our country.”

Bennet has consistently fought the Trump Administration’s cruel and inhumane immigration policies. He recently took to the Senate floor to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) violence and lawlessness and to denounce the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Bennet also continues to call on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem to resign. Bennet has voted against recent budget bills to extend DHS funding because they failed to overhaul ICE or ensure they are subject to the same, common-sense standards we expect of our local law enforcement officials. Additionally, Bennet is working on legislation to rein in DHS and ICE. He also introduced six amendments to the recent FY26 DHS appropriations bill that would protect children and families, bar enforcement at sensitive locations, and prohibit officers from wearing masks while requiring visible identification. This month, Bennet conducted an oversight visit at the ICE detention facility in Aurora, Colorado, and called for increased oversight of such facilities as well as expanded transparency and accountability for ICE.

Last month, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the Providing Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results (PUBLIC SAFETY) Act, legislation to redirect nearly $75 billion in funding passed in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) from ICE and send it instead to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local police officers in communities across the country. In February 2025, Bennet joined his Senate colleagues to introduce the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’s long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. In August 2025, he joined the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety (IEIS) Act to prohibit immigration enforcement officials from wearing masks and to require them to wear visible identification. In November 2025, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the bicameral Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure DHS allows non-citizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families.

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Blumenthal & Robert Garcia Receive Testimony About ICE Abuses from Whistleblower, U.S. Citizen Whose Rights were Violated, & Former Top Lawyer at DHS

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a bicameral public forum on constitutional violations and abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The forum, entitled, “Our Values at Stake (Part III): Terrorizing communities without warrants and no restraint,” featured testimony from Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower who spoke publicly for the first time about his experience as an Instructor for the incoming “surge” of new ICE recruits at the ICE Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (“FLETC”) in Glynco, Georgia. The forum also featured testimony from Teyana Gibson Brown, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota whose home was forcibly entered by ICE agents without a judicial warrant, and Stevan Bunnell, General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from 2013 to 2017. Mr. Schwank’s written testimony is available here, Ms. Gibson Brown’s written testimony is available here, and Mr. Bunnell’s written testimony is available here.

The event is the third public forum Blumenthal and Garcia have hosted as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents.


Blumenthal Releases Whistleblower Documents Showing Drastic Cuts to ICE Training & Testing for New Recruits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released a memorandum and previously undisclosed documents revealing new details about drastic cuts the Trump Administration is making to the training and testing of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

The documents were produced to Blumenthal via a disclosure from two Department of Homeland Security whistleblowers who have requested that they not be identified. Specifically, these documents provide new evidence regarding: (1) the aggressive graduation targets that ICE aims to achieve for new ERO officers in fiscal 2026; (2) cuts of more than a dozen significant practical examinations which potential ICE ERO officers no longer must undergo; (3) numerous classes which appear to have been wholly cut from the training curriculum for ICE ERO officers; and (4) the drastic reduction in the hours of training for potential ICE ERO officers.

These documents appear to directly contradict representations made under oath to Congress by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.

“We know about the Trump Administration’s decimation of training for immigration officers and its secret policy to shred your Constitutional rights because of the brave Americans who are speaking out today,” Blumenthal said. “They are coming to Congress because we have the responsibility to not only bear witness to these crimes, but to do something to make sure they don’t happen again.”

“To anyone else who is repulsed by what you’re seeing or what authorities are asking you to do, please know that you can make a real difference by coming forward. You’ll meet a moral imperative. Our door is open, we are here for you when you are ready, and we will do everything within our power to protect your rights.”

Blumenthal released the documents ahead of a bicameral public forum he is hosting with U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, on constitutional violations and abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The forum will feature testimony from Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower who is speaking publicly for the first time about his experience as an Instructor for the incoming “surge” of new ICE recruits at the ICE Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (“FLETC”) in Glynco, Georgia.

Teyana Gibson Brown, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, will also testify about ICE agents forcefully entering her home without a judicial warrant, breaking down her door and pointing guns at her family. Stevan Bunnell, the General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017, will testify as well.

A link to the memorandum and attachments is available here.

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