Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Demand Department of Education Reverse its Decision to End Federal Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (both D-VA) joined Senate colleagues in urging the Department of Education to immediately reverse the Trump Administration’s harmful decision to unilaterally halt federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). In the letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the senators criticized the Department of Education’s use of a Department of Justice (DOJ) determination that these programs are unconstitutional. The Trump Administration’s halt of mandatory and discretionary funding for MSIs, which have previously been authorized on a bipartisan basis, threatens the institutions’ ability to serve students of all backgrounds and help them complete their degrees. There are over 800 federally recognized MSIs, including nine in Virginia.

“This decision is yet another example of this Administration attempting to circumvent Congress and its obligations to follow the law,” wrote the senators. “Unilaterally deciding that long-standing programs are unconstitutional, absent a ruling from the judiciary, sets a dangerous precedent and disrupts needed support that colleges and students rely on.”

“We urge you to allocate Title III and V discretionary and mandatory funds as Congress intended so that these institutions, which educate millions of working-class Americans, can continue to successfully serve every student they enroll and continue to be economic engines for the communities they serve across this nation,” continued the senators.

In the letter, the senators blasted DOJ’s legal justification for declaring that both discretionary and mandatory MSI grant funding is unconstitutional, citing DOJ’s reliance on a Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College that discusses race-based admissions policies, not race-based funding allocations. The senators emphasized that the factors a college or university can consider when evaluating a student for admission, as addressed in the Supreme Court decision, are unrelated to whether a school should be considered an MSI and that relying on that precedent is an “inappropriate subversion of duly-enacted federal law.” MSIs are evaluated for consideration of federal funding based on the student population they serve, not their admission policies.

MSIs enroll over 5 million students, many of whom are first-generation college students. The nine MSIs in Virginia include Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, Northern Virginia Community College, and Marymount University.

The letter is led by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). In addition to Warner and Kaine, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary McMahon:

We write to express our strong opposition to the Administration’s decision to unilaterally halt federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) based on a unilateral determination by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that these programs are unconstitutional. These longstanding programs have been authorized and funded by Congress for decades, and the Administration’s baseless decision to deem these programs unconstitutional needlessly disrupts the fiscal stability of thousands of colleges and universities that educate millions of students of all ethnicities and backgrounds.

Congress first established MSI programs on a bipartisan basis in the 1986 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and expanded them in subsequent reauthorizations. MSIs have received bipartisan support over the course of six administrations presided over by presidents of both parties. That was true during President Trump’s first term, when he signed the FUTURE Act into law, to secure permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges (TCCUS), and MSIs.

More than 800 federally recognized MSIs currently serve over five million students, many of whom are first generation college students and come from low-income backgrounds. These include Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). More than half of all MSI students qualify for Pell grants, and HSIs enroll 37 percent of the nation’s Pell recipients. As directed by Congress in Section 312(b) of the Higher Education Act, institutions to be eligible for MSI funding, are evaluated on their current enrollment (e.g. among the students they enroll, 15 to 25 percent of existing students must be from a particular student population), have lower than average expenditures, and must enroll high percentages of students receiving Pell grants or need-based aid.

On September 10, 2025, grantees who were recipients of discretionary grant funds under six programs received a letter that the funds were being reprogrammed because the Department of Education (Department) believed that “racial quotas” were unconstitutional. At the time, the Department recognized that while it had statutory authority to reprogram the discretionary funds, the mandatory funds provided to MSIs, which have been required in statute since 2007, could not be reprogrammed and would continue to be dispersed. The Department then added that it would continue to consider the underlying legal issues associated with the mandatory funding mechanism in these programs.

On December 2, 2025, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued an opinion analyzing the constitutionality of the Department of Education’s MSI programs and determined that both the discretionary and mandatory grants for HSIs, ANNHSIs, ANNAPISIs, and NASNTIs, and the formula-based PBI programs, are unconstitutional. On December 19, the Department of Education stated that it was evaluating the full impact of the OLC opinion on the affected programs.

While the Department of Justice’s opinion cites to the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, 600 U.S. 181 (2023) (“SFFA”), that decision pertained specifically to the factors a college or university can consider when evaluating a student for admission. Those factors are unrelated to the determination of whether a school should be considered an MSI, and relying on that precedent— when there has been no specific court determination that MSIs are unconstitutional—is an inappropriate subversion of duly-enacted federal law. MSIs are not directed nor required to employ race-conscious admissions policies for their enrollment; they are evaluated based on the population of students they already serve at the time they are applying for funding.

Furthermore, the funding provided to eligible MSIs through Title III and V grants is provided to the institution, not to specific students. The benefits of the funds are directed towards all students that attend those colleges, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Without these funds, under-resourced institutions would not be able to adequately support their students’ success and the economic benefits for the local communities where these institutions are located would be lost.

Notably, the OLC opinion does not differentiate grants to Native American or Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native serving institutions from other MSI grantees. The opinion incorrectly lumps these institutions with all MSIs, even as federal law has long recognized that these programs serve categories of students that are not racial but rather political classifications. Notably, 90 percent of Native students enroll in traditional public and private colleges, including NASNTIs and ANNHSIs, and the federal government has a fundamental legal responsibility to Native students’ education that is not based on race but on treaties, statutes, court decisions, and the trust responsibility. Further, last year the Department recognized this “unique political and legal relationship” when it took the position that American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian history is not classified as diversity, equity, and inclusion and pledged to “continue to deliver on all statutory grant programs that support American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students.” NASNTIs and ANNHSIs are statutorily authorized to receive federal support from the Department to strengthen their capacity to serve American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students.

Furthermore, this action is inconsistent with the policies of this Administration. Nearly a half dozen agencies have clarified that programs that serve American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians do not constitute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities prohibited by President Trump’s executive orders. Grants supporting Native communities with which the federal government holds trust and treaty obligations do not impose racial quotas or restrict admissions based on race, but rather deliver on the federal trust responsibility to provide an education for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians because of their unique legal status and political relationship with the United States.

This decision is yet another example of this Administration attempting to circumvent Congress and its obligations to follow the law. Unilaterally deciding that long-standing programs are unconstitutional, absent a ruling from the judiciary, sets a dangerous precedent and disrupts needed support that colleges and students rely on.

We urge you to allocate Title III and V discretionary and mandatory funds as Congress intended so that these institutions, which educate millions of working-class Americans, can continue to successfully serve every student they enroll and continue to be economic engines for the communities they serve across this nation. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

###


Warnock Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Strike Down President Trump’s Illegal Tariff Policy

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance subcommittee that oversees tariffs, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff strategy illegal.

“This ruling is welcome relief for families who are struggling with higher prices as a direct result of this President’s policies,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I hope that instead of pursuing other avenues to impose these expensive taxes on Americans, the President centers the people and works to make life more affordable.”

###


Following DOJ Antitrust Shakeup, Warren, Balint, Lawmakers Raise Questions About Corruption Surrounding DOJ Approval of Massive Housing Merger

DOJ Antitrust head Gail Slater, who was forced out last week, reportedly tried to launch extended review of Compass-Anywhere merger — but was overruled and merger was approved

“Allowing this merger will make it easier for these firms to exert greater control over the real estate market, limit consumer access and choice, and ultimately exacerbate the housing crisis that has put homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.) led colleagues in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on whether there was corruption and political favoritism at the Department of Justice (DOJ) involving the agency’s questionable review of the massive merger between real estate giants Compass and Anywhere Real Estate. The lawmakers’ push follows the ouster of top DOJ antitrust official Gail Slater last week, raising questions about whether political interference is causing DOJ to stymie critical antitrust reviews of massive mergers that threaten to raise costs for consumers.

“This decision raises questions about corruption under your watch and its impact on housing affordability for American families. Allowing this merger will make it easier for these firms to exert greater control over the real estate market, limit consumer access and choice, and ultimately exacerbate the housing crisis that has put homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans,” wrote the lawmakers.

The letter was also signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

Real estate brokerage behemoths Compass and Anywhere announced a $1.6 billion merger in September of last year, subject to DOJ review. In a surprise move last month, Compass announced that it had completed its acquisition of Anywhere far ahead of schedule. The merger combines two of the nation’s largest residential real-estate brokerages, creating the largest agent network in the country — and raising antitrust and competition concerns.

With a housing crisis already flattening American families under Donald Trump, further consolidation in the market threatens to make it even harder for consumers to afford homeownership. Mergers like Compass-Anywhere can push homeownership even further out of reach — making a thorough and serious DOJ review of the merger all the more critical.

But DOJ leadership — namely the office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — reportedly hindered the agency’s antitrust review of the Compass-Anywhere merger, failing to protect Americans. Recent reporting revealed that DOJ Antitrust Division leadership, including recently-ousted Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, sought an extended investigation of the transaction given concerns it might violate federal antitrust law, but senior DOJ leaders overrode Slater and cleared the transaction without additional review. This decision by DOJ leadership apparently came after Compass hired Mike Davis — a Trump-allied lawyer who has been involved in other merger review controversies. Reporting suggests that Davis was responsible for pushing the Compass-Anywhere review forward — and after Slater was forced out of DOJ, Davis bragged that he recommended her firing.

“The fact pattern reported in the Compass-Anywhere deal is deeply disturbing, indicating that it may be another example of well-connected industries and lobbyists obtaining inside access to high-level Trump Administration DOJ officials, and using this access to pervert the antitrust process to obtain approval of anticompetitive mergers that will reduce competition and harm the public,” wrote the lawmakers.

This isn’t the first instance of apparent corruption under AG Bondi’s watch at DOJ. In July, lawmakers sounded the alarm regarding DOJ’s settlement of the Hewlett Packard-Juniper networks merger, after reports indicated that defendants retained lobbyists and consultants with ties to the Trump White House and DOJ leadership — resulting in the ouster of multiple of Slater’s deputies. In December, lawmakers pressed Bondi to recuse herself from DOJ’s review of any merger involving Warner Bros., given Bondi’s own apparent conflicts of interest and the cloud of corruption at the DOJ. Earlier this week, Senator Warrenjoined colleagues in pressing Bondi on Slater’s ouster, citing reports about Mike Davis’s involvement and sounding the alarm about the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing antitrust laws.

“Corruption in this process could exacerbate the current housing crisis, under which foreclosures are up 26 percent and mortgage delinquencies are at a four-year-high, while also setting a dangerous precedent that invites political interference in merger review across industries and undermines the antitrust laws that Congress put in place to safeguard competition and protect Americans,” wrote the lawmakers.

To ensure that the DOJ enforces antitrust law independently and fairly, the lawmakers pressed for more information about the agency’s unusual approval of the Compass-Anywhere merger and requested answers by March 5, 2026.

###


Welch Hosts ‘Common Grounds with Senator Welch’ in Orange County

FAIRLEE, VT – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) hosted a ‘Common Grounds with Senator Welch’ listening session at the Lake Morey Resort in Orange County. In Fairlee, the Senator joined local housing, economic development leaders and concerned Vermonters to discuss what more needs to be done to make central Vermont communities more affordable, climate resilient and healthier

“We’re facing a nationwide affordability crisis right now, and Vermonters are feeling the pain especially hard. I heard from folks today who are worried about how rising costs will make it harder to pay their bills–that’s a huge concern, and one we have to address urgently. Investing in rural development, small businesses, and affordable housing is absolutely essential to bringing down costs,” said Senator Welch. “I’m working hard in Washington to advance economic opportunity for folks in Fairlee and across our state.”

View photos from the event below and on the Senator’s website:

Senator Welch will host ‘Common Grounds’ listening sessions in every county of Vermont in 2026. Sign up for the Senator’s newsletter here to learn more about his upcoming events in Vermont.

###


Welch Joins Firefighters, Community Leaders to Celebrate Nearly $600,000 in Federal Funding to Help Build New Fire Station in Saxtons River

Welch meets with EMS providers to discuss bicameral ‘EMS ROCS’ Act

BELLOWS FALLS, VT – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) visited the Rockingham Municipal Fire Department’s Bellows Falls Fire Station to celebrate new federal funding—championed and secured by the Senator—to help build a new fire station in Saxtons River with expanded emergency services. Senator Welch secured $598,000 for the Rockingham Municipal Fire Department’s Saxtons River Station in a recently-passed funding bill, through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process.

“Decades-long funding shortfalls have made it increasingly hard for local fire stations to meet the needs of rural communities. In Saxtons River, where firefighters are operating out of unsafe facilities damaged nearly 15 years ago by Tropical Storm Irene, that struggle is even tougher,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to have secured nearly $600,000 in federal funding to bring taxpayer dollars back to Rockingham to support our firefighters and expand emergency services.”

The Senator also joined EMS providers and community leaders in Bellows Falls to discuss his Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act, a bicameral bill that requires the government to pay for vital EMS services, regardless of whether a person needs an ambulance ride to the hospital.

“I was also pleased to speak with EMS providers who are on the frontlines of medical emergencies here in Windham County. Right now, these folks aren’t being reimbursed for some of the lifesaving services rural communities depend on–we need to fix that,” said Senator Welch. “Congress must pass my EMS ROCS Act to ensure that EMS providers here in Rockingham and across our state are duly paid for the invaluable care they provide.”

View photos from the event below and on the Senator’s website:

In November, Senator Welch joined Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) in introducing the bipartisan Comprehensive Alternative Response to Emergencies (CARE) Act to require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to test a five-year “treatment-in-place” model in which Medicare reimburses EMS providers when they treat a patient outside of the hospital, such as for minor medical incidents, rather than transporting them to a hospital for care.

Learn more about the EMS ROCS Act of 2026.

###


Welch Welcomes Supreme Court’s Ruling Striking Down Trump’s Tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today welcomed the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling to strike down President Trump’s reckless, global tariffs, which were imposed illegally under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“President Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutional, reckless, and a complete abuse of executive power. Trump’s trade war has created chaos and economic pain for Vermont businesses and farmers and raised taxes for hardworking families across the country. The Trump Administration’s global tariffs damaged our status as the standard-bearer of a free-market economy and our reputation as a leader in global trade. I welcome this definitive ruling by the Supreme Court, which will provide relief to America’s Main Streets and makes it clear that Congress—and Congress alone—holds the constitutional authority to regulate tariffs,” said Senator Welch.

“This decision also reflects a rejection of President Trump’s access economy, where success is dependent on who you know in his cabinet, rather than how hard you work. The next step must be doing right by Americans—including small businesses and farmers in Vermont—harmed by Trump’s economic wrongdoings,” Welch concluded.

Senator Welch is the lead sponsor of the CANADA Act, bipartisan legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. He is a proud original cosponsor of the bipartisan Trade Review Act, legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy. The Senator also supported bipartisan legislation to restrict the executive branch’s authority to impose tariffs through the IEEPA for Trump’s Brazil tariffs, Canada tariffs, and April 2nd Global tariffs; all of these measures passed the Senate with bipartisan support with the most recent vote happening this past October.

The Senator has hosted roundtables in Williston, Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, Manchester, and virtually to hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian businesses impacted by the trade war.

###


Wyden, Colleagues Launch Investigation into Trump Labor Department Slashing Worker Protections, Putting American Workers at Risk

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues in launching a new investigation into the federal Department of Labor after releasing new data revealing the Trump administration’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) performed 20% fewer inspections and issued 42% fewer fines for severe workplace violations in 2025.

Both figures indicate that the Department of Labor may be discouraging inspectors from enforcing workplace safety laws.

The investigation will examine the department’s broader plans to eliminate key safety regulations, putting U.S. workers at serious risk. The lawmakers pressed for answers regarding the decline in OSHA enforcement actions, and the department’s recent attempts to roll back safety rules — including those that protect workers from leading causes of death on the job.

“Your agency has tried to cloak your deregulatory agenda in the language of ‘putting workers first,’ but the reality is that the Labor Department is prioritizing the interests of unscrupulous employers over Americans who work hard in dangerous environments to provide for their families,” the senators wrote to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Keeling.

Over the last year, the Trump administration has proposed massive cuts to OSHA’s funding, threatening the agency’s ability to effectively oversee more than 8 million worksites across the country. At the same time, the Department of Labor has rolled out a deregulatory agenda that proposes to get rid of many regulations that keep U.S. workers safe, including:

Eliminating the authority of the Mine Safety and Health Administration —which protects coal miners from hazards like black lung disease— to require mine operators to ensure proper ventilation and prevent roof collapses in mines;

Announcement of plans to eliminate requirements for adequate lighting on construction sites—even though about one of every twenty construction worker deaths are caused by visibility issues, including poor lighting. Construction is the leading sector for worker fatalities;

Announcement of plans to limit OSHA’s ability to hold employers accountable for unsafe working conditions in inherently unsafe professions; and

Loosening of respirator requirements for workers exposed to carcinogens, lead, asbestos, and formaldehyde.

An independent analysis of OSHA enforcement actions during the first nine months of the Trump administration supported the data provided to the office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, finding that the agency brought 35 percent fewer cases than the same period in previous administrations. It also found that OSHA imposed just $94 million in penalties—47% lower compared to the first nine months of the last 17 years.

“If employers know that they are unlikely to face hefty fines, they may be less likely to adhere to safety standards that keep American workers safe in their places of employment,” the lawmakers warned.

The senators requested a response to their questions no later than March 4, 2026, including answers as to whether OSHA has directed inspectors to reduce the number of inspections, citations issued for workplace violations, or reduce citations for a certain type of violation.

The letter was led by Warren. In addition to Wyden, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif.


Wyden, Merkley, Dexter, Colleagues Demand Accountability for Israel’s Detention and Abuse of Palestinian-American Teenager Mohammed Ibrahim

This week marks one year since Israeli forces arrested and detained Mohammed Ibrahim, a U.S. citizen, for ten months

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter today joined Senate and House colleagues to demand accountability for the Israeli military’s nearly ten-month detention of Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American minor.

On February 16, 2025, U.S. citizen and Florida resident Mohammed Ibrahim was arrested in his home in the town of al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, near Ramallah in the West Bank, at 3 am by heavily armed Israeli soldiers. For nearly ten months, the then 15-year-old boy was detained without trial and denied visitation from family. He was finally released on November 27, 2025. The lawmakers highlight how his physical and psychological abuse by Israeli soldiers underscores Israel’s systematic denial of basic rights and due process to Palestinian detainees, especially minors.

“Following his arrest and during his time in custody, we received periodic reports from Mohammed’s family and U.S. Consular officers regarding Mohammed’s treatment by Israeli soldiers. He and the Palestinian minors detained in the same cell were beaten, threatened, pepper sprayed in the face, and denied adequate food and medical care for, in Mohammed’s case, more than nine months. Mohammed lost a third of his body weight and was covered in scabies, as were the others,” the lawmakers wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “One of his cellmates, 17-year-old Walid Ahmad, who was never charged with a crime, died. His autopsy findings showed signs of prolonged malnutrition, untreated colitis, injuries likely caused by blunt trauma, and scabies. After his release, Mohammed described in detail the brutality and humiliation he and his cellmates were subjected to—mistreatment that no one should be forced to endure, least of all a 15-year-old.”

“This type of abuse, which has become commonplace in the West Bank and Israeli prison facilities, must stop. There has been case after case of Palestinians, including hundreds of children, swept up in the Israeli military justice system, where they are not only denied basic rights of due process but subjected to systematic physical and psychological abuse. While such abuses are never permissible, we are especially concerned that cases involving abuse of U.S. citizens in the West Bank be thoroughly investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice,” the lawmakers concluded.

In their letter, the lawmakers request immediate answers from Rubio to the following questions:

Has anyone from the State Department met with Mohammed since his release to hear from him directly about his treatment by Israel Prison Service (IPS) authorities? If not, why not?

Has the State Department requested the Government of Israel to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation of the abuse that he and the other minors who were detained with him were subjected to?

Have any IDF or IPS personnel been punished for the abuse of Mohammed Ibrahim?

This letter follows an initial letter sent in October 2025 letter that Merkley led and signed by Wyden and Dexter to press the Trump administration on the detention of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim.

This latest letter was led by U.S. Senators Peter Welch, D-Vt., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, D-Fla. In addition to Wyden, Merkley and Dexter, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer, D-Va., Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., Greg Casar, D-Texas, and Jim McGovern, D-Mass.


Leger Fernández Announces First Guest to State of the Union: Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Rural Health Care Leader from Portales

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) announced that Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of La Casa Family Health Center in Portales, Clovis, and Roswell, will join her as her guest for the day of the State of the Union Address to highlight the urgent need to protect rural health care and affordability for New Mexico families.

Pacheco-Muñoz represents the frontline health care providers who are fighting to keep rural clinics open and serving patients even as federal policies threaten funding and increase financial strain on rural health systems. La Casa Family Health Center is a federally qualified health center serving rural communities across eastern New Mexico, providing primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and outreach to thousands of patients across Roosevelt, Curry, and Chaves counties.

“Carmen’s story is New Mexico’s story,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. “She started at La Casa as a young secretary and single mother trying to make ends meet and afford health care. Through hard work and dedication, she rose to lead the very clinic that helps families like hers afford to get the care they need. Carmen understands firsthand that Medicaid is not an abstract policy—it is the difference between care and crisis, between stability and uncertainty. It means families don’t have to choose between going to a doctor when they are sick or paying their rent. At a time when Trump’s policies threaten health care access in rural communities, Carmen reminds us what’s at stake. We will make sure Trump hears the voices of rural New Mexico — which he has betrayed.”

Pacheco-Muñoz has dedicated 36 years to La Casa Family Health Center, beginning as a medical secretary and rising through the organization to lead it as Interim CEO. Her leadership reflects both professional experience and personal understanding of the barriers many rural families face when trying to access health care.

“Community Health Centers serve more than 328,000 New Mexicans, many of them in rural communities where we are the only source of care,” said Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz. “I am honored to represent rural healthcare providers and the patients we serve. I know firsthand how vital Medicaid and community health centers are because I lived the struggle of accessing healthcare as a single mother trying to raise my daughters and afford care. Clinics like La Casa, and all Community Health Centers across New Mexico, serve everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, but we cannot do it alone. Federal support and Medicaid are essential to ensuring that families, children, seniors, and those living with chronic conditions can access care with dignity. Rural voices must be heard, and I am proud to bring the realities of our communities to Washington.”

Congresswoman Leger Fernández also announced that she and Pacheco-Muñoz will not attend the State of the Union speech. Instead, they will participate in the People's State of the Union— alternative programming focused on amplifying the voices of families harmed by the administration’s policies. Additional details on this programming can be found at MoveOn.org/Live and media credential requests can be found here.

Medicaid is the backbone of rural health care in New Mexico and the main way nearly half of New Mexicans afford health care. Rural clinics like La Casa depend on it to keep their doors open. Trump and his allies passed a budget that cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, which will kick an estimated 120,000 New Mexicans off their health coverage. These cuts will increase uncompensated care, destabilize rural clinics, and put 6 to 8 rural hospitals in New Mexico at risk of closure. Providers across the state could face more than $213 million in uncompensated care costs as patients lose coverage but still need lifesaving treatment.

Trump’s failure to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits — even after Democrats forced a vote to extend them for 3 years — will dramatically raise health care costs. In New Mexico’s Third Congressional District alone, more than 14,000 people rely on those tax credits to afford insurance. Without them, a 55-year-old New Mexican earning about $63,000 could see their annual premiums rise by more than $5,000.

These actions come as rural providers already face workforce shortages, rising costs, and growing financial pressures.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández has been a strong advocate for protecting Medicaid, expanding health care access, and strengthening rural health systems. She continues to fight back against policies that threaten care for New Mexico families and remains committed to make sure that rural communities are not left behind.

The Congresswoman’s second guest will be announced early next week. A headshot of Pacheco-Muñoz is available here.

###


LEADER JEFFRIES IN LAREDO: “IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE FAIR, JUST AND HUMANE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability in Laredo with Rep. Henry Cuellar, where he emphasized that ICE is out-of-control and must be reined in from brutalizing American citizens and targeting law-abiding families.

LEADER JEFFRIES: These are challenging times, but this was a wonderful ceremony, a celebration of the bi-national special relationship between the United States and Mexico, anchored in a commitment to economic prosperity and the cultural connections that have gone on for centuries. We also, of course, celebrate Washington’s birthday in the 250th year of the founding of our great country.

Laredo is an incredible city, an international city, but of course, one that has been dealt a blow as a result of the tariffs that are impacting the economy all across the country, impacting businesses all across country and impacting consumers. Trade between the United States and Mexico is, has been and will continue to be incredibly important. And through that lens, we want to make sure that as we approach the renewal of the U.S.M.C.A. Agreement, that we tackle it with an understanding of shared prosperity for all communities, particularly as it relates to the people here in Laredo.

We also believe that immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, it should be just and it should be humane. We want strong, safe and secure borders, and we will continue to support that. We also want to make sure that we lift up our heritage as a nation, both anchored in the rule of law, but as a nation of immigrants, as this wonderful city of Laredo has flourished and contributed so much, not just to South Texas, but to Texas and to America.

So it’s an honor to be here once again, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship in South Texas with policies that actually make life better for the people here in this wonderful part of the country.

Full press availability can be watched here.

###


LEADER JEFFRIES ON MS NOW: “AS A RESULT OF THE TRUMP TARIFFS,EVERYDAY AMERICANS ARE PAYINGTHOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE INADDITIONAL EXPENSE PER YEAR”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s PoliticsNation, where he reiterated that Democrats are committed to lowering the high cost of living, including by stopping the reckless Trump Tariffs from harming the American people.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, we’re going to get to the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson in a moment, but first, I want to talk to you about the major political story today. President Trump claims today he’s boosting his global tariffs from 10 to 15% after the Supreme Court struck down most of his existing tariffs yesterday. Even some Republicans appraising to the decision. The President responded by insulting the justices who signed off on it after saying this about you. Take a listen.

RECORDING OF RYAN NOBLES, NBC NEWS: Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Leader, has called you a wannabe king.

RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: I call him a low-IQ individual.

RECORDING OF RYAN NOBLES, NBC NEWS: Why wouldn’t you just work with Congress to come up with a plan?

RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t have to.

REV. AL SHARPTON: What’s your reaction to the tariff ruling and to being called low-IQ Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good to be with you, Rev. It certainly, in terms of the Supreme Court decision, was a big win for the American people and a big defeat for the wannabe king who did not have the authority to engage in the reckless Trump Tariffs that he has imposed effectively on the American people, hurting small businesses, hurting consumers, hurting farmers and hurting the economy. As a result of the Trump Tariffs, everyday Americans are paying thousands of dollars more in additional expense per year. Now the Supreme Court made clear that these tariffs were unlawful and unconstitutional, but the President can’t help himself, and so instead, he’s doubling and tripling down and continuing to hurt the American people. I’m less concerned about his petty, foolish and lame insults, Rev, than I am about the harm and the pain that Donald Trump continues to inflict on working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, yesterday’s court decision pretty clearly put the ball back in Congress’s court. And while many House Republicans are reportedly relieved, Speaker Mike Johnson has already vowed to work with the President to find the best way forward on his tariff demands. The President seems to be claiming he can do whatever he wants. What are you expecting from the other side of the aisle, and how do you and your Caucus plan to respond?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Donald Trump and Republicans, they promised to lower costs on day one of Donald Trump’s presidency. Costs aren’t going down. Costs are going up. And in fact, things are out of control in terms of the affordability crisis. And so it’s ridiculous, if you think about it, Rev, that in the face of their failures relative to the economy, we’re seeing Speaker Johnson want to further impose these Trump Tariffs on the American people, find a different scheme to do it that we believe ultimately will probably be declared unlawful. And so, we’re going to continue to resist this effort by the President, which is not anchored in working with a bipartisan group of people, Democrats and Republicans and people in the House and the Senate, to actually lower the high cost of living, lower housing costs, lower the cost of groceries or goods or healthcare or child care or utility bills, all of which right now have been out of control under Donald Trump’s presidency.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, while all of this is happening, Trump says he’s considering a limited military strike on Iran to force the country to accept the deal on its nuclear program. He’s given Iran a two-week window for negotiations. Its foreign minister says it’s preparing a counterproposal. But U.S. military vessels have been building up in the region for weeks. And just like his tariff policy, none of the buildup appears to have gone through Congress for input or approval. Is a conflict inevitable at this point, Leader Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: The last thing that we need right now, given all the problems that we have in America, all of the damage that Donald Trump has done to everyday Americans, all of his failures that we’ve seen from day one of his presidency, is for Donald Trump to get us into another failed foreign war or reckless adventure that will ultimately, particularly in the Middle East, cost us lives and cost us billions, if not trillions, of dollars in taxpayer resources. And so, we’re going to continue to proceed in the same way that we have before, find a bipartisan path forward to try and stop Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally strike anyone in the world in the absence of congressional approval, which, of course, is required by the Constitution.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Is Speaker Johnson on the same page?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Speaker Johnson is definitively not on the same page. So what we’re going to have to do is what we’ve done on a variety of different other issues, including, most recently, pass legislation in the House over the objection of Mike Johnson to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by three years. All 213 Democrats at the time joined by 17 Republicans. We most recently, before the Supreme Court acted, led by Congressman Greg Meeks, we were able to take down one of Donald Trump’s initial tariffs that had been imposed unlawfully, in our view, on Canada. And we’re going to have to find a path forward, joined by just a handful of Republicans, to assert the principle that, absent explicit authorization for the use of military force, Donald Trump should not and must not strike Iran.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, midterms are just nine months away, and several Republican-led states are entering their primary seasons with gerrymandered voting maps at Trump’s request, as he threatens voter ID with or without Congress, and Republicans push the SAVE Act, which could radically restrict voter access. All of this, as the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the future of Section Two of the Voting Rights Act. How worried are you about the impact of all of this for Democrats in November?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure that there’s a free and fair election in November. First, we needed to stop his gerrymandering scheme, where, effectively, they wanted to alter congressional maps in red states only, all across the country, as part of their effort to rig the midterm elections. We’ve stopped that, effectively, from happening, and so they’ve run out of gas as it relates to that effort. But that doesn’t mean it’s over. As you pointed out, Rev, what we’re going to see is this effort to try to engage in voter suppression in a variety of ways, including by trying to jam the so-called SAVE America Act down the throats of the American people. Now, thankfully, Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats have made clear the bill is dead on arrival. And if the President tries to do any of this unilaterally, just as we’ve successfully done before, we will sue him, take it all the way up to the Supreme Court and I’m confident that we will win.

REV. AL SHARPTON: We lost Reverend Jesse Jackson this weekend. You know, you’ve been a member of the National Action Network for years, seen him there, know he’s been a central mentor to me. What are your thoughts on his life and legacy coming at this time in our nation’s history?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, he’s an incredible and real-life American hero. Through the force of his intellect, his advocacy, his character, his courage, his commitment, of course, has left America a more just place than the one that he’s found. Of course, we still have to march toward a more perfect union, and a lot of work needs to be done, but he’s shown us the way. And as you said, Rev, leaves behind such a tremendous legacy of his life’s work and leaders such as yourself, of course, who was very close to Reverend Jackson and mentored by him to continue the Civil Rights Movement efforts to bring about liberty and justice for all, equal protection under the law and make America the best version of herself. And so, we’ll continue to be inspired by him. There are four Black senators who stand on the shoulders of Reverend Jesse Jackson. When he began this work in the 1960s, of course, there were zero. There are about 55 African American Members of the House of Representatives. When he began this work in the mid-1960s, there were less than five. Now, there are at least 55. And so, we’re thankful for all that Reverend Jackson has done, what he’s meant, his inspirational leadership. And we continue to stand on his shoulders as we move forward to deal with the national nightmare that exists right now in the United States of America, and to show up and stand up and speak up for what Reverend Jackson fought for, what you fight for, Rev, in order to bring about a more perfect union.

REV. AL SHARPTON: I’m out of time, but one last question. Speaker Johnson has denied a request from Reverend Jackson’s family and others that he be allowed to lie in state in the Capitol. It’s reported the Speaker based his decision on a precedent in which the honor has been mostly restricted to government and military officials. Do you think an exception was deserved in this case, Leader Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: We certainly, as Democrats in the House, strongly supported an exception being made. We understand, of course, that tradition has it that in most instances, the honor is reserved for former presidents. But of course, precedent has allowed for instances where Rosa Parks, appropriately, Civil Rights hero, has lied in honor in the Capitol. And Billy Graham has lied in honor as a religious transformational leader. It’s interesting Jesse Jackson is both a Civil Rights leader and a transformational religious figure. And it was at least our view that if there was any instance where an exception was merited, it would be in the case of Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Sr. But we’re gonna continue to work with the family to make sure there are other appropriate ways to honor his life, his leadership and his legacy in Washington, D.C.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Alright, thank you very much, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Full interview can be watched here.


Kean Delivers $900,000 to Warren Township for Critical Police Communications Upgrades

Image

February 21, 2026

(February 21, 2026) WARREN TOWNSHIP, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) presented $900,000 in federal funding to the Warren Township Police Department to upgrade vital emergency response communications equipment. Kean secured this funding through the FY2026 Community Project Funding process to directly support local law enforcement.

Warren Township Police Department’s communications equipment is more than 25 years old. Currently, some of their critical equipment is range-limited, lacks multiple bands, and does not provide the level of interoperability required for today’s emergency response environment. The Township's central dispatch serves as the communications hub for all police, fire, and EMS calls, so these limitations impact all first responders in the jurisdiction. Without reliable, multi-band capability and improved coverage, coordination with neighboring towns during emergencies can be hindered. These upgrades will strengthen communication across agencies, improve reliability, and ensure officers and first responders can respond quickly and effectively.

“Reliable communication is the backbone of effective emergency response. As technology advances, we must ensure our first responders are equipped with the modern tools they need to best protect their community,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “I am pleased to deliver this $900,000 federal grant to Warren Township so officers can communicate seamlessly, coordinate more effectively, and stay safe while serving their residents in the field.”

“The safety of the residents is a priority for me,” said Warren Township Mayor Shaun Fine. “Warren's dedicated dispatch department, which many municipalities don’t have, allows for quicker and more complete responses by the officers. I sincerely appreciate Congressman Kean for strengthening our safety by providing us with this funding to allow for a needed upgrade of our dispatching technology.”

“Warren Twp. PD is grateful to Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. and his long-term commitment to public safety in Warren Township. Congressman Kean has been a staunch and vocal supporter of first responders, and this funding allows us to modernize critical communications infrastructure supporting our Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and Emergency Medical Services (EMS),” said Warren Township Chief of Police Robert W. Ferreiro. “It also strengthens interoperability with our public safety and law enforcement partners ensuring faster, safer, and more coordinated responses when seconds matter.”

“I am grateful for these resources going towards enhancing security in Warren and the 21st Legislative District,” said State Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy. “As a former federal and state prosecutor, I have seen firsthand how effective communication and dispatch systems are crucial to public safety. Today, the effects of law enforcement and first responder efforts are increasingly felt across jurisdictions. By providing Chief Ferreiro, his police department, and all our first responders in Warren Township the tools necessary to protect residents, it will make people safer in Warren and beyond.”

During the visit, Chief Ferreiro read a letter of appreciation and presented Congressman Kean with a challenge coin on behalf of the Warren Township Police Department and residents. The letter expressed gratitude for Kean’s efforts in securing the $900,000 grant and for his continued support for public safety. View the letter of appreciation HERE.

Since taking office, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. has secured over $12 million for police departments across New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District through the Community Project Funding process, demonstrating a consistent, tangible commitment to backing the blue with real resources. Kean remains steadfast in ensuring local law enforcement officers receive the support and equipment necessary to keep our communities safe.

All 15 projects that Congressman Kean was allotted for the FY2026 Community Project Funding process have now passed the U.S. House of Representatives. View the full list of projectsHERE.

Image

Pictured from left: New Jersey State Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy, Warren Township Committeeman Daniel McCarey, Committeeman Lance Blick, U.S. Congressman Tom Kean, Jr., Committeeman Daniel Croson, Mayor Shaun Fine, Deputy Mayor Vanessa Kian, and New Jersey State Senator Jon Bramnick

###


Jeffrey Epstein Survivor Jess Michaels to Join State of the Union as Rep. Walkinshaw’s Guest

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) announced today that he will host Jess Michaels, a survivor of sexual assault by Jeffrey Epstein and a survivor advocate, as his guest for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

“For far too long, truth has been buried, survivors have been silenced, and powerful people have been protected. And I can’t help but wonder…does our government belong to the American people or to those who prey on them?” said Jess Michaels.

“For years, Jeffrey Epstein built a system of abuse that relied on powerful allies and enablers who helped him hide in plain sight and kept survivors from being heard,” said Rep. Walkinshaw. “The truth is coming to light because survivors of Epstein’s abuse have shown extraordinary courage and refused to be silenced. I’m honored to host Jess Michaels as my State of the Union guest, and I’m grateful she accepted my invitation.”

Walkinshaw said the courage shown by Epstein’s survivors is a reminder of the strength of survivors across America who are still fighting to be heard. “Survivors live in every community, including right here in Northern Virginia,” Walkinshaw said. “Our responsibility is to listen, support, and pursue accountability, no matter how powerful the perpetrator is.”

Walkinshaw criticized the Trump administration’s refusal to release the full Epstein files, despite the legal requirement to do so. “Survivors and the public deserve the full truth,” Walkinshaw said. “President Trump has shown a disturbing disregard for survivors, and his Administration’s refusal to release the full Epstein files only reinforces that. Jess chose courage. If the people blocking transparency chose courage too, we would not still be fighting to bring the full truth into the light.”

“This State of the Union address is on the world stage, and anyone watching who may have known about Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse or participated in it should hear this clearly: The wall of privilege is only beginning to crack, and we will not stop until there is real justice and accountability. Justice cannot be reserved for the well connected, and no one is above the law,” Walkinshaw added.

Jess Michaels is a TEDx speaker, survivor-advocate, and founder of 3Joannes, Inc., where she created 3Js Sexual Assault First Aid Kit™ and the #WithYouToo Social Safety app.

Throughout his career, Walkinshaw has made protecting survivors a top priority. In Fairfax County, he helped create the “Make the Call” campaign and chaired the Council to End Domestic Violence. In Congress, he is working to strengthen and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and protect survivors’ rights, including for underserved and non-citizen survivors. On his first day in Congress, he signed the discharge petition to force a House vote to release the Epstein files after Republicans refused to bring it to the floor.

###


As Costs for Everyday Essentials Skyrocket Under Trump, Duckworth Highlights Importance of Diaper Banks as a Lifeline for Struggling Families

[ROUND LAKE PARK, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today participated in Keeping Families Covered’s diaper distribution event where she highlighted the need to better support children and families as costs for everyday essentials like diapers continue to skyrocket under Donald Trump’s economy. Duckworth also met with volunteers and Keeping Families Covered staff to help distribute diapers and other baby products to families. Photos of today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.

“Our communities—and our local economies—thrive when we invest in our families, and Diaper Banks are a prime example of the positive impacts federal investment can have—especially compared to the damage caused by Trump’s cruel efforts to gut federal funding and raise prices in nearly every aspect of our lives,” Duckworth said. “Diaper banks play an important role in the journey of so many young families across the Midwest, and it’s one of the many pillars of support in the sometimes scary, often overwhelming moments of becoming a new parent.”

Diapers are critical not only for those who wear them, but for the economic and emotional health of families. However, in this country, 1 in 2 families reports not having enough diapers. Infants can need up to 12 diapers a day and toddlers up to 8—costing $80–$100 or more per month per baby. Since FY 2023, Duckworth has secured a total of $70 million for the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot (DDDRP), including $20 million for FY 2026.

Last year, Duckworth re-introduced her bipartisan End Diaper Need Act of 2025 to make it easier for low-income families to afford the diapers they need. This legislation would help assist low-income families address diaper need by providing targeted funding for states, territories, diaper banks and other eligible entities who help provide diapers and diapering supplies at no cost to those in need.

Keeping Families Covered (KFF) is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, serving families in Northern Illinois. KFF distributes products through two channels: a network of community partners and direct service. The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) connects and supports the country’s more than 200 community-based diaper banks that collect, store and distribute free diapers to struggling families.

-30-


Duckworth Recognizes Soon-To-Be Naturalized U.S. Citizens in Grayslake

[GRAYSLAKE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today participated in a Naturalization Recognition Ceremony hosted by Mano a Mano Family Resource Center in Grayslake to welcome more than 50 residents from five different countries who will soon be sworn in as naturalized United States citizens. In her remarks to the future Americans, Duckworth highlighted the importance of diversity in strengthening our nation and her love for our country. Photos from today’s ceremony are available on the Senator’s website.

“For everyone here today, whether your journey started in Mexico or Ukraine, your hard work and dedication make your stories the American Dream,” Duckworth said. “Despite the fear some have tried to strike in our hearts over the past year, diversity isn’t just a feel-good issue—it makes us smarter by widening our perspectives. I want to thank you for making this nation better and for making America more American.”

Full remarks as prepared below:

Hello, everyone! It’s an honor to be here today with Senator Durbin.

First off, I want to say congratulations!

We may hail from different counties and come from different countries… we may say different prayers and have different skin tones...

But we’re here today because we all love this nation, and each of us knows that our differences make this country stronger...

We know that our diversity is what has always made America not just great, but good.

I’m an American, but was born in Thailand. And my family only came back to this country when I was a teenager.

We struggled.

My mom was kept half a world away from us for six months, forced to stay behind as—unlike me, my brother and my father—she wasn’t born an American citizen.

There were times I wasn’t sure if I’d get a warm meal at night. There were times we didn’t know if we’d make rent.

But over and over again, the generosity of our neighbors helped us scrape by… keeping us from going hungry… keeping a roof over our heads… making America feel more like home with every day that passed.

To me, that is America at its best:

A 3.5-million-square-mile community where someone who isn’t wealthy would still reach into their own pocket to help a stranger… no matter the country where they were born or how fluent they are in English.

That remains true today, despite some of the rhetoric we’ve heard recently…

Despite the horrifying events we’ve seen unfold in our communities over the last year...

Despite the fear that some have tried to strike in our hearts as they abuse their power.

America is still filled with those generous strangers… with people, like those of you raising your right hands and taking the Oath of Allegiance today or in the coming months, who know the true power of diversity.

Because diversity isn’t “just” a feel-good issue.

Diversity makes us smarter, as it widens our perspectives.

It makes us sharper, as it shatters our assumptions.

And it makes us stronger, as it deepens our bonds… leading us to treat as equals those who look, love or speak differently than we do ourselves.

You know, I’ve lived my entire adult life under an oath to protect and defend this nation… first in the Army, and now in the Senate.

So keeping our country the strongest it can be means something to me.

But despite what some folks suggest, you can’t measure the strength of this nation by the size of our defense budget or the height of our border walls.

And you certainly can’t measure it by the number of masked, armed agents patrolling our streets trying to intimidate our families.

No.

Instead, the true strength of America lies in our values.

I still remember—this must’ve been in 1995 or ’96—being on an Army mission in Egypt.

I was in the Illinois National Guard, so when my crew climbed out of our helicopter, I was surrounded by a bunch of Polish-American and Irish-American guys.

After all, we were the Chicago Guard unit.

Some local villagers came to look at our aircraft and asked if they could get in.

One of my buddies responded that they only could if they got the permission of the platoon leader—and then he pointed at me.

The locals’ response was, “The short Asian girl?!”

“Yup,” my guys said. “She’s in charge.”

They could hardly believe that among all those tall, blonde, white guys, I was the one in command.

That’s the story of this country. That’s the beauty of this country:

That the impossible can happen to any one of us…

That if you work hard, it doesn’t matter where you come from…

You can rise, rise, rise.

We are a nation of immigrants… a union that, yes, at times has been anything but united.

And yes, we’ve had moments when bigotry has prevailed…

When we’ve treated our neighbors as “less-than” because of their race or their religion.

We’ve seen far, far too much of that recently.

But time after time, we’ve refused to give in to that darkness. And we’ve come back stronger, over and over and over again.

Look, the tragic reality is that there will always be people who want to build walls.

But the miracle of America is that when it looks like those worst instincts are set to prevail, we come together and resist.

Black, white, Latino, Asian, immigrant, natural-born citizen, you name it… we march.

We speak out.

We demand justice… fairness… equality.

We bend the moral arc of the universe, not waiting for anyone else to do it for us.

Because we know that this country can only live up to its true potential… that it can only be that more perfect union our founders dreamed of… when its states are united and its people undivided.

You know, in many ways, my story is the American Dream.

But for everyone here today… whether your journey began in Mexico or Malaysia… Ukraine or India… Haiti or Honduras… Russia or Algeria… your hard work… your dedication… make your stories the American Dream now, too.

So I want to thank you for making this nation better… for making America more American.

I couldn’t be prouder to soon call all of you my fellow citizens.

Congratulations again!

-30-


Hoeven Welcomes Home NDNG’s 142nd Engineer Battalion, Highlights Border Mission

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today welcomed home 50 members of the North Dakota National Guard’s (NDNG) 142nd Engineer Battalion following their yearlong deployment to the nation’s southern border in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The unit returns to North Dakota after providing critical assistance to CBP operations aimed at stemming illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking. The unit’s deployment followed the deployments of the 957th Engineer Company, the 1-112th Aviation Regiment and the 817th Engineer Company to the southern border.

“The members of the 142nd Engineer Battalion have served with professionalism and dedication, helping combat illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking at our southern border,” said Hoeven. “We are grateful for their service and proud to welcome them safely home to North Dakota. Border security is national security, and it’s vital that we do everything we can to protect our country.”

The 142nd Engineer Battalion’s return marks the latest in a series of NDNG deployments supporting federal efforts at the southern border and reflects North Dakota’s continued commitment to national security.

-###-


Warner & Kaine Statement on DOJ Firing of Interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after the Department of Justice fired James W. Hundley, whom the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) unanimously chose as the interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA:

“The Trump Administration has shown complete disrespect for the longstanding process—which Presidents and Senators of both parties have respected and followed in Virginia for years—for the nomination and confirmation of U.S. Attorneys. Now, Trump’s DOJ is also disregarding the law, which clearly gives district judges the power to select U.S. Attorneys when these positions are vacant. The EDVA judges made an excellent decision in picking James Hundley. Virginians deserve a court system that is fully staffed with qualified personnel—and the Trump Administration’s antics are making our communities less safe.”

###


Warner & Kaine Statement on Redistricting Effort in Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding the General Assembly and Governor Abigail Spanberger’s approval of a new Virginia congressional map that now heads to Virginians for a referendum vote:

“Donald Trump’s decision to prioritize redrawing voting maps across the country instead of focusing on lowering costs for families has created extraordinary circumstances for states like Virginia. There is now a temporary proposal aimed at preserving a fair playing field and protecting Virginia voters. While some states are moving ahead through partisan deals behind closed doors, Virginia is following its constitutional process and allowing voters to render the final judgment. We strongly support this effort and Virginia’s commitment to public transparency throughout the process.”

###


Alaska Delegation Commends Revocation of PLOs 5150, 5180

2.1 Million Acres to be Made Available for State Transfer, Federal Multiple Use

Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today released the following statements of support after the Department of the Interior (Interior) announced the partial revocation of Public Land Orders (PLO) 5150 and 5180. This decision will open up 2.1 million acres of land within the Dalton Utility Corridor north of the Yukon River, nearly all of which the State of Alaska has “top-filed” to fulfill its outstanding land entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act. Lands that are not ultimately transferred to the State will remain federal and become available for multiple use.

“For decades, the federal government has left obsolete PLOs in place to keep tens of millions of additional acres of Alaska locked up as de facto conservation areas. These designations have held back statehood land selections and resource development, giving the federal government a toehold to delay or reject important projects while depriving our state of crucial opportunities for jobs and revenues,” Murkowski said. “So, I’m glad these PLOs are on their way out. These revocations will help facilitate opportunity for Alaskans by enabling the rightful transfer of these lands to Alaska. I thank Secretary Burgum, Deputy Secretary MacGregor, and their teams for their continued hard work to restore balance in federal land management across our state.”

“Lifting PLO 5150 has long been a priority of Alaska’s leaders for many years, including going back to my time as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources,” said Sullivan. “Among the federal lands entangled by PLO 5150 are those that include significant portions of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and the Dalton Highway corridor, as well as the future route of the Alaska LNG pipeline—critically important acreage that we’ve long fought to secure for our State. I want to thank Secretary Burgum for taking this important step today in lifting this outdated land withdrawal and bringing us closer to ensuring that Alaska controls the lands that support resource development on the North Slope and much of the land over which the state’s most important piece of infrastructure sits.”

“The recent action on PLO 5150 and 5180, resulting in the long awaited conveyance of Alaska pipeline corridor, provides assurances needed for the next wave of Alaskan energy infrastructure investment,” Begich said. “The pipeline is Alaska’s economic lifeline and because of the work of this Congress and this administration the pipeline will continue to create jobs, opportunities, and important state revenue for the next generation of Alaskans. Alaska has a right to produce, and Alaska has a right to benefit from our God-given resources.”

In the early 1970s, Interior unilaterally withdrew tens of millions of acres of Alaska land through PLOs. These executive withdrawals have been left in place for decades, even after the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) in 1980. ANILCA formally withdrew more than 100 million acres for conservation purposes and explicitly affirmed that it provides “sufficient protection for the national interest in the scenic, natural, cultural and environmental values on the public lands in Alaska.”

Alaska’s congressional delegation has pushed for the lifting of PLOs for many years, and several were finally lifted during the first Trump administration. The Biden administration, however, rejected the removal of PLOs across 28 million acres in Alaska, keeping them intact as part of their generally unlawful efforts to “conserve millions of acres of lands and waters in Alaska.”

On his first day back in office, President Trump issued Executive Order 14153, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” which directed the Secretary of the Interior to “evaluate changes to, including the potential recission of, Public Land Order 5150, signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior on December 28, 1971, and any subsequent amendments, modifications, or corrections to it.”

Secretary Doug Burgum subsequently issued a Secretarial Order for the implementation of that work. For the past several months, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has conducted a public process to determine whether to revoke PLO 5150 and PLO 5180, both in the Dalton Utility Corridor, leading to today’s decision.

The delegation continues to encourage the Trump administration to lift PLOs in place around the state. This would be in accordance with a 2004 law authored by Murkowski, the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act, that led to a 2006 BLM report to Congress finding that the vast majority of withdrawals in Alaska “have outlived their original purpose.” At the time—now 20 full years ago—BLM reported that withdrawals on 152.18 million out of 158.96 million acres—95 percent—“could be lifted consistent with the protection of the public’s interest.”

###


WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding the General Assembly and Governor Abigail Spanberger’s approval of a new Virginia congressional map that now heads to Virginians for a referendum vote:

“Donald Trump’s decision to prioritize redrawing voting maps across the country instead of focusing on lowering costs for families has created extraordinary circumstances for states like Virginia. There is now a temporary proposal aimed at preserving a fair playing field and protecting Virginia voters. While some states are moving ahead through partisan deals behind closed doors, Virginia is following its constitutional process and allowing voters to render the final judgment. We strongly support this effort and Virginia’s commitment to public transparency throughout the process.”

###


WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after the Department of Justice fired James W. Hundley, whom the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) unanimously chose as the interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA:

“The Trump Administration has shown complete disrespect for the longstanding process—which Presidents and Senators of both parties have respected and followed in Virginia for years—for the nomination and confirmation of U.S. Attorneys. Now, Trump’s DOJ is also disregarding the law, which clearly gives district judges the power to select U.S. Attorneys when these positions are vacant. The EDVA judges made an excellent decision in picking James Hundley. Virginians deserve a court system that is fully staffed with qualified personnel—and the Trump Administration’s antics are making our communities less safe.”

###


Casten Will Not Attend 2026 State of the Union

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that he will not attend the 2026 State of the Union and released the following statement:

“My respect for the office of the President of the United States cannot abide the disrespect that Donald Trump shows to that office every day. As such, while I will watch the State of the Union elsewhere, I will not attend in person, as I am not interested in being used as a prop for his theatrics.”

###


LEADER JEFFRIES ON FOX: “WE’RE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO LOWER THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, FIX OUR BROKEN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND GET ICE UNDER CONTROL”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on FOX News Sunday, where he laid out how House Democrats are standing up for the health, safety and economic well-being of the American people, while Republicans continue to show their inability to deliver on their promises to make life better for hardworking taxpayers.

SHANNON BREAM: Joining us now for another take, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Great to have you back, Mr. Leader.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. Great to be on.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay, so you heard Ambassador Greer. He talked about all the positives that have come from the tariffs. He talked about the ability to negotiate and change trade as we now know it. Assessing the effect of the tariffs a few weeks ago at the end of ’25, Fortune said that Trump’s higher tariffs are certainly raising money. They’ve raked in more than $236 billion, much more than in the past. And the trade deficit, meanwhile, has fallen significantly since the start of ’25. The article says that tariffs have slashed the deficit in half. Is that not a good thing for Americans?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the trade deficit has not been meaningfully closed. That’s number one. Point number two is that we know farmers and small business owners, companies, as well as perhaps most importantly, the American consumer have been hurt, being forced to pay thousands of dollars more per year in additional expense when the affordability crisis right now is already crushing everyday Americans, middle class Americans and working class Americans. And we also haven’t seen a return of manufacturing jobs to the United States of America, which is what the Trump administration promised would take place.

SHANNON BREAM: So to the point of affordability, inflation is down, wage growth is up—it’s far outpacing inflation—consumer sentiment is positive, small business consumer sentiment is positive as well. I mean, there are a lot of markers that seem to be moving in the right direction. The American people, I mean gas prices down, grocery prices have slowed, are those not positive?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the American people understand that this administration promised that they would lower costs on day one. That’s the standard that this administration, that the President himself set. Costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America. We know costs have gone up. Housing costs out of control, grocery costs out of control, electricity bills out of control, healthcare costs out of control and child care costs out of control. America right now is far too expensive. And we all should be working together to lower the high cost of living, to bring about a situation in this country where if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life. Far too many people in this country—this is not Democrats or Republicans, these are Americans. This is not a partisan issue—far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, can barely survive and certainly can’t thrive. And that’s the situation that we need to change decisively here in the United States of America.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay but, fair to say, looking at the data, that huge spikes in things like grocery prices and other things happened under the Biden administration. I mean, near record levels of inflation at 9%. That’s not gonna change overnight, but if it’s now nearing 2%, and rent prices have cooled, gas prices are down, those things have happened. I mean you can’t change all of that overnight. Do you not acknowledge that a lot of that happened under the last administration?

LEADER JEFFRIES: We’re focused right now on the here and now—

SHANNON BREAM: Which takes time.

LEADER JEFFRIES: —in terms of what the American people are confronting. This is 2026. Listen, the President himself is the one who said that costs were going to go down on day one.

SHANNON BREAM: And many counts they have.

LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s not the standard that we as Democrats set. That’s the standard that the President set. Now, I think in your own Fox News poll, 70% of the American people believe that the economy is not moving in the right direction. So this is not the Democratic position, this is the position of the American people. And we’re determined to do everything possible, working with anyone, anytime, anyplace, to lower the high cost of living because we do have an affordability crisis in America. It’s not a hoax. It’s very real, and it’s impacting people all throughout the land.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay, so I want to talk to you about the Supreme Court case, because you celebrated it on Friday, as many Democrats did. You have been very critical of the Supreme Court, as have many Democrats, calling them corrupt, saying they’re in the pocket of President Trump, saying that they need to be term-limited, the Court needs to be expanded. After the decision on Friday, which included a couple of the President’s own nominees voting against him and the arguments he was making, are Democrats now prepared to say that the court is neutral, it’s independent and you’ll stop talk of packing or term limiting the court?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I strongly disagreed with Supreme Court decisions in the past, and will continue to do so. However, the Supreme Court in this instance did the right thing. In terms of packing the court, that’s not a discussion that we’ve engaged in.

SHANNON BREAM: Many of your Members have.

LEADER JEFFRIES: As Democrats, listen, we’ve made clear to the American people. We’ve made clear, and I certainly made clear, that we’re focused on trying to do three things at this moment. Lower the high cost of living. Fix our broken healthcare system—we can begin by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits so that tens of millions of hard-working American taxpayers don’t experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles throughout the year. And of course, we also need to get ICE under control and deliver immigration enforcement in this country that’s fair, that’s just, that’s humane, so that taxpayer dollars aren’t being used to actually kill American citizens, like Renee Nicole Good or Alex Pretti.

SHANNON BREAM: So let’s unpack some of that. First of all, about the ACA subsidies. That was the last time you were here. We were talking about the shutdown that lasted 43 days had an enormous impact on the economy and a lot of people who missed a lot of paychecks, and yet Democrats who held the votes necessary to move things forward ultimately moved forward without a change to the ACA subsidies. We come to find out that 90-to-93% of people who are on these ACA marketplaces are getting federal subsidies. Meaning other taxpayers are paying into that, that doesn’t sound affordable. So, what about the promise of the Affordable Care Act that we’re now still fighting about these subsidies because it is so difficult to be paid for?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, we have a broken healthcare system and we need to fix it in a comprehensive way. Ideally, we should fix it a bipartisan way. Part of the challenge that we’ve confronted during this administration is the One Big Ugly Bill enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. As a result of that policy, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all throughout the country, including in rural America. People are struggling and part of the way in which we can fix this is to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, to impact everyone in blue states, in purple states and in red states. In fact, in Republican-controlled states, people who have lost their Affordable Care Act tax credits are suffering the most. We’re talking about states like Wyoming or West Virginia, Alaska, South Carolina, Texas. These are states where people are struggling. So we’re trying to resolve this issue on behalf of everyone.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay, so to the issue of those cuts, you know that a lot of that has to do with either waste, fraud and abuse or it has to with eligibility and making sure that those benefits are there for people who actually need them, not able-bodied adults or those who are choosing not to work as part of the system. And there is money in there for those hospitals. They can reopen under an emergency basis. The money is there to help them move forward. So all of that was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill too. But where we get to now is ICE. You know it’s funded. Why shut down the government? We get new information this morning that TSA PreCheck is going away, Global Entry is going away. You know, there’s real worry now TSA and FEMA are not going to get paid. There’s a winter storm coming to your Northeastern location there. Why take away funding from FEMA, from TSA, the Coast Guard and others when ICE is fully funded? Why not reopen the government?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let’s remember, Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. To the extent there is ever a shutdown, as was the case with the 43-day Trump-Republican shutdown in the fall and right now—

SHANNON BREAM: But you know they cannot move forward out of a shutdown without Democrat votes. They can’t do it. You guys have got to go with them.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Okay. So let’s talk about that. Our basic value proposition is that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not to brutalize or kill them, as was done with an ICU VA nurse—

SHANNON BREAM: Again, you’re not going to shut down ICE as part of this shutdown.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Alex Pretti. And so, our view—

SHANNON BREAM: And those are tragic cases that are being investigated and must be. We need answers on that. But that—

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’m happy to respond.

SHANNON BREAM: ICE is not going to shut down.

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’m happy to respond if you give me the opportunity to respond. So we believe that this moment should be used to make dramatic changes to ICE that are bold, that are transformational and that are meaningful, that include lifting up the Fourth Amendment and ensuring that judicial warrants are actually required before ICE agents can break into the homes of the American people. We believe there should be independent investigations so that if ICE breaks the law, state and local authorities can investigate and prosecute them, as is the case with every other law enforcement agency in the country. We believe that sensitive locations, like houses of worship, like hospitals, like schools and like polling sites, should be protected. These are basic common sense demands that have been laid out, and unfortunately, rather than dramatically reform ICE, the administration has decided to shut down FEMA, shut down the TSA and shut down the Coast Guard.

SHANNON BREAM: They will say your votes are doing that and, you know, there’s a lot of debate in there. We hope you find some common ground because there are some things there It sounds like Republicans agree with you on as well and the American people too. House Minority Leader Jeffries. Always good to have you. Thanks for coming by.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

###


Díaz-Balart Delivers $7.2 Million to Strengthen Southwest Florida with New Everglades City Community Center

Everglades City, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented a $7.2 million check to the Everglades City to the Everglades City Community Center during the Everglades City Seafood Festival that took place on February 14, 2026.

This funding will be used for the construction of a new community center, which will serve residents in Everglades City and the eastern unincorporated Collier County communities of Chokoloskee Island, Copeland, Jerome, Lee, Cypress, Ochopee, and Plantation Island.

“Since Hurricanes Irma and Ian devasted Southwest Florida, I have worked relentlessly to help our communities rebuild stronger and more resilient. I was proud to join residents at the Everglades Seafood Festival to announce this critical funding to build a new community center that will give families a safe place to gather and provide students with after-school programs and expanded learning opportunities. I am grateful to Mayor Howie Grimm and City Clerk Dottie Joiner for their strong partnership and leadership in helping deliver these results for Everglades City,” said Congressman Díaz-Balart.

Background

This $7,200,000 project received funding through Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 3, 2026.


Hialeah Gardens Police Department to Receive 30 New Patrol Vehicles Through $2 Million Federal Funding Secured by Díaz-Balart

Hialeah Gardens, FL – Last week, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Florida Congressional Delegation, presented a $2 million check to the City of Hialeah Gardens Police Department to support critical vehicle upgrades. This funding will replace aging patrol cars, reduce maintenance downtime, and put 30 new vehicles on the streets to improve public safety response.

“Every day is special in Hialeah Gardens, but last Thursday was especially meaningful–I’m honored to have been named an honorary Hialeah Gardens police officer, and to have February 19th designated as ‘Mario Diaz-Balart Day.’

As a staunch supporter of our law enforcement, I’m proud to have delivered $2 million in federal funding to help the Police Department purchase 30 marked patrol vehicles that will strengthen public safety response and support the officers who serve this community every day.

I am also grateful for the outstanding local leadership I’m fortunate to work with, including Mayor Yioset de la Cruz, Police Captains Freddy Cáceres and Michael López, Chief Luis Díaz, and Deputy Chief Manuel Zardón. Their partnership is essential to keeping Hialeah Gardens safe,” said Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart.

Background


Congresswoman McCollum & Congresswoman Morrison to Host Colin Hortman and Alina Bachman Hortman at State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D, MN-03) announced their guests for the State of the Union Address.

Congresswoman Kelly Morrison will be accompanied by Colin Hortman, the eldest child of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, who were assassinated in a horrific act of politically motivated gun violence last June. Congresswoman McCollum will be accompanied by Colin Hortman’s wife, Alina Bachman Hortman.

In the months since the assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman, Colin Hortman and his sister Sophie have honored their parents’ legacy by emphasizing the importance of political civility – especially among our elected leaders, calling for us to love our neighbors and treat one another with kindness and respect, and encouraging Minnesotans to do something, big or small, to make their community just a little better for someone else.

“My parents, Mark and Melissa Hortman, were taken from us in an act of political violence, and that reality is something my family lives with every single day,” said Colin Hortman. “Both of my parents lived lives of service — to each other, to their communities, and above all, to our family. My parents taught me to show up for your community, stand up for your values, and always follow the golden rule — treat others the way you'd want to be treated. What has stunned me, especially in recent years, is how far our politics have drifted from that principle.

“I am calling on our leaders — and all of us — to reject language that dehumanizes, to model disagreement without condemnation, and to remember that we are all human beings first,” continued Hortman. “My parents believed public service was about showing up for people and working across differences. As a family, we always watched the State of the Union, regardless of the political party of the President. I am proud to attend and honor my parents' legacy.”

Democratic members of Minnesota’s House Delegation – including Representatives McCollum, Omar, and Craig – will host a press conference on Tuesday, February 24 at 8:30 AM ET at the House Triangle to highlight the stories of their State of the Union guests. Additional details and a live stream link are forthcoming.


CONGRESSMAN MOYLAN WORKS ACROSS THE AISLE; CO-LEADS BILL TO REFUND VA HOME LOAN FEES FOR DISABLED VETERANS

(Washington, D.C.) — Congressman James Moylan and Rep. Mike Levin (CA‑49) have reintroduced the Veterans Assistance for Loan Origination Relief (VALOR) Act, a bipartisan measure to ensure disabled veterans are not unfairly charged VA home loan funding fees due to delays in the disability rating process.

This bill will ensure that disabled veterans are not forced to pay VA home loan funding fees simply because the VA has not finished processing their disability rating. Under current rules, a veteran can file their disability claim or intent to file on time, purchase their home, and only later receive their rating—leaving them stuck paying a fee they should have been exempt from. The VALOR Act fixes this by requiring the VA to treat that fee as an overpayment and refund it automatically once the disability rating is approved, shifting the burden on the agency rather than the veteran.

Guam’s extremely high housing prices make homeownership unattainable for many veterans. Thousands of dollars in VA funding fees can be added to the cost of purchasing a home, stretching limited family incomes even further. The VALOR Act removes unnecessary financial barriers, putting money back in veterans’ pockets and giving them a more affordable and equitable path to securing a home.

“I’ve heard personally from veterans who were proud to finally be in a position to buy a home, only to learn later that they’d been charged a fee they never should have owed. It’s frustrating, and it’s unnecessary,” said Congressman Moylan. “These are men and women who served our country, followed the process, and still ended up paying more because their disability rating came through after the fact. That’s a gap in the system, and it’s one we can fix. I’m proud to co-lead the VALOR Act with Congressman Mike Levin to ensure that our veterans aren’t penalized for administrative delays and that their benefits reflect the service they’ve given.”

The Congressman will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance the bill and deliver this commonsense relief to veterans and transitioning service members.


ICYMI: Senator Banks Joins Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) joined Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream to discuss ongoing negotiations with Iran and the recent deadly semi-truck crashes caused by illegal aliens in Indiana.

Click the image above for the full discussion

Key Remarks Below:

ON ILLEGAL DRIVERS IN INDIANA

Shannon Bream: “Alright, I want to talk about something in your home state in Indiana. Just this month there have been two deadly crashes involving people that either were here illegally or came illegally, but somehow got commercial driver’s licenses. They are allegedly the ones guilty in these wrecks that left a number of Indiana folks dead. What do you do now? Where do you go from here?.. What can be done?”

Senator Banks: “Shannon, this is a national crisis. I mean it seems like every week now we have another death in Indiana due to an illegal behind the wheel of a semi-truck, and the more that we dig into it and learn, there’s so much more that we have to do to stop it from happening again… Just two weeks ago, we had four Amish men killed by a Kyrgyzstani illegal in the part of the state that I live…This week, a 64-year-old man killed by an illegal from India… Back in November, we had a National Guard soldier killed in a Humvee accident on an Indiana highway by an illegal from the country of Georgia. I think I can count over eight Hoosiers who have been killed in the last few months and a lot of others who have been injured. On Friday, the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, announced that the CDL, the truck driving license test must be conducted in English. That will go a long way because we have states like California that conduct that test in 20 different languages. He also shut down hundreds of fake truck driving schools and then shady truck driving companies. But the states have to step. When Governor Newsom and California give out truck driving licenses to illegals like candy, and then they drive through the highways of Indiana, the crossroads of America, and kill Hoosiers, you have states like New York that’s doing the same thing. We have to put a stop to it. Even in my state in Indiana, the state legislature this week is going to close loopholes in our own state. California needs to step up and do the same thing and stop giving illegals truck driving licenses and that will save lives.”

ON IRAN:

Senator Banks: “Midnight Hammer was so effective. It decimated Iran’s nuclear program and progress. The Ayatollah, the regime in Iran, know what they’re dealing with President Trump. He’s going to back up what he’s saying. President Trump has said over 50 times in the last two weeks that Iran needs to end their nuclear program, come to the table and make a deal. We have two aircraft carriers, hundreds of fighter jets, and Iran knows that we will use them. But that’s what peace through strength is all about. President Trump doesn’t start new wars. He projects American force and leadership. Iran knows what they’re dealing with. They need to stop persecuting their own people, the protesters. They need to end their nuclear program. And if they don’t, they know there will be hell to pay… I fully trust President Trump in this situation, what he did in Venezuela, Midnight Hammer, and so many other places, he’s got a great track record. He knows how to use America’s military might to bring the other sides to the table to negotiate peace… I hope Iran will come to their senses and come to the table and do what they need to do…”

###


Congressman Aderholt to Host Passport Fair in Florence

Florence, Ala. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today announced that his office, in partnership with the New Orleans Passport Agency, will host a Passport Fair on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the University of North Alabama Guillot University Center in Florence.

The Passport Fair will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is open to residents of Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District by appointment only.

“This Passport Fair is an opportunity to make the passport application or renewal process more convenient for North Alabama families,” said Rep. Aderholt. “Whether you are planning a mission trip, family vacation, study abroad program, or business travel, my office is pleased to help connect constituents directly with passport officials to ensure they are prepared for international travel.”

“I am especially grateful to the dedicated staff of the New Orleans Passport Agency and to Secretary of State Marco Rubio for working with our office to make this event possible. Their partnership helps us better serve the people of Alabama's Fourth District.”

The event will be held at:

University of North Alabama

Guillot University Center

131 Shelby Way

Florence, Alabama

Appointments are required and may be scheduled online at:

https://forms.office.com/g/DWhQiheGBT

Applicants must bring the following items:

Unsigned Passport Application (available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

Passport photo (2x2 inches, U.S. standard size; photos can typically be taken at most chain drug stores or photo centers)

Government-issued ID or driver’s license

Proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a certified U.S. birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship)

For renewals: previous passport

Payment (Credit or Debit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay accepted)

For additional information, constituents may contact Pam Abernathy at (256) 546-0201.