Van Hollen, MD & VA Members of Congress Urge Public Transparency, Long-term Response Plan from DC Water

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and 9 additional members of Congress who represent Maryland and Virginia wrote to DC Water CEO and General Manager David Gadis, expressing serious concern over the public health and environmental impacts of the disastrous sewage spill into the Potomac River following the collapse of a major sewer line last month – and called for the utility to take a series of actions and increase public transparency as the response and recovery efforts continue.

Joining Senator Van Hollen on this letter are Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), and James Walkinshaw (D-Va.).

“We write to express our serious concern around the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line that was discovered on January 19 along Clara Barton Parkway and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The failure of this 72-inch diameter pipe, which conveys approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from communities in Maryland and Virginia to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., resulted in a massive discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River,” the lawmakers began. “This is one of the largest sewage spills in our country’s history, and its consequences for public health, the environment, and our communities demand a comprehensive and sustained response as well as clear communication with the public.”

They thanked DC water employees and contractors for braving difficult conditions to conduct critical containment and repair work, but also underscored the ongoing risks to the public and the environment in the wake of this disaster, writing, “while we appreciate the ongoing emergency response, we remain deeply concerned about the near-term public health and environmental impacts of this spill. Independent testing conducted by University of Maryland researchers and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, as well as DC Water’s own testing, have revealed alarming contamination levels in the river, and the full scope of the environmental damage is still not fully understood.”

The lawmakers went on to urge DC Water to commit to the following actions as the repair and recovery work continues:

Frequent and transparent public communication;

Develop a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and remediation plan;

Regular public briefings with opportunities for direct community engagement with DC Water;

Continued water quality monitoring through spring and summer; and

Ongoing communication with the regional Congressional delegation.

“We are closely monitoring this situation and stand ready to assist in any way we can. Our offices will continue to relay the concerns of our constituents to DC Water and work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a full and effective response to this crisis. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response,” the lawmakers concluded.

Text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Mr. Gadis:

We write to express our serious concern around the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line that was discovered on January 19 along Clara Barton Parkway and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The failure of this 72-inch diameter pipe, which conveys approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from communities in Maryland and Virginia to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., resulted in a massive discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River.

Before DC Water was able to activate a bypass system on January 24, an estimated 40 million gallons of wastewater per day overflowed from the collapse site, with approximately 243 million gallons of untreated sewage reaching the river in total according to DC Water’s estimates. The Potomac River is a vital natural resource that provides drinking water to five million people, supports a rich and diverse ecosystem, and serves as a source of recreation, livelihood, and pride for communities across our region. This is one of the largest sewage spills in our country’s history, and its consequences for public health, the environment, and our communities demand a comprehensive and sustained response as well as clear communication with the public.

We want to first acknowledge and thank the DC Water employees and contractors who have been working around the clock in extremely challenging winter conditions to contain the spill, install and maintain bypass pumping systems, and begin the complex work of cleaning and repairing the damaged pipe. The dedication of these workers, who have persevered through freezing temperatures and heavy snow, reflects the highest standards of public service and deserves our recognition and gratitude.

While we appreciate the ongoing emergency response, we remain deeply concerned about the near-term public health and environmental impacts of this spill. Independent testing conducted by University of Maryland researchers and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, as well as DC Water’s own testing, have revealed alarming contamination levels in the river, and the full scope of the environmental damage is still not fully understood.

Water samples collected at the spill site have shown E. coli bacteria concentrations more than 10,000 times above Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recreational water quality standards, and elevated contamination levels above EPA standards have been detected at downstream locations as well. University of Maryland’s testing also detected S. aureus, the bacteria responsible for staph infections, at one-third of sampling sites. And MRSA, a highly dangerous antibiotic-resistant strain of S. aureus, was detected at the sewage overflow site. As of February 16, E. coli levels near the Lock 10 drainage channel remained severely elevated, and DC Water has acknowledged a significant reporting error in which actual E. coli concentrations on February 6 at this location were approximately 100 times higher than initially disclosed.

We are also concerned about the potential ecological impacts of this spill on fish, wildlife, and their habitats. The Potomac Gorge, the section of the river where this spill occurred, is one of the most significant biodiversity hotspots on the East Coast and home to over 1,500 species, including nearly 200 that are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered. The introduction of hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into this ecosystem risks cascading harm to fish populations, aquatic invertebrates, and the wildlife that depend on them. There have already been credible reports of fish kills downstream of the spill and the Maryland Department of the Environment took the precautionary step of closing shellfish harvesting areas along part of the lower Potomac River, demonstrating that a full accounting of these impacts is essential.

Furthermore, recent cold weather conditions are compounding these risks. Cold water temperatures near the spill site will slow bacterial die-off and allow harmful pathogens to survive longer and travel farther downstream. Additionally, ice cover on portions of the river reflects sunlight that would otherwise help sterilize the water, and the river’s current drought conditions have reduced the natural dilution of contaminants. There is also significant concern that frozen sewage in the water column and along shorelines may trigger delayed contamination events and additional harm to the river and public health when temperatures rise.

Given the severity and ongoing impacts of this incident, we request that DC Water commit to the following actions:

Frequent and Transparent Public Communication: We ask that DC Water continue to provide frequent, accurate, and transparent updates to the public regarding the status of repair work at the collapse site, bacteria levels in the river associated with the sewer line collapse and the corresponding public health risks, and any other developments related to this incident. The recent discovery of a significant rock blockage in the sewer line that will add four to six weeks to the timeline for repairs and overflows that continue to occur at the break site demonstrate the importance of these updates. It is imperative that the information DC Water provides to the public be rigorously verified, clearly communicated, and transmitted in a timely fashion.

Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and Remediation Plan: We ask that DC Water partner closely with federal, state, and local officials, as well as environmental organizations and research institutions working on the ground, to develop and publicly release a thorough assessment of the spill’s environmental impacts alongside a comprehensive timeline for environmental remediation at all impacted sites. This rigorous study and plan should include:

An assessment of the spill’s impact on fish, wildlife, and the ecologically sensitive habitats within and near the Potomac River.

An assessment of any impact on the C&O Canal National Historical Park, a treasured site for recreation which is currently serving as the temporary bypass venue for diverted sewage and may have sustained environmental harm as a result.

An assessment of potential downstream impacts to water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, given that the Potomac River is one of the Bay’s largest tributaries and that contamination has already been detected miles downstream of the spill site.

A clear and detailed plan for the environmental remediation needed to address the ecological damage caused by this spill, including timelines, responsible parties, and coordination with relevant regulatory agencies.

Public Briefings: We ask that DC Water hold regular public briefings on the incident and its ongoing impacts to inform members of the local community and provide them with opportunities to ask questions and share their concerns directly with DC Water leadership. The residents, businesses, and recreational users who depend on the Potomac River and the C&O Canal deserve direct forums to engage with DC Water on the response, the remediation plan, and what steps are being taken to prevent a disaster of this magnitude from occurring again. We appreciate that you are working toward providing opportunities for the community to directly engage with DC Water, as you stated in your recent Open Letter, and that you are planning an in-person community meeting with regional leaders and public health agencies for the week of February 23.

Continued Water Quality Monitoring Through Spring and Summer: We ask that DC Water commit to sustained water quality monitoring well into the spring and summer months to ensure that bacteria levels return to safe standards before the recreational season and to detect any delayed contamination from frozen sewage and sediment-trapped pollutants. Testing results should continue to be released to the public on a regular basis.

Ongoing Communication with the Congressional Delegation: We ask that DC Water continue to keep Members of Congress representing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia closely informed as repair work progresses and as you pursue the necessary infrastructure upgrades and environmental remediation. We are prepared to support efforts to secure the federal resources and technical assistance needed to address both this incident and the broader challenge of aging wastewater infrastructure in our region.

We are closely monitoring this situation and stand ready to assist in any way we can. Our offices will continue to relay the concerns of our constituents to DC Water and work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a full and effective response to this crisis. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response.

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Van Hollen, Welch, Castor Lead 12 Bicameral Colleagues in Demanding Accountability for Israel’s Detention and Abuse of Palestinian American Teenager Mohammed Ibrahim

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), this week led twelve bicameral lawmakers in demanding accountability for the Israeli military’s nearly ten-month detention of Palestinian-American minor Mohammed Ibrahim. In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers highlight how Mohammed’s physical and psychological abuse by Israeli soldiers underscores Israel’s systematic denial of basic rights and due process to Palestinian detainees, especially minors.

On February 16, 2025, American 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 three o’clock in the morning by heavily armed Israeli soldiers. For nearly ten months, then 15-year-old Mohammed was detained without trial and denied visitation from family. He was finally released on November 27, 2025.

“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,” wrote the lawmakers. “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.”

The lawmakers concluded: “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.”

In their letter, the lawmakers request immediate answers from Secretary 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?

Senators Van Hollen, Welch and Rep. Castor were joined on their letter by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), and Jim McGovern (D-MA-02).

In December, Senator Welch released a statement raising deep concern about the systematic incarceration, prosecution, and punishment of Palestinian children—including Mohammed Ibrahim—in the Israeli military justice system. Senator Welch also met with the families of five civilians killed and injured in the West Bank, including relatives of Mohammed Ibrahim. In October, Senators Welch, Van Hollen, and Rep. Castor called on Secretary Rubio and Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to urgently intervene and advocate for Mohammed’s release.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Thank you for Mr. Paul D. Guaglianone’s December 19, 2025, reply to our October 21, 2025, letter to you regarding then-15-year-old American citizen and Florida resident Mohammed Ibrahim, who was detained in Israel until his release on November 27, 2025. Your reply noted that he was released; however, it did not address any of our concerns about the way he was treated.

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. According to Mohammed, 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. One of his cellmates, 17-year-old Walid Ahmad, who was never charged with a crime, died. Walid’s autopsy findings reportedly 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. We request your answers to the following questions as soon as possible:

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. Have any IDF or IPS personnel been punished or held accountable for the abuse of Mohammed Ibrahim? We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,


Warren, Kim, Ryan, Ross Call for Investigation into Former Lobbyists, Influence-Peddlers in Top Trump Admin Roles

At least 21 former lobbyists now in senior roles in Trump administration, and their former employers and clients appear to be benefiting

“While federal ethics law directs federal employees not to work on matters involving clients they represented in the past year, we are concerned that some Trump administration officials may have nevertheless done so”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) pressed the Inspectors General (IGs) of 16 key agencies to open investigations into senior Trump officials who were recently lobbyists or “shadow lobbyists” and may be using their roles to benefit their former employers and clients.

“Rather than breaking from the culture of influence-peddling he once railed against, President Trump has embraced it, abandoning even the pretense of cracking down on conflicts of interest,” wrote the members.

As of 2025, at least 21 former lobbyists were serving in senior roles under the Trump administration — and the lobbying firms with ties to these officials are thriving. Ballard Partners, which previously employed Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, brought in more than $88 million in fees in 2025 alone, making it one of the largest firms in the country. BGR, former employer of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, made $71.5 million in 2025, a 58 percent increase from its lobbying revenues in 2024.

While federal ethics laws require former lobbyists to recuse themselves from former clients’ matters for at least a year, the lawmakers warn some officials may be violating those rules. For example:

Almost all of the clients that hired Ballard Partners to lobby the Department of Justice (DOJ) hired the firm after AG Bondi entered office. DOJ dropped its antitrust challenge to the American Express-GBT merger shortly after Ballard was hired to lobby on the matter. Ballard Partners also works as a lobbyist for Netflix and Paramount while they both seek to merge with Warner Bros Discovery — and AG Bondi’s DOJ will decide whether to approve that merger.

BGR Group has expanded its DOT lobbying roster to 19 clients, up from just six under President Trump’s first term. Airlines have since secured billions in federal funding and seen a rollback of Biden-era consumer protections that helped consumers but were costly for the airline industry.

Kyle Kunkler, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the Environmental Protection Agency, had been lobbying the EPA on pesticide policy on behalf of the American Soybean Association leading up to his appointment. Weeks after Kunkler joined the EPA, the agency proposed allowing the use of a controversial weedkiller.

Many other officials, like Tom Homan, the White House “Border Czar,” Corey Lewandowski, an advisor at the Department of Homeland Security, and Nancy Beck, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the EPA, were not registered lobbyists but advanced industry interests through consulting and “shadow lobbying” before joining the administration. Now, all are in a position to help their former employers and clients receive government contracts or favorable policy changes.

“[E]ven if these activities are legal, officials’ involvement in such matters may raise ongoing questions about bias and the propriety of actions taken by agencies under their watch — key questions for you to address in your evaluation,” wrote the lawmakers.

During his first term, President Trump issued an ethics pledge requiring lobbyists entering government to recuse themselves from issue areas on which they had lobbied within the previous two years. This time around, he has issued no such ethics pledge. And for many officials who are following the one-year recusal rule, those obligations are about to expire. Officials can also seek waivers to work on former clients’ matters, even before that one year period expires.

“[I]n order to fulfill our legislative responsibilities regarding the operations of your agency and of government ethics and anti-corruption laws, we respectfully request that your office conduct an evaluation,” concluded the lawmakers.

The members asked the IGs to, as part of their investigations, provide an accounting of whether senior officials have received waivers to work on former employers’ or clients’ matter and, how many ethics investigations have been opened into senior officials, as well as an official determination as to whether senior officials have influenced their former employers’ or clients’ matters.

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Welch Joins NEK Health Care Providers to Celebrate $1.4 Million in New Federal Funding to Help Build Pharmacies in Caledonia County

Welch secured federal funding for Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital to construct new pharmacies in Vermont’s Northeastern Kingdom

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined health care providers and community leaders for roundtable discussion at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) to discuss the importance of rural and independent pharmacies. Senator Welch celebrated $1.4 million in new federal funding—which he championed and secured—to help build new pharmacies in Caledonia County and address the recent loss of pharmacies in Caledonia towns.

“Local pharmacies are far more than a place to fill prescriptions—they’re a vital part of health care. That’s why I’m proud to have secured $1.4 million in federal funding for NVRH, which will help establish desperately-needed pharmacies in Caledonia County,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue working hard to support efforts here in the NEK to expand access to health care and affordable prescription drugs— and ensure Vermonters can easily reach a pharmacy right in their own county.”

“We’re appreciative and excited to work with you to utilize these funds to address the pharmacy desert situation in the Hardwick community. We have our work cut out for us, but we’re committed to improving access to pharmacy services for our patients,” said Chris Towne, CEO, Northern Counties Health Care.

“The pharmacy closures in St. Johnsbury sent a shockwave through our community. People were struggling to get their scripts filled on time, which meant they were canceling their surgeries. When the Hardwick pharmacy closed as well, we said, ‘OK this isn’t just the St. Johnsbury problem—this is a Northeast Kingdom problem. How do we leverage the relationship and the support we have through our Senator to meet these needs?’ These funds are going to help solve this problem for our communities and I’m so excited and grateful about that,” said Shawn Tester, CEO, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital.

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

Over 28 Vermont pharmacies have closed permanently in the past few years, including two in Caledonia County—St. Johnsbury’s only downtown pharmacy in 2023 and Hardwick’s only pharmacy in 2024. There are only three pharmacies left in Caledonia County. NVRH has not yet determined specific sites for the pharmacies and will share details as planning moves forward. Senator Welch secured this funding through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process, formerly known as “earmarks”. In total, Senator Welch secured nearly $60 million in federal funds to support 38 projects throughout Vermont.

Senator Welch has championed bipartisan initiatives to lower prescription drug prices for Vermonters. Senators Welch and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) recently introduced the bipartisan Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act, legislation that would offer relief for millions of patients by prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from selling drugs in the United States at higher prices than an international average, ending the practice of forcing Americans to pay the world’s highest prices for medications.

This Congress, Senator Welch has led the introduction of several bills to make health care more accessible and affordable for Vermonters, including the 340B Pharmaceutical Access To Invest in Essential, Needed Treatments & Support (PATIENTS) Act, Eliminating Thickets to Improve Competition (ETHIC) Act, Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency (MORE) Savings Act, Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, End Price Gouging for Medications Act, Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, and the Rural Hospital Support Act.

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Welch, Van Hollen, Castor Lead 12 Bicameral Colleagues in Demanding 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. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, alongside U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), this week led twelve bicameral lawmakers in demanding accountability for the Israeli military’s nearly ten-month detention of Palestinian-American minor Mohammed Ibrahim. In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers highlight how Mohammed’s physical and psychological abuse by Israeli soldiers underscores Israel’s systematic denial of basic rights and due process to Palestinian detainees, especially minors.

On February 16, 2025, American 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 three o’clock in the morning by heavily armed Israeli soldiers. For nearly ten months, then 15-year-old Mohammed was detained without trial and denied visitation from family. He was finally released on November 27, 2025.

“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,” wrote the lawmakers. “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.”

The lawmakers concluded: “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.”

In their letter, the lawmakers request immediate answers from Secretary 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?

Senators Welch, Van Hollen, and Rep. Castor were joined on their letter by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), and Jim McGovern (D-MA-02).

In December, Senator Welch released a statement raising deep concern about the systematic incarceration, prosecution, and punishment of Palestinian children—including Mohammed Ibrahim—in the Israeli military justice system. Senator Welch also met with the families of five civilians killed and injured in the West Bank, including relatives of Mohammed Ibrahim. In October, Senators Welch, Van Hollen, and Rep. Castor called on Secretary Rubio and Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to urgently intervene and advocate for Mohammed’s release.

Read and download the lawmakers’ full letter to Secretary Rubio.

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Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4.2 Million for Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Centers

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $4,250,606 in federal funding is coming to Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center to support critical health services for uninsured and underinsured Oregonians in Washington and Yamhill counties.

"Access to quality health care should never depend on your ZIP code or ability to pay,” said Merkley. “These federal dollars will help Virginia Garcia continue delivering essential care to Oregon families—especially those who would otherwise struggle to access the services they need and deserve to stay healthy.”

“This federal investment in the health care heroes at Virginia Garcia will help them to keep providing quality care for Oregonians who need it,” said Wyden. “I’m glad the teamwork has delivered this important win for people in Washington and Yamhill counties counting on Virginia Garcia for all their health care needs.”

“We’re very excited to receive this award supporting Virginia Garcia’s ongoing work of providing high quality health services to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties,” said Gil Muñoz, CEO of Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center.

Virginia Garcia is one of the 34 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Oregon and provides primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services to thousands of patients annually—with a focus on reaching underserved and rural communities. The federal funds to Virginia Garcia come from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).


Young, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Support Next Generation of Aviation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined a bipartisan group of senators in introducing the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Actto streamline the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) type certification process for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft. The legislation sets timelines and standards for FAA’s certification process to prevent gridlock and provide clarity to industry applicants without compromising air safety. The bill will bring transparency to FAA certification, help American AAM companies succeed, and cement the United States’ role as a global leader in aviation.

“Advanced Air Mobility platforms will revolutionize the American economy. The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act is a crucial step to securing American drone dominance. Our bill will provide much needed clarity and certainty as we seek to establish American leadership in these critical technologies and lay the groundwork for the future of air transportation,” said Senator Young.

In addition to Senator Young, the bill was introduced by Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).

Specifically, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act:

Establishes standard expected timelines for the FAA’s type certification process for AAM aircraft for the Agency to respond to petitions for exemptions of aircraft type, and to develop means of compliance for aircraft outside of the existing types of AAM aircraft.

Sets transparent and reliable standard expected ranges of time for the issue paper process, so that type certification applicants know how long reviews will take, reducing uncertainty and delays.

Directs the FAA to define when an issue paper is required in the certification process, while providing flexibility for the Agency on complex, safety issues.

Directs the FAA to report to the relevant congressional committees on the status of implementing the certification regulations and managing workload.

Clarifies when the FAA can delegate routine compliance findings to qualified personnel, allowing Agency experts to focus on complex, safety-critical issues.

Updates delegation guidance for type certification to cover new and novel technologies related to AAM, including eVTOL aircraft.

The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act is endorsed by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA); Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA); Archer Aviation; Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI); Beta Technologies; Boeing; General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA); Joby Aviation; National Air Transportation Association (NATA); National Business Aviation Association (NBAA); Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS); Vertical Aviation International (VAI); and Wisk Aero.


Press Releases

Rep. Aguilar Tours Local Business Hurt by Trump’s Tariffs

Warrior Machinery has been impacted by President Trump’s expensive and erratic tariffs on steel, aluminum and machinery components found in construction and agricultural equipment

RIALTO, CA – Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) toured Warrior Machinery, a local agricultural and construction equipment company that has been hit hard by Trump’s chaotic and reckless tariffs. Warrior Machinery has had to raise prices to offset losses from tariffs on imported inventory items, which have hurt the company’s sales. The company has lost customers and profits due to higher costs from Trump’s tariffs, putting financial pressure on its owners, employees and their families. You can find photos from the tour above and here.

“Trump’s reckless tariffs are hurting local businesses and driving up costs for Inland Empire families,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Everything that Warrior Machinery sells, from bulldozers to forklifts and tractors, now costs more because of this Trump tax on companies and consumers. This doesn’t just impact agricultural and construction companies; it impacts everyone. Instead of driving economic growth as he claims, Trump’s aimless tariffs are hurting American companies and workers by making everything more expensive. It’s time to roll back these costly and chaotic tariffs so that American businesses like Warrior Machinery can thrive.”

“Equipment Dealers, OEMs, and our customers are all working to adapt to dramatic and frequent changes to U.S. trade policy,” said Steve Nadelman, President and CEO, Warrior Machinery. “The impacts have been significant and broad-ranging for our industry. The uncertainty has created challenges for not only our business, but the local contractors that make up the majority of our customer base. We appreciate Congressman Aguilar’s engagement and focus on trade policy that supports growth, investment and job creation for companies that are ready to do the work and compete on level terms.”


Alford Announces More Than $13.3 Million in Federal Transportation Grant Funding for KCATA During Preparation for the 2026 World Cup

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) announced a federal grant award of $13,333,000 for the Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA). This grant will support KCATA in buying and rehabilitating buses, vans, and related equipment, and building and rehabilitating bus facilities.

Specifically, this funding will help ensure the Kansas City Metro Region is represented as the best the heartland has to offer as we host the upcoming World Cup matches this summer.

“I’m thrilled to announce more than $13.3 million in funding for KCATA to support the transportation needs of the Kansas City Metro Region as we prepare to host the 2026 World Cup,” said Congressman Alford. “As the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from Missouri or Kansas, we are proud to have played a critical role in securing this funding through our consistent advocacy. This funding will not only support Kansas City, but it will also help Fourth District communities in Jackson and Cass Counties prepare for this global event. We’ll continue to ensure the folks from all over the world who visit the Kansas City area this summer will experience the very best the Show Me State has to offer.”

Background:

Congressman Alford submitted a language request in the FY26 government funding process in support of KCATA’s need for additional transportation funding associated with hosting the World Cup. This award mirrors the request he submitted.

As the only Missourian or Kansan on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Alford repeatedly advocated for this funding with House and Senate leadership, as well as the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee.

His efforts culminated in this grant award of more than $13.3 million for the KCATA.

This funding will help ensure Kansas City is represented as the best the heartland has to offer as we host the upcoming world cup matches this summer.

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Amo Exposes “Real State of the Union” Under Donald Trump

PROVIDENCE, RI – TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) exposed the true state of the union under Trump, sharing the stories of Rhode Islanders who have been devastated by chaos, cruelty, and high costs.

Since Trump’s inauguration, families have been hit hard by his tariffs, health care cuts, attacks on our social safety net, and draconian immigration crackdown. This week, to raise the alarm ahead of the state of the union, Amo met with Rhode Islanders who have been directly hurt by this dangerous agenda.

Amo also announced that Erin Spaulding, Executive Director of Connecting for Children and Families in Woonsocket, will be his invited guest for Trump’s State of the Union. Amo also shared that he will not be attending the President's tirade but rather sharing the stories of Rhode Islanders who have been hurt by Trump.

“This week, I heard from Rhode Islanders who are struggling because of President Trump and his cronies in Congress.” said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). “The pocketbooks of Rhode Islanders are stretched thin, seniors are anxious, and communities feel afraid because of Trump. While the President spreads more lies from the House Floor, I will be focused on the people he’s hurting. Under Trump the state of our union is endangered, but I remain committed to fighting back to keep Rhode Islanders and our values safe.”

Amo’s Real State of the Union Stops

This week Congressman Amo traveled across the First District this week speaking to Rhode Islanders hurt by Trump.

On Monday, Amo visited the FeedRI Hope Market which is helping Rhode Islanders put food on the table while Republicans are squeezing budgets.

On Tuesday, Amo met with Reentry College Program leaders to discuss how Trump’s threats to cut Pell Grants are making it harder for Rhode Islanders to get an education and a second chance.

On Wednesday, Amo toured the nearly complete Danoff Life Sciences Laboratories at Brown University to highlight the impact of Trump’s $32 billion in science funding cuts. Amo then participated in a citizenship ceremony in Providence to celebrate those proud to become Americans, despite Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities. Later, Amo spoke with union offshore wind workers at Carpenters Union Local 330 whose jobs are at risk because of Trump’s vendetta against clean energy.

Today, Amo met with seniors in Middletown to discuss their health care fears given Trump’s $500 billion in Medicare cuts over the next decade.

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Arrington Celebrates America First Trade Wins for West Texas Agriculture

Washington, D.C. – House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) celebrated new trade deals negotiated by the Trump administration that will address long-standing barriers to U.S. sorghum and cotton exports, including the reduction of India’s 50 percent sorghum tariff and expanded cotton commitments from Bangladesh — key West Texas agriculture priorities Arrington has advanced in partnership with the administration over the past year.

“President Trump continues to have the backs of American farmers, and his latest trade agreements are delivering real results for American agriculture.

“Over the past year, I’ve been proud to work alongside President Trump and Ambassador Greer to push back against unfair trade practices across South Asia - including India’s punitive sorghum tariff and cotton barriers throughout the region. For too long, unfair trade barriers have put American producers at a disadvantage. Thanks to President Trump’s America First trade agenda, those days are coming to an end.” – Chairman Arrington.

Background:

India has historically maintained some of the highest tariffs in the world on American agriculture, including a 50 percent tariff on American sorghum exports. In addition, Bangladesh is one of the largest textile producers in the world, making it a critical market for West Texas cotton exports.

Chairman Arrington has worked with the Trump administration to highlight India’s significant trade barrier for West Texas sorghum producers by including this issue in his March 2025 “West Texas Trade Priorities” report to the U.S. Trade Representative.

In addition, Chairman Arrington has championed expanding West Texas cotton exports, as highlighted by his letter to President Trump on the importance of reducing global trade barriers, and through his conversations with Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

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Barrett Celebrates New Chip Testing Facility During Ribbon Cutting at Michigan State

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East Lansing, Mich. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today joined Michigan State University leadership and faculty for a ribbon-cutting at the new K500 Chip Testing Facility, which will help address a critical shortage in testing capacity for radiation-resistant semiconductors needed for defense technology, medical equipment, and other advanced electronics.

The new facility, which was partially funded by $14 million in federal defense funding, is part of MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), where scientists perform nuclear physics research that is also critical for national security. Barrett secured an additional $125 million for FRIB’s research in a recent federal spending bill.

“MSU’s expanded K500 Chip Testing Facility will make mid-Michigan a hub for the next generation of durable semiconductor research, especially when it comes to military and medical technology,” said Barrett. “I’m confident that combining this new testing facility with the $125 million investment I recently secured for FRIB’s other nuclear physics research will help ensure scientists, staff, and students at MSU continue leading the way in cutting-edge innovation for years to come.”

“As a public, land-grant university, Michigan State University has a responsibility to steward public investment in ways that serve the nation,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “For more than six decades, MSU has led the way in accelerator-based science, building world-class facilities and expertise that advance discovery, educate future leaders, and benefit society. FRIB continues that tradition, and with the inauguration of the K500 Chip Testing Facility, our scientists are turning cutting-edge research infrastructure into tangible value for Michigan and the nation. This facility is the latest chapter in a legacy of bold vision, technical excellence, and public service that defines MSU—transforming ambitious ideas into lasting impact.”

“Bringing the K500 Chip Testing Facility into operation required adapting a legacy accelerator to meet today’s mission and user demands,” said FRIB Laboratory Director Thomas Glasmacher. “The facility is now delivering beam to users and expanding national capacity for radiation effects testing at a time when demand significantly exceeds availability. This milestone reflects the strength of the FRIB team and our focus on operating complex facilities safely, reliably and in service to a broad user community.”

Background:

Cosmic heavy-ion rays from outer space can interfere with the performance of microchips, and manufacturers need durable semiconductors for autonomous vehicles, spacecraft and satellites, medical devices, wireless communications, and other electronics used in high-radiation environments. The K500 Chip Testing Facility, which simulates decades of cosmic-ray exposure in minutes, will welcome chip researchers from across the country, providing an additional 6,000 hours of testing capacity each year.

The federal investment for the K500 Chip Testing Facility builds on the federal government’s partnership with the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The advanced nuclear physics research conducted by MSU faculty, other scientists, and staff at FRIB has applications for national security, energy, medicine, industry, and more.

FRIB has contributed more than $1 billion to Michigan’s economy since 2011, with more than $100 million in the 7th Congressional District, which Barrett represents. It employs hundreds of workers from mid-Michigan and purchases from hundreds of local suppliers.

A government funding bill signed into law in January included $125 million Barrett secured for FRIB — $15 million to continue construction of its High Rigidity Spectrometer and $110 million for optimal operations and energy upgrades at the facility.

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On National Entrepreneurship Week, Momentum Builds for Buchanan’s American Innovation Act

Announces Support from Sen. Blackburn, Leading Small Business Organizations

Legislation Quadruples the Small Business Start-up Deduction

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Congressman Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Chairman of the Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, announced that several of the nation’s leading pro-growth and small business organizations have endorsed their legislation to quadruple the amount of start-up costs small business owners can deduct in their first year of operations. They also announced support from Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn), member of the Senate Finance Committee, who intends to lead the Senate companion legislation.

Buchanan’s American Innovation Act (H.R. 1778) would increase the deduction allowance from $5,000 to $20,000 and raise the phase-out threshold from $50,000 to $120,000. The bill also allows partnerships and S corporations to be eligible for the deduction.

“Entrepreneurship is at the heart of the American Dream,” said Buchanan. “During National Entrepreneurship Week, we should be focused on removing barriers for the job creators who drive the American economy. My American Innovation Act cuts taxes on start-up costs so small businesses can reinvest in their companies, hire workers and strengthen their local communities.”

“The American Innovation Act allows for investments in research and development to help small businesses grow and allow entrepreneurs to take that next step in their American Dream,” said Kelly. “This pro-growth tax policy will kickstart our small businesses, and it make it easier for these businesses to create jobs, support families and grow our local economies.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy,” said Blackburn. “The American Innovation Act would promote new business innovation by expanding tax incentives and putting more money back in the pockets of Tennesseans who are working to get their startups off the ground.”

Joining Buchanan and Kelly in leading the legislation are Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Ron Estes (R-Kan.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), Max Miller (R-Ohio), Blake Moore (R-Utah), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.).

According to the Small Business Administration, from 1994-2021, over 50 percent of new small businesses established during that period failed within five years. A U.S. Census Bureau report also found that 46 percent of businesses began with less than $25,000, underscoring the need to support small businesses with increased access to capital at the early stages of business creation.

Buchanan’s American Innovation Act has been endorsed by the S Corporation Association, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the National Association of Wholesalers, the National Venture Capital Association, the Angel Capital Association, National Taxpayers Union, the Center for a Free Economy and Americans for Prosperity.

“Nearly all job creation in the US comes from start-ups. Without them, millions of Americans would struggle to find work. The American Innovation Act encourages entrepreneurship and job creation by reducing the costs of starting a business. It’s an essential part of our economy, and the S Corporation Association supports it,” said Brian Reardon,President, S Corporation Association.

“NECA thanks Representative Buchanan for his commitment to the small business community and urges the swift passage of H.R. 1778. We look forward to working with Congress to advance this measure and fully unlock America’s infrastructure and energy potential,” said Marco A. Giamberardino, MPA, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, National Electrical Contractors Association.

“Small businesses incur significant startup costs in their first year of operations, yet they can deduct only a small fraction of these costs from their taxable income. The American Innovation Act helps address this issue by increasing the deductible amount to $20,000, raising the phase-out threshold of the deduction to $120,000, and making partnerships and S corporations eligible to claim the deduction. Representatives Vern Buchanan and Mike Kelly should be applauded for leading this pro–small business legislation, which should be supported and co-sponsored by all members of the House of Representatives,” said Alex Hendrie, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

“Representative Buchanan’s American Innovation Act would strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by modernizing and expanding the startup cost deduction, giving founders greater flexibility to invest in their teams, operations, and local communities from day one. Venture capital is committed to backing founders who turn innovative ideas into high-growth companies, and NVCA is proud to support legislation that expands access to capital and reduces early-stage barriers so more founders can build and scale next generation companies in every corner of the country,” said Bobby Franklin,President and CEO, National Venture Capital Association.

“The Angel Capital Association is the leading professional association representing over 14,000 accredited individual investors, angel groups, funds and family offices providing critical early stage capital to entrepreneurs. ACA commends Congressman Buchanan and Congressman Kelly for their reintroduction of the American Innovation Act. Expanding the ability for early stage small businesses to deduct their start-up costs will provide entrepreneurs with a much needed capital boost. The American Innovation Act provides help for start-up companies at their most critical early stage time. As Congress continues to look for ways to support fast-growing USA based innovative companies, this legislation is an important part of the equation,” said Pat Gouhin, CEO, Angel Capital Association.

"Small businesses are the backbone of Main Street America, and smart, pro-growth tax policy remains one of the most effective ways to help them succeed. The American Innovation Act builds on the success of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act by providing additional, targeted tax relief to entrepreneurs and job creators as they launch and expand their businesses. Representatives Vern Buchanan and Mike Kelly should be applauded for leading this pro–small business legislation, which should be supported and co-sponsored by all members of the House of Representatives,” said Thomas Aiello, Senior Director of Government Affairs, National Taxpayers Union.

Buchanan is a respected leader in Florida’s business community and has created thousands of jobs over the course of his career. He previously chaired both the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.

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Congresswoman Bynum Hosts Congressman Raskin at Portland State University Town Hall to Hear from Students

Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) hosted Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) at a student-only town hall at Portland State University to hear directly from college students about the challenges they face and their role in our democracy. This event builds on Rep. Bynum’s K-30 initiative, which focuses on supporting young Oregonians and Americans.

“My work has always been a love letter to Oregon’s children,” said Rep. Bynum. “Today’s conversations only strengthened that purpose. Hearing directly from Oregon’s students about the challenges they face makes it clear we have more work to do – and I’m committed to doing it. Thanks to Congressman Raskin for joining these critical conversations with the next generation.”

“From Maryland to Oregon, in Congress and in the streets, young Americans are standing up for freedom and strong democracy,”said Rep. Raskin. “I’m thrilled my friend and colleague Rep. Bynum invited me to Portland State University to speak with students about the path ahead and solidarity we need to get past authoritarianism and corruption.”


CatholicVote article on Smith-led amicus brief'Congress members file amicus brief over FDA allowance of mail-order abortion pills'

By Hannah Hiester

Published February 19, 2026

Sixty members of Congress filed an amicus brief with a Louisiana district court Feb. 13 supporting a lawsuit that challenges the Biden-era Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2023 decision to drop in-person dispensing requirements for the abortion pill mifepristone.

Those supporting Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s case against the FDA include Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who is a physician and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who co-chairs the House Pro-Life Caucus. In the brief, Cassidy and Smith, along with dozens of other lawmakers, argue that by “expressly authorizing mail-order chemical abortion drugs, the FDA is endangering women’s health and safety by eliminating a medically necessary in-person examination to screen for contraindications.”

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The lawmakers also raised concerns that doing away with the in-person dispensing requirement puts women at heightened risk of domestic abuse and coerced abortions, pointing to the case of Rosalie Markezich, a Louisiana woman whose boyfriend coerced her to take mifepristone he ordered from a California doctor. Markezich joins Murrill as a plaintiff in the suit.

The brief argues that the FDA reached “a predetermined and politically motivated conclusion to expand access to abortion drugs despite lacking enough evidence to show the change would be safe.”

In a press release, Smith highlighted research that suggests the FDA approved mail-order abortion pills despite known serious risks the drugs pose to women. According to Smith, an Ethics and Public Policy Center report found that more than one in 10 women who take mifepristone “experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days — over 22 times higher than the rate currently admitted by the FDA.”


Reps. Chu, Jayapal, Lofgren, & Pressley to Reintroduce the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) met with community leaders from Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, Southeast Asian Freedom Network, and Southeast Asian Action to commemorate the reintroduction of the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 (SEADRA) with Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). This historic legislation would end the deportation of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) refugees, provide critical protections for the more than 15,000 community members living under final orders of removal, and establish a pathway for the more than 2,000 refugees who have already been deported to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to return to the United States.

Between January and October 2025, the Trump administration deported more SEAAs in a single fiscal year than any prior administration — including 46 individuals to Cambodia, 175 to Laos, and 676 to Vietnam. Many of these individuals were shackled hand and foot for flights lasting more than 50 hours to countries they had never set foot in, including Sudan and Eswatini. The administration also paused immigration applications for 75 countries including the Southeast Asian nations of Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Specifically, the bill would:

Limit the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to detain or deport Southeast Asian refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who arrived in the United States by 2008;

Permanently authorize employment eligibility for Southeast Asians with a final order of removal with a five-year renewal period;

End in-person ICE check-ins and establish five-year intervals between virtual check-ins for Southeast Asians on orders of supervision; and

Create a pathway for Southeast Asian refugees who have already been deported to return to the U.S. and fight their removal orders.

“Donald Trump has made the entire immigrant community his scapegoat to justify horrifying violence, undermine our rights, and tear families apart. That includes Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) who have called our country home for decades and who are now being targeted and forced to return to countries that are unsafe or completely unfamiliar to them,” said Rep. Chu. In 2025 alone, Trump deported more SEAAs than any president in a single year, and we know this cruelty will continue without action. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 to provide critical protections from detention and deportation for SEAAs who have contributed so immensely to our communities. In the face of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant regime, we will continue to stand with refugees and fight for justice.”

“As the Trump administration has worked criminalize all forms of immigration and terrorized immigrant communities, it is more important than ever that we pass the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. This is a long-overdue step to end the constant fear of deportation for families across this country,” said Rep. Jayapal.

"I'm proud to represent San Jose, which has the largest Vietnamese population of any city outside Vietnam," Rep. Lofgren said. "Many Southeast Asian refugees settled here following the Vietnam War and have become an integral part of our communities. Deporting refugees back to nations where they may face persecution or human rights abuses is completely antithetical to American values. The policy in this bill has been the anti-Communist policy of every administration, both Republican and Democratic, yet the Trump administration cozies up to Communist regimes that threaten human rights. Unlike Trump, I am an anti-Communist, and I recognize that we have to protect folks from removal and we need a pathway to return for those who have already been deported back to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia."

Southeast Asians from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam comprise the largest refugee population ever resettled in the United States. In the aftermath of U.S. military interventions in the region, more than 1.2 million refugees were welcomed to the United States because they fought alongside the U.S. or were forced to flee genocide, persecution, and violence. Most resettled into heavily disinvested communities with limited access to resources or support systems while grappling with the lingering trauma of war and displacement. As a result, many Southeast Asian youth made mistakes or were swept into cycles of violence—leading to criminal convictions and incarceration decades ago. Although many have since rebuilt their lives and given back to their communities, many SEAAs continue to face double punishment through deportation for decades-old convictions for which they have already served their time. These individuals often have U.S. citizen family members, serve as primary caregivers in their families, have no recollection of or meaningful ties to their country of origin, and have deep roots in their local communities in America.

“SEADRA is more than policy; it’s a promise of healing, hope, and a future where Southeast Asian families are no longer torn apart. We thank Reps. Judy Chu, Pramila Jayapal, Zoe Lofgren, and Ayanna Pressley for reintroducing this critical legislation and for supporting our Southeast Asian American refugee communities, who have endured decades of trauma and separation. SEADRA recognizes the full lives that people have built here and refuses to erase them,” said Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

"The SEADRA bill would end deportation for Southeast Asians as we know it. In this moment when we’re told to turn against one another, we must choose a different path: we belong here and no one is disposable. Our communities have organized, resisted and created new worlds when the old ones failed us. This bill is part of that legacy - a call to love and protect one another, especially now.” said Chhaya Chhoum, Co-Executive Director of Southeast Asian Freedom Network

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is cosponsored by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Gwen Moore (WI-04), James McGovern (MA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Adam Smith (WA-09), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Robert Garcia (CA-42).

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 is endorsed by over 100 nationwide and statewide organizations including: A Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing (LELO), API Chaya, API RISE, ARISE, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY.org), Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific Americans for Higher Education (APAHE), Asian Prisoner Support Committee, Asian Resources, Inc., Asian Solidarity Collective, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Board of Directors of The International Examiner, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Buen Vecino, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Cambodian American Community Council of WA, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP), Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell, Inc., CAPI, Center for Empowering Refugees & Immigrants, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), Church World Service, City of Seattle, Climate Refugees, Collective Freedom, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, CSU Fullerton, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), End Child Poverty California powered GRACE, F.I.G.H.T, FIRM – Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries, Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together (F.I.G.H.T.), Freedom Action Now, Freedom, Inc., Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Hmong American Partnership, Hmong American Women's Association, Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County, Hmong Innovating Politics, Hmong National Development, Inc., Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Immigrant Defense Project, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Immigration Equality Action Fund, InterIm Community Development Association, Jacqueline Tran, Consulting, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter, Jewish Activists for Immigration Justice of Western MA, Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW, Khmer Alumni Association, Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG), Khmer Community of Seattle-King County, Khmer Girls in Action, Khmer Student Association UW, Lao Assistance Center of MN, Laos In The House, Laotian American National Alliance (LANA), LEAD Filipino, Mekong NYC, Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation, MN8 (Minnesota 8), National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Cambodian American Organization, National CAPACD – National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Education Association, National Immigration Project, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, New Breath Foundation, New Light Wellness, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, Nikkei Progressives, Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform (NCCJIR), Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, Ohana Ho`opakele, OneAmerica, ORALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition Liberation & Empowerment), Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT), Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), Public Defender Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Rising Voices, ROOTS Laos, RSN, Refugee Support Network, San Francisco Public Defender's Office, Stop AAPI Hate, The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast, The Cambodian Family, The Sikh Coalition, United Cambodian Community, United Hmong with Disabilities Inc., VAO | Vietnamese American Organization, Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), VietLead, Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR), and Wing Luke Museum.

Click here for full bill text.

Click here for a section-by-section.


Congressman Cohen Earns Perfect 100 Percent on Humane World for Animals Scorecard

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a longtime member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, has once again received a perfect 100 percent on the Humane World Action Fund and Humane World for Animals Scorecard, previously known as the scorecard of the Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Humane Society of the United States. He has consistently received the highest score on humane treatment of animals issues dating to his time in the Tennessee State Senate. In 2022, he was named the Humane Horseman of the Year by the Humane Society for his work to prohibit the “soring” of Tennessee Walking Horses.

The scorecard reviewed each federal lawmakers’ position on eight issues of concern to the animal protection community during the first session of the 119th Congress. Congressman Cohen is the only member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation with a 100 percent score. See the scorecard here

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“I am pleased to receive this distinction and the recognition for my work protecting animals. The way we treat our fellow creatures is a measure of our humanity. I commend the Humane World for Animals for the work it does.”

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Davids Visits Ottawa Co-Op to Highlight Local Ag Supply Chain, Lower Grocery Costs Ahead of Farm Bill

SPRING HILL, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids, a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, visited the Ottawa Cooperative Association (Co-Op) to hear directly from local producers and discuss her efforts to strengthen the regional agricultural supply chain and lower grocery prices for Kansas families. The visit came ahead of next week’s long-awaited Farm Bill markup, which has been delayed for several years.

“When we invest in our local food systems, we’re not just supporting farmers and producers — we’re lowering costs at the checkout line, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure families in Kansas have access to fresh, healthy food,” said Davids. “I’ve heard from folks across the community who want more affordable options and more control over where their food comes from. Strengthening the local agricultural supply chain helps us do both, and that’s what I’m focused on for next week’s Farm Bill markup.”

Why strengthening the local agricultural supply chain matters:

Lowers grocery costs: Local food cuts out middlemen, reducing fuel, labor, and distribution expenses.

Delivers fresher food: Produce grown and sold locally lasts longer, reducing waste and giving consumers more value for their money.

Boosts local economies: Money spent on local food stays in the community, supporting small businesses and creating more jobs — 13 jobs per $1M in local sales compared to 3 in non-local.

Builds resilience: A strong local supply chain is less vulnerable to global disruptions and price shocks.

“Thank you, Rep Davids, for taking the time to visit The Ottawa Cooperative Association,” said Clark Wenger, President, Ottawa Co-Op. “We are grateful for your visit and the opportunity to discuss the challenges impacting agriculture. Your engagement with our cooperative means a great deal to our members.”

Davids recently helped introduce the Farm and Family Relief Act with her Democratic colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee. This is the first bill this year aimed at giving real relief to family farmers and working families struggling with rising costs caused by President Trump’s tariffs and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Today, Davids also reintroduced her Resilient Food Supply Chain and Affordability Act. This bill would make permanent the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program, which strengthens the food supply chain, supports local farmers, creates jobs, and helps lower grocery costs for consumers.

Davids has made lowering the cost of groceries for families and small businesses a priority in Congress, including by:

Completing a one-day tour to highlight how strengthening supply chains helps lower grocery prices for Kansas families.

Supporting the bipartisan Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification (HPAI) Act, which ensures fair compensation for all farms affected by avian flu, including those in both infected and buffer zones.

Urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to begin enforcing the Robinson-Patman Act to prevent corporate price discrimination that drives up grocery costs for consumers.

Voting to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Actto shore up the food and agriculture supply chain, assure fair competition in the meat and poultry sectors, and lower food and gasoline costs for consumers.

Supporting the Price Gouging Prevention Act, legislation ensuring large corporations can’t take advantage of consumers at the grocery store.

Holding multipleroundtables with Kansas businesses, manufacturing, and technology leaders on how recent legislation to improve supply chains will help boost their businesses’ financial security.

Working a “Sharice’s Shift” at a local Price Chopper, where she helped store employees unload deliveries from shipping trucks, stock grocery shelves, and bag groceries.


WA Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance Following Historic December Flooding

Today, Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined the entire Washington Congressional delegation in urging President Donald Trump to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance to help repair damage from December’s historic flooding. Preliminary damage assessments performed in partnership with FEMA over the past two months estimate damage totaling $182.3 million. This is the second of two Major Disaster Declaration requests from Governor Ferguson.

“As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s February 17 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance due to devastating flood damages incurred from December 5 through 22. We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible,” the delegation wrote in a letter to Trump. “The surge of rain in Washington state strained the state’s aging infrastructure, resulting in several levee breaches, leaving residents vulnerable to dangerous floods. In the middle of the night, residents of the city of Pacific were forced to quickly evacuate after a levee failed along the White River. While state and county officials have worked quickly to reinforce the breached sections, these are short-term solutions that leave our communities at risk of future extreme weather events.”

From early to mid-December 2025, severe storms and devastating flooding battered Washington state, threatening critical infrastructure as well as lives, property, businesses, and livestock across the state. The flooding caused severe damage that wreaked havoc in communities across Washington and is among the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the state.

“An initial damage assessment revealed extensive and widespread damage to critical infrastructure and local economies. Highway 2, one of the two major year-round connections between eastern and western Washington state through the Cascade Mountains, suffered several washouts of the roadway which temporarily closed access along the corridor. Extensive repairs led by the Washington State Department of Transportation allowed for a partial reopening, but 14 miles of the highway in Tumwater Canyon will remain closed for months. The only available local detour has been reduced to one-lane due to slope failures, and any cross-state detour to I-90 would add several hours per trip. Thousands of residents and businesses call the Highway 2 corridor home and are negatively impacted by the damage of these storms, not to mention the hundreds of farmers and producers that rely on Highway 2 as a gateway to access the seaports along Puget Sound,” the lawmakers continued.

Joining DelBene in the letter to President Trump were Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Michael Baumgartner (WA-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

“This extreme weather event has put significant stress on Washington state’s infrastructure, emergency response teams, and communities across the state. Throughout this crisis, state, local, Tribal, and federal first responders have stepped up and worked tirelessly to keep our communities secure,” they concluded. “We are incredibly grateful for their diligent work and careful coordination to keep Washingtonians safe and informed throughout this disaster.”

If FEMA approves Public Assistance as part of the major disaster declaration, Washington will qualify for grant funding up to 20 percent of the total damage assessment – in this case, a maximum of $36.6 million. Last month, the Washington delegation supported Governor Ferguson’s request for federal Individual Assistance to aid survivors. That application is pending.

Back in December 2025, Representative DelBene supported Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Ferguson’s request for an expedited Emergency Declaration for the devastating storms and severe flooding hitting Washington state—that request was approved.


Congresswoman Fischbach in Greenbush

Minnesota District 7 — Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach was in Greenbush and met with leadership at Central Boiler. She had the opportunity to see how the outdoor heaters warm homes and buildings. They discussed the government regulations that they face in their business and the impact that overburdensome requirements can have on local employers. Congresswoman Fischbach has been a consistent champion for cutting through the red tape that Washington D.C. puts on small businesses and she appreciated hearing from the company about their experience as they try to navigate some of those hurdles.


Palm Beach County Deserves a Voice Before Any Airport Renaming

West Palm Beach, FL — Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement in response to the Florida State Senate’s passage of a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) as President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

“It’s misguided and unfair that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature ignored the voices of Palm Beach County by pushing forward a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport without giving County residents a real opportunity for input,” said Rep. Frankel. “Decisions about naming major infrastructure should wait until after an honoree’s service has concluded—and should include meaningful input from the local residents and communities most directly affected.”


Garamendi, Harder Call on U.S. Army Corp to Reject Permits for Delta Tunnel Boondoggle

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers a decision in the years-long water saga, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and members of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Congressional Delegation - including Representatives Josh Harder (CA-09), Ami Bera (CA-06), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Doris Matsui (CA-07)- called on the Army Corps to deny the federal permits required for the Delta Tunnel to be completed. They called for the Army Corps’ final Record of Decision to protect Delta waterways, families, and our regional economy by denying these permits.

“The proposed Delta Conveyance Project would have a direct, negative impact on environmental justice communities, Delta farms, commercial and recreational fishing, and Delta ecosystems,” said Morgen Snyder, Director of Policy and Programs, Restore the Delta. “The US Army Corps of Engineers relies heavily on DWR's incomplete EIR, which is currently subject to litigation, to demonstrate minimal impact to the project area, ignoring the cumulative impacts on an already impacted economy and sensitive ecosystem. If the US Army Corps of Engineers moves forward with the record of decision and associated permitting, Delta communities and ecosystems are facing a decade or more of construction, reduced flows resulting in declining water quality, further degradation of a declining ecosystem, and increased negative impacts to the Delta's declining river economy.”


Rep. Garamendi Joins 70 Democrats in Demanding Answers from Education Secretary on ICE’s Impact on Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joins Democratic House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and 68 House Democrats in demanding Secretary of Education Linda McMahon once again to provide answers regarding the impact of immigration enforcement actions on students, families, and schools.

This comes after an increased presence of federal immigration enforcement near school campuses — including a confrontation at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis shortly after an ICE agent fatally shot Renée Good, which prompted the school to close for the week and highlighted growing fears about enforcement near schools.

“Efforts by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have separated children from their families, disrupted school operations, and otherwise adversely affected students and families,” the lawmakers wrote. “We remain deeply concerned about the impact these ongoing enforcement efforts will have on student health, well-being, and school engagement.”

“ICE tactics are causing undeniable harm to students, harm that will likely lead to years of trauma in school communities. School districts across the country have reported rises in anxiety, stress, and other mental health challenges in students,” they continued. “We urge the Department to continue to uphold its obligation to provide the critical federal supports to address the needs of all students, including immigrant students, and those who serve them, as provided by Congress.”

Democratic House members originally sent a letter on November 21, 2025, requesting information on the Department’s support for all students, including immigrant students and students from mixed status families, affected by immigration enforcement. the Members have yet to receive a response from the Secretary.

This letter is also signed by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jesús García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), John Mannion (NY-22), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

The full text of the letter can be found here.


ICYMI: CONGRESSMAN CARLOS GIMENEZ AUTHORS FOX NEWS OP-ED: “CUBA IS APPROACHING ITS BERLIN WALL MOMENT — AMERICA MUST HELP THEM BREAK THROUGH”

Miami, FL – Congressman Carlos Gimenez authored a major opinion piece in Fox News titled “Cuba Is Approaching Its Berlin Wall Moment — America Must Help Them Break Through.”

In the op-ed, Congressman Gimenez calls for decisive American leadership at what he describes as a historic turning point for the Cuban people. Congressman Gimenez emphasizes that American resolve, clarity of purpose, and principled leadership are essential to advancing liberty just 90 miles from our shores.

To read the full op-ed on Fox News, click HERE.

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REPS. GIMÉNEZ, DÍAZ-BALART, SALAZAR, AND SENATOR MOODY MARK 30 YEARS SINCE BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE SHOOTDOWN

MIAMI, FL - Today, Congressman Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28), alongside Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, an act of state-sponsored murder ordered by Raúl Castro that claimed the lives of four innocent men. The Members were joined by the victims’ families and leaders of the Cuban exile community to honor their memory and renew the call for justice.

The event paid tribute to Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos A. Costa, Mario M. de la Peña, and Pablo Morale who were killed in cold blood when Cuban regime fighter jets, acting on Raúl Castro’s orders, deliberately targeted and destroyed two civilian aircraft over international waters.

“Today, we reaffirmed a simple truth: justice delayed is justice denied," said Congressman Giménez. "Nearly three decades after the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, the Castro regime has never been held accountable for the cold-blooded murder of Americans carrying out a humanitarian mission. The facts are clear, the evidence is overwhelming, and responsibility leads directly to Raúl Castro. If America First means defending our citizens and confronting tyranny in our hemisphere, then the time has come for the Department of Justice to act and finally hold Raúl Castro accountable.”

“Thirty years ago, Raúl Castro carried out a brutal attack that murdered innocent Americans whose only mission was to save lives,” said Congressman Díaz-Balart. “We gather not only to honor their memory, but to reaffirm that crimes against Americans cannot be ignored, excused, or forgotten. There must be accountability for those responsible. I commend President Trump for his maximum pressure campaign against anti-American regimes and for always prioritizing our national security. The United States must continue to stand firmly with the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom, justice, and democracy.”

“For 67 years, the Cuban people, in Miami and on the island, have lived through repression and exile under the Castro regime,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “As we mark the anniversary of the shooting down of two unarmed civilian planes and the killing of three U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident, we remember a crime that for decades went unanswered. But this moment is different. Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio, accountability is finally within reach. It’s time to indict Raúl Castro and bring this dictatorship to an end. Freedom is no longer a distant dream.”

“I’m honored to join Congressman Diaz-Balart in remembering the four lives tragically lost in the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown 30 years ago—four men who believed so deeply in freedom that they were willing to fly toward danger in order to save others seeking it," said Senator Moody. "It is essential that we continue putting pressure on the communist regime that ordered this horrific attack on civilians. America is at its best when we stand for liberty and lead through strength.”

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Rep. Jimmy Gomez Hosts Virtual Premiere of Housing Over Hate, A Film Based On His Bill to Redirect $175 Billion from Trump's ICE & CBP Slush Fund to Housing

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) hosted a virtual community premiere of his new short film, Housing Over Hate, produced in partnership with the documentary film group Brave New Films. The film centers on Rep. Gomez’s legislation to take back the $175 billion ICE and CBP slush fund inside Donald Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill" and redirect those dollars toward programs that make housing affordable.

The film features interviews with five members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, including Rep. Gomez, who have formally endorsed Rep. Gomez’s bill, underscoring where progressives are drawing the line on ICE funding and housing priorities.

“I worked with Brave New Films and my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus to tell the story behind my bill because people need to see exactly what’s at stake,” said Rep. Gomez. “This film makes clear that while Republicans are pouring $175 billion into expanding ICE and CBP, families are struggling just to afford rent and keep a roof over their heads. I introduced the first bill that takes that money back from Trump and invests it in lowering rents and expanding housing that’s affordable instead of expanding hate.”

"Congressman Gomez’s Housing Over Hate bill is a hopeful step toward policy that protects people’s basic dignity, starting with a safe, stable home. Public dollars should be used to uplift families and strengthen communities, not to bankroll fear, raids, and retaliation," said Robert Greenwald, President of Brave New Films. "When we pour money into expanding ICE and CBP enforcement that targets people across the country, we undermine trust and destabilize communities. This bill affirms a better set of priorities: invest in housing and stop the massive flow of money into ICE, CBP, hate and oppression."

The legislation would take back the $175 billion allocated for expanded immigration enforcement and reinvest it into policies that help reduce rent, expand homeownership for first-generation families, incentivize housing construction, and convert vacant office buildings into housing.

Following the screening, Rep. Gomez and Rep. Troy Carter were joined by Los Angeles political organizer Jessica Craven and independent journalist Nick Valencia for a live discussion on immigration enforcement, accountability, and the housing crisis.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus has formally endorsed Rep. Gomez’s legislation, marking a clear position among progressives that federal priorities should shift from expanding ICE and CBP to addressing the housing affordability crisis.

The full film, Housing Over Hate, is available HERE