Donalds Shares Most Up-To-Date State Department Guidance For Floridians Currently Located In The Middle East

WASHINGTON – Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Trump administration is providing real-time security alerts and evacuation information for American citizens currently located in conflict zones.

American citizens looking to evacuate the Middle East are instructed to complete this form to request State Department-facilitated departure options as they become available. To reach the State Department by phone, Americans citizens are instructed to call +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) or +1-888-407-4747 (from the US and Canada).

Prospective evacuees are also instructed to enroll HERE to receive the latest security updates, follow “U.S. Department of State – Security Alerts for U.S. Citizens” on WhatsApp, and visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs destination-specific travel risk information page HERE.

Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) shared the most up-to-date State Department alerts for Floridians located in each affected country below:

Most up-to-date, country-specific State Department alerts for Floridians:

AZERBAIJAN: "The U.S. government cares about your safety and will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. Around 12:00 p.m. local time on March 5, 2026, an unknown number of drones struck Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Region exclave, hitting the Nakhchivan Airport terminal building and landing in the vicinity of a nearby school building, per the Azerbaijani government. U.S. government personnel are advised not to travel to the Nakhchivan region. U.S. citizens in Azerbaijan can also call the State Department at +1-202-501-4444 to receive departure information and assistance. Read more HERE."

BAHRAIN: "The U.S. government cares about your safety and will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. Please complete this form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake. If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again. The U.S. Embassy Manama has issued a shelter in place notification for Bahrain. We recommend all Americans in Bahrain do the same until further notice. To the extent possible, remain in a secure structure, and stay away from windows. Read more HERE."

CYPRUS: "The State Department updated the Travel Advisory for Cyprus to reflect the authorized departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel. Read the full advisory HERE."

IRAN: "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. We are working on additional options to assist Americans to depart the Middle East. Please continue to review Department of State guidance for additional information or last-minute changes. We will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. The U.S. government is ready to help Americans leave the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available. Be aware the Iranian government may restrict or prevent departures from Iran. U.S.-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports. The Iranian government does not recognize dual nationality and will treat U.S.-Iranian dual nationals solely as Iranian citizens. Commercial flights are currently not operating out of Iran. Land routes are open, but U.S. citizens should be aware of conditions for each of them. Read more HERE."

IRAQ: "There is no higher priority than the security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the Department of State. The U.S. government is continually assessing additional options to help U.S. citizens depart the Middle East. Any new options for departing Iraq will be shared with U.S. citizens seeking to leave. Our highest priority is your safety. We are committed to sharing up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. U.S. citizens in Iraq are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so. Commercial flights are currently not operating out of Iraq. There are overland routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Most land borders are open but could close on short notice. Local ground transportation options are functioning. Americans choosing not to depart should be prepared to shelter in place in a secure location for extended periods. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items. Read more HERE."

ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK, GAZA: "The U.S. government cares about your safety and will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. Ben Gurion Airport is open for limited commercial flights. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these flights if they believe it is safe to do so. Visit the airline websites (El Al, Israir, Arkia, Air Haifa) to find information about flight availability and purchasing tickets. The Department of State is organizing limited assistance flights from Ben Gurion Airport. American citizens who have registered through the crisis intake form (https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake) will be contacted when seats become available. There are also overland routes to Taba, Egypt, where commercial options to depart the region are operating. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these overland routes if they believe it is safe to do so. If you completed the crisis intake form and have departed Israel and no longer need assistance please let us know by calling or responding to the email you received on registration, so we can focus our efforts on U.S. citizens still in need of assistance. Read more HERE."

JORDAN: "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. We are providing options to assist Americans to depart the Middle East. Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes. We are closely monitoring the situation and are committed to providing timely information and assistance to U.S. citizens in the affected area. Commercial flights are currently operating out of Queen Alia International Airport. Land border crossings are operating at designated hours. Operating hours are shortened on Fridays and Saturdays and are subject to change at any time, and the ability to cross may depend on your nationality and on security conditions at the border. Read more HERE."

KUWAIT: "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. We are working on additional options to assist Americans to depart the Middle East. Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes. We are closely monitoring the situation and are committed to providing timely information and assistance to U.S. citizens in the affected area. Commercial flights are currently not operating out of Kuwait due to the continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks. There are overland routes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where commercial options to depart the region are operating. Read more HERE."

LEBANON: "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. We are working on additional options to assist Americans to depart the Middle East. Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes. Commercial flights are currently offered by Middle East Airlines, operating out of Beirut Rafic Hariri airport. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these flights if they believe it is safe to do so. Read more HERE."

NIGERIA: "The U.S. Embassy in Abuja informs U.S. citizens of a possible terrorist threat against U.S. facilities and U.S. affiliated schools in Nigeria. The Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens take additional precautions when traveling to the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, and U.S. affiliated schools, to include varying times and routes. Increasing awareness of your surroundings, avoiding predictable routines, and reviewing general security precautions with your family can help reduce your risk. Read more HERE."

OMAN: "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. We are working on additional options to assist Americans to depart the Middle East. Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes. Commercial flights are currently operating out of international airports in Oman. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these flights if they believe it is safe to do so. Visit the airport and airline websites to find information about flight availability and to purchase tickets. Read more HERE."

QATAR: "The U.S. government is ready to help Americans leave the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available. Please complete this form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake. If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again. Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes. The U.S. Embassy in Doha is offering overland and air options to leave Qatar. If you choose not to use Embassy-provided options, there are additional ways to leave Qatar. Read more HERE."

SAUDI ARABIA: "The U.S. government cares about your safety and will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. The U.S. government is ready to help Americans leave the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available. In addition to commercial departure options, please note that the Department is coordinating flights out of the region and can manifest Americans who have completed the Crisis Intake Form as space is available. Please complete this form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake. If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again. Commercial flights are currently operating out of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran. Saudi airspace remains open, but with significant flight cancellations and prolonged operational delays. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these flights if they believe it is safe to do so. Visit airline websites to find information about flight availability and purchasing tickets. Read more HERE."

SYRIA: "The U.S. government has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans and will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended its operations in 2012 and the U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Syria. The Czech Republic serves as the protecting power for U.S. interests in Syria. U.S. citizens in Syria who are in need of emergency assistance but are unable to reach the U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of Czechia, should contact the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan by email at Amman‑ACS@state.gov. Read more HERE."

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. In addition to commercial departure options, please note that the Department is coordinating flights out of the region and can manifest Americans who have completed the Crisis Intake Form: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake as space is available. If you have already completed the Crisis Intake Form, please do not fill it out again. Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes. An increasing number of commercial flights are operating out of international airports in the UAE. Seats on commercial flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai are available now for travel as early as March 10 to multiple U.S. and European cities. Visit airline websites for up-to-the-minute availability. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and have been explicitly advised by their airline to do so. There are overland routes to Oman and Saudi Arabia where commercial options to depart the region are operating, but there are reports of congestion. Read more HERE."

YEMEN: "Guidance for Americans in Yemen (as of 4pm EST on March 3): The U.S. government is ready to help Americans return home safely from the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available. ⦁ Americans can depart Yemen via commercial flights out of the region from Aden, although flights are limited. ⦁ Receive the latest security updates by enrolling at http://step.state.gov. ⦁ For consular help, call 24/7: +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) or +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada). ⦁ For more information: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/yemen.html."

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Congresswoman Escobar Announces Class of 2030 U.S. Service Academy Nominees

On Saturday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) held a ceremony in which she announced her nominees to four of the five United States Service Academies: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination.

“El Paso is home to some of the most talented and service-driven young leaders in the country, and I am incredibly proud to nominate this outstanding group of El Pasoans to our nation’s service academies,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “These students have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their communities, their studies, and their country. I know they will carry with them the spirit of El Paso as they pursue this extraordinary opportunity to serve our nation.”

As part of the nomination process, the nominees were evaluated by a panel based on their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, extracurricular activities, and desire to serve their country.

More information on the U.S. Service Academy Nominations can be found here, and photos of the ceremony can be found here.

The full list of 21 nominees is below:

United States Military Academy – West Point

Marco A. Hernandez

Faith E. Jeon*

Aaron I. Terrazas

United States Naval Academy – Annapolis

Elijah R. Anzures

Diego I. Hernandez

Maximilian L. Hernandez*

Jacob Z. McLure*

Hudson R. Merritt*

Evan Minjarez

Alvaro A. Rodriguez*

United States Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs

Hazel Acosta

Clayton M. Barde*

Jonah J. Garcia

Mia K. James

Isabelle V. Leon

Jessica A. Melendez*

Jonathan M. Moreno

Melinda Nunez

Jesus Solis

United States Merchant Marine Academy – Kings Point

Lucas G. Brandon

Savannah M. Smith*

*Nominated to multiple service academies


Rep. Foushee Helps Get Raleigh to Richmond S-Line Rail Funding Back on Track

DURHAM, NC (March 9, 2026) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, applauded a significant step forward for the Raleigh to Richmond S-Line rail corridor after more than a year of advocating for the release of stalled federal funding for the project. The Federal Railroad Administration has obligated $57.9 million for land surveying and engineering along the 162-mile corridor, a high-performance passenger rail route designed to deliver faster, more frequent, and reliable service along one of the East Coast’s most traveled routes. The investment, provided through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, marks a major milestone for the project and will support planning work led by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

“The Raleigh to Richmond S-Line is poised to transform passenger rail in our region, and after being stalled for far too long, it is finally moving forward,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “This critical project represents decades of work to turn an underused freight corridor into a modern passenger rail route that will not only connect communities, but link people to jobs, education, and opportunity. This progress is a testament to what sustained pressure and partnership can deliver, and I will continue working to ensure it stays on track and fulfills its promise to the people and communities along the corridor.”

Years of advocacy for transportation infrastructure set the stage for what has become a landmark moment for the region. In December 2023, the Biden Administration awarded the S-Line project nearly $1.1 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the largest grant in the history of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The grant was intended to fund the engineering design, right of way acquisition, and construction costs needed to bring the project to life.

However, in January 2025, despite that historic investment and the growing momentum behind passenger rail, the Trump Administration froze the project’s funding through Executive

Order 14154 (Unleashing American Energy). Portions of the funding remained stalled, delaying key project milestones.

Over the past year, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee repeatedly pressed the U.S. Department of Transportation, raising the issue in committee hearings, sending letters to Department leadership, and working directly with officials to advance the project. During a recent Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing, Congresswoman Foushee secured a commitment from Secretary Sean Duffy to work with Congress to ensure S-Line funding moves forward.

With this funding, the North Carolina Department of Transportation will begin surveying and engineering work along the 162-mile corridor between Raleigh, North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia, a critical step toward advancing passenger rail service in the region.

Congresswoman Foushee will continue to work with federal, state, and regional partners to ensure the S-Line project stays on track.


Chairman Guthrie Op-Ed: Congress is Done Waiting for Big Tech to Protect Kids Online

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following op-ed by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, appeared in the Washington Post today.

“The most popular social media platforms are constantly changing and reinventing themselves, but one challenge has remained consistent over three decades: Kids are at risk when they go online.

“Anxiety, depression, loneliness and self-harm rates are sky-high among teens and children, demonstrating the dangerous effects of social media.

“So, who is responsible for protecting America’s youth? Every adult should consider themselves on the hook for that, but those of us in Congress have a special obligation to hold tech companies accountable for the products they design.

“That is why congressional Republicans are advancing meaningful legislation to protect kids, empower parents and guardians, and address the harms children and teens face online.

“We can no longer stand by and wait for others to act.

“We know progress can be made because we have already enacted a major piece of online safety legislation this Congress. Working alongside first lady Melania Trump, we passed — and President Donald Trump signed — the Take It Down Act, which targets the spread of sexually exploitative, nonconsensual AI-generated images.

“While that is a good first step, it is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. As the internet continues to evolve, we know that no single action can address every challenge. What’s needed is a comprehensive approach that puts kids’ well-being and parental empowerment at the center of the digital world.

“Last week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, a legislative package that will protect children and teens from online harms, empower parents and hold Big Tech accountable.

“For starters, the Kids Act represents an improved version of the previously proposed Kids Online Safety Act, preserving the bill’s best ideas while addressing concerns about its constitutionality. After pairing the original proposal with additional measures to strengthen privacy, transparency and accountability across the online ecosystem, this version of the bill is stronger and more capable of surviving court challenges.

“Second, the Kids Act limits access to online pornography for minors. For too long, online websites with adult content have relied on an honor system where every user is assumed to be an adult. We know that isn’t true. Children should not be accessing pornographic content. The Kids Act requires all websites that contain adult content to uphold this basic standard through age-verification measures — just as a brick-and-mortar storefront would.

“Additionally, the act targets new internet threats, like artificial intelligence chatbots or predators using video game chat functions, head-on. Republicans are working to give parents the power to limit those communications as they see fit and to impose strict disclosure requirements on AI chatbots to prevent deceptive messaging.

“Acknowledging that government alone cannot solve this problem, the Kids Act facilitates the development of partnerships among parents, experts and industry to address these challenges and others sure to develop. New educational efforts will help empower a generation of parents to diagnose and respond to digital threats.

“Nevertheless, the Kids Act is not the end of our work.

“The committee also advanced the App Store Accountability Act this week. Unfortunately, smartphones often operate as a hidden layer between children and parents, as kids download apps and buy digital goods without a parent’s permission. Instead of relying on another honor system, the App Store Accountability Act creates a simple, private and secure process to verify users’ ages and require kids to first obtain a parent’s permission. It leverages modern technology to put apps on notice that they are dealing with children and teens and, thus, have heightened safety obligations.

“Another bill we are working on, known as COPPA 2.0, would modernize kids’ privacy protections that are already on the books.

“Until now, 13 has been treated as the age of digital adulthood, a relic of the internet’s early days when Congress enacted the original Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in 1998. Back then, we never could have imagined how things would develop. Extended privacy protections for teens and a ban on targeted advertising to kids are long overdue.

“Collectively, these bills form a commonsense, comprehensive package designed to make the internet safer for kids. But this is not an academic exercise.

“This work is personal. Some of the loudest, most courageous advocates for reform are parents who have lost children due to online harms. Every member of our committee represents families who have endured unimaginable grief. They deserve more than gestures and idle promises. They deserve laws that work.

“We cannot rely on Big Tech companies that refuse to take responsibility for the products they put into the world. They’ve had years to self-regulate, and they have failed. Now it’s time for Congress to act.

“By advancing this package of bills, we are one step closer to putting American families back on solid footing to make the best decisions about their digital well-being.”


Huffman, King Lead Amicus Brief Opposing Trump's Illegal Monument Scheme

Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), and Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), along with Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), filed an amicus brief in federal court opposing President Trump's plan to erect a 250-foot "Independence Arch" on federal parkland in Washington, D.C., arguing the project blatantly violates laws requiring congressional authorization for new monuments.

The case concerns whether President Trump can bypass federal law requiring congressional approval for monuments on federal land in Washington, D.C. The Commemorative Works Act and 40 U.S.C. § 8106 both require express authorization from Congress before any monument or structure is built on federal reservations, parks, or public grounds in the nation's capital. The Independence Arch, slated for Memorial Circle in Lady Bird Johnson Park, has received no such authorization.

“Americans are having to choose between gas and groceries, and the President's priority is spending millions of dollars on another vanity project — the 'Arc de Trump,'” said Ranking Member Huffman. “For over two hundred years, Congress has held authority over what monuments rise in our nation's capital. The Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial; every one followed the law and went through Congress. And now, without any legal authority whatsoever, he wants to build himself the largest arch in the world — bigger than the Arc de Triomphe, taller than the Statue of Liberty — on land owned by the American people. Who does he think he is? He's not a pharaoh. He's a public servant, and he ought to answer to the law like everyone else. We didn't let monarchs build monuments to themselves in 1776, and we're not letting some wannabe king start now.”

“Our national parks and public lands are not a canvas for a president’s offensive vanity projects. Attempting to bypass Congress to erect a massive Arch de Trump on federal land is not just absurd, it is a slap in the face to millions of working families who are struggling to get by,” said Rep. Dexter, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. "Americans deserve a president who focuses on them — not himself.”

“This is a straightforward example of checks and balances, and an exercise of Congressional authority – the Commemorative Works Act could not be clearer: any structure on grounds like this must be approved by Congress on behalf of the American people,” said Senator King. “Whether it is an arch, an obelisk, a ballroom, or a statue, this is a decision that cannot be made unilaterally when it is on public lands and protected by statute.”

“The Trump Administration has once again put its own interests before following the law and working with Congress and the American people, including the veterans bringing suit in this case,” said Senator Merkley. “I will continue to push for oversight of the President’s overreach on this project and to explore all options to protect our federal lands, in both D.C. and across the nation.”

Read the lawmakers’ amicus brief here.

Background

The Independence Arch would be located in Memorial Circle within Lady Bird Johnson Park, which falls under Area I of the Commemorative Works Act, requiring additional congressional approval for any new commemorative works due to concerns about overcrowding the monumental core of the capital.

Since the CWA's enactment in 1986, Congress has authorized more than 40 commemorative works through the statutory process. The law establishes consultation requirements with expert commissions and multiple layers of review to ensure new monuments reflect lasting national significance and preserve the integrity of the historic L'Enfant and McMillan plans for the city.

This latest effort by President Trump joins his other attempts to remake the nation's capital in his image. In October 2025, Trump demolished the historic East Wing of the White House to make way for a 90,000-square-foot gilded ballroom, proceeding without approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. That project, now estimated to cost $400 million, prompted a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Natural Resources Democrats have previously called for complete transparency regarding his efforts, to no response from the relevant agencies.

Trump has also paved over the Rose Garden to install a Mar-a-Lago-style stone patio, gilded the Oval Office with gold medallions and Rococo mirrors, and slapped his name on the Kennedy Center without congressional authorization — the first time a national institution has been named after a sitting president.

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LEADER JEFFRIES ON KEEPIN’ IT REAL: “IF YOU’RE GOING TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IT SHOULD NOT BE SPENT ON A WAR OF CHOICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on Keepin’ it Real with Rev. Al Sharpton, where he highlighted how Donald Trump continues to wage an unconstitutional war in the Middle East while continuing to abdicate his responsibility to make life better for the American people.

REV. AL SHARPTON: One of the things that I said at Reverend Jackson’s funeral is that the action we take is imperative so that we can gain the power to get things done. And I referred to the fact that if the Democrats take the House, Hakeem Jeffries, who I’ve known a long time—a member of National Action Network—would be the Speaker. And he’ll be a Speaker for everybody and will make sure that the issues and concerns we have are heard. And I have him on the live line, the Ranking Member of the House, the head of the Democratic Caucus, Congressman from Brooklyn, New York, Hakeem Jeffries. How you doing, Congressman, how you doing?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good afternoon, Rev. Great to be with you. And thank you so much for that powerful remembrance and for, you know, the shout-out as to what the stakes are relative to the upcoming midterm elections. We’re gonna fix these tricks in 2026. That was a memorable line. And we’re gonna ride that all the way to victory.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Right, right. We definitely are going to—my theme for the convention this year, and you come every year, is straighten out tricks in ’26 so we can open up the gates in ’28. Give me your memory, Congressman, and your tribute to Reverend Jackson.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, he was such a legendary, transformational, iconic leader who, of course, put liberty and justice for all first and equal protection under the law. Someone who had made such a tremendous difference in the lives of millions of Americans, certainly Black America, but for all Americans. We continue to be inspired by, stand on his shoulders to this very day. And at a moment like this, where we need the character and the courage and the conviction to push back against the extremism that’s being unleashed on the American people, right, I think being able to have learned life lessons from just the example that Reverend Jackson displayed throughout the time that he led in such a phenomenal way is what continues to fuel those of us who are serving in Congress right now to get the job done.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Let me ask you the question of the U.S.-Israel war versus Iran. We’re seeing it already causing some increase in gas prices here. What’s at stake here? And what is the precedent being established if we keep having presidents that can go around the Congress declaring wars and not having a clear and transparent position to the American people on what we’re doing?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, Donald Trump has failed to make the case to the American people that dropping bombs in Iran and getting the Middle East into an all-out war and conflict is actually making the American people safer. And in fact, what we’re seeing is that it’s complicating the lives of the American people, particularly as it relates to the affordability crisis. And we believe that if you’re going to spend billions of taxpayer dollars, it should not be spent in a war of choice in the Middle East. It should be spent to lower the cost of housing, lower healthcare costs, lower the price of groceries that are causing people to struggle, millions of people struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. And on top of that, of course, this was an unauthorized war. The President had a responsibility to come to Congress, the representatives of the people, make his case to Congress, make his case to everyday Americans and to have this war authorized, because there’s zero evidence that there was a threat that required preemptive action. We haven’t seen that evidence presented in any way, shape or form. And as a result, that’s one of the reasons why we’re seeing this war already be deeply unpopular.

REV. AL SHARPTON: And last thing, and I thank you for staying with me. Trump says he will not sign any legislation until Congress passes a stricter voting requirement bill named SAVE. As the head of the Democratic Caucus, how do you respond to that? That he’s going to block the signing of any legislation, until he sees his, in my opinion, voter suppression package passed.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I have two reactions. On the one hand, that’s probably a good thing because any kind of legislation coming out of this Republican Congress is not designed to make life better for the American people. And we know what they have passed, their One Big Ugly Bill, was a complete and total disaster ripping Medicaid away from millions of Americans, enacting the largest cut to SNAP in American history and, at the same time, passing massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors and giving ICE a $75 billion slush fund. On the other hand, of course, we cannot allow the voter suppression legislation in the form of the so-called SAVE Act to pass. And we will not allow it to pass because at the end of the day, we should be lifting up the ability of Americans to participate in our democracy, not suppressing it.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Alright, we thank you for taking a minute to come on. And we’re certainly—I’m sure I’ll see you before the convention, but looking forward to seeing you at the convention. Thank you for calling in, Hakeem Jeffries.

Full interview can be listened to here.


Whip Clark Remarks at Press Conference Following Dilley, TX Visit

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-2), Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-4), and Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) for an oversight visit to the Dilley ICE Detention Center. Below is a transcript of her remarks at a press conference with FWD.us:

"The families I spoke to this morning, I would say, are overwhelmingly in despair. I met with a nursing mom who was separated from her baby when the baby was two-and-a-half months old. That was five months ago. She has not seen him since.

"I met with a family whose two-year-old had what looked like a very infected tooth. That has prevented her from eating. She is in pain. But there was no urgency around getting her treatment, despite the fact that just last week Emmanuel Damas — a Haitian man from Boston — died from not receiving treatment for an infected tooth while being detained in Arizona.

"I wanted to share the brief thoughts of a note that was handed to me from a little girl: 'I am nine years old. We've been here for nine months. I really miss playing with my toys and my watch. When will we get out of here? I want to go back home. All of my friends left. I miss all of them. Why can't we be released like them? Every day we see people leave but not us. I want to get out and eat pizza and bananas. I really want to go to school. I miss my friends. I miss my sister. I really miss my mom's food. Please get us out of here.' From a nine-year-old girl.

"And we know this is just part of a larger weaponization of ICE and Border Patrol. The roving patrols of masked agents. The warrantless searches. The assault and arrest and imprisonment of law-abiding citizens and non-citizens alike. The use of deportation as a weapon against those who dare to protest or maybe write a college op-ed. The outright murder of people in the streets of America.

"All of it part of a systematic effort to expand the power of one person and narrow the freedoms of everyone else. Trump wants to bring the horrors in this facility to more communities across the country. But the American people are speaking loudly and clearly — and they are saying 'no more.'

"We’ve run Kristi Noem out of Washington. But now we need to clean up what she left behind. We’re going to hold the line and fight for a funding bill that enacts real reforms. We’re going to stop the killings. We’re going to bring these families the dignity and safety that they’re owed. And we're going to bring the perpetrators of this abuse to accountability. We will bring an end to this state-sanctioned terror in Congress."

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Landsman, Pfluger Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reimburse Local Law Enforcement $61M for Secret Service Support

Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the partnership between the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement.

Reps. Landsman and Pfluger introduced the bipartisan Secret Service-Local Law Enforcement Partnership Act. The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – the parent agency to the U.S. Secret Service – to reimburse state and local law enforcement agencies $61 million per year for three years for services, personnel, and equipment required to support the Secret Service’s mission.

Congressman Landsman began working on this legislation in 2024 after hearing from local law enforcement in Southwest Ohio about the resource burden associated with providing protection for Vice President J.D. Vance.

Neither the Secret Service or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are currently required to reimburse state and local law enforcement agencies.

Congressman Landsman:

“Millions of dollars would come back to local law enforcement – our communities – to strengthen the partnership between local and federal agencies to keep everybody safe.”

Congressman Pfluger:

“Local and state law enforcement officers are often called upon to support U.S. Secret Service operations that go well beyond the scope of their normal responsibilities. The Secret Service-Local Law Enforcement Partnership Act of 2025 ensures that when these officers step up to support protective missions, they are fairly reimbursed for their time and resources. This commonsense legislation strengthens public safety, protects local taxpayer dollars, and reinforces the essential partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement.”

Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police:

“Cooperation between the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and local law enforcement is a vital part of ensuring the safety and well-being of the President, the Vice President, and others who require protection details. What is often left unaddressed, however, is the cost that many law enforcement agencies incur while cooperating with the Secret Service, which can place an undue financial burden on agencies throughout the country. This legislation would create an Extraordinary Protection Reimbursement Program, which would authorize more than $61 million for law enforcement agencies that collaborate with the USSS. This money would be used towards purchasing equipment, hiring personnel, and other necessary items to ensure that law enforcement agencies have the tools needed to assist the USSS.”

The full text of the Secret Service-Local Law Enforcement Partnership Act can be found here.

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Larson, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Tax Relief and Lower College Costs for AmeriCorps Volunteers

Washington, D.C. – Kicking off AmeriCorps Week, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the bipartisan Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act. Their legislation would provide tax relief for AmeriCorps members who earn Segal Education Awards through their service to help pay for higher education costs and reduce barriers for young people to access the financial assistance they’ve earned.

“AmeriCorps members serve our country on behalf of communities in need, and our nation has a responsibility to reward them with an education benefit that both shows our appreciation for their work and significantly reduces college costs,” said Larson. “Unfortunately, the current federal tax on the Segal award diminishes its value and undermines the original intent of the program to help AmeriCorps alumni overcome financial barriers and afford a college education. I am proud to introduce this legislation, originally championed by my late friend and colleague, Rep. John Lewis, and work with my Republican colleague Rep. Don Bacon to correct this injustice, encourage more young people to pursue national service, and advance real solutions to lower higher education costs.”

“I’m pleased to join Rep. Larson in reintroducing the bipartisan Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act to ensure AmeriCorps volunteers receive the full value of the education benefit they earn through service,” said Bacon. “These dedicated Americans shouldn’t have to pay taxes on a benefit they receive while in turn providing valuable services for our country. We don’t make Pell Grant recipients pay taxes on their grants, and neither should these individuals.”

AmeriCorps members who complete a full term of national service can earn a Segal Education Award to help pay for current education expenses or repay student loans. The award is generally valued at the maximum Pell Grant amount ($7,395 for 2026–27) for that year and expires seven years after the AmeriCorps service term ends. However, unlike Pell Grants, Segal Education Awards are currently considered taxable income, creating a barrier that may discourage young people from taking advantage of the financial assistance they’ve earned.

This legislation would exclude Segal Education Awards from federal taxable income, honoring the intent of federal education awards, helping recipients pay for higher education, and removing this financial barrier.

The bipartisan Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act is endorsed by 64 organizations, including Voices for National Service, Habitat for Humanity International, the National Youth Leadership Council, Serve Connecticut, and Teach for America.

“The tax on the AmeriCorps education award creates an unexpected and unfair tax burden on the dedicated Americans who commit to serving their country through AmeriCorps. It’s essentially a tax on service. We don’t tax Pell Grants or GI Bill Benefits, and we shouldn’t tax the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. We’re grateful to Representatives Don Bacon and John Larson for leading the effort to make the award tax free so AmeriCorps members can receive the full value of the benefit they’ve earned, and we urge their colleagues to support the bill,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.


Rep. Nancy Mace Supports $140,000 Federal Grant To Improve Pedestrian Safety In Downtown Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Mar. 9, 2026) — Congresswoman Nancy Mace today announced the City of Charleston has been awarded a $140,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A) to improve pedestrian safety in downtown Charleston.

Rep. Mace’s office wrote a letter of support to Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the City's grant application, citing Charleston's rapid population growth and pressing need for safer street infrastructure.

“Charleston is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and our infrastructure must keep pace,” said Congresswoman Mace. “This grant is a commonsense investment which will make our streets safer for pedestrians, help calm traffic in busy areas, and give the City the real data it needs to plan smarter for the future. Supporting smart, effective infrastructure which keeps our communities safe and thriving will always be a top priority.”

Katie Zimmerman, Executive Director of Charleston Moves, provided the following statement expressing strong support for the project:

“We appreciate the attention to safety and accessibility for people who live in, work in, and visit the Charleston peninsula, and trust that through prioritizing vulnerable road users in quick-build, data-oriented projects, our decision-makers can reknit communities, improve functionality, and provide space for people to safely meet their needs by any mode they choose,” said Zimmerman.

The grant will fund the installation and evaluation of temporary "quick-build" curb extensions at six intersections in downtown Charleston, a new technique for the city.

Through the project, the City will gather data on vehicle speeds, traffic volumes, driver yielding behavior, pedestrian activity, and public perception, with results directly shaping Charleston's draft Safety Action Plan and serving as a blueprint for affordable, effective street design improvements.

South Carolina's growth makes investments like this one more critical than ever. The state ranked as the fastest-growing in the nation between 2024 and 2025, adding nearly 80,000 new residents according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

SEE LETTER HERE:

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McGovern, Kim lead Bipartisan Group of 10 House Lawmakers Calling on Trump Administration to Make Tibet a Priority

WASHINGTON—Today, United States Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Young Kim (R-CA) led a bipartisan group of 10 House lawmakers in a letter asking the Trump administration to make Tibet a priority. The letter was addressed to Riley M. Barnes, who was appointed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 17, 2026, to serve as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. Barnes is the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

“We know what is possible when the Administration and Congress work together to promote America’s interests regarding Tibet,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “We look forward to working with you as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to implement these laws and appropriations provided by Congress, to advance a renewed and reinvigorated push to peacefully resolve the dispute over Tibet’s future, and to continue the U.S. government’s unwavering support for our Tibetan allies.”

The lawmakers provided eight specific areas where the Trump administration and Congress can collaborate to advance U.S. policy on Tibet consistent with U.S. law, including the 2002 Tibetan Policy Act, the 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, the 2020 Tibetan Policy and Support Act, and the 2024 Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act:

Promote dialogue between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and representatives of the Dalai Lama or Central Tibetan Administration (CTA);

Defend the right of religious freedom in the Dalai Lama’s succession

Counter PRC disinformation about Tibet;

Promote access to Tibet for foreign diplomats, journalists and tourists;

Continue programmatic support for Tibetans;

Prioritize a solution for Tibetans in Nepal;

Engage with the CTA; and

Support Tibetan broadcasting services.


Fox News: 40+ House Republicans rally behind Markwayne Mullin for DHS, call it a ‘critical moment’ for border security

"As members of the Republican Main Street Caucus, a group of more than 85 House conservatives focused on governing and producing legislative results, we write to express our strong support for the work of Tom Homan and his efforts to strengthen our nation’s immigration enforcement in his role as White House Border Czar," the letter said.

"Last week, approximately two dozen members of our caucus met with Mr. Homan to discuss the current state of immigration enforcement and the steps necessary to strengthen public safety while restoring confidence in federal immigration law."

Among the agreed-upon initiatives, the letter said, was keeping Trump's immigration crackdown focused on people who commit crimes within the U.S.

"First, enforcement efforts should remain focused on the worst criminal offenders. Prioritizing the removal of individuals who pose the greatest threats to public safety ensures that federal resources are used effectively while protecting American families and communities," they wrote.

It's a notable point given past criticism of DHS, from both sides of the aisle, about indiscriminate targeting of undocumented people in places like federal courthouses during routine immigration appointments.

They also called for the repeal of policies in sanctuary jurisdictions that "undermine public safety and hinder lawful immigration enforcement" and giving federal authorities "access to local jails before criminal aliens are released."

"Finally, we agreed there should be clear communication from ICE to the American people and to Congress regarding its success in deporting the worst criminal offenders—individuals with records of assault, battery, rape, DUI, and other serious crimes," the letter said.

The lawmakers added that "Homan’s approach reflects those principles, and we believe his leadership will continue to strengthen the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration laws in a targeted and effective manner."

By Elizabeth Elkind

Fox News Reporter


Rep. Neguse Calls For Inspector General Investigation Into OMB, National Science Foundation & Allegations of Potential Sale of NCAR to For-Profit Corporation

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse wrote to the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and demanded an independent investigation into allegations of potential conflicts of interest and regulatory improprieties related to the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado.

According to new allegations reported by a whistleblower to Rep. Neguse’s office, there have been troubling reports that one or more Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials allegedly proposed or negotiated an arrangement whereby components of NCAR’s space weather program would be transferred to a private, for-profit company.

If credible, this misconduct conflicts with the NSF’s public comment period, which runs through March 13, 2026, and is intended to allow public feedback on proposed actions. It would also violate clear statutory limits, as neither OMB nor NSF has the authority to unilaterally dissolve or sell federal programs.

Rep. Neguse disclosed that the whistleblower information was purportedly confirmed by an individual employed by the private, for-profit company in question.

Read the full letter HERE and below:

The Honorable Megan Wallace

Office of the Inspector General

National Science Foundation

2415 Eisenhower Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22314

Dear Inspector General Wallace,

I write to alert you of allegations of potential conflicts of interest and regulatory improprieties that our office has received concerning the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) January 23, 2026 Dear Colleague Letter entitled “NSF Intent to Restructure Critical Weather Infrastructure” and the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The report outlined below raises questions about whether the Department of Commerce (the Department), the NSF, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have engaged in any improper activity connected to the matters referenced above, which I believe must be independently investigated immediately.

In short, my office has received a troubling report that one or more OMB officials allegedly proposed and/or negotiated — before the NSF DCL process had concluded — an arrangement whereby components of NCAR’s space weather program would be transferred to a specific private, for-profit company. According to the report, the allegation was purportedly confirmed by an individual employed by the same for-profit company during a recent meeting of the American Meteorological Society in Houston in January of this year.

As our office understands it, neither the OMB nor the NSF have clear legal or statutory authority to unilaterally dissolve or sell Federal programs. Moreover, the PRO-SWIFT Act (Public Law 116–181) specifically directs the NSF, along with other federal agencies, to “continue to carry out basic research on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather” (Section 60604 (a)). While Public Law 116–181 encourages collaboration between the Federal government and the commercial space weather sector, the law makes clear that this research must be conducted by Federal research agencies. It is not within the OMB’s authority to undercut Federal law and sell-off space weather programs to private companies.

The report of misconduct described above further includes allegations that the NSF DCL is simply a political ploy to feign proper conduct, and that the OMB has already determined that NCAR’s space weather program will be transferred to the aforementioned for-profit company and that NCAR’s NWSC supercomputing facility will be transferred to the University of Wyoming. The latter allegation, in fact, is further supported by an NSF news release issued on February 12, 2026 entitled “Transitioning NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center operations.”

The federal DCL process is not a mechanism for reaching pre-determined outcomes nor for selling or awarding federal programs to private companies, and it cannot be used to bypass the law and hand federal programs to preferred private companies without undergoing competitive merit-review processes. In this instance, if allegations of a predetermined transfer or selloff were proven to be true, it would clearly violate the spirit and letter of the “Dear Colleague" process and likely violate Federal law. Therefore, it is vitally important that your office investigate the same.

I remain deeply concerned about any attempts to improperly transfer public assets to private companies. As the independent oversight office for the National Science Foundation, I believe it is your duty to investigate the allegations detailed herein and to put an immediate end to any such activity. Thank you for your full and fair consideration of this matter, consistent with applicable statute and agency guidelines.

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Rep. Norcross Delivers Over $1M to Improve Access to Clean Water in the Town of Maple Shade

CHERRY HILL, NJ –Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) delivered $1,092,000 in Community Project Fundingto the Town of Maple Shade to help construct a new water treatment plant to replace the aging Kings Highway facility. Nearly 20,000 Maple Shade residents rely on the township’s treatment plants every day to provide clean, safe drinking water.

“Access to clean, safe drinking water is something every family depends on.This investment of more than $1 million will help Maple Shade build a modern treatment plant that protects against flooding and removes emerging contaminants like PFAS,” said Congressman Donald Norcross.“Investments like this keep our communities healthy and our infrastructure strongand ensure residents have safe, reliable drinking water for years to come.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Donald Norcross and his office for securing $1,092,000 in federal funding for the Kings Highway Treatment Plant project. This investment is critical to strengthening Maple Shade’s water infrastructure, improving system resiliency, enhancing fire protection capabilities, and ensuring reliable, high-quality service for our residents and businesses,” said Mayor Heather Talarico. “Support like this allows us to move forward with essential upgrades while remaining fiscally responsible to our taxpayers, and we sincerely appreciate Congressman Norcross’ continued partnership and advocacy for our community.”

The Kings Highway plant, built more than 50 years ago, sits in an area vulnerable to flooding and has a process for removing contaminants that is outdated and inefficient, leading to a large quantity of wastewater. The federal funding will support construction of a new, modern facility that strengthens the reliability of the township’s water system, expands storage capacity, and improves its ability to remove contaminants from the drinking water supply.

This project is a part of the $11.98 million Congressman Norcross secured for 15 Community Project Funding (CPF) awards throughout New Jersey’s First Congressional District to support economic development, create jobs, and respond to the most pressing needs of the community.


Rep. Norcross Delivers $850,000 to Pennsauken Public Works Facility

CHERRY HILL, NJ – Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) delivered $850,000 in Community Project Funding to Pennsauken Township to support renovations and upgrades to the township’s Public Works facility.

The project will be used to establish a new, accessible public office facing Clement Avenue to improve public access, construct a covered storage structure to protect critical equipment and support the Fleet Maintenance Division, upgrade maintenance and garage areas, and replace aging building infrastructure.

“It’s great to be in my hometown of Pennsauken today to deliver an investment that supports the people who keep our community running,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “From trash collection to snow removal and pothole repair, Public Works crews provide essential services we rely on every day. Modernizing this facility will help ensure our crews have the safe workspace they need to serve South Jersey residents.”

“Pennsauken’s Department of Public Works is the backbone of many of the critical services our residents rely on every day, from maintaining our roads and public spaces to responding when our community needs us most,” said Mayor Patrick Olivo. “These funding resources will allow us to make essential infrastructure upgrades to our Public Works Facility and Vehicle Repair Garage, ensuring our team has the safe, modern space they need to continue serving effectively. We are grateful to Congressman Norcross for recognizing the importance of this investment and supporting Pennsauken’s goals to strengthen the foundation of the services our community depends on.”

These improvements will help create a safer, more efficient workplace for employees while strengthening services for more than 36,000 residents. The existing complex, built more than 70 years ago, is aging and in need of upgrades.

This investment is a part of the $11.98 million Congressman Norcross secured for 15 Community Project Funding (CPF) awards throughout New Jersey’s First Congressional District to support economic development, create jobs, and respond to the most pressing needs of the community.

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Norton Reintroduces Bill to Raise Pay of D.C. Superior Court Jurors to Match Pay of Federal Jurors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced her District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act, which would raise the pay of D.C. Superior Court jurors to match that of federal jurors.

“The District of Columbia’s local courts oversee crucial matters that impact our residents and the city,” Norton said. “Our jurors deserve equal compensation for this important civic duty that our federal counterparts receive.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows:

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act

March 9, 2026

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act, which would require D.C.’s local trial court, the Superior Court, to pay jurors the same amount federal courts pay jurors. Currently, the Superior Court pays jurors the same amount federal courts pay jurors, but the Superior Court has sometimes paid less.

Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, Congress assumed responsibility for funding the local D.C. courts. The local D.C. courts, however, have always been under the direct control of Congress, even when they were funded by D.C. The D.C. Home Rule Act prohibits the D.C. Council from enacting any law with respect to any provision of Title 11 of the D.C. Code (relating to the organization and jurisdiction of the local D.C. courts). Under Title 11, the Board of Judges of the Superior Court sets juror pay.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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The 19th: This Democrat built a farm-to-politics career. Now she’s working with MAHA moms.

Published in The 19th

Long before entering politics, Rep. Chellie Pingree was a self-described hippie, a back-to-the-lander and an organic farmer.

In the 1970s, after attending college in Maine, she saw an opportunity to live a more sustainable life there. She decided to stay, and moved to an island off the coast where she and her husband started a small farm and sold their produce at a local market.

Pingree’s passion for farming influenced her legislative work at the state and federal level. Representing Maine’s 1st District in Congress since 2009, the 70-year-old Democrat has focused on bolstering organic food production, creating better access to healthy foods for kids and fighting pesticides.

If her priorities sound familiar, it may be because much of her life’s work on these issues aligns neatly with certain facets of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which is led by current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. but gained momentum through the support of moms on social media.

But while the Democratic lawmaker is far from a supporter of Kennedy, she saw early into the second Trump administration the potential of working with MAHA activists. “It’s kind of a no-brainer in many ways,” she said. “We have a lot in common.” And as MAHA moms, in particular, are conflicted about some of Kennedy and President Donald’s Trump’s recent decisions, it’s an even better opportunity to find common ground.

Most sustainable agriculture-related issues are populist and bipartisan at their core, she said, adding: “I really don’t think that these are necessarily left or right. I think the questions around toxins in our food and food is medicine, and the opposition to Big Ag and big chemical companies is very universal. This just really broadens the coalition of people.”

Pingree had also seen how Kennedy’s message resonated with farmers in her district. When he visited her state as a presidential hopeful, “A lot of people went to hear him, and it was partly because of his interest in alternative medicine and healthy food,” she said.

So, after Trump’s return to office, she started reaching out to members of the movement: people like Kelly Ryerson, better known by her social media handle, The Glyphosate Girl, and Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, a grassroots group focused on healthy foods. Both are big supporters of Kennedy’s role at HHS and the MAHA agenda he’s pushed there.

But over the past few months, they’ve also expressed disappointment about Kennedy’s shifting stance on pesticide use. While he has championed some of the issues that animate MAHA, including his decisions around vaccine recommendations and his fight against food dyes and ultra-processed foods, Kennedy has distanced himself from his position on glyphosate — the same herbicide he fought against as an environmental lawyer.

In late February, when Trump issued an executive order to expand domestic production of glyphosate, which is found in the week killer Roundup, and that potentially shield pesticides companies from lawsuits, Kennedy announced his support, stating the “order puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply.”

Though most MAHA activists still view Kennedy favorably, the executive order has exposed a widening rift for some in the movement. “Unfortunately, Trump’s action to issue this executive order on glyphosate broke a lot of that trust,” Honeycutt said. “It may be permanently broken.”

But where MAHA and the current administration don’t see eye to eye they’ve found an ally in Pingree. In late December, she worked with MAHA to strip a pesticides rider in a spending bill that would have shielded companies like Bayer, which produces Roundup, from health-related lawsuits and stopped states and localities from being able to regulate pesticides.

Ryerson said Pingree has been a key partner over the past few months and applauds the work she did to remove the language from the spending bill.

“We’re finding our friends, and it’s like, can we get even more? I don’t care even which side they’re from,” she said. “Can we get even more on board to just prioritizing this issue?”

And Honeycutt said that on one of her recent visits to Capitol Hill, she was impressed that Pingree met with them in person. Every other lawmaker sent a staff member to hear her concerns.

“We loved learning that she is an organic farmer in Maine, and has been for quite some time, and is a huge supporter of organic farming,” she said. “So we had a lot of things in common to talk about.”

For Pingree the alliance has been mutually beneficial.

“Frequently, I would be kind of a lone voice in fighting to take that out, but we were able to remove that language from the bill just before it passed at the end of the year,” she said. “And a lot of that was due to the help of the MAHA moms.”

Recently, the Democratic lawmaker introduced an amendment to strip similar language from this year’s farm bill, which the House Agriculture Committee advanced out of committee last week. While her efforts ultimately failed, she plans to take up other opportunities to continue the fight when it goes to a floor vote in the House. And a few weeks ago, she and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced the bipartisan No Immunity for Glyphosate Act, which aims to undo Trump’s executive order.

All of this work has been bolstered by MAHA advocates who have a powerful platform to keep pressure on GOP leaders. She says they’ve helped raise the profile of wonky issues like pesticide regulations and the dangers of PFAS chemicals, better known as forever chemicals. They are able to reach everyday moms who might not know much about environmental policy but care about the foods their kids are eating.

The veteran lawmaker has watched the movement amplify the reach of its message on TikTok and Instagram. “They are reaching many more people than maybe your average organic farming blog or environmental group.”

As a result, Pingree said she’s also started to post on social media more, sharing reels on Instagram, for example, to gain visibility among potential supporters.

For environmental groups, the MAHA movement has also helped make some of these issues relevant to Republicans who need to keep their constituents happy ahead of midterms, said J.W. Glass, an Environmental Protection Agency policy analyst at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity.

“Now that the dialogue is wider and bipartisan there is lots of pressure on the Republicans,” he said. “There is more of a world where Republicans are sweating across the aisle. There is a lot more attention on them.”

For environmental organizations, it’s also a welcome change to see bipartisan support for some of these issues. “It’s safe to say that MAHA shares a lot of the same views as the mainstream environmental movement,” he said.

Moving forward, Pingree hopes to raise the profile of the work she said Democrats have been doing all along and sees the potential of forming a bipartisan MAHA caucus.

“I think my feeling has always been, if you could win on some of these important issues, then you build a coalition to win. You don’t make everything a litmus test on whether or not you’ll have a conversation.”


For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps

March 9, 2026 202-813-2793

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ON THE PASSING OF VIRGIN ISLANDS SOURCE REPORTER SUSAN ELLIS

U.S. Virgin Islands — It is with deep sadness that Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett mourns the passing of Susan Ellis, a dedicated journalist and beloved member of the U.S. Virgin Islands community who served for many years as a reporter both with the St. Croix Avis and the Virgin Islands Source.

"The Virgin Islands has lost a tireless voice—one that told our stories with care, accuracy, and a deep commitment to truth. Susan Ellis was more than a reporter; she was a chronicler of our community. For years, she showed up, to the legislative hearings, the community events, the moments big and small—because she understood that the people of these islands deserved to see themselves reflected in a free and independent press. Susan was passionate in her advocacy for healthcare in the Virgin Islands--particularly mental health--agriculture and animal welfare.

"I had the privilege of working alongside Susan in my capacity as Congresswoman for the Virgin Islands, and I always found her to be thorough, fair, and deeply invested in the wellbeing of this territory. She asked the hard questions because she believed the public deserved honest answers. That is the hallmark of a great journalist, and Susan was exactly that.

"To her daughters, her family, her colleagues at the VI Source, and all who loved her—you are in my thoughts and prayers. The Virgin Islands press community is smaller today, but Susan's legacy will endure in every story she told and every person whose voice she elevated. May she rest in peace and in power."

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Amata Honors Women of American Samoa for Women’s History Month

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting Women’s History Month, which includes International Women’s Day (March 8), in honor of the women of American Samoa.

“Women’s History Month is a wonderful opportunity to remember with admiration the historic women of American Samoa’s past and highlight the many women who are making a difference in American Samoa right now,” said Aumua Amata.

“Samoan women have always been a great strength within our culture. We are blessed with women ancestors throughout our islands’ story, as well as the many women in our personal lives who shape each of us and inspire such love and respect. Venerated historic women have been matriarchs, leaders and warriors that illuminate our journeys as entrepreneurs, teachers, medical professionals, and service members. The women of American Samoa, alongside our pastors and mentors, help build faith and lasting values that keep us strong. We have no shortage of women in leadership in the United States government and here in various roles including Directors, and we appreciate and celebrate their roles and efforts.

She concluded, “This month, we take special note of role models from the past, and all our many exceptional women of our territory who are a blessing to American Samoa. Thank you to each of you!”

Historic Pictures:

High Chief Fano Solinuu Shimasaki, the first woman in the Senate in the Fono.

High Chief Uifa’atali Mabel Coleman Reid, the first woman elected to the House in the Fono.

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Reps. Sara Jacobs, Jason Crow Demand Pentagon Briefing on Christmas Day Airstrikes on Nigeria

Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Jason Crow (CO-06), Founders and Co-Chairs of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict Caucus, called for a Pentagon briefing and additional information on the strategy and execution of U.S. airstrikes on Nigeria on Christmas Day. In a letter to Secretary Hegseth, the lawmakers requested specific information on the military targeting, legal rationale, steps to mitigate civilian harm, details on the missile failures, and more.

Read the Letter Here

The lawmakers wrote:

Dear Secretary Hegseth:

We write to request detailed information regarding U.S. military airstrikes conducted in Nigeria on December 25th, 2025, in the northwestern Sokoto State, and the Department’s strategy to address armed violence in Nigeria. The Administration publicly described the December 25th operation as “multiple flawless strikes” against “ISIS terrorist scum” in northwest Nigeria targeting militants for “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”

While the President and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) publicly asserted that the strikes targeted ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, Nigerian and international experts have noted that there is currently no credible public evidence of a sustained or operational ISIS presence in Sokoto State. Additionally, we have seen reports that at least four of the 16 missiles apparently failed to detonate as intended or missed their intended targets by hundreds of miles, with some striking a farmer’s field and residential buildings. Images and local accounts describe unexploded or errant munitions discovered in communities with no ties to ISIS. Now, the United States is reportedly sending 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military to fight Islamist militants, supplementing a “handful” of U.S. military personnel already there to help Nigerian forces use intelligence to identify targets for military strikes.

Given these conflicting reports and our committee’s oversight responsibilities with respect to U.S. military operations, we request that the Department of Defense provide a briefing to the signed Members. Specifically, we request responses to the following questions with respect to the December 25th strikes and the Department’s current posture and strategy with respect to Nigeria:

How many strikes total has the United States directed in Nigeria on and since December 25th?

Whom did the Department identify as the intended targets of each strike and what is the current assessment of who was killed or injured in each location? What specific terrorist group(s) were the targets associated with, and how did the Department reach that determination?

What form of coordination with the Nigerian government and armed forces took place before, during, and after the strikes, including but not limited to requests for assistance, intelligence sharing, target development, and any joint public messaging about the missile strikes?

Under what legal authority did the United States undertake these strikes? What factual evidence supported the Administration’s reliance on the legal authority in question? Why were the strikes of December 25th not reported to Congress under Section 4(a)(1) of the 1973 War Powers Resolution?

What is the Department of Defense account of the reported failure of at least four Tomahawk missiles to hit their intended targets, including the apparent impact of munitions in or near Tambuwal and Ofa in Kwara State on December 25th? Provide the Department’s assessment of whether these incidents resulted from technical malfunction, targeting error, or other causes.

What is the Department’s current assessment of civilian casualties or injuries resulting from U.S. strikes, including in communities near Jabo and Ofa where missiles or debris reportedly impacted close to civilian areas? How has AFRICOM engaged with civilians affected by these strikes? Provide information on reports of civilian harm the Department has received with respect to these strikes.

What is the Department’s current estimate of the total financial cost of the December 25th airstrikes in Nigeria, and any other subsequent U.S. strikes in Nigeria since then, including the munitions expended, platform and personnel costs, intelligence and surveillance support, and post-strike assessments?

What is the Department’s current assessment of how the airstrikes have affected levels and patterns of violence in the broader region and what indicators or metrics are being used for that assessment?

What is the United States’ strategy to address armed violence in Nigeria?

What are the functions and objectives of the U.S. military deployment to Nigeria, reported on February 3rd? Why doesn’t their deployment to Nigeria trigger the reporting requirements of Section 4(a)(2) of the 1973 War Powers Resolution?

What is the Department’s current posture and plan for any future U.S. strikes, or U.S.-enabled strikes, in Nigeria?

We respectfully request this information and documentation no later than March 20, 2026. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we look forward to your response.


Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens Statement on Surging Gas Prices From Trump’s Iran War

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) released the following statement in reaction to skyrocketing oil prices as a result of Trump’s reckless war with Iran. Overnight, oil prices surged to nearly $120 a barrel because of disruption to oil production in the Middle East and Michigan families are paying for it.

“From the start, the Trump Administration has been a disaster for American families. From his erratic tariffs to his reckless war, it’s clear that Trump’s agenda only causes chaos throughout the world while making life more unaffordable for Americans here at home. America cannot afford the $1 billion a day we’re paying for this war, and American families cannot afford the price hikes for oil and gas we’re seeing because the Trump Administration didn’t anticipate Iran’s response. President Trump rushed into war without a plan, without a justification, and without an exit strategy, and the world is now in more chaos than it was a week ago. It is unacceptable that American servicemembers and innocent civilians are dying while American families pay the price.”

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Strickland Launches STEM Award Program

Lacey, WA – Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) announced that her office will begin accepting submissions for her first annual 2026 STEM Award Program. The program will highlight student projects that demonstrate innovation, problem-solving, and real-world community impact in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“I am proud to launch this inaugural program that encourages South Sound students to submit their inventive STEM projects,” said Strickland. “I look forward to seeing what students submit and learning more about our next generation of thoughtful STEM innovators.”

The Congressional STEM Award Program is open to all middle and high school students living in Washington’s 10th Congressional District. If you are unsure which Congressional District you reside in, you can find out here.

Eligible projects may have been created for a science fair, academic competition, classroom assignment, or other STEM-related programs. To participate, students must complete the STEM Program Application and Submission form. The deadline to submit a project is June 1, 2026.

A panel of volunteer judges and the Congresswoman will evaluate submissions based on innovation and relevance. One middle school student and one high school student will be selected as award recipients.

Award winners will be recognized by Congresswoman Strickland.

For more information and official rules, please visit: or call Congresswoman Strickland’s District Office at 360-459-8514.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

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Rep. Sykes Hosts “Housing Together” Roundtable on Housing Affordability

AKRON, OHIO – U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted a “Housing Together” roundtable Saturday at the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, bringing together housing advocates, local leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss rising housing costs and ways to protect homeowners in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.

The discussion focused on expanding affordable housing, increasing homeownership, and strengthening consumer protections. Participants also highlighted barriers to ownership, housing shortages, and the need to fight discrimination in the housing market.

“The cost of housing continues to rise, and families across Northeast Ohio are feeling the pressure,” said Rep. Sykes. “Bringing together advocates and community leaders helps us identify practical, bipartisan solutions that expand access to safe, affordable housing.”

Panelists shared insights from their work and emphasized the role of federal, state, and local partnerships in lowering costs and increasing housing supply.

"EANDC was happy to co-host this event with Congresswoman Sykes’ office to welcome local leaders in the community to learn how the Congresswoman's office can help us increase job opportunities and housing options in Summit and Stark Counties," said Cheryl Stephens, CEO of the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation.

“Affordable housing is a critical issue here in Northeast Ohio. We appreciate Congresswoman Sykes’ leadership and bringing together a broad range of perspectives so every angle on affordable housing can be addressed. The roundtable covered critical challenges to affordable housing such as home prices, construction costs, access to financing, insurance costs, property taxes, and out-of-state investors acquiring substantial amounts of property here in Northeast Ohio. The Summit County Fiscal Office appreciates the opportunity to be a part of these conversations and I felt encouraged after such a productive dialogue at this event,” said Mike Migden, Chief of Staff for the Summit County Fiscal Office.

“I appreciate Congresswoman Sykes bringing together housing and community leaders from across the district to discuss affordability challenges and solutions. At the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® (ACAR), we believe homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American Dream, and conversations like this are essential to ensuring more families have the opportunity to achieve it,” said Jamie McMillen Vice President of Advocacy Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS®.

“I appreciate Congresswoman Sykes inviting me to the panel and highlighting the critical challenges to affordable housing. From reducing regulatory costs and streamlining approvals to increasing development density, these are practical steps that can make housing more accessible. Workforce development is another area where we can support affordability, and I look forward to continuing these important conversations,” said Richard Bancroft, Executive Officer of the Building Industry Association of Northeast Ohio.

Rep. Sykes said discussions like this will inform her work in Congress to expand access to safe, affordable housing and protect homeowners across Ohio’s 13th District.


Congressman Shri Thanedar Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Attorney General Pam Bondi

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13) introduced articles of impeachment against Donald Trump’s Attorney General, Pam Bondi, for the following charges:

Article I: Obstruction of Congress

Article II: Dereliction of Duty and Obstruction of Justice

Article III: Weaponization and Politicization of the Department of Justice

"By illegally withholding millions of Epstein Files after we passed a law requiring her to release all of them ahead of the designated deadline, Pam Bondi has disgraced herself and our country’s entire Justice Department,” said Congressman Thanedar.

“Protecting predators who abused children to appease Donald Trump is the most reprehensible thing that any Attorney General has ever done, which is why I’m introducing articles of impeachment against her. Her conduct is a spit in the face to survivors everywhere, and we cannot allow it to continue.”

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, supported by Congressman Thanedar, required the Department of Justice to release all of the Epstein Files ahead of the 12/19/2025 deadline. Despite this, Bondi withheld millions of Epstein Files long after the deadline had passed. Approximately 2.5 million files remain unreleased as of 2/13/2026, with many of the files she withheld containing troubling accusations against Donald Trump and other members of his administration, putting Bondi in violation of the law.

The full text of H.Res.1105 - Impeaching Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General of the United States of America, for high crimes and misdemeanors are available here.

Congressman Shri Thanedar proudly represents Michigan's 13th Congressional District, which includes Detroit, Downriver, and the Grosse Pointes. As a champion for working families, Shri is committed to advancing economic opportunities, education, healthcare access, and entrepreneurship for underserved communities. Drawing from his journey from poverty to success, he works tirelessly to uplift Metro Detroit, ensuring every resident has the resources and support they need to thrive.

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Vindman Backs Direct File Act to Guarantee Free, Easy Tax Filing for Americans

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) backed the Direct File Act, new legislation that would reverse the Trump administration’s decision to end the highly successful Direct File program — which allowed taxpayers to file their taxes online, for free, and directly with the government — and make the program permanent.

“The Direct File program made tax season easier and more affordable for working families — until the Trump administration senselessly eliminated it last year,” said Vindman. “I’m backing the Direct File Act to make this crucial program permanent and guarantee taxpayers a free, easy filing option. No one should have to pay to file a basic return.”

The average American taxpayer spends eight hours and $160 each year filing their taxes with tax prep companies. In 2024, the IRS launched Direct File to save families time and money. 94% of users described their experience as “excellent” or “above average,” and more than 70% of taxpayers said they would use Direct File if they were eligible. If fully implemented, Direct File was projected to save families up to $23 billion annually in fees, time, and tax credits.

Despite Direct File’s success, the Trump Administration ended the program after extensive lobbying efforts by tax prep companies. This decision contradicts recommendations from the independent Government Accountability Office and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, ultimately raising costs for Americans and making the tax filing experience even more burdensome.

In addition to directing the IRS to establish and operate a free online tax preparation and filing program, the Direct File Act would:

Prohibit the IRS from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide free online tax preparation or filing services.

Direct the IRS to publish an annual report on use levels, patterns of usage, and ways to improve access to Direct File.

Direct the IRS to enable seamless integration between state tax filing systems and Direct File, including through information sharing and a new grant program for states.

Reduce tax fraud by getting third-party income information to the IRS earlier in the tax season, allowing the agency to verify this information before issuing refunds.

Including Vindman, the bill is supported by more than 160 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

The bill is led in the U.S. Senate by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Coons (D-De.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and in the U.S. House by Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.).

“It’s a no-brainer: Americans should be able to file their taxes easily and for free. Donald Trump canceled Direct File after giant tax prep companies spent millions lobbying to protect their profits,” said Warren. “We’re fighting to lower costs for families by bringing Direct File back and making it the law of the land.”

“Americans shouldn’t have to waste valuable time or hard-earned money just to file their taxes,” said Sherman. “The Direct File Act expands on the successful 2024 pilot and offers a straightforward, no-cost filing option that will make the process simpler and more affordable for working families.”

“Direct File helped hundreds of thousands of American taxpayers file their taxes quickly, easily, and for free – so of course President Trump and Republicans killed it. This year, those Americans will have to go back to expensive tax preparation services owned by President Trump’s donors. This legislation would bring back Direct File, because tax season is already hard enough without having to pay a company to pay your taxes,” said Coons.

“Trump and the Republicans shut down the IRS Direct File program because they’re bought and paid for by the tax software industry and don’t have a problem with middle-class taxpayers getting ripped off every spring,” said Wyden. “This bill is a promise that Democrats are going to restore Direct File the next time we’re in charge of the IRS, and in the meantime, it’s a shame that the Trump administration is a threat to any public service that saves Americans time, hassle and money.”

“The senseless destruction of the IRS’ popular Direct File program last year was just another example of the Trump Administration going out of its way to make life more difficult for the American people,” said Beyer. “The program allowed hundreds of thousands of Americans to file their taxes easily and for free directly with the IRS instead of being forced to go through middlemen. This legislation would codify this important program and prioritize ordinary Americans already struggling with high costs of living ahead of special interests.”

“Direct File worked. It saved everyday taxpayers over $5.5 million in tax preparation fees and it saved them time. But Trump and Republicans killed it, because making the tax filing process simple and free doesn’t benefit their billionaire donors and the giant tax prep companies that profit off of confusion and fees. That’s why I joined Representative Brad Sherman and Senator Elizabeth Warren to introduce the Direct File Act of 2026, which would restore and permanently codify the IRS’s free, government-run online tax filing program so more Americans can file their taxes quickly and at no cost. I am committed to ensuring we bring Direct File back and stop Trump from rigging the system against the people it’s intended to serve,” said Chu.

“The federal government requires Americans to pay their taxes, thus it ought to provide them a free and easy way to do so. That’s why I helped lead Democrats’ efforts to establish Direct File through the Inflation Reduction Act: to save Americans time and money. That logic is lost on the Trump Administration. Trump may not care about lowering Americans’ costs, but Democrats still do,” said Hoyer. “We will keep fighting to bring back Direct File and to expand it nationwide.”

“Direct File is a popular program that allows Americans to file their taxes for free, cutting out the middleman. But big tax-prep companies like TurboTax and H&R Block pushed the Trump administration to kill it,” saidPocan. “It’s time to bring back Direct File permanently nationwide, saving taxpayers time and money.”

The bill is endorsed by 115 unions, advocacy groups, and national organizations, including Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, Economic Security Project Action, Groundwork Collaborative, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America, Americans for Financial Reform, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Main Street Alliance, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, P Street, Patriotic Millionaires, Institute for Policy Studies – Program on Inequality, MoveOn, UnidosUS, 20/20 Vision, Advancing CT Together, Alliance for Retired Americans, Allons Babies, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Arkansas Asset Builders, Brazilian Worker Center Inc, California Alliance of Caregivers, CASH Campaign of Maryland, Catalyst Miami, Center for New Revenue, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Children’s HealthWatch, Church Women United in New York State, Coalition on Human Needs, Color Of Change, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Community Change Action, Connecticut Voices for Children, Consumer Action, Courage California, Demand Progress, Elevate Idaho Families, End Child Poverty CA powered by GRACE, Fair Share America, Faith in Minnesota, Financial Empowerment Network, Futures Without Violence, Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc., Golden State Opportunity, Grow Brooklyn, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks!, Housing Action Illinois, Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, In the Public Interest, Income Movement, Indivisible Georgia Coalition, ISAIAH (MN), Jobs with Justice, LIFT Inc, LIFT-DC, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Maine Equal Justice, MakingChange, Inc, Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY), Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Meals4Families, Minnesota Budget Project, Mothers Outreach Network, My Money Story, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles, National Organization for Women, National Rural Social Work Caucus, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Mexico Voices for Children, Northern Santa Barbara County United Way, Northwest Progressive Institute, Oregon Center for Public Policy, Oxfam America, Prepare + Prosper, Prosperity Indiana, Public Good Law Center, RAISE Texas, Responsible Wealth, RESULTS, RESULTS DC/MD, RESULTS.org-Massachusetts, Rise Up WV, RootsAction, San Diego for Every Child, SiX Action, Social Work Grand Challenge to Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality, State Innovation Exchange, Strong Economy For All Coalition, The Arc of the United States, Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hidalgo County Texas, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, United for a Fair Economy, United for Respect, United Way of Frederick County, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, Upper West Side Action Group, Vesta Prosperity, Voices for Progress, Washington Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, Washington State Budget and Policy Center, Women Employed, and Young Invincibles.

“A free, direct e-filing tax return system is a fundamental taxpayer right,” said Nina Olson, Executive Director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights and former National Taxpayer Advocate. “Just as the government designs and printed paper tax forms for years, so should it design and maintain a user-friendly electronic filing option for individual taxpayers.”

“Americans across the country are struggling with high costs and having trouble making ends meet, so it’s especially frustrating that we no longer have the option to use the free Direct File online filing software developed by the IRS,” said Susan Harley, managing director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division. “The Direct File Act would put back in place this commonsense cost saving option for filers and once and for all ensure that corporations aren’t allowed to keep their stranglehold on tax filing. Public Citizen and our partners applaud Senator Warren, Representative Sherman, and their colleagues for their leadership on this critical issue.”

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