Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Announces More Than $18 Million in Congressional Funding For Projects Benefiting Texas’ Seventh Congressional District

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced that she helped secure more than $18,000,000 in congressional funding for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District through the Community Funded Project process.

“I am glad to have positive news to report from Washington: I requested and secured more than $18 million in congressional funding for projects in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Once again, I am grateful to the many partners from our community who helped me and our TX-07 team identify projects for consideration and submit compelling proposals to the House Appropriations Committee. These funds will help facilitate important projects that benefit our district and our entire community.”

Congresswoman Fletcher helped secure funds for the following 15 Community Funded Projects:

For the City of Houston Department of Parks and Recreation, $3,150,000 for the renovation of the Metropolitan Multiservice Center on West Gray to increase access to amenities and further support the continued accessibility of organized sports, recreation activities, and wellness opportunities for people of all ages with disabilities.

For the Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority, $2,000,000 to create a community resilience hub by updating the Southwest Civic Core Campus to aid in emergency preparedness and response during all-hazard events, addressing the urban heat island effect and promoting economic development and community livability.

For Fort Bend County Precinct 4, $2,000,000 to construct the Mission Bend Senior Center, a facility that will provide seniors with a safe and vibrant community space, serve as a warming and cooling center, and offer programming, as well as fitness and recreation spaces.

For the City of Bellaire, $1,145,144 to increase the conveyance capacity of Cypress Ditch Channel as part of the city’s Cypress Ditch Flood Mitigation Project, which will reduce flooding and flood impacts in Bellaire, the Gulfton area, and along the 610 Loop.

For the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, $1,031,000 to purchase three Mobile Command Posts to serve Harris County and 13 surrounding counties in responding to critical daily operations and during incidents that demand coordinated public safety efforts, like natural disasters.

For the Alief Independent School District, in collaboration with Rice University, $1,031,000 to develop a space and planetary science engagement-focused program to strengthen the community’s pipeline of students exploring planetary sciences and related careers at Alief ISD schools.

For the Houston Forensic Science Center, $1,031,000 to address wrongful convictions from faulty field drug test kits—prioritizing and stratifying old cases, with 5,000 slated for retesting to reduce the risk of wrongful results and, in turn, wrongful convictions.

For the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, $1,031,000 to expand transparency and support fair, equitable justice by implementing a cloud-based evidence-sharing platform to streamline access to case materials across investigators, victim advocates, prosecutors, and defense counsel.

For the City of Houston Police Department, $1,031,000 to expand its Mobile Crisis Outreach Team and Crisis Intervention Response Team, filling critical gaps in the city’s mental health response infrastructure.

For the City Park Redevelopment Authority, $1,000,000 for the 12th Street Drainage Project to enhance flood resilience and stormwater management while reconstructing the roadway to improve mobility, safety, and access to parks, schools, and trails in Timbergrove.

For the City of Southside Place, $909,909 to replace 4,700 linear feet of failing, 43-year-old sanitary sewer truss pipes as part of the Edloe/Auden Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project to improve the public health, safety, and welfare of Southside Place residents.

For the City of Sugar Land, $850,000 to repair and reconstruct the Sugar Land Regional Airport runway, restoring the runway’s structural integrity, expanding its lifespan, and reducing long-term maintenance costs ensuring the airport can remain operational.

For the City of West University Place, $850,000 to reconstruct 100,000 square feet of roadway across six blocks—including Marquette, Villanova, Oberlin, and Byron Streets and two blocks on Case Street—improving mobility, stormwater drainage, and flood resilience.

For the Montrose Redevelopment Authority, $850,000 to enhance multimodal safety, accessibility, and connectivity by closing critical gaps in the sidewalk network across the northeast quadrant of the Montrose.

For the Harris County Public Library, $850,000 to install self-service library kiosks across the community as part of the Tiny Branches Project, removing barriers to library resources and expanding access to educational and public services.

To view community project requests from all years, click here.


Rep. Jimmy Gomez Introduces Bill Blocking Trump From Putting His Signature on U.S. Currency

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez introduced legislation to prohibit the signature of President Donald Trump from appearing on United States currency or securities.

The bill comes after the Trump Administration announced plans to place Donald Trump’s signature on U.S. currency for the first time in American history, ending a tradition that has existed for more than 165 years.

“I introduced this bill because no sitting President should be allowed to use the nation’s currency to personally promote themselves,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Trump wants to slap his name on buildings, airports, and now the dollar bill, but U.S. currency belongs to the American people, not the President. This is the kind of thing you see from dictators and wannabe strongmen who think the country belongs to them, and I will not just go along with another one of Trump’s vanity projects.”

Under current law, U.S. paper currency includes the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and Treasurer of the United States. Trump’s proposal would remove the Treasurer’s signature and replace it with his own.

The legislation would amend title 31 of the United States Code to prohibit the issuance of United States currency or securities containing the signature of an individual during any period in which that individual is serving as President.

To view full text, click here


RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan “Parents Decide Act” to Protect Kids Online

Above: Gottheimer announces new legislation to protect kids online.

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Today, April 2, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced the Parents Decide Act, bipartisan, commonsense legislation to strengthen online protections for children and give parents greater control over what their kids can access on phones, tablets, and other devices.

Watch Gottheimer’s announcement here.

Gottheimer’s new Parents Decide Act will:

Require operating system developers like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages when setting up a new device, rather than relying on self-reported ages.

Allow parents to set age-appropriate content controls from the start, including limiting access to social media, apps, and AI platforms.

Ensure that age and parental settings securely flow to apps and AI platforms, so content is tailored appropriately for children.

Prevent children from accessing harmful or explicit content — including inappropriate AI chatbot interactions — by creating a consistent, trusted standard across platforms.

“With each passing day, the Internet is becoming more and more treacherous for our kids. We’re not just talking about social media anymore — we’re talking about artificial intelligence and platforms that are shaping how our kids think, feel, and act, often without any real guardrails,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Right now, we expect children to self-police their safety online. That’s not realistic — and it’s not responsible. Parents should decide what apps their kids can download, what content they can see, and how they interact online — not algorithms or tech companies.”

Gottheimer continued, “As a parent, don’t you want the power to decide if your kid should access these apps and how they interact with an AI chatbot? It should be up to you. The bottom line is: parents get to have a final say over what their kids are seeing, not algorithms or tech companies, protecting them from harmful or explicit content. This puts parents back in charge – where you belong.”

Gottheimer continued, “Here’s what I believe: Tech companies shouldn’t be deciding what your kids can or can’t access. It should be parents making that choice. Let’s be honest — the rules we have now don’t work. Parents are often helpless. There are some tools, but they often don’t do the trick, even we want them, too. I have teenage kids.”

“Children are able to bypass age requirements by entering a different birthday and accessing apps without any real verification. Kids can bypass age requirements by simply typing in a different birthday. That’s it. That’s the system,” said Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Yes, they can just lie about their date of birth and access stuff that’s not meant for them, like getting onto TikTok or YouTube before their thirteenth birthday.”

Gottheimer continued, “Parents will get to make the decision up front and won’t be pestered with regular requests and approvals from their children, unless they opt in. True parental choice. And then — this is key — that information, your choice for your kid, flows safely and privately to the apps on that device.”

Gottheimer concluded, “This approach creates a trusted, consistent standard across platforms. The phone – the operating system that controls it – will tell the apps and the AI platforms the limits you set for your kid. It gives parents real control — not buried deep in some settings menu, but right in front of them, where it should be.”

“Okay to Delay fully supports and backs this critical piece of legislation being introduced by Josh Gottheimer. We need to be on top of how quickly and drastically technology is changing, and we must confront that head on,” said Laura Van Zile from Ridgewood Okay to Delay.

Currently, there are no meaningful age-verification requirements online, allowing children to easily bypass safeguards by providing false information. As a result, millions of children are exposed to harmful or explicit content and platforms that were never designed with real protections for kids.

Up to 95% of the 20 million American teens aged 13-17 use social media and nearly two-thirds of teenagers use social media daily.

A majority of adolescents under 13 are on social media, even though most apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube require users to be 13 or older.

Recent studies have shown that kids under 13 have an average of more than three social media accounts, with 68% having TikTok accounts and 39% using TikTok the most.

6% of adolescents have secret social media accounts hidden from their parents’ knowledge.

One in three teens who use AI chatbots has discussed important or serious matters with AI companions instead of real people.

We’ve seen heartbreaking cases:

In 2024, a 16-year-old boy took his own life after engaging with dozens of graphic TikTok videos about depression and suicide.

In one case, a 16-year-old boy who was deep in a mental health crisis confided in a chatbot about his suicidal thoughts and plans. The chatbot discouraged him from seeking help from his parents and even offered to help the teen write his suicide note.

In 2024, a 13-year-old girl took her own life after becoming addicted to a popular AI chatbot platform that sent her harmful and sexually explicit content.

A 14-year-old in Florida, who was encouraged to commit suicide by an AI bot based on a Game of Thrones character.

The Parents Decide Act fixes this gap by requiring age verification at the device level — creating a system where, from the moment a new phone or tablet is activated, parents can make decisions about what their children can access. These decisions would then be securely shared with apps and platforms, ensuring children receive age-appropriate experiences across the digital ecosystem.

The legislation also works alongside broader bipartisan efforts supported by Gottheimer to improve online safety and hold the entire online ecosystem accountable, including Sammy’s Law, the Kids Online Safety Act, and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act.

Gottheimer was joined by Ridgewood YMCA CEO Ramon Hache, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Vagianos, Bergen County Education Association Vice President Michael Yannone, and Laura Van Zile of Okay to Delay.

Below: Gottheimer announces new legislation to protect kids online.

See full remarks below.

Thank you all for being here. I want to start with something simple. As a parent, I’m sure you know: With each passing day, the Internet is becoming more and more treacherous for our kids.

We’re not just talking about social media anymore – or another random app.

We’re talking about artificial intelligence. We’re talking about AI chatbots. We’re talking about platforms that are shaping how our kids think, feel, and act — often without any real guardrails at all.

And here’s the reality: tens of millions of American kids are on these platforms every single day. Nearly 95 percent of teenagers use social media. Two-thirds are on it daily. Younger kids are on there, too — despite voluntary rules from many of these companies that are supposed to protect them. The reality is far different.

On average, kids under thirteen have more than three social media accounts. Sixty-eight percent have TikTok accounts, and almost ten percent said they have secret social media accounts hidden from their parents.

This trend also extends to AI chatbots. Seventy-two percent of teens use what are called “AI companions.” One in three teens has used these AI chatbots for social interaction and relationships, and find conversations with AI companions as satisfying or more satisfying than those with real-life friends. One in three teens who use AI companions has discussed important or serious matters with AI companions instead of real people.

Research has shown that overuse of online devices is linked to a higher risk of mental health concerns. Studies have found that using social media more than three times a day resulted in poor mental health and well-being in teens. This is scary stuff, and can have serious consequences for their long-term health and development.

Here’s what I believe: Tech companies shouldn’t be deciding what your kids can or can’t access. It should be parents making that choice.

Let’s be honest — the rules we have now don’t work. Parents are often helpless. There are some tools, but they often don’t do the trick, even we want them, too. I have teenage kids. Have you ever gotten those endless requests to download an app? You try to figure out what it is, as your kid pesters you, saying, “everyone has this app, Dad.” Is it age-appropriate for your kid? Parents are busy enough trying to juggle everything – this can just send you over the edge. It shouldn’t be this hard.

Currently, there are no meaningful age verification requirements online. Children are able to bypass age requirements by entering a different birthday and accessing apps without any real verification. Kids can bypass age requirements by simply typing in a different birthday. That’s it. That’s the system.

Yes, they can just lie about their date of birth and access stuff that’s not meant for them, like getting onto TikTok or YouTube before their thirteenth birthday.

As a dad, I’ll tell you — that’s a lot easier than when we were trying to sneak into an R-rated movie growing up. Times have changed.

What hasn’t changed, as a parent, is our responsibility to protect our kids.

Because what they’re being exposed to online – on social media, on a random app, on one of the AI platforms – isn’t harmless. What they see online influences how they see the world and themselves, and what the world knows about them. And the results can be tragic.

We’ve seen heartbreaking cases.

In 2024, a 16-year-old boy took his own life after engaging with dozens of graphic TikTok videos about depression and suicide. After his death, his mother discovered even more videos he had interacted with — some of which directly promoted the very method he used. These videos, which clearly alluded to suicide, avoided detection by TikTok’s automated content moderation systems. Many of those videos were still on the platform more than a year later. That’s every parent’s worst nightmare, and we need to be taking action at every level to keep it from happening again.

We’re also seeing deeply troubling cases involving AI chatbots — where vulnerable teens are interacting with systems that don’t interrupt harmful thinking, but in some cases actually encourage it.

In one case, a 16-year-old boy who was deep in a mental health crisis confided in a chatbot about his suicidal thoughts and plans. The chatbot discouraged him from seeking help from his parents and even offered to help the teen write his suicide note. When he expressed to the chatbot that taking his own life may hurt the people he loved, it responded, “That doesn’t mean you owe them survival.” Then, in the early hours before he committed suicide, the AI told him, “You don’t want to die because you’re weak, you want to die because you’re tired of being strong in a world that hasn’t met you halfway.”

Let that sink in.

These aren’t just apps anymore. These are systems that learn from our kids — and then use that knowledge to talk back to them and influence how they think.

And sometimes, they’re saying the wrong things. As a parent, don’t you want the power to decide if your kid should access these apps and how they interact with an AI chatbot? It should be up to you.

In 2024, a 13-year-old girl took her own life after becoming addicted to a popular AI chatbot platform called Character.AI. The chatbot was constantly sending her harmful and sexually explicit content. Eventually, she expressed suicidal thoughts to one chatbot on its platform, named Hero. In response, Hero only gave simple pep talks. No notification to parents and no real mental health resources provided.

A similar event happened involving a 14-year-old in Florida, who was encouraged to commit suicide by a Character.AI bot based on a Game of Thrones character.

Stories like these are not only tragic, they’re a bone-chilling reminder that these threats are changing, and it’s happening fast.

That’s the scale of the problem we’re dealing with. It’s not just social media feeds — it’s algorithms, it’s AI, it’s entire ecosystems shaping our kids’ lives.

And right now, those systems are failing them.

The core issue: Right now, we expect children to self-police their safety online.

That’s not realistic. And it’s not responsible.

When protections rely on self-reported age, they’re basically meaningless. Oftentimes, our children understand these systems better than us, and they can come up with ways around them. They can run circles around most of us online.

And, the consequences of misrepresenting their age are serious.

Children are exposed to harmful or explicit content. They’re giving away personal data. They’re accessing platforms that were never designed with real safeguards for kids. And, in some cases, it’s putting their mental health and their lives at risk.

This isn’t just a loophole; it’s a failure to protect our children. So, the question is, what can we do about it?

We need to fix the system at its roots. That’s why I’m pushing for a commonsense solution that puts parents in control. It should be up to them to do what they think is best for their kids. My bipartisan Empowering Parents to Protect Their Children’s Devices Act – or the Parents Decide Act – is new child online safety legislation that requires operating system (OS) developers – like Apple and Google – to verify new users’ ages under the age of 18 — meaning that any new user must verify their age while setting up a new device, like a phone or tablet, to make it work.

Not app by app. Not platform by platform.

But right when you open up the package of that new phone for your kid, the first thing you’ll do is confirm their age. And it will be up to you – you’ll have the option – to set the appropriate level of content you want your kid to see.

That means when your child picks up a phone or tablet — whether it’s an iPhone, an Android, whatever — the operating system verifies their age securely from the start, and then you can decide up front what you want to do.

If a parent chooses, their child won’t have access to certain apps, social media content, or platforms, or age-inappropriate AI content.

Parents will get to make the decision up front and won’t be pestered with regular requests and approvals from their children, unless they opt in. True parental choice.

And then — this is key — that information, your choice for your kid, flows safely and privately to the apps on that device. So, apps and AI chatbots actually know whether a user is a child or an adult, and adjust content accordingly. Right now, they don’t. And if they don’t know, they can’t protect them.

This approach creates a trusted, consistent standard across platforms. The phone – the operating system that controls it – will tell the apps and the AI platforms the limits you set for your kid.

It gives parents real control — not buried deep in some settings menu, but right in front of them, where it should be. And, it ensures that apps serve age-appropriate content — or don’t serve that content at all.

That means fewer kids exposed to things like gambling, drugs, explicit content — things they should never see in the first place. The chatbot will know it’s a kid online. If you so choose, your kids shouldn’t even see or be able to download apps that they’re not supposed to be using.

We also must ensure that the data being collected gets passed down to the apps on their phone, keeping harmful content off their screen.

For example, if a child is identified as under 13 in a family account — like in iCloud — that information should securely carry through to apps like TikTok. It shouldn’t be optional. It shouldn’t be easy to get around. Because if the device knows — and the app knows — then the system works.

Now, let’s talk about how this actually gets done.

Different companies play different roles. We’ve already heard from companies that if the right signals aren’t coming from the device itself to the operating system, then protections won’t work. So, we need those signals to be consistent. Reliable. Built into the system.

This new bipartisan legislation – the Parents Decide Act – will make that happen.

And, we need companies making a good faith effort to get this right. That way, we can provide incentives for them to follow these rules and get these changes implemented sooner rather than later.

Because if they do — if they’re actually trying to protect kids — then they should have the certainty and protection to keep doing that work.

But, they have to show up. They have to build it. They have to follow through. And we need to push them to do it.

Parents should be able to easily see and control what their kids are doing on their devices. Not buried in complicated menus or hidden behind ten different settings screens.

Simple. Clear. Accessible.

Parents should decide what apps their kids can download. What content can they see. How much time do they spend online. The bottom line: parents get to have the final say over what their kids are seeing, not algorithms or tech companies, protecting them from harmful or explicit content.

This puts parents back in charge — where you belong.

But that doesn’t mean the apps and platforms themselves are off the hook. We need real accountability so they also do the right thing and help keep kids away from content that could be harmful or inappropriate.

That’s why I’ve cosponsored bills like Sammy’s Law, the Protecting Young Minds Online Act, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act, which address the effects of new technologies on mental health, strengthen requirements for social media platforms, increase online privacy protections for teens, and give parents additional controls over how their kids are using these platforms. Moving forward, Congress must pass meaningful legislation to protect kids online.

I’m also supporting the efforts of groups like the Meta Parents Network, Common Sense Media, and FairPlay, who advocate for stronger child safety protections online.

The Parents Decide Act will only work if the apps, social media companies, and AI platforms cooperate. If they don’t tailor their content for specific ages, then what the operating systems do won’t matter. I’m expecting everyone to step up to protect our kids.

And let’s be clear: this is practical, implementable, and already within reach. We’re not talking about reinventing the wheel. We’re talking about making the systems we already have actually work together.

At the end of the day, this comes down to something bigger.

It’s about your child’s safety.

It’s about your child’s mental health.

It’s about your child’s privacy.

And it’s about keeping up with a world that’s changing faster than ever.

We have to be proactive. If you’re old enough to use the internet, you deserve to be safe while using it.

This shouldn’t be about politics or red versus blue. This is about our kids. It’s about making sure that technology works for families — not against them. And it’s about bringing commonsense safeguards into the digital age.

It’s time we step up, take action, and get this done.

Here in the greatest country in the world — and especially here in New Jersey — we take care of our own. If we continue to do that, our best days will always be ahead of us.

God bless you and your families.

Thank you.

###


Congresswoman Gwen Moore Calls for Immediate Release of Milwaukee Community Leader Salah Sarsour

Milwaukee, WI — Congresswoman Gwen Moore is calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately release Salah Sarsour, President of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, following his recent detention.

“This is completely unacceptable. Salah Sarsour is a respected leader in the Milwaukee community, and his detention raises serious concerns about the continued targeting of lawful residents based on the color of their skin or their political beliefs.

We cannot allow federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate in a discriminatory and politically motivated manner, which is why I will keep opposing funding for DHS that allows them to continue to kidnap people and inflict abuse in our communities.

I will do everything in my power to bring Salah Sarsour home to his family and community.”


REP. HILL AWARDS GOLDEN FLEECE TO SBA INNOVATION OFFICE FOR ENABLING SBIR MILLS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. French Hill (AR-02) on Tuesday announced the Small Business Administration’s Office of Investment and Innovation as the latest recipient of his Golden Fleece Award due to the misuse of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding by repeat recipients, commonly referred to as “SBIR mills.”

The SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are intended to help startups and small businesses develop innovative technologies and bring new products to market. However, recent analysis shows that a small number of companies receive a disproportionate share of funding, often without producing meaningful commercial outcomes. Over the lifetime of the SBIR and STTR programs, more than 180 organizations have received more than 100 awards, and six organizations have received over 1,000 awards.

Rep. Hill said, “Programs like SBIR are meant to support innovation and give small businesses a chance to succeed. But when a handful of companies repeatedly receive funding without delivering results or bringing products to market, it undermines the entire purpose of these programs. Every dollar that goes to one of these 'SBIR mills' is a dollar taken away from a startup or entrepreneur striving to make America stronger and more competitive, whether developing a new medical device or agricultural technology, or creating the next breakthrough in telecommunications or American manufacturing.”

Rep. Hill continued, "Like so many states across America, small businesses are the backbone of Arkansas's economy. When tax dollars are put toward programs to help small businesses and drive innovation, Arkansans, like all Americans, expect a return on their investment, not to see their money given to repeat players gaming the system and delivering nothing."

In his letter to SBA Associate Administrator, Mr. Joshua Carter, Rep. Hill writes:

Dear Mr. Carter,

I write today to inform you that the Small Business Administration Office of Investment and Innovation is this month’s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. The Golden Fleece is being awarded due to the overuse of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) by a small number of companies.

Let me be clear, I strongly support the mission of the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Congress created these programs to increase small business participation in federally funded research and development and to promote the commercialization of innovative technologies. These programs are critical to ensuring entrepreneurs and startups can compete and bring new products to market. That said, there is a longstanding issue within these programs that deserves urgent attention: the rise of “SBIR mills.”

Policy analysts, academic research, and Congressional oversight have all identified SBIR mills as organizations that specialize in securing large numbers of SBIR awards, while failing to translate those awards into meaningful commercial outcomes. SBIR mills repeatedly secure early-stage awards without bringing products to market.

A small number of companies receive a disproportionate share of SBIR funding. A Defense Innovation Board analysis found that the top 25 companies, representing less than 1 percent of participants, received roughly 18 percent of early-stage funding. Throughout the lifetime of the SBIR and STTR programs, over 180 organizations have received more than 100 awards through the program and six companies have received over one thousand awards.

This concentration of funding raises concerns that the program may not be reaching the broader pool of small, innovative businesses it was designed to support. Every dollar that goes to a company that is not bringing products to market is a dollar that is not going to a startup developing a new medical device, a new agricultural technology, or a new manufacturing process.

This issue has real consequences for everyday Americans. When a small group of repeat players captures a disproportionate share of SBIR funding, fewer resources are available to true startups and first-time entrepreneurs who are trying to turn new ideas into businesses. For a state like Arkansas, where small businesses and startups are a key driver of economic growth, this means fewer opportunities for local innovators to access capital, grow their companies, and create jobs in their communities.

The existence of SBIR mills undermines the intent of the SBIR and STTR programs. Federal research funding is meant to seed innovation, expand participation, and help small businesses transition and succeed. When a small group of organizations captures a disproportionate share of awards without delivering commercialization results, it risks crowding out new program entrants and reducing the overall effectiveness of the programs.

The Small Business Administration plays a central role in coordinating these programs and ensuring they operate consistently with Congressional intent. As such, it is critical that the Administration take additional steps to ensure that SBIR and STTR awards are distributed in ways that promote innovation, accountability, and measurable outcomes.

I remain committed to supporting these programs and ensuring their long-term success. However, long-term success includes restoring confidence that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and that these programs are supporting the next generation of American innovators, rather than sustaining a cycle of repeated awards without results.

Should you require additional authority from Congress to strengthen oversight or improve program integrity, I stand ready to work with you to ensure these programs meet their full potential.


Himes Statement on Firing of Pam Bondi

Pam Bondi’s tenure as Attorney General will be remembered for her unprecedented politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice. Whether by illegally obscuring the Epstein files, mass firing apolitical staff, or directing the Department of Justice to target Donald Trump’s political opponents, Bondi has been unfailing in her acquiescence to Trump over the Constitution. It seems that her firing has more to do with the failure of her many abusive investigations, something the President will learn was not about Bondi and more about the rule of law.


LEADER JEFFRIES SECURES $1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NYCHA

Yesterday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) visited NYCHA’s Van Dyke II Senior Center, where he announced that he secured $1 million in Community Project Funding for NYCHA developments across the Eighth Congressional District.

Leader Jeffries was joined by Council Members Darlene Mealy (CD 41) and Chris Banks (CD 42), NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Tenant Association Presidents from Carter G. Woodson Houses, Kingsborough Extension and Van Dyke II Houses.

“These Community Project Funding checks represent just a small down payment on the work that we need to continue to do in this city to make sure that all of you who worked hard, played by the rules and helped get the situation moving in a better direction, can bear the fruits of your labor. So each and every opportunity that presents itself to stand up for public housing residents and to stand up for seniors, I’m going to stand for public housing residents and stand up for seniors,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “This is Resurrection Week, and the good news is, as we approach Good Friday and Sunday, we know that the story didn’t end on Friday. On Friday, they try to cut funding for NYCHA. On Friday, they go after Medicaid. On Friday, they try to rip away staff and nutritional assistance for seniors. But the good news is the story doesn’t end on Friday. Sunday is coming in the United States of America.”

“On behalf of my constituents at the Woodson Houses and at the Van Dyke II development, I would like to thank Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for standing up for Brownsville. Tenant leaders, members of the community and my staff have hosted or attended events at the Van Dyke II Senior Center over the years and we have witnessed firsthand the need for roof repairs,” said Assemblymember Latrice Walker (AD 55). “The $500,000 allocation is an investment in the community. I am also grateful for the $250,000 investment for security upgrades, including the installation of CCTV cameras, at the Woodson Houses. Our NYCHA residents deserve to be safe.”

“I extend my sincere gratitude to Congressman Hakeem Jeffries for securing critical capital investments that will directly benefit residents of District 41. The allocation of $500,000 to Van Dyke II Houses and $250,000 to Kingsborough Houses represents a meaningful commitment to improving the quality of life for our community. These funds will support essential upgrades, including new roofing, balcony repairs, and enhanced security measures—improvements that are vital to ensuring safe, comfortable, and well-maintained housing for residents,” said Council Member Darlene Mealy (CD 41). “I applaud Congressman Jeffries’ continued advocacy and leadership, which reflect a deep understanding of the needs of our neighborhoods. I thank him for his partnership and dedication to delivering real results for the people of District 41.”

“I cannot thank Leader Jeffries enough for investing in the infrastructure and security of our NYCHA developments. This is exactly the kind of investment needed to ensure residents can live with peace and dignity,” said Council Member Chris Banks (CD 42). “Carter G. Woodson Houses and its security infrastructure are stronger because of this support, and I look forward to continued investments in our public housing that prioritize tenants and safety first.”

“These investments will fund vital safety and security projects at the Van Dyke II Senior Center, Kingsborough Extension and Woodson Houses. The improvements, ranging from roof improvements to enhanced security, will have a meaningful impact in ensuring these Brooklyn residents feel secure in their homes,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “NYCHA is incredibly grateful to Leader Jeffries for his steadfast commitment to our NYCHA communities.”

“I am so pleased to be here today. I appreciate all that they’re doing for us because Kingsborough—myself and the residents—we really need this money,” said Kingsborough Extension TA President Angela Whitaker.

“I’m here because I’m thanking my team also for upgrading the quality of life for my seniors at Woodson. My building is 25 stories. If somebody had a seizure, fighting or a mugging in the hallway or the stairway, they’ll be able to see and get the help that’s needed without us coming down to tell them. It’s about our safety. We need that to be done,” said Carter G. Woodson Houses TA President Diane Johnson.

“I really appreciate Mr. Hakeem Jeffries doing the roof and the ceilings for the center, because all of my seniors out here, they enjoy this place. And we’re all happy to see this going on,” said Van Dyke II Houses TA President Herman Rivera.

In connection with the government funding law, Leader Jeffries secured $250,000 for security upgrades at Kingsborough Extension, $250,000 for security upgrades at Carter G. Woodson Houses and $500,000 for roof repairs at Van Dyke II Senior Center. Additional information about the projects can be found here.

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LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON DONALD TRUMP’S HEALTHCARE TARIFFS

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.


LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON FIRING OF PAM BONDI


Reps. Lawler, Min & Stanton Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. – 4/2/26… Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Dave Min (CA-47), and Greg Stranton (AZ-04) introduced the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening the protection and resilience of Taiwan’s undersea cables and critical infrastructure amid growing threats from the People’s Republic of China.

Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced companion legislation in the Senate, which has already passed the Foreign Relations Committee markup.

The bill prioritizes the deployment of advanced monitoring systems to detect disruptions or potential sabotage in real time and enhance early warning capabilities through global intelligence-sharing networks. It also establishes rapid response protocols to address damaged infrastructure and minimize downtime, while expanding coordination with allies and partners to strengthen regional resilience.

“Undersea infrastructure is the backbone of global communications and economic stability. As threats from the PRC continue to grow, the United States must lead in ensuring these systems are protected, resilient, and secure. This bipartisan legislation strengthens our ability to deter sabotage, respond quickly to disruptions, and stand firmly with Taiwan and our allies in the Indo-Pacific,” said Congressman Lawler.

Additionally, the legislation enhances maritime domain awareness around Taiwan, supports joint patrols and surveillance efforts with the U.S. Coast Guard in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and builds cooperative frameworks with international partners to safeguard undersea cable networks.

The bill also establishes a Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group to conduct scenario-based exercises, identify vulnerabilities in global supply chains and critical infrastructure, and develop contingency planning with allies and partners.

To counter gray zone tactics, the legislation requires the U.S. government to increase diplomatic pressure on the PRC to adhere to international norms, expand public diplomacy and information sharing, and elevate global awareness of threats to undersea infrastructure. It also mandates sanctions on individuals responsible for, or complicit in, acts of sabotage against critical undersea systems affecting Taiwan and U.S. allies and partners.

“China’s repeated sabotage of Taiwan’s undersea cables is not accidental—it is part of a deliberate campaign to isolate a democratic partner and test how far authoritarian coercion can go without consequence. Taiwan’s communication infrastructure is critical not just to its own security, but to global commerce and regional stability. This bipartisan legislation makes clear that the United States will not ignore gray zone tactics and aggression designed to undermine democracy and threaten peace in the Indo-Pacific,” said Congressman Min.

“Taiwan's undersea cables are vital not just to regional security and stability, but to America's and Arizona's economic interests. The PRC has been deliberately targeting this infrastructure as part of a gray zone campaign to isolate Taiwan without firing a shot. The Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act fights back against this aggression — hardening cable networks, deploying real-time monitoring, and imposing real consequences on those responsible for sabotage. As co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I'm proud to stand with Taiwan and ensure it stays connected, informed, and free,” said Congressman Stanton.

“We can’t stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables. By improving systems monitoring and helping increase cable resiliency, our bipartisan legislation sends a clear message: the United States stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom,” said Senator Curtis.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing efforts to target Taiwan’s undersea cable infrastructure don’t just threaten Taiwan’s national security, but connectivity and communication around the world. This bipartisan legislation will bolster collaboration between our two nations in order to protect these underground cables and impose sanctions on any adversary that targets this critical infrastructure. I will continue to push back on China’s growing aggression and its attempts to undermine democracy,” said Senator Rosen.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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St. Lucie West Centennial High School Student Wins 21st District Congressional Art Competition

STUART, Fla. – Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) honored the participants of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition and announced Dayana Salas from St. Lucie West Centennial High School as the winner. The winner was selected by a panel of local judges from the Treasure Coast.

“I'm constantly impressed by our youth's brilliance and talent,” said Rep. Mast. “Congratulations to Dayana Salas and thanks to everyone who took part! I'm excited to see your artwork on display in the United States Capitol.”

Dayana Salas’s work will be displayed alongside the winners from each Congressional district across the country for one year.

The annual Art Competition showcases the artistic abilities of the talented students from the 21st congressional district. This year’s competition featured 33 submissions from 13 schools across Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach Counties.

The other finalists were:

Gianna Pagano, Oxbridge Academy

Brooklyn Kelly, Martin County High School

Honorable mentions were awarded to:

Natalia Cazares, John Carroll High School

Brianne Murray, Visionary School of Arts

Leah Soesbe, Lindsay School of the Arts

Diana Karakhanova, St. Lucie West Centennial High School

Marlee Jones, The Pine School

Zephyr Hicks, Jupiter Community High School

Every year, the Congressional Art Competition honors the exceptional artistic abilities of high school students from across the country. The goal of the competition is to support and promote the arts, as well as to foster creativity and artistic expression among our nation’s youth. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982, and since that time, more than 700,000 students have taken part.

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Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 4.2.26

In 2026 during the recently concluded Virginia General Assembly session, Democrats sent to the Governor 26 anti-gun bills to curb our Second Amendment rights.

Court challenges are likely to follow.

One bill I find perplexing is HB 110, requiring lawful gun owners to store their handguns in a special storage container which is attached to their car or boat if the vehicle is unattended and out of the owner’s view.

The bill does not make an exemption for concealed weapon permit holders or anyone who has been threatened and has a current court order granting them a protective order against a threatening individual.

I think of the person, likely a young woman, who is coming out of a situation where they were physically battered.

Now, when crossing the parking lot after having been in a building that bans guns, will she be able to get to her weapon in time to protect herself?

This is just one of the anti-gun bills that raises concerns.

As of this writing, Governor Spanberger is reviewing the passed legislation sent to her desk before she can sign it into law.

These anti-gun measures promoted by Virginia Democrats are contrary to the U.S. Constitution, the traditions of Virginia and the actions that I took when I served in the Virginia House of Delegates.

As a former member of Virginia’s Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee, I proudly defended Second Amendment rights and defeated anti-gun bills in Richmond.

That is why at one point in time, Virginia Democrats and gun control advocates dubbed the Committee the “killing fields” of anti-gun bills.

I was proud to help make it so.

Currently in Congress, I am proud to be a supporter and co-sponsor of numerous pro-gun bills that strengthen our gun rights, uphold constitutional values and restrict anti-gun actions potentially taken by Democrat-controlled states.

I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 645, the National Constitutional Carry Act. The main sponsor of the bill is Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and his bill is supported by numerous pro-Second Amendment advocates in Congress.

This bill allows lawful U.S. gun owners to carry a firearm in any U.S. community, superseding local or State law.

While Governor Spanberger may sign the state legislature’s gun control measures into law, she would not be the first Democrat official in the country to do so.

Multiple progressive States, such as California, Massachusetts and New York, have some of the strictest gun control laws in the country.

These laws unfairly target law-abiding gun owners who responsibly exercise their rights. I believe such misguided policies fail to make our communities safer. That is why I am co-sponsor of the National Constitutional Carry Act.

Further, as someone who supports our Second Amendment rights, I oppose a national gun registry. A federal government that has such a registry raises concerns about what a government could do with said information in the future.

Accordingly, I am a co-sponsor of Congressman Michael Cloud’s H.R. 563, the No Retaining Every Gun in a System That Restricts Your Rights Act.

Currently, federal firearms licensees that go out of business are required to hand over their firearm transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

This gives the ATF all kinds of access to information that breaches the privacy of many lawful gun owners and tracks their firearm transaction history, creating a de facto partial gun registry.

As a result, I am a proud co-sponsor of this important pro-gun owner privacy legislation.

Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of Congressman Paul Gosar’s GRIP Act, which prohibits U.S. States and localities from using federal funds to maintain gun registry lists.

While these pieces of legislation are pending, I will continue to voice my concerns to the ATF on this issue.

Other bills that I support include Congressman Richard Hudson’s H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

This bill, supported by groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) Institute for Legislative Action and the Gun Owners of America, supports concealed carry license holders who try to carry in other states.

I previously supported an identical version of this bill in 2017, and I look forward to supporting it again.

Having spent decades on the frontlines fighting to protect your gun rights, I will continue to do so.

That includes pushing back against major architects of anti-gun bills coming out or Richmond and Washington.

While they push their anti-gun fervor in Virginia and DC, as your federal representative I will keep up our fight for freedom against anti-gun radicals.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/.

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Owens Introduces MATCH Act to Help Connect Students with Opportunity

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04), Vice Chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee and Chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, today introduced the Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring Act of 2026 (MATCH Act).

This legislation would transform America’s outdated workforce system by establishing state-led talent marketplaces, creating portable Learning and Employment Records (LERs), and connecting workers to jobs and training based on their verified skills and credentials.

America’s workforce system is broken, disjointed,and lags behind other modern economies. In the labor market today, industries have millions of job openings, but they are struggling to find skilled workers to fill them. That isn’t because those workers don’t exist, but because our outdated system of degrees and resumes fail to capture and communicate what workers actually know and can do. The MATCH Act would help modernize our workforce system by improving how a person’s skills, credentials, and work experience are recognized and verified, and how they are then connected with tailored opportunities. The legislation is supported by a range of stakeholders and leaders in the workforce development space, including EBSCOed and Pearson.

“America’s promise has always been that if we educate our children and teach them to work hard, they will be able to find meaningful employment and create a better life than those who came before them. The MATCH Act helps restore that promise and modernize our workforce, and connects real talent to real opportunity. No one is reduced to a line on a résumé; every achievement is seen, valued, and ready to open doors of opportunity.”

Representative Burgess Owens

“As our workforce shifts toward a more skills-based model, employers often struggle to find qualified candidates, while job seekers face challenges in effectively demonstrating their abilities. This legislation helps close that gap by recognizing that valuable skills are gained in many ways—not just through traditional degrees—and ensuring those skills are visible, portable, and trusted. It’s a win for both workers and employers, making hiring more efficient and delivering better matches with less guesswork.”

Education and Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg

“The MATCH Act of 2026 moves skills‑based hiring a meaningful step forward by modernizing how skills, credentials, and jobs connect. By supporting interoperable talent marketplaces and learning and employment records, the bill gives workers control of their data while helping employers and states make clearer, more transparent hiring decisions.”

Rosemary Lahasky, Head of Government Relations, Pearson

“A stronger economy for America depends on a workforce system that works for businesses and for people. By modernizing WIOA and investing in talent marketplaces, we will meet the rapidly growing and changing demands of employers while unlocking greater opportunity across every sector of the economy for every American.”

Greg DiDonato, Vice President, EBSCOed

Background

The MATCH Act would specifically:

Authorize states to develop talent marketplaces—digital platforms that match workers to jobs and training based on verified skills, credentials, and experience.

Support the use of portable learning and employment records that allow workers to carry their verified skills and credentials across jobs, programs, and state lines.

Create credential registries to clearly define what degrees, certificates, and training programs represent in terms of skills and competencies.

Establish a Workforce Data Quality Initiative grant program (using existing WIOA funds) to help states build and improve workforce data systems and talent marketplaces.

Require workforce information to be accessible through user-friendly, searchable public websites to improve transparency for workers and employers.

Promote interoperability and open standards to ensure systems can work across state lines and institutions, which would support worker mobility and reduce duplication.

Bill Text | One-Pager

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Rep. Pfluger Recognizes Eden CISD, Concho County Hospital, and Howard College Big Spring at Community Town Hall

EDEN, TX — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) hosted a community town hall in Eden, where he highlighted local successes, addressed the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, and opened the floor to hear directly from the voices that matter most.

Congressman Pfluger recognized Eden CISD Counselor Geneva Garza, Eden CISD School Nurse Kim Miller, Concho County Hospital, and Howard College Big Spring for launching an innovative Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Beginning in the next school year, Eden CISD students will have the opportunity to graduate high school with a CNA certification to jump-start their career. The Concho County Hospital stepped up in a big way to make this program possible by generously donating the medical equipment for students to complete the necessary hands-on learning.

"It was great to be in Eden this week. I was honored to recognize the incredible partnership between Eden CISD, Concho County Hospital, and Howard College Big Spring to launch a Certified Nursing Assistant program at Eden CISD. This program will equip students with immediate employment opportunities in their community and help bridge the gap in rural health care staffing. I am confident this program will thrive, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it has on the community," said Rep. Pfluger. "Hosting town halls across Texas-11 will always be a top priority of mine. Thank you to everyone who came out to listen, ask questions, and provide feedback on how I can better represent you and your families in Congress."


Rep. August Pfluger discusses Iran, DHS funding during recess

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — Members of Congress may be on a two-week recess, but U.S Rep. August Pfluger said the break is not time off, addressing key national issues, including the war in Iran and federal funding.

In an in-studio interview April 2, just hours after a primetime address by Donald Trump, Pfluger spoke with FOX West Texas about his next steps in the Department of Homeland Security funding fight, U.S. involvement in Iran and his reaction to the president’s remarks.

When asked about his message to Americans who may feel “confused, frustrated or even angry” about U.S. involvement in the war in Iran, Pfluger acknowledged the difficulty of the situation.

"... I understand that people don't want endless wars. They don't want forever wars. President Trump campaigned on that. I think he means that. But that doesn't mean that you turn a blind eye to a cancer that was about to metastasize into the largest state sponsor of terrorism than having a nuclear weapon. This is a very, very hard decision. The president made it. I support him in that. We also support his endeavor to end this very quickly,” Pfluger said.


TX-11 Roundup: April 2, 2026

Friend,

Welcome to the first edition of the TX-11 Roundup, a collection of good news stories and big moments from across our great district, focused entirely on the outstanding work being done by the men and women who call this place home.

While I always make it a priority to attend and host events in the district, my responsibilities in Washington don't always allow me to be there in person. That's why I am so thankful for my district team, who are always on the ground, attending events, connecting with constituents, and supporting the incredible work happening in our communities. In addition to my own work back home to kick off 2026, my team also welcomed high-level officials to our region, honored local leaders, celebrated a new VA clinic, and much more. I've included some photos and highlights from a few of the events my team attended.

I am launching the TX-11 Roundup to highlight the impact our residents and my district team are making in and for our community every single day. The TX-11 Roundup will showcase what everyone already knows: This district is the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

On that note, if you have an event in your community that you'd like my staff or me to attend, please let me know by emailing my District Director at Karin.Kuykendall@mail.house.gov.

God Bless,

Oilfield Theft Roundtable: In January, my team also attended the Oilfield Theft Roundtable to discuss solutions, as theft has surged into the billions in the Permian Basin in the last few years, with an estimated 500 barrels of oil stolen weekly. Matt Coday, founder of the O&G Workers Association, collaborated with several Sheriffs from the Permian Basin and New Mexico to make this critical roundtable discussion possible. Representative Landgraf,Senator Sparks, RRC Chair Wright, and owners of local Oil and Gas companies were also present. At the event, participants discussed coordinating communication between federal, state, and local agencies to assist law enforcement with streamlined responses.

Other happenings in TX-11 over the past few months:

· Goodfellow AFB hosted a Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration

· The San Angelo Chamber of Commerce held its 110th Annual Banquet

· Frontera Health opened a brand new building in Brady

· Angelo State University hosted a banquet to celebrate the completion and opening of the expanded ASU Mayer Museum

· The Ellen Noel Art Museum’s Shrimpfest in Odessa returned for its 40th year

REMINDER:If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.

As previously mentioned, if you have an event in your community that you'd like my staff or me to attend, please let me know by emailing my District Director at Karin.Kuykendall@mail.house.gov.


Pingree Statement on Firing of Pam Bondi

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on President Trump firing Attorney General Pam Bondi:

Pam Bondi will go down as the worst, most incompetent, and most corrupt Attorney General in American history. Her firing was long overdue—and richly deserved.

From the day she arrived at the Department of Justice, Bondi’s primary objectives were painfully clear: to go after the President’s enemies and to protect Donald Trump at all costs. From directing prosecutors to bring baseless charges against Democratic politicians and refusing to release the full Epstein files in accordance with the law, to her embarrassing, unprofessional behavior during high-profile public hearings (including lying under oath), Bondi demonstrated time and again that she lacked the judgment, temperament, and decision-making required of the nation’s top law enforcement official.

And these are just the top-line failures. That so many of these pursuits required redirecting critical resources from far more pressing matters—combatting organized crime, prosecuting corruption, protecting the American people from all manner of threats—has objectively made our country less safe, and done incredible damage to the DOJ's reputation.

For Donald Trump, loyalty has always been a one-way street. Bondi’s firing only reaffirms what we've known for years: that no amount of blind fealty or blatant corruption on his behalf will spare you from his erratic impulses. I have little doubt that many others will learn that same lesson before his time in office is up.

Whoever is chosen as the next AG, they have a serious and solemn responsibility to ensure the DOJ returns to its core mission of serving the American people—and not capitulating to the paranoia and petty grievances of a man whose sole aim is to protect and enrich himself.

It should be noted that the House Oversight Committee was set to depose Bondi on April 14 over the DOJ's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and her shambolic handling of the Epstein files. Getting fired doesn’t get her off the hook. Bondi is still legally obligated to appear before the Committee and testify under oath. I, for one, am very much looking forward to that testimony.

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ICYMI: Rep. Sara Jacobs Leads on U.S. Foreign Assistance Reform

In case you missed it, last week, Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) passed her bipartisan Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act through the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Devex’s Adva Saldinger wrote: “In a sign that there is still room for bipartisan consensus on foreign aid-related legislation, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee last week passed the Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act.

“The bill aims to increase the amount of foreign aid dollars going to local organizations and reduce the barriers that have historically made it hard for these organizations to access U.S. funding. Among the changes it proposes are exploring new types of funding; investing in translation services; advertising opportunities locally; allowing multiyear, flexible, tiered, and milestone-based funding; and increasing indirect cost rates.

“Both Republican and Democratic administrations have made efforts to boost foreign assistance to local groups because it is more effective and has lasting results, said Rep. Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat who cosponsored the bill with California Republican Rep. Young Kim.

“This bill has been in the works for some time, Jacobs told Devex. During the Biden administration, Jacobs worked with former USAID Administrator Samantha Power to discern what policies and regulations were stopping the agency from working more with local partners and how Congress could address the problems.

“‘What this bill does is try and lower the barrier to entry so [the U.S. government can] have the ability, have the flexibility they need to work with local organizations,’ she said. ‘We know that excessive red tape and regulations make the process to apply for federal funding so burdensome that really only large implementing organizations have the resources to apply.’

“Previous administration-led efforts came up short because they lacked congressional buy-in, action, and oversight, Jacobs said. But she acknowledged that implementing the legislation could be challenging, and the State Department — which absorbed the remnants of the U.S. Agency for International Development — will need to build up staff after the Trump administration gutted the U.S. government’s capacity to deliver foreign assistance.

“‘We shouldn’t use the fact that it doesn’t have the capacity right now’ as an excuse because the State Department still needs to get money out the door, and not being able to do so could revive the cycle of relying primarily on large U.S. or international organizations, Jacobs said. ‘We have to use this moment to change how we do foreign assistance, and that’s part of what this bill does,’ she said.

“This year, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will focus on updating the Foreign Service Act, which Jacobs said she hopes will address some of the personnel challenges at the State Department. The act governs the U.S. Foreign Service, establishing merit-based employment systems, salary structures, and regulations for diplomatic staff.

“‘The absorption of foreign assistance entirely into the State Department, while I can see the theoretical reasons why it could make sense, the actual implementation has been very bad; we are very concerned about their ability to implement any of these things,’ she said, adding that members of Congress continue to push State Department leadership to beef up the department.

“Because of the lack of bandwidth at State, the department is directing more U.S. foreign assistance towards the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other United Nations organizations to help disperse funds — the opposite of localization, Jacobs argued.

“Jacobs said she is working with partners in the Senate to get a companion bill reintroduced in that chamber, with the hopes of passing the bill later this year, likely by attaching it to a must-pass piece of legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act.

“‘What we’re hoping is to get the statutory language in this year so that next year, when [Democrats] are hopefully in the majority, we have the regulations in place, and then we can do the oversight to make sure the Trump administration is actually implementing it,’ Jacobs said.

“The localization bill is just one piece of the foreign assistance puzzle for Jacobs. She said that the goal should be to make sure countries can provide for themselves and end past cycles of dependency, which is what African countries are insisting they also want after the fall of USAID.

“While bilateral health compacts or government-to-government assistance could be part of the toolkit, there should be different approaches for different aims, and it’s important to also empower local civil society, Jacobs said.

“‘My concern with the Trump administration’s approach to the global health MOUs is that they’re not transparent. Civil society has been basically entirely excluded. The timelines are unrealistic. They aren’t based on the country’s priorities and what they actually want to invest in, and the State Department currently doesn’t have the oversight and staffing bandwidth required to make sure these funds are not later subjected to waste, fraud, or abuse,’ she said.

“On a broader level, Jacobs said Congress needs to rethink its role in determining the future of foreign assistance, including earmarks, which steer funding to specific projects that are often not based on country priorities. Instead, Congress should set clear mandates and timelines for each country that are realistic and that first strengthen systems such as health or governance.

“‘We need to be thinking about what our foreign assistance will look like in 10, 15, 20 years. How do we make it sustainable across administrations? How does Congress help shape that framework and set the boundaries and make sure that it’s aligned with a country's priorities and our overall national security?’ she said. ‘We will have to rebuild the foreign assistance architecture so we might as well rebuild it in a way that’s actually going to be more effective.’”

Background: Rep. Sara Jacobs is a leading voice in Congress for modernizing U.S. foreign assistance – pushing to localize aid, consistently follow our values, and increase investments in diplomacy and development initiatives rather than a military-first approach. Last year, she introduced the Protect U.S. National Security Act, which would prohibit the use of funds to eliminate USAID as an independent agency. She also led amendments in last year’s State Authorization process to strengthen global health systems, improve training on managing humanitarian assistance and international development, and oversight of acquisition and assistance personnel at the State Department.


Reps. Sara Jacobs and Michael Baumgartner Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Expeditionary Diplomacy

Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) introduced bipartisan legislation to empower U.S. diplomats to conduct expeditionary diplomacy, which is key to strengthening partnerships, gaining enhanced intelligence and local understanding, crisis response and management, supporting “whole of mission” strategies, and more. The bipartisan Expeditionary Diplomacy Renewal Act would help shift U.S. diplomacy away from a risk-averse, bunker-style approach and toward one that takes calculated, managed risks to ensure diplomats are more present, engaged, and effective in higher-risk environments.

This legislation builds upon Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Diplomatic Support and Security Act, which passed into law in 2022, and reformed the Accountability Review Board process to ensure more balanced risk tolerance, required training on risk management, and amended promotion requirements for employees to incentivize more expeditionary diplomacy.

Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Expeditionary diplomacy is essential for our diplomatic corps. We need to empower our diplomats to gain valuable information, build lasting partnerships, and respond to complex and deadly situations – especially in conflict zones or unstable regions. But too often, diplomats remain behind walls and wires, contained in capital cities, unable to do their jobs effectively. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Expeditionary Diplomacy Renewal Act, which would help find innovative solutions by establishing a dedicated team to study what’s getting in the way of expeditionary diplomacy and implement fixes. We can protect our diplomats’ safety and further U.S. national security and my bill shows the blueprint to do both.”

“The State Department cannot advance America’s interests from behind blast walls. Despite recent reforms, expeditionary diplomacy remains far too difficult to approve and practice in high-threat environments. Our bill takes the next step by defining expeditionary diplomacy, identifying the barriers to implementation, and creating a Tiger Team to drive real change. This legislation will help the Department move past its bunker mentality and empower our diplomats to manage risk responsibly — not avoid it. I’m proud to co-lead this effort with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs,” said Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05).

“The Expeditionary Diplomacy Renewal Act sets out a clear path to remove unnecessary barriers that too often inhibit our Foreign Service Officers from conducting direct, personal diplomacy in the places that need it most. This legislation builds off of previous bipartisan efforts to encourage Department of State leadership to employ risk management practices that give more autonomy to our diplomats who knowingly choose to serve in challenging environments to advance American interests,” said Brian Volsky, Policy Director, Foreign Policy for America.

The Expeditionary Diplomacy Renewal Act would:

Require the State Department to establish a definition of expeditionary diplomacy through consultation with external stakeholders;

Require a Government Accountability Office report on challenges with respect to expeditionary diplomacy and recommendations to address such challenges;

Express the Sense of Congress that the President’s Letters of Instructions should promote risk management to encourage expeditionary diplomacy;

Amend the Foreign Service Act to add to Chief of Mission duties the requirement to exercise appropriate risk management practices and encourage expeditionary diplomacy

Establish a “Tiger Team” at the Department to produce and monitor the implementation of recommendations to improve expeditionary diplomacy

Foreign Policy for America and the American Academy of Diplomacy have endorsed the Expeditionary Diplomacy Renewal Act.


Rep. Sykes Leads Bipartisan Push for Safe, Reliable Water for Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) is leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on Congress to fund critical water infrastructure programs to ensure communities nationwide have safe, reliable water. Aging infrastructure and growing demand threaten access and reliability, making these investments essential as lawmakers draft the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

In a bipartisan letter to subcommittee leadership, Reps. Sykes and her colleagues stressed that modern water systems are vital for public health, economic growth, and national security.

“Closing the water utility funding gap will require sustained, innovative investment strategies to strengthen system resilience, address extreme weather risks, and ensure utilities can maintain safe and reliable service. Without long-term capital planning and funding certainty, utilities will struggle to meet growing demand for clean, safe, and reliable water and wastewater services.” wrote the lawmakers.

“Moreover, affordability remains a pressing issue. The EPA’s Water Affordability Needs Assessment estimates that between 12.1 million and 19.2 million households across the United States struggle with the rising costs of water services,” the lawmakers stated.

In their letter, the lawmakers specifically requested the below funding from programs in the FY27 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill:

A minimum of $4.89 billion for the Clean Water and $4.38 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs);

$280 million for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant Program;

$80 million for activities carried out under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA); and

$50 million for the Household Decentralized Wastewater System Grants;

This letter was signed by 31 bipartisan members of Congress and is supported by the following organizations: American Rivers Action Fund, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Resources Defense Council, Water Environment Federation, American Council of Engineering Companies, National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, Water for People, Clean Water Construction Coalition, Protect Kids from Lead Coalition, Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated, & Clean Water Action.


Congressman Shri Thanedar Statement on Firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13) issued the following statement following Trump’s firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“Pam Bondi will go down in history as the Attorney General who protected pedophiles and weaponized the DOJ instead of fighting for justice. She should’ve been removed months ago for the crimes she’s committed, the complete mishandling of the Epstein files, and the harm she caused the victims.

I introduced articles of impeachment against her last month for not releasing the Epstein files, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice, and weaponization and politicization of the Department of Justice. Bondi being ousted as attorney general does not erase that record. She must be held accountable for the harm she has done.

Given the failure in Iran and the repeated endangerment of U.S. servicemembers, Pete Hegseth should be the next to go.”

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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Turner Introduces Bill to Rename Xenia Post Office in Honor of Gil Whitney


Reps. Van Drew, Courtney Reintroduce the Agent Orange Service Medal Act

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew (R-NJ), along with Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), reintroduced the Agent Orange Service Medal Act to honor veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during their service and continue to suffer from its long-term health effects.

"Too many of our Vietnam veterans came home carrying invisible wounds from Agent Orange and are still dealing with the consequences decades later," said Congressman Van Drew. "We now know that exposure to this toxic chemical, which was used to clear dense vegetation during the war, is linked to serious illnesses, including cancers and chronic conditions that have impacted thousands of veterans and their families. These men and women answered the call to serve, and they deserve to know their country sees them, respects them, and remembers what they went through. This bill establishes a dedicated service medal to formally recognize those who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. We owe them much more, but this is one step toward honoring their sacrifice and giving them the respect they have long deserved."

"The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 extended care and benefits to thousands of veterans exposed to Agent Orange during their service. There's more work to be done, and while we build on the PACT Act to ensure every veteran receives the care and benefits they've earned, we should also continue honoring veterans' service and sacrifice," Congressman Courtney said. "The Agent Orange Service Medal Act would provide veterans and their families with a tangible token of our nation's enduring gratitude. I'm glad to join Congressman Van Drew to reintroduce this bill. In a Congress that is frequently defined by division, leaders should bring more bipartisan veterans bills to the floor for a vote."

Click here to read the text of the bill.


Vindman Calls on Secretary Hegseth to Resign After Hearing From More Than 3,000 Virginians Concerned About War with Iran

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today renewed his call for the resignation of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after hearing from more than 3,000 Virginians through a district-wide survey on President Trump’s war of choice with Iran. The survey asked constituents about their views on entering the conflict, the use of taxpayer dollars to fund military action, and the human cost — including the loss of life already associated with the war.

“Virginians have made clear they do not want another endless war in the Middle East,” said Vindman. “I’ve heard directly from thousands of Virginians who are deeply concerned about the human and economic costs of another unnecessary overseas conflict. Their voices are essential to ensuring I best represent Virginians in Congress. It is clear that Secretary Hegseth should step down.”

Below are responses submitted by Virginia’s Seventh District residents who took the survey:

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“This is an illegal war costing American and other innocent lives. The money spent on this war could provide health care, food, and other basic support to Americans in need. This is not how I want my taxes spent or how I want Americans to be seen in the world.” — Kristen, Spotsylvania

“My dad missed parts of my childhood being deployed for one pointless war in the Middle East. We should not be causing the same for other families.” — Emily, Stafford

“This war will do nothing but endanger American lives abroad and at home. Our military members are not disposable tools to be used and discarded. America and its people cannot afford another forever war.” — Dan, Prince William

“I come from a long line of military veterans. Past operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have not achieved any significance. I don’t see that we have a solid plan at this time.” — Kathleen, Spotsylvania

“I am a US Army veteran who served overseas. My son will deploy later this year. I do not support the war in Iran or President Trump entering us into foreign conflicts with no plan and without clear objectives and support from Congress. Freedom isn’t free if our service members and their families that pay the price. — Charles, Stafford

“I’m a veteran of Desert Storm and a 21-year US Army retiree. I don’t understand the reason for attacking Iran. The lies that Trump has told continue to mount up. Boots on the ground in Iran would be a catastrophic blunder.” — Larry, Spotsylvania

“My wife and I both served in multiple war zones. We’ve seen war up close. We have dealt with recovery. This administration does not care about anyone outside of Mar a Lago.” — Nate, Prince William

“When six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were killed in the Iranian drone strike in Kuwait during the opening hours of the conflict, they became the first American casualties of that war. Their deaths were not just battlefield statistics — they were parents, students, community members, and friends. Families and communities have been mourning them deeply.” — Anthony, Stafford

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Walkinshaw Statement: Chairman Comer Must Not Let Pam Bondi Evade Testimony

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement in response to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s firing.

“Former Attorney General Bondi and Todd Blanche have overseen one of the biggest cover-ups in modern American history.

Firing her does not end this. She remains legally obligated to appear before Congress and answer, under oath, for her failure to comply with the law. Her removal only increases the urgency for the Oversight Committee to fulfill its oversight obligations. Chairman Comer cannot look the other way or allow her to evade testimony before the Committee, as media reports indicate he is trying to do.

We need to know why the full Epstein files have still not been released. We need to know what decisions were made, by whom, and why survivors were put at risk. And we need to know why she gave special treatment to Ghislaine Maxwell.

I will not let this go. Oversight Democrats have been conducting a serious investigation and that work continues regardless of who has been fired or reassigned. No one gets to simply walk away from this.

The full Epstein files must be released immediately, and illegal redactions must be unredacted. There is no legitimate reason for further delay. The survivors who have waited years for justice — and the American people who deserve the truth — cannot wait any longer.”

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ICYMI – ALSOBROOKS: TRUMP OWES MARYLANDERS A TARIFF REFUND

April 2, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC – In case you missed it, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) authored an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun marking one year since President Trump’s Liberation Day and highlighting how Trump’s tariffs have hurt Marylanders.

Read the full op-ed here or below.

TRUMP OWES MARYLANDERS A REFUND

By Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. senator for Maryland

One year after President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day,” it is clear: Trump’s tariff policies failed.

Families in Maryland are paying on average $1,744 more because of these tariffs.

The cost of building a new home has increased by $17,500 because of these tariffs.

Grocery prices are up. On average, ground beef is up $0.80; chicken breast is up $0.11; orange juice is up over $1; sandwich bread is up $0.11. And the cost of coffee has increased by a whopping 33%.

From February 2025 to February 2026, food prices in total increased 3.1%.

Our country lost 108,000 jobs in manufacturing.

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that “90% of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers.”

The Kiel Institute estimated American businesses and consumers are paying 96% of Trump’s tariff costs, with foreign exporters absorbing only 4%. The National Bureau of Economic Research similarly found passthrough from Trump’s tariffs to be 94%, with the highest upward price pressure on food. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that many companies raised prices in 2025 due to Trump’s chaotic tariffs and would continue doing so in 2026 as stockpiles expired.

One year ago, Trump said, “I always say ‘tariffs’ is the most beautiful word to me in the dictionary. Because tariffs are going to make us rich as hell. It’s going to bring our country’s businesses back that left us.”

“Rich as hell”? Not for hardworking Maryland families. All we’ve seen are our costs increasing.

A staggering 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s tariffs, including 39% who say they strongly disapprove. In February, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Trump overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify his tariffs. Then, a federal judge in New York ruled that companies that paid tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court are now due refunds.

I predicted that Trump’s chaotic (and now illegal) tariff regime would hurt hardworking American families, who seem to continue to bear the brunt of Trump’s economic policies. My very first piece of legislation as senator was the Tariff Transparency Act, which would require the U.S. International Trade Commission to launch a formal study of the consequences of tariffs on Canada and Mexico on consumers and businesses, including a look at potential price increases on food, energy, housing construction, automobiles, electronics and pharmaceuticals. Republicans blocked that bill at the request of the Trump administration because they knew it would expose the cost increases being borne by Marylanders.

All of this chaos plays in stark opposition to the work I am doing to try to make life more affordable for my constituents. I worked across the aisle to help pass the ROAD to Housing Act, a transformative bipartisan housing package that will help millions of Americans get closer to the dream of homeownership. I am fighting to lower the costs of health care, rent, groceries, gas and more — these necessary costs that are squeezing hardworking American families. I am working on legislation including the Tax Relief for New Businesses Act, which would provide tax relief to entrepreneurs looking to start a small business, and the Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act, which would allow small businesses in the beauty industry to qualify for a federal tax credit, so they have more opportunities to grow their businesses, create more jobs and fuel our economy.

Instead of following through on its stated goal of lowering costs, this administration pursues chaotic, reckless and illegal policies harming the vast majority of hardworking Americans who are looking to get food on their table, who need good-paying jobs to cover their health care, and who just want a safe and affordable place for their families to live and grow. These tariffs, much like the other actions of this administration, are a failure. This “Liberation Day,” the American people, and our small businesses, are owed not only an apology but a refund. I will never cease standing up for the families who have struggled every day to put food on the table, the farmers on the Eastern Shore, the small businesses in downtown Baltimore, the manufacturers in Mountain Maryland — and everyone in between.

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Baldwin Demands Trump Administration Stop 134 Wisconsin Households from Becoming Homeless, Transfer Newcap Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) demanded that the Trump Administration stop 134 Wisconsin households from potentially becoming homeless and approve the transfer of Wisconsin nonprofit, Newcap, grants to other capable, qualified and willing organizations. While Newcap announced it would cease operations at the end of March, other compliant and experienced nonprofit agencies have agreed to take on their grants to ensure that the 134 Wisconsin families Newcap served can continue receiving housing support. Currently, the decision to transfer these grants lies with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Wisconsin families are awaiting a decision.

“I write today to reiterate my request to immediately transfer four U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) grants from the organization Newcap to other experienced, compliant nonprofit agencies. Without these transfers, 134 families in northeast Wisconsin are at imminent risk of homelessness,” Baldwin wrote to HUD Secretary Turner.

“134 Wisconsinites are depending on this assistance and require your support without delay,” Baldwin concluded.

On March 31, 2026, Newcap—a nonprofit serving 10 Wisconsin counties since 1965—announced it would cease operations, ending its role administering key housing and supportive service grants. As a result, 134 families are now at risk of homelessness if HUD does not transfer those grants to other nonprofit agencies. The Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care has submitted requests to HUD to transfer the critical housing grants to eligible and qualified nonprofits to ensure continuity of services. Senator Baldwin’s office has been working closely with Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care, local officials, constituents, and HUD to advocate for swift grant transfer approval to keep these families housed.

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Turner:

I write today to reiterate my request to immediately transfer four U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) grants from the organization Newcap to other experienced, compliant nonprofit agencies. Without these transfers, 134 families in northeast Wisconsin are at imminent risk of homelessness.

On March 31, 2026, Newcap, a nonprofit community action agency, announced it would cease operations. Since 1965, Newcap had operated in 10 Wisconsin counties providing housing and supportive services. Until its closure, Newcap administered four CoC grants and was a sub-recipient of funds through the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care, Wisconsin’s lead agency for rapid re-housing programs.

With Newcap’s closure, 134 families are now at risk of homelessness if these CoC grant transfer requests are not approved. The Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care has submitted transfer requests for four initiatives: Brown County PSH Individuals, Brown County Youth RRH Project, SHP Housing First, and the Mobile Outreach and Support Team project. It is imperative that these transfer requests are approved immediately in order for the families previously served by Newcap to remain housed.

My office has been in close contact with the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care, which has identified alternative nonprofit agencies to oversee implementation of these CoC grants as soon as the transfer requests are approved. These organizations are experienced, compliant and ready to assist the families impacted by Newcap’s closure immediately. The Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care also stands ready to provide support to these agencies to ensure a smooth transition.

Again, I urge you to approve the transfer of CoC grants from Newcap to alternative organizations as soon as possible. 134 Wisconsinites are depending on this assistance and require your support without delay. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of my request.

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