SCHUMER: NEW TRUMP ADMIN’S SENSELESS BUREAUCRACY THREATENS TO STOP SENECA FALLS “RIGHT TO RUN” CELEBRATION, SENATOR DEMANDS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CUT THROUGH RED TAPE TO ENSURE BELOVED LOCAL EVENT CAN...

National Park Service Said It Cannot Approve Permit For Planned Seneca Falls Event Celebrating Women’s Rights Because Of Trump Executive Order Forcing Review Of How Events At National Parks Characterize American History, Throwing New Hurdles And Delaying Permit Process

10th Annual “Right To Run 5K/19K Race Weekend” Celebration Draws Hundreds Of Athletes, Tourists, And Spectators To Downtown Seneca Falls To Commemorate Pivotal Role In Women’s Rights Movement; Schumer Calls On NPS To Approve Permits ASAP So Event Can Continue As Planned

Schumer To NPS: Cut The Red Tape And Approve Race Permits For Seneca Falls To Celebrate History

After hearing reports of needless Trump bureaucracy threatening a beloved Seneca Falls celebration on Mother’s Day weekend, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today called on the National Park Service (NPS) to immediately approve permits so the 10th annual Right to Run 5K/19K Weekend Celebration can continue as planned. Schumer said event organizers were informed the NPS was unable to approve a necessary permit in time because of a recent Trump executive order, and now Schumer is demanding immediate action to ensure this prized Finger Lakes event, which is about to enter its 10th year, can continue as planned.

“For nearly a decade, families and athletes from across the country have come to Seneca Falls for the beloved ‘Right to Run’ celebration, but now that tradition is under threat because of new, senseless Trump bureaucracy. Organizers can’t get the permits they need because of a last-minute hurdle stemming from a Trump executive order, and that could derail the event. That means fewer tourists here in the Finger Lakes and fewer people coming to visit Seneca Falls and spending money at our shops and restaurants,” said Senator Schumer. “We cannot risk this event when we are so close to the finish line. The National Park Service needs to cut the red tape and immediately approve permits in time for event organizers to welcome hundreds of athletes, tourists, and spectators to beautiful Seneca Falls on Mother’s Day Weekend.”

Schumer explained that event organizers were informed that the NPS was unable to approve a necessary permit in time because of a recent Trump executive order calling for the Department of the Interior to re-examine how public monuments and events occurring at those monuments characterize American history and values. The celebration starts at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, which, as part of the National Park system, is under the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction. The weekend was to open Friday evening at the National Park’s outdoor Declaration Park amphitheater and adjoining Myndeerse Street with local food and Finger Lakes wine and craft beer venders, local musicians, along with wellness workshops, nationally recognized artist exhibits, and the keynote address and opening ceremony in the National Park’s historic Wesleyan Chapel where the 1848 Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention was held. Without a federal permit, organizers cannot use this site, putting the beloved race weekend at risk.

Schumer’s letter to National Park Service Comptroller Jessica Bowron can be found HERE.

The Right to Run is led by Daniele Bonafiglia, CEO of BonaDent Dental Laboratories, along with Judy Wentzel and Hannah Wood, fellow community leaders based in Seneca Falls.

Right to Run Race Organizer Daniele Bonafiglia said, "Seneca Falls is our home, we live here, we work here, and we’re doing this because we’re proud of the historical significance of community. The Right to Run is more than just a race, it represents a shared vision for the power of our history to bring people together to celebrate our past while inspiring our future. To see all that community-driven 'good' stalled by Washington feels like a step backward for the community we love so much."

According to event organizers, the Right to Run can’t get the permits they need because of a last-minute hurdle stemming from a Trump executive order, and that could derail the race, as well as the major sculpture installation by acclaimed artist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and this year’s Right to Run's keynote speaker, Tiffany Shlain. The Right to Run is a decade-old tradition, led and organized by local Seneca Falls-based residents and community members, rooted in the history of the women’s rights movement and intentionally centered at the birthplace of that movement to elevate Seneca Falls as a national destination rooted in history, culture, and community. Hundreds of people are scheduled to convene in downtown Seneca Falls on Mother’s Day weekend for the tenth year to celebrate Seneca Falls’ role as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement, while boosting the local economy by supporting Main Street restaurants and shops. The celebration brings together the athletic, arts, and literary communities for a weekend of programming that honors women’s rights while driving meaningful economic activity for the region.

Artist and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Tiffany Shlain, this year's Right to Run keynote speaker, said, "The Right to Run event and installation of my sculpture Dendrofemonology: A feminist history tree ring is meant to honor women’s rightful place in our country, and celebrate the perseverance of those who continue to protect and expand women’s rights. Women helped create this country, our history matters."

Schumer has long supported Seneca Falls’ development as a nationally recognized cultural center and historical destination, securing over $5 million for the Women’s Rights National Historic Park and $500,000 to help complete construction of the National Women’s Hall of Fame at the historic Knitting Mill building in the heart of Seneca Falls.

In a letter to NPS Comptroller Jessica Bowron, Schumer explained that this permit must be quickly granted so the event can welcome hundreds of athletes, tourists, and spectators to downtown Seneca Falls to celebrate its history and support local Main Street businesses and restaurants.

Schumer’s letter to National Park Service Comptroller Jessica Bowron can be found HERE or below:

Dear Comptroller Bowron,

I write to urge you to approve the pending Special Use Permit request for the 10th Annual Right to Run 5K/19K Weekend Celebration scheduled for May 8-9th, 2026, at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. Despite months of coordination, organizers have been informed by the Women’s Rights National Historical Park’s Superintendent now at the last minute that the permit cannot be approved at this time due to President Trump’s Executive Order 14253 and Secretarial Order 3432. Put plainly, this event and its weekend-long women’s rights celebration and activities that draw hundreds of athletes, tourists, and spectators to downtown Seneca Falls directly supporting Seneca County’s tourism, local economy, and tax revenue while injecting tourism dollars into local Main Street businesses, restaurants, and shops, is all now being jeopardized due to this senseless bureaucratic Executive Order.

The Right to Run is a decade-old tradition, led and organized by local Seneca Falls-based residents and community members, rooted in the history of the women’s rights movement and intentionally centered at the birthplace of that movement to elevate Seneca Falls as a national tourism destination rooted in history, culture, and community. It brings together the athletic, arts, and literary communities for the race and also for a weekend of programming that celebrates women’s rights while driving meaningful economic activity for the region. It was to feature a kickoff Friday evening Block Party in the heart of the Town of Seneca Falls at the Nation Park’s Declaration Park amphitheater and adjoining Myndeerse Street with local food and Finger Lakes wine and craft beer venders, local musicians, along with wellness workshops, nationally recognized artist exhibits, and the keynote address and opening ceremony in the National Park’s historic Wesleyan Chapel where the 1848 Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention was held and where the Declaration of Sentiments was signed by the 300 participants who, as is stated on the National Park website, “met at the Wesleyan Chapel to protest the laws and customs that discriminated against women.”

Organizers have worked diligently with National Park Service staff throughout the planning process, engaging in good faith and maintaining consistent communication as they developed their plans. At this late stage, however, thanks to a new Executive Order from President Trump, they are now being forced to navigate last-minute uncertainty tied to a new federal review requirement mere weeks before the event.

As the Women’s Rights National Historical Park Superintendent Ahna Wilson stated in correspondence to the organizers, their permit request would not likely be considered by the time of the Right to Run Weekend Celebration, due to the Executive Order and the delay it is causing the National Park Service to review exhibits throughout the National Park Service including reviewing America 250th content, explaining: “In accordance with Executive Order 14253 and Secretarial Order 3431: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, all National Park units must submit new interpretive media projects and/or content for review to ensure that all public facing content focuses on ‘the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American Landscape’. This includes new permanent (long term) and temporary (short term) ‘public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties.’ This includes displays as part of Special Park Use Permits.”

The Annual Right to Run weekend is not a quick set-up and tear down event. It is a multi-day celebration taking place on Mother’s Day weekend, drawing hundreds of participants and visitors into Seneca Falls. The event supports food vendors, local businesses, and tourism, while also activating the broader network of women’s history organizations and heritage sites that define the community, like the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. Tourism has become a major industry in Seneca Falls, and events like this are not incidental – they are essential to sustaining that growth and reinforcing the community’s identity as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement.

This kind of uncertainty is particularly damaging for an event of this scale. Unlike smaller or single-day gatherings, a multi-day event requires coordination across multiple partners, schedules, and physical spaces. Vendors must be secured, programming must be finalized, and visitors must make travel plans. Moreover, this weekend brings visitors from across New York and beyond directly into Seneca Falls, supporting local businesses, increasing tourism activity, and contributing to the local economy and tax base. Disruption at this stage threatens that economic activity, and places unnecessary strain on the businesses and community that depend on it. A delayed determination at this stage is tantamount to a denial, bringing real, cascading consequences for organizers, participants, and the surrounding community.

I urge the National Park Service to swiftly grant the permit necessary for the Seneca Falls community to proceed with the 10th Annual Right to Run 5K/19K Weekend Celebration. After ten years of successful programming and continued coordination with federal staff, it should not be this difficult for organizers to receive clarity on whether they can proceed. Avoidable uncertainty at this stage serves no one – not the organizers, not the community, and not the mission of the National Park Service.

My office stands ready to assist in facilitating a resolution to this issue. I respectfully request an update on the status of this permit, including where it currently sits within the review process, and the specific steps required to ensure that this event can proceed as planned no later than April 10, 2026.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

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SCHUMER REVEALS: ONE MONTH INTO TRUMP’S IRAN WAR OF CHOICE, NEW YORKERS ARE PAYING $265+ MILLION MORE AT THE GAS PUMP

New Congressional Report Shows Families Already Struggling With Rising Costs & Have Paid $8.4 Billion More For Gas Since Trump Began His Reckless War In Iran, Including Over $265 Million In NY Alone

Despite Trump’s Promise To Lower Price Of Gas, The Average Price In NY Is Currently At Whopping $4+ Because of Trump’s Chaotic Economic Policies And Reckless War In Iran

Schumer: Trump’s Iran War Is Costing NYers Millions

As Trump’s reckless war of choice in Iran reaches its second month, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer revealed a new congressional report showing New Yorkers have paid $265,202,780 more for gasoline compared to prices before the war. Though the Trump campaign promised to get the price of gasoline under $2 a gallon, the average price for a gallon of gas in New York state is currently more than $4. Schumer called on Trump to stop his reckless war in Iran, which is costing hardworking New York families hundreds of millions of dollars – on top of the already increased prices New Yorkers are paying due to Trump’s counterproductive tariff war.

“Trump started a war in Iran with no clear plan or strategy, and now New Yorkers are stuck paying the price at the gas pump. The Trump administration doesn’t even pretend to care, saying, ‘If they rise, they rise.’ Meanwhile, our families, farmers, and small businesses all get forced to spend millions more on gas,” said Senator Schumer. “Americans do not want Donald Trump’s war, they want lower costs. The President is ranting like an unhinged madman on social media and ignoring how American families are suffering economic pain from the gas pump to the grocery store. Day after day, Americans are paying a whopping ‘war tax’ at the gas pump and beyond thanks to Donald Trump’s rash and damaging foreign policy and failed economic policy. This reckless war in Iran is costing Americans billions, and it must end.”

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee found that families in every state have had to spend millions more on gasoline over the past month. Based on average gasoline prices and data on gasoline production, the report found that New Yorkers have paid $265,202,780 more for gasoline compared to prices before the war.

According to the report, families across the country are spending 35% more at the pump than they did on February 28, with the average price to fill up one tank reaching $145 for the top-selling pickup truck, $58 for the top-selling SUV, and $52 for the top-selling sedan. Overall, families across America are paying $8.4 billion more for gasoline compared to prices before Trump’s war on Iran.

This is on top of the billions the war in Iran has already cost American taxpayers. In the first six days alone, the war cost American taxpayers $11.3 billion, with new estimates showing Americans’ costs for the war are expected to reach over $25 billion, and the Trump administration is asking for hundreds of billions more to fund the war, while slashing the programs American families rely on.

Trump originally campaigned on the promise to get the price of gasoline under $2 a gallon. Instead, he has chosen to enter the U.S. into a conflict that is dramatically spiking costs in New York State and across the country. The average price in New York state is currently more than $4. Families are already struggling with rising healthcare, food, and energy costs due to Trump’s chaotic tariffs and ill-conceived economic policies.

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Slotkin, Schumer, Baldwin Demand Trump Take Action Against Chinese Automakers, American Workers and National Security at Risk

This action comes after President Trump encouraged Chinese companies to expand manufacturing and selling in the U.S.

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), called on President Donald Trump to stop Chinese automakers from jeopardizing American workers and risking our national security. They also called on the President to take action against the manufacture, sale, or operation of these companies and their products on U.S. soil.

President Trump made comments at the Detroit Economic Forum, saying, “Let China come in.” This has been a priority issue for Slotkin, and the first piece of legislation she introduced as a U.S. Senator. Slotkin, a former CIA officer, has repeatedly warned Chinese-made connected vehicles could transmit sensitive data back to Beijing.

“Allowing automakers headquartered in China, which operate with backing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to build and sell vehicles in the United States would have far-reaching consequences for our economic and national security,” wrote the Senators in a letter to President Trump. “We urge you to stay the course and make it clear that Chinese auto manufacturers and their products present unprecedented dangers to our economic and national security, and their manufacture, sale, or operation on U.S. soil is non-negotiable.”

U.S. automakers and their supply chains are essential to economic security, supporting a broad manufacturing ecosystem, from steel to semiconductors, and accounting for about 3–5% of GDP and nearly 11 million jobs.

Chinese automakers building factories in the U.S. would speed China’s push for global dominance and simultaneously jeopardize American workers. China’s industry benefits from heavy state subsidies and weaker labor protections, creating unfair competition. This could disrupt supply chains, where each assembly job supports roughly two supplier jobs.

China is deepening auto ties with Canada and Mexico, raising security concerns and potentially weakening trade agreements, especially as Canada moves to lower tariffs on Chinese EVs.

“The United States must reaffirm our clear position – that Chinese vehicles of all types and automakers are not welcome to operate here in any capacity. In addition to banning Chinese connected vehicles, we must work with our allies to counter the global threat posed by Chinese vehicles, and we must spur a new generation of automotive innovation to ensure that U.S. auto industry remains the world’s best,” concluded the Senators.

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

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our objection to the comments you made indicating that you would welcome Chinese automakers setting up shop in the United States. At the Detroit Economic Forum on January 13, you said “Let China come in.” Previous Administrations, including the First Trump Administration, have already made strides addressing the threat of Chinese autos. Allowing automakers headquartered in China, which operate with backing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to build and sell vehicles in the United States would have far-reaching consequences for our economic and national security. We urge you to stay the course and make it clear that Chinese auto manufacturers and their products present unprecedented dangers to our economic and national security, and their manufacture, sale, or operation on U.S. soil is non-negotiable. Further, we ask that your Administration take further action to prohibit Chinese vehicles manufactured or titled in Canada and Mexico from entering the United States and work with our allies around the world to address the serious threat posed by Chinese vehicles.

As you know America’s automakers, and the supply chains they support, are a vital component of our nation’s economic strength. The auto industry is critical to our manufacturing sector and supports an entire manufacturing ecosystem, ranging from the steel used in cars, to the semiconductors used in their technology, to the tires they drive on. This amounts to approximately 3% to 5% of United States GDP, and 10.95 million jobs.

We must be clear-eyed that inviting China’s automakers to set up shop in the United States would confer an insurmountable economic advantage impossible for American automakers to overcome, and it would trigger a national security crisis that could never be reversed. China’s automakers do not compete on a level playing field. China’s manufacturing strategy is based on achieving global market dominance built through exploitative and non-market practices across the supply chain, including the repression of independent labor unions, low wages, and nightmarish working conditions. America’s auto industry can compete with peer companies – it cannot compete with a state-backed industrial strategy designed to win at any cost. Allowing China’s automakers to open factories in the United States will only expedite Beijing’s path to global auto industry dominance, while American manufacturing and our workers will pay the price. The Chinese Communist Party’s long-documented state-sponsored use of illegal subsidies eliminates any possibility of a level playing field with the rest of the world. While a new plant opened by a Chinese automaker in the United States may create some assembly and temporary construction jobs, that small number of jobs will not make up for the lasting job loss.

For every job on a vehicle assembly line, there are roughly two jobs in the auto parts and supplier network. Thus, if Chinese auto plants develop a presence in the United States, it will alter supply chains drastically. Because Chinese companies like BYD favor vertically integrated supply chains, the increase of Chinese parts, imports and illegally subsidized Chinese steel would directly displace American jobs and production. It would undermine any effort to support American industry through Section 232 and 301 tariffs and manufacturing incentives. Furthermore, allowing Chinese automakers into the country could encourage circumvention of USMCA through Mexico, where China is already cementing an auto supply chain manufacturing presence.

The idea of allowing Chinese automakers to manufacture and sell in the United States is especially concerning after Canada recently announced an agreement with China to reduce tariff rates for thousands of Chinese electric vehicles. Canada recently lowered duties from 100% to 6.1% under a quota system for 49,000 Chinese-made vehicles per year, rising to 70,000 per year by 2030. At the United States’ urging in 2024, Canada placed a 100% tariff on Chinese automobiles to align trade policy with the U.S. and to preserve our intertwined auto manufacturing sectors. This was an acknowledgement of our mutual border and shared security interests. Now, that shared vision is in jeopardy and demonstrates Canada’s perception that its interests are no longer aligned with the United States – its closest ally and trading partner. While Chinese EVs only represent 3% of the Canadian domestic market, this warning sign is critical to address. In 2024, Chinese brands accounted for 62% of global electric vehicle market share. Their presence is growing rapidly in Mexico as well. Fewer than 500 Chinese EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were shipped to Mexico in 2021, but in 2025, that number reached nearly 100,000 with Chinese automaker BYD accounting for 84% of Mexico’s EV imports.

The threat to national security posed by the presence of China’s automakers in the United States is grave. The ICTS Connected Vehicle rule appropriately recognized that modern vehicles contain technology that can connect with systems outside of the vehicle itself, sending information about our infrastructure and built environment to external entities. If these vehicles are driven near military sites, government buildings, or power stations, sensitive information could easily be gathered and make its way to the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army. Furthermore, connected vehicles can be controlled remotely, adding an additional layer of security risk. Recently, a public transit operator in Norway found that buses made by Chinese manufacturer Yutong were able to be shut down remotely by the manufacturer. China banned Teslas and other foreign-made EVs from being driven near government buildings for their own national security purposes, which was lifted only after passing China’s internal data security tests. It is imperative we continue to use the ICTS Connected Vehicle rule to address the national security risk posed by connected vehicles.

Additionally, China’s automakers and suppliers participate in the People’s Liberation Army’s military-civil fusion strategy, meaning their commercial activities and research support and subsidize the activities of the Chinese military. China emphasizes the development of dual-use technology and integrates civil and military supply chains, to a degree where they are inseparable. The proceeds from each Chinese auto sale will go toward sustaining an industrial base and R&D system that the People’s Liberation Army could employ in a future conflict with the United States. Facilitating further Chinese incorporation into our supply chains, and those of our allies, creates vulnerabilities and choke points that could cripple domestic industries. The United States must continue to build domestic manufacturing capacity and create resilient supply chains like those for semiconductors and critical minerals, and reduce reliance on our adversaries. Inviting China’s automakers to enter the country would do the exact opposite.

In February, the Department of Defense named BYD as a Chinese military company under Section 1260H, then withdrew the designation from public view almost immediately, without explanation. That reversal illustrates the risks of delay and indecision. The Administration should move without hesitation to designate BYD and other Chinese automakers as military‑connected entities and ensure those findings are not subject to quiet reversal.

Lastly, a key component of China’s strategy for global economic dominance is its abominable treatment of workers. The country’s history of labor repression is underpinned by state-sanctioned forced labor, suppression of wages, the lack of collective bargaining, and state-controlled labor unions. The use of state-sanctioned forced labor in China’s automotive industry and related supply chains, combined with these poor labor conditions, provide an insurmountable economic advantage through exploitation. At BYD’s Changsha plant, workers earn the equivalent of $2 per hour. Even outside of China, BYD has been found to have employing conditions similar to forced labor in a plant in Brazil. The Administration must work eliminate forced labor and other exploitative labor conditions from our supply chains, not invite known offenders to do business.

These existential threats are why in 2025 the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued a final rule to restrict the import and sale of certain connected vehicles and related hardware/software linked to Chinese connected vehicles to the United States, beginning in Model Year 2027. We urge your Administration to maintain, or if possible accelerate, this timeline and expand these connected vehicle restrictions to commercial vehicles. The United States must reaffirm our clear position – that Chinese vehicles of all types and automakers are not welcome to operate here in any capacity. In addition to banning Chinese connected vehicles, we must work with our allies to counter the global threat posed by Chinese vehicles, and we must spur a new generation of automotive innovation to ensure that U.S. auto industry remains the world’s best.

Thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter.

An online version of this release is available here.

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Klobuchar, Smith Call on Federal Highway Administration to Allow St. Louis County to Use Project Labor Agreements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are calling on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to approve the use of Project Labor Agreements for five projects that have been awarded federal funds to St. Louis County.

“We write to request your prompt approval of the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for five projects for which St. Louis County, Minnesota has been awarded federal funds,” wrote the Senators. “These funds will improve the County’s roadways and provide good-paying construction jobs.”

“St. Louis County has a longstanding policy that requires PLAs on large road and bridge projects. In August 2025, the County submitted PLAs for these projects to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is awaiting approval to ensure the projects remain eligible for FHWA funding. The swift approval is crucial to prevent further delays in getting these projects bid and construction started during Minnesota’s weather-constrained construction season,” the Senators continued.

The full text of the letter is below and can be found here.

Dear Administrator McMaster:

We write to request your prompt approval of the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) for five projects for which St. Louis County, Minnesota has been awarded federal funds. These funds will improve the County’s roadways and provide good-paying construction jobs.

St. Louis County has a longstanding policy that requires PLAs on large road and bridge projects. In August 2025, the County submitted PLAs for these projects to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is awaiting its approval to ensure the projects remain eligible for the use of FHWA funding. The swift approval is crucial to prevent further delays in getting these projects bid and construction started during Minnesota’s weather-constrained construction season.

Please find below the list of projects awaiting approval of the use of PLAs:

● County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 21

● CSAH 84 (Hobson Lake Road)

● CSAH 88 (Grant McMahan Blvd)

● CSAH 91 (40th Avenue West)

● CSAH 98 (Canosia Road)

We respectfully request that PLAs be approved for these projects as soon as possible. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

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Warren, Wyden Probe Third-Party Vendors on Disruptions to Unemployment Benefits Putting Americans’ Livelihood at Risk

“Unemployment benefits are a critical bridge for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, yet vendors’ haphazard modernization of UI systems can threaten the delivery of these benefits”

Text of Letters (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) questioned giant third-party vendors Deloitte, Thomson Reuters, and Geographic Solutions with concerns that they may be providing states with error-ridden, ineffective technology for their unemployment insurance systems, disrupting benefits and harming Americans.

“Unemployment benefits are a critical bridge for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, yet vendors’ haphazard modernization of UI systems can threaten the delivery of these benefits," wrote the senators.

State unemployment insurance (UI) systems across the country have been underfunded for decades and have been strained further by the Trump administration’s massive cuts to the federal workforce. These burdens have left state unemployment agencies struggling to maintain outdated UI systems, leading them to turn to third-party, private-sector vendors to help update their UI infrastructure. But reports have revealed growing concern about vendors’ services, which have in some cases caused severe disruptions to beneficiaries’ UI.

Vendors often provide states with a one-size-fits-all system, giving them little say in its operation. They have also begun to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help determine eligibility for UI, often using tools that reportedly struggle to understand nuances in claimants’ paperwork. This had led to wrongful claims of fraud, flawed benefits determinations, and benefit payments being wrongfully put on hold. For example, Thomson Reuters’ fraud detection system was found in 2024 to have “needlessly deprived Americans of their public benefits.”

“These disruptions leave unemployed Americans without the UI benefits they need to keep up with housing, medical, and food expenses during periods of unemployment,” wrote the senators.

In 2022, Geographic Solutions experienced a cyberattack that interrupted 22 states’ workforce sites, disrupting benefits for tens of thousands of Americans across the country. Deloitte, which previously contracted with California, introduced technical errors that halted payments for 300,000 people and later cost the state of Florida $15 million after their online platform crashed.

Given this troubling pattern, the senators are pressing these massive companies on their mishandling of state UI systems, the negative consequences for Americans' benefits, and the lack of thorough oversight into these contracts.

“Instead of updating UI systems, you have profited off an ineffective product—frequently at the expense of Americans’ UI benefits,” concluded the senators.

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Sanders, Welch, Balint Demand Trump Admin Release $4 Million in Anti-Poverty Funding to Vermont: ‘Literally a Matter of Life and Death’

BURLINGTON, VT — The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), called on Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought to obey the law and immediately release more than $810 million in federal Community Services Block Grant (CDBG) funding to help more than ten million Americans living in poverty, including nearly 50,000 Vermonters.

In just one year, Vermont’s community action agencies used CDBG funding to serve 3,200 Vermonters without health care, 9,000 people with a disability, more than 7,000 low-income seniors, more than 11,000 children living in poverty and 1,200 veterans and active military personnel.

“We are urging you to immediately release this vital funding so that over 48,000 Vermonters and ten million people throughout America living in poverty can receive the help they desperately need to keep a roof over their heads, feed their families, keep their jobs, send their kids to child care and pay their energy bills,” the Vermont Congressional Delegation wrote. “These programs are literally a matter of life and death for some of the most vulnerable people in America…Congress funded them. The President signed this funding into law. And, under our Constitution, you do not have the right to determine which laws you will follow and which laws you will ignore.”

For over three months, the Trump administration has illegally withheld CSBG funding from community action agencies across the country—including from BROC Community Action, Capstone Community Action, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Northeast Kingdom Community Action and Southeastern Vermont Community Action in our state. Across the country, nearly 1,000 community action agencies in almost every county in America use these funds to provide urgent financial aid for working families with children, people with disabilities, and seniors on fixed incomes and to administer critical programs like Head Start and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“What we are asking you to do is simple and straightforward: Obey the law. Respect the Constitution. Do not let kids go hungry, do not force veterans to sleep out on the street, do not deny low-income seniors the emergency assistance they need to live with dignity and respect. Release these funds,” the Delegation concluded.

Read and download the Delegation’s full letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy and OMB Director Vought.

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Oregon Airports to Receive More Than $27 Million in Federal Investment

Airports receiving federal funds include those in Eugene, Redmond, Grants Pass, Medford, Albany, North Bend, Corvallis, Mulino, Ashland, Brookings, Lebanon, Chiloquin, Burns, Astoria, Condon, Joseph, Gold Beach, Ontario, Baker City, Roseburg, Prineville, Klamath Falls, Hood River, John Day, Hermiston, Salem, Christmas Valley

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter today announced that more than 25 Oregon airports will receive a combined federal investment of more than $27 million to make their infrastructure safer and better.

“Oregonians rely on federal investments like these to support small businesses, emergency responses, and safe travel in communities across our state,” Wyden said. “I’ll keep battling for continued federal support for all airports in Oregon to keep our state’s residents and products moving smoothly and securely from point A to point B.”

"Our regional airports are vital hubs for Oregonians, supporting local businesses and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Merkley said.“Investing in critical airport improvements such as terminals, runways, and more strengthens infrastructure across our state. I’ll keep fighting to secure critical federal funds for improving the efficiency and reliability of Oregon’s airports, benefitting the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.”

“These investments across Oregon will help improve safety, modernize equipment and make these airports work better for everyone,” said Rep. Hoyle. “Reliability is essential for the economic growth of our coastal community. This funding is a win for the region."

“Ensuring our airports have the resources and funding they need is vital to the safety of everyone at the airport,” said Rep. Salinas. “This federal grant funding will help make them safer, more reliable, and better equipped to continue serving our local community for years to come."

"Federal investments like this are vital to keeping Oregon’s communities connected and our economy moving,” said Rep. Bynum. “This funding will expand travel access, boost local businesses, and strengthen our region’s ability to compete and grow. I will continue fighting to ensure our airports have the resources to thrive and better serve Oregonians.”

“The Hood River airport is an important gateway for communities across the Columbia Gorge—supporting emergency response, local businesses, and regional connectivity. This is an important investment, and I am determined to do all I can to keep needed federal dollars coming to my district and supporting the success of our communities,” said Rep. Dexter.

The awards from the federal Department of Transportation for the Oregon airports are as follows:

$6.24 million combined to Mahlon Sweet Field in Eugene to rebuild 21,177 square feet of terminal Concourse A, including interiors and restroom rehabilitation, construction including HVAC and mechanical; expand terminal Concourse A by 9,893 square feet, including HVAC and mechanical systems, including interiors and restroom rehabilitation.

$3.45 million to Roberts Field in Redmond to expand the terminal by 131,283 square feet

$3.18 million combined to Mulino State Airport to reseal 3,340 linear feet of hangar taxilane pavement; reseal 9,645 square yards of tiedown apron pavement and joints; reseal 3,425 linear feet of runway pavement and joints, expand an existing non-exclusive use hangar for aircraft storage by 10,500 square feet

$2.67 million to the Grants Pass Airport for new guidance signs., new lighting on taxiway edge lighting, extends paved runway by 13,294 feet, install runway end identifier lights system and precision approach path indicator system, extend taxiway by 870 feet in length

$2 million to Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford to rebuild 8,000 square yards of apron pavement; rehabilitate 30,000 square yards of apron pavement; update the pavement management plan and pavement survey and study

$947,435 combined to Brookings Airport to rebuild runway lighting, install a new airport rotating beacon, rebuild the precision approach path indicator system, rebuild the runway end identifier lights system, acquire and install new wind cone navigational aids to provide pilots, rebuild the runway end identifier lights system

$850,000 to Albany Municipal Airport to reseal 3,004 feet of runway, rebuild runway end identifier lights system

$800,254 combined to Joseph State Airport to acquire and install a new automated weather observing system, reseal 5,210 feet of runway pavement and joints; reseal 6,990 feet of taxiway pavement and joints

$760,000 to Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend to build runway safety area

$687,235 combined to Condon State Pauling Field to update the existing airport layout plan, reseal 1,030 feet of taxiway pavement; reseal 5,000 square yards of agriculture aircraft apron/pavement; reseal 830 feet of taxilane pavement

$600,000 to Corvallis Municipal Airport to reseal 7,200 linear feet of taxiway pavement

$534,000 to Ashland Municipal Airport to reseal 3,331 linear feet of taxilane pavement and joints; rehabilitate 131 linear feet of taxilane pavement; reseal 3,791 linear feet of runway pavement and joints

$500,000 to the Oregon Department of Aviation to update the regional airport system plan, the pavement management plan and pavement study

$490,224 combined to Chiloquin State Airport to reseal 4,190 square yards of apron pavement and joints, reseal 3,910 feet of runway pavement and joints

$465,789 combined to Roseburg Regional Airport to rehabilitate 27,555 square yards of apron pavement; rehabilitate 5,003 feet of paved runway $439,810 to Lebanon State Airport to reseal 2,140 feet of taxiway pavement and joints; reseal 2,750 feet of runway pavement and joints

$389,504 to Burns Municipal Airport to builda new 1,600-square-foot snow removal equipment building

$360,000 to Astoria Regional Airport to extend taxiways by 1,350 feet in length to reduce delays$326,774 to Gold Beach Municipal Airport to reseal 3,200 feet of taxiway pavement; reseal 3,200 feet of runway pavement

$300,000 to Ontario Municipal Airport to build a new helipad

$300,000 to Baker City Municipal Airport to rebuild 500 feet of airport access road

$300,000 to Crook County for the Prineville Airport to rehabilitate 5,404 linear feet of paved runway

$285,000 to Crater Lake/Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls to rehabilitate 9,888 square yards of apron pavement

$220,000 to Ken Jernstedt Airfield in Hood River to reseal 175 feet of taxiway pavement, rehabilitate a tiedown apron and reseal 1,200 feet of apron taxilane

$171,760 to Grant County Regional Airport in John Day to build a new fuel farm by adding a 15,000-gallon AvGas fuel tank and a 15,000-gallon Jet A fuel tank and self-service pumps and associated 444-square-yard fuel apron pavement for a new fuel type

$150,000 to Hermiston Municipal Airport to rebuild the precision approach path indicator system

$124,678 to McNary Field in Salem to update the airport master plan study

$109,000 to Christmas Valley Airport to installs runway end identifier lights system at both ends; rebuild 5,200 linear feet of paved runway

”This federal investment in the Grants Pass Airport is a major win for our community and for the long‑term economic vitality of Josephine County,” said Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic. “Replacing aging lighting, signage, and critical electrical systems will significantly enhance airfield safety and reliability, ensuring that our airport can continue to serve residents, businesses, and emergency response operations without interruption. Modern, dependable airport infrastructure is foundational to economic growth. These improvements strengthen our ability to attract business activity, support tourism, and maintain vital air access for firefighting, medical transport, and regional aviation services. We are grateful for the strong support from our federal partners, and this award underscores the importance of continued investment in rural transportation assets that keep communities like ours connected and competitive.”

“Capital improvements and major maintenance at the Albany Airport are made possible with this type of support,’’ said City Manager Peter Troedsson. “Without these grants we would not be able to operate the Airport. We’re grateful for the FAA’s funding in extending the service life of the Albany Airport runway and replacing this vital part of the airport’s lighting system.”

“The City of Condon is extremely grateful for the support the FAA is providing to Condon State Airport-Pauling Field,” said Gibb Wilkins, Public Works Superintendent/Interim City Administrator. “By updating the airport layout and resealing critical pavement, this grant is ensuring that Condon State Airport-Pauling Field remains safe, efficient, and able to serve the community well into the future.”

“We are grateful to the Federal Aviation Administration for granting these funds to install needed safety enhancements that will help the City of Ashland serve our airport users over the next decade,” said Ashland Mayor Tonya Graham.

“The role of the Burns Municipal Airport in terms of public safety is often overlooked,” said Harney County Commissioner Rob Frank. “It is an integral component of our wildfire response and emergency response for the entire region, and this investment in infrastructure is critical.”

"The main access road to the Baker City Municipal Airport is in very poor condition and has failed,” said Barry Murphy¸ City Manager for Baker City. “The project will reconstruct the road while ensuring it has the ability to accommodate larger tractor-trailer trucks that now supply most of the aviation fuel. All vehicles entering airport property use this road, so rehabilitating and enhancing the road will have a significant benefit to users of the airport and our community."


Wyden, Warren, Probe Third-Party Vendors on Disruptions to Unemployment Benefits Putting Americans’ Livelihood at Risk

Senators: “Unemployment benefits are a critical bridge for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, yet vendors’ haphazard modernization of UI systems can threaten the delivery of these benefits”

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said today they are questioning giant third-party vendors Deloitte, Thomson Reuters, and Geographic Solutions with concerns they may be providing states with error-ridden, ineffective technology for their unemployment insurance systems, disrupting benefits and harming Americans.

“Unemployment benefits are a critical bridge for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, yet vendors’ haphazard modernization of UI systems can threaten the delivery of these benefits," wrote the senators.

State unemployment insurance (UI) systems across the country have been underfunded for decades and have been strained further by the Trump administration’s massive cuts to the federal workforce. These burdens have left state unemployment agencies struggling to maintain outdated UI systems, leading them to turn to third-party, private-sector vendors to help update their UI infrastructure. But reports have revealed growing concern about vendors’ services, which have in some cases caused severe disruptions to beneficiaries’ UI.

Vendors often provide states with a one-size-fits-all system, giving them little say in its operation. They have also begun to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help determine eligibility for UI, often using tools that reportedly struggle to understand nuances in claimants’ paperwork. This had led to wrongful claims of fraud, flawed benefits determinations, and benefit payments being wrongfully put on hold. For example, Thomson Reuters’ fraud detection system was found in 2024 to have “needlessly deprived Americans of their public benefits.”

“These disruptions leave unemployed Americans without the UI benefits they need to keep up with housing, medical, and food expenses during periods of unemployment,” wrote the senators.

In 2022, Geographic Solutions experienced a cyberattack that interrupted 22 states’ workforce sites, disrupting benefits for tens of thousands of Americans across the country. Deloitte, which previously contracted with California, introduced technical errors that halted payments for 300,000 people and later cost the state of Florida $15 million after their online platform crashed.

Given this troubling pattern, the senators are pressing these massive companies on their mishandling of state UI systems, the negative consequences for Americans' benefits, and the lack of thorough oversight into these contracts.

“Instead of updating UI systems, you have profited off an ineffective product—frequently at the expense of Americans’ UI benefits,” concluded the senators.


Press Releases

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON DONALD TRUMP’S THREAT TO KILL A WHOLE CIVILIZATION


Press Releases

Rep. Aguilar Visits Inland Empire Snack Food Manufacturer Hurt by Rising Fuel Prices and Tariffs

Increasing fuel prices and tariffs on products used in snack packaging have impacted Anita’s Mexican Snack Foods

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) visited Anita’s Mexican Foods, a local family-owned manufacturer of tortilla chips, taco shells, and rolled chips, which has faced rising costs and supply chain issues caused by tariffs, the war with Iran and increased operational and equipment prices. As a private-label and co-pack manufacturer, Anita’s is absorbing much of the impact of higher production expenses, putting significant pressure on its business. You can find photos from the visit above and here.

“For decades, Anita’s has sold and distributed their products to grocery stores and restaurants throughout California and beyond,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “But now, rising costs from tariffs, the ongoing war with Iran and expensive machinery are hitting Anita’s hard. From diesel for delivery trucks, the packaging for tortilla chips, to the ovens used to bake their products, everything is costing more for Anita’s. I’m committed to working to lower prices, improve California’s air quality, roll back reckless tariffs and end the conflict in the Middle East so businesses like Anita’s can thrive.”


Rep. Ansari Statement On Temporary U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

PHOENIX – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) released the following statement on the temporary U.S.-Iran Ceasefire:

“I am momentarily relieved for the 90 million Iranians who just spent the worst 24 hours of their lives thinking they were about to face nothing short of a nuclear catastrophe—not the regime, but innocent civilians who have nothing to do with their government, and long for freedom. I’m also relieved for the American servicemembers who would have been placed in even graver danger and ordered to carry out war crimes.

“But this doesn’t change anything. Donald Trump threatened genocide and war crimes against Iranians this morning. His statements that “a whole civilization will die” and that he’ll take Iran “back to the stone ages” confirm that he is mentally unstable, unhinged, and unfit for office or any position of authority.

“It’s now day 39 of Trump’s illegal regional war that has had deadly and catastrophic consequences. There has been no clear plan or rationale, no strategy, and no Congressional authorization or input as required by the Constitution. Thousands of civilians have been tragically killed across the region, American servicemembers have died and suffered unnecessarily, and millions are displaced from Lebanon to the Gulf. Trump and Pete Hegseth have already committed explicit war crimes by bombing schools, hospitals, bridges, and water desalination plants.

“This isn’t partisan. Republicans, Democrats, and independents are waking up. Whether through impeachment or by invoking the 25th Amendment, it is far past time Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are removed from office. Cabinet officials like JD Vance will be forever tied to this war if they do nothing. We need urgent action for the sake of our national security and the safety and security of the rest of the world.

“I’m also demanding that Mike Johnson immediately call the House back into session so we can pass the bipartisan War Powers Resolution and ensure that Trump and Hegseth can never again resume this disastrous war.

“I pray this ceasefire holds, and I pray for peace and freedom for the Iranian people.”

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Arrington Applauds Trump Administration Rolling Back Costly Biden-Era Methane Rule

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule scaling back the Biden administration’s costly methane regulations for oil and natural gas producers. EPA estimates the rule will save roughly $2.5 billion over 15 years, or $208 million annually in industry compliance costs. Arrington previously led efforts in the House to reverse the rule.

“The decision by President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin to roll back the Biden administration’s job-killing Methane Rule is a major win for American energy security and working families.

“This harmful regulation imposed costly, unnecessary burdens on oil and gas producers, driving up energy prices for consumers and undermining domestic energy production.

“Last Congress, I was proud to lead the effort in the House to repeal President Biden's burdensome rule. Now that the Trump administration has taken action, Congress must codify this policy to cut bureaucratic red tape on production and unleash American energy dominance.” – Chairman Arrington.

Background:

Under the Biden administration, the EPA imposed costly regulatory requirements on oil and gas producers under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act and Subpart W of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.

Chairman Arrington introduced legislation during the 118th Congress to nullify this Biden-era rule.

On April 6, 2026, the EPA under President Trump announced a final rule that would significantly scale back this burdensome regulation, a decision which is estimated to save $2.5 billion over 15 years in industry compliance costs.

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Beyer Demands Speaker Johnson Reconvene House as Trump Escalates Sick, Murderous Threats

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today released the following statement after President Trump announced his intention to further escalate the conflict in Iran and explicitly commit war crimes by targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure:

“My Republican colleagues in Congress continue to abdicate their duty and turn a blind eye as the President makes unhinged threats to obliterate an entire civilization in clear violation of basic human decency and American ideals. This is a moral failure and cowardice of the highest order. Speaker Johnson must bring the House of Representatives back into session immediately to reclaim its constitutional authority, serve as a desperately needed check on this increasingly erratic president, and vote on a War Powers Resolution to put an end to this madness at once.

“For decades, across both parties and all three branches of government, we have collectively failed to rein in the expansion of presidential power. Authority that the Constitution explicitly entrusted to Congress has steadily been ceded to the executive, eroding one of the most fundamental checks in our system. The Supreme Court compounded this failure by granting sweeping immunity to the President, further insulating the office from accountability. Today, that unchecked power rests in the hands of an immoral and unwell man willing to wield it recklessly, and the world is holding its breath.

“We have missed multiple opportunities to stop us from careening down this awful path. Senate Republicans confirmed a longtime advocate for war crimes and war criminals to be Secretary of Defense, despite his manifest unfitness for the job. Congress failed to stop unlawful boat strikes in the Caribbean that have killed dozens, many of them innocent fishermen, and in doing so allowed a dangerous precedent to take hold. When my colleagues who served in uniform sought to remind their fellow servicemembers of their duty to oppose illegal orders, the administration's response was to attempt to prosecute and sanction them. The message from Secretary Hegseth and President Trump has been a clear and consistent endorsement of impunity for criminal acts under the color of our flag. And Republicans in the House and Senate have pulled out all the stops on multiple occasions to defeat War Powers Resolutions that would have stopped this war. Now, the President is emboldened and untethered from consequences. He is escalating threats that, if carried out, would constitute egregious war crimes committed on behalf of the United States government and the American people. This moment demands urgent congressional intervention.

“The American people are under no illusion about the gravity of this moment. They know this is not normal, not justified, and not making us safer. They expect their elected representatives to decisively act, not retreat into silence out of blind allegiance to the President.

“The House cannot continue to stand idly by as this crisis deepens. I again call on Speaker Johnson to immediately bring the House back into session and ensure that this President does not further dishonor our country by carrying out this blatantly illegal and immoral threat.”


Buchanan, Doggett Lead Effort to Establish ‘Kidney Health Officer’ to Improve Prevention and Innovation

“Establishing A Kidney Health Officer at HHS Would Build on Existing Efforts, Strengthen Prevention Strategies and Help Ensure Patients Have Access to Care Sooner.”

Lawmakers Partner with HHS to Advance Prevention, Innovation and Care for Millions with Chronic Kidney Disease

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, led a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an Officer of Kidney Health and Transplantation to strengthen federal efforts to prevent and treat chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects more than 37 million Americans.

The lawmakers are working with HHS to build on ongoing efforts by creating a centralized leadership role to better coordinate kidney care, research, education and quality initiatives across federal agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The proposal follows recommendations from the Health Subcommittee’s recent hearing on improving kidney health through prevention and innovation.

“Kidney disease is a growing challenge in our country, and we have an opportunity to work together to better support patients through stronger coordination and prevention,” said Buchanan. “Establishing a Kidney Health Officer at HHS would build on existing efforts, strengthen prevention strategies and help ensure patients have access to care sooner. We can’t afford to wait until lives are at risk—prevention must come first to stop kidney disease before it takes hold.”

“We cannot continue to treat kidney disease with 1970s-era solutions,” said Doggett. “Establishing an Officer of Kidney Health and Transplantation could provide leadership to transform kidney disease from an expensive, life-threatening burden into a manageable condition, while saving both taxpayer dollars and, more importantly, American lives.”

“A central office at HHS expressly focused on advancing kidney health could provide much-needed holistic oversight of CKD prevention work, while advancing innovation in a sector that is so desperately in need of change,” write the lawmakers in the letter. “As the risk factors for CKD include many common chronic conditions that are on the rise across the United States—including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity—the work of such an office will become all the more relevant in the coming years, aligning with an agenda to advance prevention broadly.”

Chronic kidney disease remains one of the most significant and costly health challenges in the United States, with federal spending reaching an estimated $150 billion annually. The lawmakers emphasized that continued progress in innovation, prevention and early detection will be critical to improving outcomes and reducing long-term costs. They also noted that kidney disease is often linked to other common conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity, underscoring the importance of early screening, preventive care and patient education.

In addition to being the Vice Chairman and most senior Republican on the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Buchanan is also the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, which has broad jurisdiction over traditional Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit program and Medicare Advantage.

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz,

The Committee on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing on March 18, 2026, entitled “Improving Kidney Health Through Better Prevention and Innovative Treatment,” that examined the barriers the 37 million Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) experience in accessing care to slow the progression of the disease before it becomes irreversible. In her written testimony, Suzanne Watnick, M.D., representing the American Society of Nephrology, called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an Officer of Kidney Health and Transplantation that could “coordinate kidney care, research, education, value, and quality across the myriad HHS agencies with a role in kidney health, aligning incentives, reducing duplicative or misaligned efforts, and ensuring a shared strategy for kidney health in the United States.” Such an individual could work closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the need for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) services covered through Medicare and ultimately improve patients’ long-term outcomes, while reducing costs.

Across statements from the four witnesses who participated in the hearing, one theme was clear: Innovation in the kidney sector is virtually non-existent, with treatment modalities remaining largely unchanged since Medicare began paying for dialysis treatment services for individuals with ESRD in 1973. This reality stems from both the lack of research investment in this sector, as well as market and payment incentives that support the status quo. Kidney disease costs the federal government $150 billion annually, and yet research in cures is drastically underfunded, representing just two percent of National Institutes of Health funding. And even when innovation comes to market, the incentives in place limit meaningful patient access. We can and should do more to support the millions of individuals who suffer from kidney disease, through investing in research while also ensuring access to preventive medical care, proper screening, and lifestyle- and diet-related education to advance early detection and halt the disease before it turns into ESRD.

A central office at HHS expressly focused on advancing kidney health could provide much-needed holistic oversight of CKD prevention work, while advancing innovation in a sector that is so desperately in need of change. As the risk factors for CKD include many common chronic conditions that are on the rise across the United States—including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity—the work of such an office will become all the more relevant in the coming years, aligning with an agenda to advance prevention broadly.

We think this officer could be a step toward helping the millions of Americans who suffer from kidney disease every year, and we hope you will seriously consider this suggestion. We look forward to hearing from you and stand ready to support this important initiative.

Sincerely,

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Casten Statement on Trump Threat to Destroy a "Whole Civilization"

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten released the following statement:

"The president’s threat to wipe out an entire civilization is dangerous, reckless, and would constitute a war crime under both domestic and international law. This rhetoric undermines U.S. credibility, endangers civilians, and places American personnel in untenable legal, moral, and mortal jeopardy. Anyone in the Trump Administration who acts on this threat and violates the law must be held accountable, including criminal liability.

"The urgency of the situation demands immediate action. This is the type of moment the 25th Amendment was drafted to address. The president is unfit to serve, and lives are at stake. The entire chain of command has a responsibility in this moment to step up and put their country over their loyalty to the president."

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Castor: [Trump] is unfit to lead our great country

TAMPA, Fla. - Rep. Castor responds to President Trump threatening on Truth Social "A whole civilization will die tonight..." on Tuesday, April 07, 2026, in relation to his war with Iran.

"This morally repugnant threat comes from a feckless President who is betraying his own people and our national security. Plus, he continues to inflict higher costs and more pain during an affordability squeeze. He clearly is unfit to lead our great country."


Leger Fernández Statement on Trump’s Threat to Kill a Whole Civilization

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) today called for immediate action to remove President Trump following his threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as war escalates in Iran.

"A President who threatens to commit war crimes and kill millions of civilians, profits off the destruction he unleashes, and illegally destroys the freedoms Americans cherish has clearly demonstrated that he should not lead our Nation," said Leger Fernandez. "He is unhinged, unfit, and making Americans less safe."

"Trump must be stopped. He must be removed. The Constitution gives Republicans in the Cabinet the power to remove him under the 25th Amendment. Republicans in Congress hold the power to impeach him. They have the power to stop this madness."

"What will my Republican colleagues do? Do you support his war crime threats? And if not, will you use your power to stop this?"

"Republicans in Congress will only act when all of us—especially Republican voters—make our voices heard. The people have the greatest power in our Constitution, and we must speak up now. We must demand accountability for Trump’s dangerous actions and push Republican leaders to finally have the courage to do what is right."


Reps. Fischbach, Stauber Introduce Legislation to Prioritize American Taxpayer Funds, Restrict Foreign Remittances

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-07) and Congressman Stauber (MN-08) introduced the Preventing the Repatriation of American Benefits Act in response to the fraud and national security threats exposed across Minnesota's social service programs.

This legislation is designed to ensure that federal assistance remains within the United States by restricting the amount of money noncitizens receiving federal benefits can send abroad. The bill revokes welfare eligibility for non-citizens who send more than $1,000 back to their country annually.

This comes in the wake of reports that at least $9 billion of American taxpayer dollars were siphoned off through fraud schemes in Minnesota. Investigations have revealed that millions of these defrauded dollars were sent overseas, including to the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.

"We are done watching our hard-earned money be sent overseas while the programs meant for our own citizens are gutted by fraud," said Rep. Fischbach. "This bill puts a stop to the flow of American dollars out of our country. It is time we prioritize our own communities and ensure money meant for American assistance stays right here at home."

"It was deeply disturbing to learn that millions in stolen Minnesota welfare dollars were sent back to Somalia and landed in the hands of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab," said Rep. Stauber. "Hard-earned Minnesota taxpayer dollars must help our own citizens, not foreign criminals. I'm proud to co-author this legislation with Rep. Fischbach to put an end to the madness and ensure every dollar intended for American families stays in America."

By closing the loopholes that allowed fraud to flourish, this legislation ensures that federal assistance supports vulnerable individuals and families within the United States, rather than funding criminals abroad.


Fitzpatrick Statement on Iran Temporary Ceasefire

Diplomacy must always be the objective. The reported temporary ceasefire agreement is a constructive step toward that end, and we will continue to monitor developments closely. Any measure that protects American lives and creates space for serious peace negotiations is the right course, even as caution remains warranted.

Iran has been the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism for decades. There can be no ambiguity about the threat this regime poses or what is at stake: it must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon or the means to deliver one.

We must be equally clear in drawing the distinction between a hostile regime and the people it oppresses. Our focus must remain on serious negotiations to secure sustained peace, on protecting American troops in the region—our highest priority—and ensuring rigorous congressional oversight as the situation develops.


Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher on President Trump’s Post Stating That “A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight”

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement as the United States conducts military strikes on Iran and President Trump issues grave new threats:.

"Over the past several days, the President of the United States has posted statements that are unhinged and untethered to reality. Over the past few years, we have gotten used to seeing rambling, incoherent posts on his personal, for-profit social media platform, and have worried about their content and about the conduct of United States policy—domestic and foreign—through this medium.

“Today one thing is clear: We cannot ignore them. The President’s statements are not only unhinged, they are dangerous: an escalation not only in rhetoric but in the real-world consequences. The President appears to be threatening to take actions that would not only violate international law and long-standing rules of war, he is threatening to take actions that would make the United States unrecognizable to its own citizens.

“I call on Speaker Mike Johnson to call the House of Representatives back to Washington to conduct oversight of this war and address the Constitutional issues that the President’s unhinged statements make clear. I call on all members of the Congress to remember and uphold their sworn oath to the Constitution of the United States of America. And I call on the President’s Cabinet to do the same.”


Goodlander and House Democratic Veterans Release Statement on Trump Threat to Wipe Out Iranian Civilization

Concord, N.H. – Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, a former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve, joined fellow House Democratic veterans to release the following statement:

“Words matter in times of peace, but especially in times of war. We served our country and are no strangers to war. What Trump threatened this morning — that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’ — cannot be ignored, rationalized, or dismissed. It is not ‘strategic posturing’ to threaten to annihilate an entire people. It threatens a war crime so grave that no person should condone it.

“There is no strategic justification for threatening to destroy an entire civilization, and anyone who says otherwise is unfit for office. Any elected official cheering on this rhetoric, rationalizing it as tough talk, and failing to acknowledge the gravity of what the president is threatening is simply unfit.

“We need to immediately return to DC and stop this illegal war. We took oaths to the Constitution and the American people, not a political party nor a leader. The time to do something is now, and we must act.”

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RELEASE: During Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, Gottheimer Announces New Legislation to Protect Pets From Abandonment and Abuse

Above: Gottheimer announces the “Protect Our Pets Act” with his dog Rosie.

WESTWOOD, NJ — Today, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new bipartisan federal legislation and actions,to crack down on animal abuse and ensure that those who harm or abandon animals are fully held accountable.

Speaking during Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, Gottheimer emphasized that protecting animals is about protecting communities as a whole.

Watch Gottheimer’s announcement here.

“Our pets aren’t just animals. They’re family,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “When someone is sick enough to abuse or abandon a helpless animal, it’s not just about that animal — that’s a flashing warning sign that something deeper is going on.”

Gottheimer continued, “Right now, there are far too many gaps. People dump animals on the side of highways or move them across state lines and think they can get away with it. Not anymore.”

Gottheimer concluded, “In Jersey, we don’t tolerate this sick behavior. We fight back. If you hurt an animal, there will be real consequences.”

“The worst of humanity is on display when someone abuses or abandons a defenseless animal. Families across the Hudson Valley know pets are part of the family, and they deserve to be protected. This bipartisan bill ensures there are real consequences for these horrific acts and closes the gaps that have allowed abusers to get away with it for far too long,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

Across the United States, roughly 10 million animals die each year from abuse, abandonment, or cruelty, with hundreds of thousands more subjected to unsafe and inhumane conditions. Recent cases in Sussex County, New Jersey — including dozens of dogs abandoned without food or water — underscore the urgent need for stronger federal action.

In February 2026, a 2-year-old Goldendoodle named “Jet Blue” was abandoned at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

The owner (identified as Germiran Bryson) left the dog tied to a luggage rack and abandoned..

The suspectwas arrested and charged with misdemeanors for animal abandonment, resisting a public officer, and other charges.The Goldendoodle was adopted by Officer Skeeter Black, one of the police officers who responded to the scene.

First, Gottheimer announced the Protect Our Pets Act, co-led by Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), would:

Makes it a federal crime to abandon or endanger animals on federal property or across state liness such as airports, federal parks, and train stations.

Establishes serious penalties, including up to 10 years in prison for a first offense and up to 15 years for repeat offenders.

Increases penalties for the most horrific acts of animal abuse such as crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or sexually exploiting animals.

Second, Gottheimer is leading the bipartisan FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, co-led by Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), would:

Establish a dedicated task force within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate and build cases of animal cruelty against abusers, including dogfighting, cockfighting, crush videos, and other acts of animal abuse.

Develop training resources to help local law enforcement identify and combat animal abuse in their communities.

Third, Gotttheimer is sending a letter to the DOJ and the new Attorney General, making it clear that combating animal cruelty, abandonment, and endangerment needs to be a priority.

Once confirmed, the new AG should implement the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce and ensure that the DOJ has a team of prosecutors and FBI agents that can take down animal abusers.

These federal legislation and actions help target existing gaps in state and local laws that allow abusers to evade meaningful consequences by crossing jurisdictions or exploiting weak penalties.

The Congressman also highlighted the broader public safety implications of animal cruelty, noting that it is often linked to other forms of violence, including domestic abuse and child abuse.

Data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses.

In one survey, 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.

In one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88% of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.

Gottheimer has been a longstanding advocate for animal protection, helping lead the federal PACT Act signed into law in 2019, and maintaining a perfect 100/100 lifetime score from the Humane World Action Fund.

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor Seth Victor, Bergen County Commissioner Joan Voss, and Westwood Councilwoman Erin Collins.

Below: Gottheimer announces the “Protect Our Pets Act.”

Gottheimer’s full remarks as prepared for delivery can be found here:

Good morning, everyone.

It’s so nice to be back in the beautiful town of Westwood, with some of our great leaders: Bergen County Commissioner Joan Voss, Westwood Councilwoman Erin Collins, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor Seth Victor, and, most importantly, the animals we fight for each and every day.

Look, I always say this: You can tell a lot about a community by how we treat the most vulnerable. Our children, our seniors, and, yes, our pets, too.

Because, as I’m sure many of you know, our pets aren’t just animals. They’re family. Let’s be honest: most of the time, they are easier to deal with than our actual families.

They’re the dog waiting by the door when you get home – always happy to see you, no matter what, and no teenage lip. They’re the cat curled up on your couch, while you sip your coffee. They’re family. They’re a part of our lives, our communities, and what makes Jersey the place we call home.

And here’s the truth. When someone is sick enough to abuse or abandon a helpless animal, it’s not just about that animal. That’s also a flashing warning sign that something deeper is going on.

Every year in the United States, about 10 million animals die from abuse, abandonment, or cruelty. Ten million.

And about 250,000 animals are victims of hoarding – living in conditions that are completely unsanitary, unsafe, and uninhabitable.

This is real. It’s widespread. And, it’s unacceptable.

We’ve seen it right here in our backyard.

Just two weeks ago in Sussex County, dozens of dogs were found abandoned. Thirty-two dogs. Left in crates across multiple towns. No food. No water. Just dumped like they didn’t matter. Imagine the type of person you have to be to walk away from an innocent animal, knowing they are going to suffer and possibly die because of you.

Think about that. Thirty-two dogs, helpless and alone. They were relying on people to protect and care for them, and those people failed.

I am very grateful that law enforcement helped track down and arrest those responsible, and I look forward to seeing them brought to justice. I also hope those innocent dogs find safe, loving home that they deserve.

Unfortunately, though, that’s not an isolated story.

We’ve seen dogs left on the side of the road, barely alive. Animals neglected until they’re just skin and bones — their ribcages almost bursting through their skin. This is happening more than people realize. It’s happening right here in Jersey and across the country.

Earlier this year, I’m sure you read about this story: a 2-year-old Goldendoodle, now named “JetBlue,” was abandoned by his owner at the Las Vegas Airport, after she tied him to a luggage rack and left the airport. How could someone do that?

Thankfully, the owner was later arrested and charged with animal abandonment, and the dog was adopted by a responding police officer named Skeeter. But, all she faced for ditching her dog were state misdemeanors, and she was even not required to post bond at the time of her arrest. You kidding me?

Here’s the part people don’t always connect. Animal cruelty doesn’t just happen in a vacuum.

Roughly 70 percent of people who commit domestic violence are also animal abusers. Many start by first abusing animals.

In families under investigation for child abuse, 88 percent also had evidence of animal abuse.

So, when we’re talking about animal cruelty, we’re also talking about breaking cycles of violence before they happen.

That’s why, as part of Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, I’m proud to announce new federal bipartisan legislation — the Protect Our Pets Act — to crack down on this animal abuse and finally ensure that people who commit this type of cruelty to America’s pets are truly held accountable.

The Protect Our Pets Act, which Mike Lawler from New York is co-leading, makes it a federal crime to abandon or endanger an animal when it happens on federal land or across state lines.

That means ditching or endangering a pet at an airport, a federal park, a train station, or any other federal property. It will carry a punishment that fits the crime – 10 years in prison for a first offense, and up to 15 years if you’re a repeat offender. We’re also increasing penalties for the most horrific acts of abuse. In fact, about 85 percent of people arrested for animal cruelty have prior arrests, and about 70 percent already have felony records.

So, under my new legislation, if you are abandoning, maiming, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or sexually exploiting animals, and you’re convicted, you’re going to the slammer, and I won’t feel bad about it.

Right now, under many existing state and local laws, there are far too many gaps. In Jersey, animal abandonment is just a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months. People exploit those gaps. They dump animals on the side of highways, they move them across state lines, and they think they can get away with it. Not anymore.

Second, I’ve also introduced the bipartisan FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, with Nicole Malliotakis from New York. This bill creates a dedicated task force inside the FBI focused specifically on animal cruelty. The team will investigate abuse cases, build prosecutions, coordinate with local law enforcement, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Right now, far too often, these cases fall apart because federal, state, and local agencies aren’t connected, or because the resources just aren’t there. This fixes that.

Third, I’m sending a letter to the Department of Justice and the new Attorney General, making it clear that combating animal cruelty, abandonment, and endangerment needs to be a priority. Once confirmed, the new AG should implement the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce and ensure that the DOJ has a team of prosecutors and FBI agents that can take down animal abusers.

Finally, let me just say that today’s announcement builds on progress we’ve made since I’ve been in Congress.

I proudly helped lead the PACT Act, which made extreme animal cruelty a federal crime, with penalties of up to seven years in prison. That was signed into law in 2019. It marked a big step forward, closing some major gaps in federal law — especially for cases that cross state lines.

I’m also a proud member of the Animal Protection Caucus, the Dog Lovers Caucus, and the Congressional Working Dog Caucus. I also co-chair the Law Enforcement Caucus.

Through these groups, we’ve pushed real legislation.

And, I’ve fought for Jersey families when it comes to the cost of caring for their pets, including pushing back against unreasonable pet insurance rate hikes, so it’s easier for families to keep their pets cared for and healthy.

I’m proud to have a lifetime perfect score — a 100/100 — from the Humane Society, because this isn’t a one-off issue for me. This is something I’ve consistently fought for, and are here fighting for again today.

But we’re not done, because as long as there are stories like the JetBlue in Vegas or the ones we saw in Sussex just last month. We’ve got more work to do. And, it can’t just be during Animal Cruelty Prevention Month.

In Jersey, we don’t tolerate this sick behavior. We fight back. You hurt an animal, there will be real consequences. Not just some slap on the wrist or a small fine.

I hear it all the time from families right here in Jersey. We love our pets. Families want to know they’re protected. And that’s what today is all about.

We’ll keep making sure that all animals are treated with the care, the dignity, and the basic decency they deserve. There is nothing red or blue about protecting our pets.

Here in the greatest country in the world — and especially here in New Jersey — if we continue to work together, I know that our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you, God bless you, your families, your pets, and the United States of America.


REP. HOYLE'S STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S THREATS TO IRAN

Eugene, OR – Congresswoman Val Hoyle released the following statement in response to President Trump’s Truth Social post threatening Iran:

“This is evil. Plain and simple. Pure evil. The President has stated that he plans to commit genocide against more than 100 million civilians and the infrastructure they rely on—the literal definition of a war crime.

This is an illegal war, and the President’s allies in Congress have done nothing to stop it. Mike Johnson should call us back to DC so we can do our jobs and protect the safety and security of our nation.

I am once again calling on Congress to vote on the War Powers Resolution and put a stop to this—now.”

Congresswoman Hoyle has called to invoke the 25th amendment.

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Smith Visits Mt. Zion Bible School in Douglas County

AVA, Mo. – Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) visited Mt. Zion Bible School in Ava, Missouri recently where he met with staff, toured the campus, and spoke with students about his own path to Congress and the importance of hard work and perseverance.

Congressman Smith said, “My faith has always been important to me, and schools like Mt. Zion play an important role in rural communities by providing families with an education option that reflects their values and prepares students for both life and service.

“I was privileged to have the chance to talk with students about my own journey and how I got to where I am today. I wanted them to know that no matter who you are or where you come from, if you’re willing to work hard and stay committed, you can achieve anything. Seeing the strong sense of faith, community and dedication to learning here at Mt. Zion makes me confident in the future of these students and this community. I will continue working in Washington to support schools like this for years to come.”

Originally founded in 1914 and operating continuously as a faith-based institution since 1936, Mt. Zion Bible School serves students from pre-kindergarten through high school with a focus on individualized, scripture-centered instruction. With a low student-teacher ratio and a campus spanning hundreds of acres in rural southern Missouri, Mt. Zion’s focus is to prepare students for academic success and faith-based service.

The Working Families Tax Cuts enhanced 529 savings plans, allowing families to use those funds for a wider range of educational expenses, including tuition, books, tutoring, and vocational training. Additionally, new Trump Accounts provide families with another tool to begin building long-term financial security for their children, and give them personal ownership in the success of the nation’s economy. Together, these policies are helping support families, strengthen educational choices, and invest in the future of students across southeast Missouri.


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 ON CNN: “WE NEED A PERMANENT END TO DONALD TRUMP’S RECKLESS WAR OF CHOICE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN’s Special Coverage with Anderson Cooper, where he emphasized that Democrats demand that Republicans in Congress bring the House back into session and pass a War Powers Resolution to end Donald Trump’s war in Iran permanently.

ANDERSON COOPER: Joining me now for more on President Trump’s ceasefire announcement is Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, your reaction to what we know about this ceasefire tonight.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, a two-week ceasefire is insufficient. We need a permanent end to Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice, which is why House Democrats have demanded that Speaker Mike Johnson immediately reconvene the House back into session so we can move a War Powers Resolution that will end this conflict permanently.

ANDERSON COOPER: That seems unlikely to happen. What do you actually think is gonna happen in this two-week period? What do you need to—assuming that doesn’t happen, what do you need to see happen or want to see happen in this two-week period?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Assuming it doesn’t happen this week, we’ll go back into session next week and we will present a War Powers Resolution as soon as it becomes available to us to do so as a matter of privilege on the House Floor. All we need are a handful of Republicans to join us. The American people strongly oppose this reckless war of choice and know that we should not be spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in Iran while Republicans and Donald Trump are unwilling to spend a dime to actually make life more affordable for the American people, including but not limited to, by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. It’s unbelievable in terms of their priorities, and yet we’ve seen this President’s behavior—unhinged, unpresidential, unconscionable, including the messages that he’s communicated to the American people over the last few days.

ANDERSON COOPER: Is there a scenario where the Iranian regime gains control, I mean, they have control now of the Strait of Hormuz, according to this ceasefire, if it holds, it seems like for this two weeks they will have control of it as well, and very well possibly beyond that. If Iran gains full control over passage through the Strait of Hromuz, is that an acceptable outcome to you?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it would be an extraordinary outcome, but not surprising, given the fact that what we’ve seen from Donald Trump is that he’s plunged America into this war that now involves more than a dozen countries without any plan, any objective and any exit strategy in terms of how actually this conflict improves the national security of the American people. What we do know is that as a result of Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice, life has become more dangerous for the American people and life has become more expensive as a result of gas prices skyrocketing across the country, further exacerbating an affordability crisis that are crushing everyday Americans, middle class Americans and working class Americans throughout the land.

ANDERSON COOPER: Do you think the President of the United States looks weak for having now five deadlines that he has made, this last one saying he would kill off the entire—that he would kill Iran’s entire civilization and then not following through on that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I think the President has consistently weakened America’s standing throughout the world as the leader of the free world. In fact, he often confuses friend from foe. We’ve seen him do this as it relates to how he’s engaged with Ukraine and continuing to play footsie with Vladimir Putin and Russia, who are sworn enemies of the United States of America. He never treats them in that fashion. And in terms of the outcome of the situation, which has already been very costly and deadly—more than a dozen brave patriotic Americans have lost their lives, men and women in uniform, and hundreds have been seriously injured. And the question is, to what end?

ANDERSON COOPER: Leader Jeffries, I appreciate your time. Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

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House Democratic Leadership Statement on Donald Trump's Threat to Kill a Whole Civilization

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement:

Donald Trump is completely unhinged. His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response. The House must come back into session immediately and vote to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East before Donald Trump plunges our country into World War III.

For years, Republicans have enabled and excused Donald Trump’s deeply dangerous and extreme behavior. Enough is enough. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put into harm’s way in the Middle East. Over a dozen have already been killed and hundreds injured. Gas prices are skyrocketing, the cost of living in America is out of control and billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on a reckless war of choice.

It’s time for House Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping this madness.

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Statement from Congressman Kennedy on Trump’s Threats to Iran as his War of Choice Escalates

Congressman Tim Kennedy issued the following statement today following President Trump’s latest comments on the war in Iran:

“What the American people are witnessing from Donald Trump is weakness masquerading as strength. Threatening an entire civilization with annihilation, openly discussing the destruction of life-sustaining infrastructure, and preemptively confessing to war crimes is a stunning failure of leadership.

“This war was started without the consent of the American people and without a vote of Congress. This President has no plan, no clear objectives, and no exit strategy. Working families across our nation are paying the price at the pump, the grocery store, and on their utility bills, footing the cost of a war they did not ask for and do not want.

“While this administration chooses to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on a war of choice in the Middle East, I continue to stand firmly opposed to this reckless path. I call on Congressional Republicans to put our nation above their fear of President Trump and finally exercise the authority they have under the Constitution. Speaker Johnson must immediately bring a war powers resolution to the House Floor to bring an end to this illegal war and rein in this dangerous and delusional president.”

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Rep. Mullin’s Calls For Trump’s Removal Following His Iran Statement

President Trump’s threat to Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight” is insanity, and calls into serious question his competence and fitness to serve as president.

Trump has made it clear he doesn’t care about the staggering costs of the war, which has claimed the lives of U.S. service members and thousands of civilians, further destabilized the Middle East, and plunged global economies into chaos.

Congress must unite immediately to end this war. The Constitution is clear: the power to declare war rests with Congress, and it is time for House Republicans to join Democrats in stopping this madness. The American people deserve stability, restraint, and leadership that prioritizes their security and well-being.

I fully support any legal and constitutional means to protect our country from Trump’s clearly unhinged behavior and remove him from office, including impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment. Yet I am also realistic that Republicans currently control Congress, and to truly be a check on Trump we need Democrats to take back the House in 2026.

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Landsman on President Trump’s threats to Iran

Apr 6, 2026

Children & Families

Landsman Leads Bipartisan Letter to Further Sanctions on Russian Oil Companies involved in the Abduction of Children from Ukraine

Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH) and the four co-chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Secretary of State and Treasury Secretary calling on the Administration to hold Russian companies accountable for their involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine. President Trump’s 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions […]

Mar 20, 2026

Foreign Affairs

Landsman on Iran: “It’s time to be done”

Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) released the following statement on the current state of the operation in Iran: It’s time to finish the operation in Iran. It’s time to be done. No expansion of the original operation. No ground troops. The fact is, in three weeks, we have destroyed nearly all of the regime’s […]