Senator Schmitt Introduces Bill to Better Protect Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Bill Would Strengthen Missing Persons Alerts and Expand Education and Training for First Responders

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) introduced the Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act. This legislation will enhance the national missing person alert system, as well as expand state-level first responder training and education to better protect and serve individuals with intellectual disabilities and adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“Strengthening our federal alert systems to better protect individuals with intellectual disabilities is commonsense,” said Senator Schmitt. “The Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act will improve existing protocols for disability-specific emergencies and will equip our law enforcement with the tools they need to respond appropriately and save lives.”

The Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act strengthens existing national missing-person alert systems by amending Kristen’s Act to expand the definition of “health care needs” by including developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s, and dementia, as well as the PROTECT Act to direct states to provide specialized training for first responders to better respond to missing individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) and Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.

Read the full text of the legislation HERE.

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Shaheen Statement on Vote Against Motion to Proceed on FISA

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on her vote against the motion to proceed on FISA:

“I recognize the important role that Section 702 of FISA plays in protecting America’s national security and have long supported maintaining it. However, the President is undermining extension of this critical authority by appointing Bill Pulte to serve as the acting Director of National Intelligence. America’s safety is built on having an effective and non-partisan intelligence community that will not let political considerations undermine work with life-or-death stakes. At a time when America is involved in conflicts overseas and faces threats at home, the intelligence community needs qualified and serious leadership. Bill Pulte is neither. Mr. Pulte has zero qualification for the role except for his blind political loyalty to President Trump. His complete lack of experience puts Americans at risk and runs clearly contrary to the qualifications set out in law for the position.

“Mr. Pulte must go, and I voted last night for Senator Warner’s amendment to effectively block his appointment. I’m encouraged that President Trump has indicated that Mr. Pulte will not be in this role for long, but until he departs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). I cannot support an extension of Section 702 authorities. Mr. Pulte has already demonstrated his willingness to weaponize the federal government to go after the President’s enemies, and I cannot in good conscience give him the tools to do so further. Americans deserve an intelligence community that both keeps us safe and has effective, qualified and apolitical leadership. We will not have that until Mr. Pulte leaves ODNI.”

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Slotkin Joins Bipartisan Effort to Protect Battle Creek Missions

This effort champions the preservation of missions and servicemembers, like those at Battle Creek in Michigan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Sustainment of Unmanned Systems, Total Force Aircraft Inventory, and National Guard Protection (SUSTAIN) Act. The legislation bars the Air Force from cutting MQ-9 units or personnel in any manner that would diminish their existing operational readiness.

“The MQ-9 is a proven, cost-effective platform that provides critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities,” said Senator Cruz. “In Texas, they were invaluable after the devastating July 4, 2025 floods, when the Texas Air National Guard’s 147th Attack Wing deployed the MQ-9 to support search, rescue, and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River. I am proud to introduce this legislation to protect the MQ-9’s operational capabilities and preserve this vital asset.”

“This aircraft is a critical platform for the Arizona National Guard to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance, and perform strike missions,” said Senator Kelly. “We must invest in the best tools that strengthen our national security. With this bill we’re making sure servicemembers have the equipment they need at a time of growing global threats.”

“Protecting Air National Guard missions has been a priority for me since my time in the House,” said Senator Slotkin.“The message is simple: don’t take away missions from the National Guard until you have a plan to replace it. The same rule applies here. I’m glad to have bipartisan support to protect these missions and the servicemembers that form the backbone of our military, including at Battle Creek in Michigan. The SUSTAIN Act holds the Air Force to a basic standard: show us the plan before you start cutting people and planes. Our National Guard units deserve that, and our national security will be stronger because of it.”

National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) President MG (Ret.) Francis McGinn said, “The Air National Guard’s MQ-9 enterprise provides critical combat capability, homeland defense support, and operational experience that cannot be easily replaced. Two weeks ago, the Air Force Chief of Staff referenced the MQ-9 as the ‘MVP’ of the US air campaign against Iran in Operation Epic Fury. The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) fully supports Senator Cruz and Senator Kelly’s legislation. Any effort to retire or reduce MQ-9 aircraft and units must be accompanied by a clear, funded modernization or recapitalization strategy that preserves Air National Guard MQ-9 capacity and readiness. A recapitalization plan developed in partnership with National Guard leadership will help ensure Air National Guard MQ-9 units remain ready, capable, and part of the future force.”

Read the bill text here.

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Van Hollen Statement on Republican Budget Bill to Fuel Trump’s Lawless Mass Deportation Agenda

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on his opposition to Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill to provide tens of billions of dollars in additional funding to ICE and CBP – on top of the record $140 billion Republicans gave to those agencies last year despite the fact that $100 billion of those fund remain unspent as of the end of April.

“Americans across the country are faced with skyrocketing gas prices, unaffordable health care costs, and higher prices on everyday essentials. But instead of addressing the priorities of the American people, Senate Republicans are hellbent on providing billions of dollars for Trump’s lawless ICE operations. Today, Senate Republicans once again voted to send tens of billions in taxpayer dollars to Trump’s mass deportation agenda that has caused chaos and instilled fear in our communities and has taken the lives of U.S. citizens.


Van Hollen, Hoyer, Walkinshaw Release Statement on Trump Administration Reclassification of Thousands of Federal Workers

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), co-chairs of the Federal Workforce Caucus, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s executive order reclassifying about 8,000 federal workers into the Schedule Policy/Career category, effectively tripling the number of at-will federal employees and opening the door for the Administration to carry out more politically-motivated firings without recourse for the employees to appeal.

“Americans across our country rely on the critical services that the nonpartisan, highly skilled federal workforce provides. Instead of supporting these workers, Donald Trump continues to attack them. The merit-based federal workforce is a cornerstone of our government, and this corrupt policy only undermines the quality of services delivered to the American people in favor of political cronyism. We will continue fighting back in support of our civil servants and the crucial work they do on behalf of the American people.”


Van Hollen Puts Forward Amendment with Cassidy to Turn DOJ Slush Fund into Compensation Fund Only Available to Law Enforcement Who Defended Capitol on January 6th

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in putting forward an amendment to the Republican budget reconciliation bill that would make funds from the Department of Justice “Anti-weaponization Fund” – which were previously available to violent January 6th insurrectionists – only available to law enforcement officers who were injured or faced losses as a result of defending the Capitol on January 6th as well as their families.

“The true heroes of January 6th are the men and women who put their lives on the line, defending our Capitol from violent insurrectionists. While the Trump Administration set up a taxpayer-funded slush fund to reward those who attacked them, after facing the horrors of that day, it’s our law enforcement officers and their families who deserve to be compensated for their sacrifice. Our amendment would do just that – turning the Trump Administration’s corrupt scheme into a compensation fund for those officers who were injured or faced losses as a result of January 6th, as well as their families. If my colleagues can’t vote to support this amendment, I don’t know how they can look at themselves in the mirror at night.”


Warnock Forces Vote on Transparency Surrounding Medicaid Coverage Loss

The Senator’s amendment would have required basic data on Medicaid coverage loss to be made public

The amendment was blocked on a party-line vote 52-46 with all “no” votes coming from Senate Republicans

Recent reporting found that about 1.75 million fewer kids were enrolled in Medicaid this January, a year after Congressional GOP cut $1 trillion from Medicaid

Senator Reverend Warnock: “If my colleagues have nothing to hide, they should have no problem with transparency to reveal the scale of coverage loss.”

Watch the Senator’s remarks HERE

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) put every Senator on the record pushing for the release of data surrounding Medicaid coverage loss nationwide. Recent reporting finds that about 1.75 million fewer kids were enrolled in Medicaid this January, a year after Congressional GOP cut $1 trillionfrom Medicaid. The Senator’s effort to release data surrounding Medicaid coverage loss was blocked by Senate Republicans 52-46.

“My friends on the other side of the aisle continue to falsely argue that their last reconciliation bill did not cut Medicaid, but now nearly one year after this monstrosity passed…millions of Americans, including children, are losing health insurance as they ram through another partisan bill that does nothing to make health care more affordable,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“Since Republicans refused to reverse these harmful cuts, my amendment simply asks for transparency. That’s it… If my colleagues have nothing to hide, they should have no problem with transparency to reveal the scale of coverage loss.”

Senator Warnock has long championed efforts to expand affordable health care access. Last spring, the Senator released a report finding that the best way to get the most Americans working is to invest in Medicaid, making health care accessible to eligible Americans. While work reporting requirements pushed by the GOP do nothing to bring people into the workforce and kick working people off their health care, making those working Americans more likely to stop working if they cannot access preventative care or manage chronic illness. Additionally, recent federal guidelines released by the Trump Administration will make it harder for people sick with cancer or with disabilities to keep their health care.

The full remarks can be found HERE and below:

Madam President, my friends on the other side of the aisle continue to falsely argue that their last reconciliation bill did not cut Medicaid, but now nearly one year after this monstrosity passed, I call it the one big ugly bill, millions of Americans, including children, are losing health insurance as they ram through another partisan bill that does nothing to make health care more affordable.

Just a few weeks ago, a report found that 1.75 million fewer kids were enrolled in Medicaid this year compared to last year, and earlier this week, the Trump administration released cruel guidance to states on how to implement the new Medicaid red tape requirements. In a word, they’re making it harder for sick and disabled Americans to access health care.

Since Republicans refused to reverse these harmful cuts, my amendment simply asks for transparency. That’s it.

The release of basic information on how this new red tape will restrict access to health care. If my colleagues have nothing to hide, they should have no problem with transparency to reveal the scale of coverage loss. We have disagreements on this issue, but at least we ought to have the facts, and so I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

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Warren, Blumenthal Press SSA Commissioner, Former DOGE Staffers on Alarming Whistleblower Disclosure Detailing Trump Admin Plot to “Kill Off” Millions in Social Security Database

Lawmakers seek answers from former DOGE personnel about efforts to mark as dead millions of individuals in Social Security records as part of the Trump immigration enforcement agenda

Text of Letter to Bisignano (PDF) | Text of Letter to Gracias (PDF) | Text of Letter to Koval (PDF) | Text of Letter to Rehling

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren(D-Mass.),) a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), pressed Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano and â€‹â€‹three former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers on an alarming new whistleblower account detailing Trump administration plans to mark 2.7 million people as dead in a Social Security database as part of its immigration enforcement agenda.

A former SSA career official has publicly come forward for the first time to share firsthand knowledge of actions DOGE officials took to “kill off” more than 6,000 immigrants in SSA’s records and its larger plans to mark as dead 2.7 million more individuals. The whistleblower, Jeremiah Schofield, has shared new details of conversations a DOGE staffer had about the specific motivation for this plan: either “the lives of these individuals would be ruined. . . and they would be driven to ‘self-deport’” or “they would have to go to a local Social Security office, at which point SSA field office staff would send them to DHS offices” where officials would “detain them for deportation.”

“Donald Trump has waged war on Social Security, and DOGE has been the tip of the spear, sowing chaos and corruption everywhere,” said Senator Warren. “This looks like an illegal attempt by DOGE to weaponize Social Security to carry out Trump’s cruel immigration agenda.”

“As always with the Trump Administration, cruelty is the point. Thanks to this brave whistleblower’s disclosure, we have more evidence that the Trump Administration used DOGE not just to recklessly slash government programs – they were looking for ways to purposefully hurt people, especially immigrants,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Senator Warren and I are demanding answers about how DOGE and the Trump Administration weaponized the Social Security Administration to carry out its lawless immigration enforcement agenda.”

Senator Warren spearheaded the launch of Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to protect Social Security and fight back against Trump administration attacks making it harder for Americans to access their benefits. The War Room has succeeded in stopping many harmful policies in their tracks through rigorous oversight. Senator Warren has specifically sounded the alarm on DOGE’s chaos at Social Security, last year leading senators in pressing SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano on concerns that DOGE efforts to hastily upgrade Social Security tech infrastructure could cause major disruptions for beneficiaries.

In July, Sen. Blumenthal released a PSI Minority staff report unveiling that DOGE generated at least $21.7 billion in waste across the federal government between January and July 2025. The report, “The $21.7 Billion Blunder: Analyzing the Waste Generated by DOGE,” followed a months-long investigation into Elon Musk and DOGE and detailed a comprehensive account of how taxpayer dollars were squandered by DOGE despite its ostensible goal of eliminating government waste. That report followed an April 2025 memo completed by PSI Minority staff that estimated the legal liability Elon Musk was able to avoid through his previous efforts to gut the federal workforce and exert influence over federal agencies while he was at the helm of DOGE. PSI found that Musk and his companies were able to avoid at least $2.37 billion in potential liability due to federal investigations or other regulatory actions.

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Welch on Cuba: “Nobody here or in Cuba should be under any illusions: an unauthorized, unjustified, reckless war with Cuba is where we are heading.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week delivered remarks from the Senate floor underscoring how an attack by the Trump Administration on Cuba would be another reckless and illegal use of U.S. military power. In his remarks, Senator Welch emphasized the overwhelming opposition to a war with Cuba, especially amid President Trump’s war with Iran.

“Like so many of the President’s apocalyptic predictions, there’s no sign the administration wants to negotiate a deal and Cuba has not fallen. Instead, the U.S. oil blockade—which if the tables were turned, every one of us would denounce as an illegal act of war—has absolutely paralyzed Cuba’s economy, and it’s plunged the Cuban people into darkness and into misery,” said Senator Welch. “The country is facing economic collapse, literally, and the United States is complicit in that. In fact, that’s the point of the U.S. actions. By causing Cuba’s economy to collapse and leaving millions of innocent Cubans without enough food or access to medical care, the White House hopes to create the ‘national security emergency’ it seeks to justify regime change, including, if necessary, using military force.”

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:

Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s speech:

“Cuba is a bankrupt country. It’s smaller than Virginia. It has neither the capacity nor intention to threaten the United States. Even before the Trump Administration cut off the oil, Cuba’s economy was barely functioning. Today, electricity is unavailable for most hours of the day and night across the entire island. So, this means that hospitals, schools, factories, food production have ground to a halt. Havana’s streets are overflowing with garbage,” said Senator Welch. “You know, the reason Cuba is ‘down to fumes’ is due to its own government’s repressive, failed policies and because of the U.S. oil blockade. But no American president, under any circumstances, ‘friendly’ or ‘unfriendly’, should threaten to ‘take over’ another sovereign nation that poses no imminent or credible threat to our country. And no U.S. Congress should condone such flagrant misuse of military power.”

•••

Senator Welch continued, “Nobody here or in Cuba should be under any illusions: an unauthorized, unjustified, reckless war with Cuba is where we are heading. The United States has ‘one playbook that fits all’—that’s the approach to dealing with regimes that it doesn’t like: pile on the economic sanctions, threaten to wipe them off the face of the Earth, and when that fails, attack. There’s no plan B if things don’t go as predicted, no plan for what comes next, and no plan for how to pay for it.”

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In April, Senator Welch delivered remarks from the Senate floor urging support for a War Powers Resolution to block the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Cuba and to end the Trump Administration’s illegal military blockade of Cuba. The Senator also spoke from the Senate floor in March to condemn Cuba’s leadership for persecuting political dissidents and the island’s failed centralized economy, while urging President Trump to prioritize the national interests of the United States and the well-being of the Cuban people in negotiating an agreement between the two countries.

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Welch Votes Against Blank Check to Fund ICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Early this morning, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) voted against Republicans’ budget reconciliation package, which funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without any commonsense and necessary reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Senator Welch proposed several amendments and changes to Senate Republicans’ budget package, focused both on reforming DHS and addressing the affordability crisis confronting rural America. Republicans blocked amendments to the bill throughout the Senate’s 18-hour long series of votes, including amendments to block President Trump’s slush fund, the so called “anti-weaponization fund,” which would give millions to January 6 insurrectionists.

Senator Welch released the following statement:

“The American people have asked Congress time and time again to reform the Department of Homeland Security, but my colleagues across the aisle—again—refused. Instead, they passed yet another massive funding package for ICE and CBP with no reforms or guardrails. It’s outrageous,” said Senator Welch. “The Senate made no progress on reforms to improve safety or end the president’s mass deportation campaign. The Senate made no progress to lower grocery costs, drug costs, energy costs, or anything that would make life more affordable for families. And the Senate did nothing to rein in this administration’s corruption—in fact, Republicans gave the president’s $1.8 billion slush fund a green light.”

“Our fight to reform DHS isn’t over—the president’s mass deportation campaign must end. I’ll keep working in the Senate to make meaningful, commonsense reforms to our immigration system, lower costs, and tackle corruption on behalf of Vermonters,” Welch concluded.

Senator Welch’s proposed amendments to make Americans safer and combat corruption in the Trump Administration would:

Prohibit DHS from conducting on-farm immigration enforcement activities;

Ensure that DHS is complying with all DHS Office of the Inspector General investigations;

Prohibit the use of intrusive electronic and facial recognition surveillance tools by federal immigration agencies and prohibit the use of generative AI tools by immigration agents to write incident reports related to their interactions with civilians;

Prohibit people who were convicted for actions related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, from federal employment;

Require that the Administration publish information about recidivism of recipients of individuals President Trump has pardoned;

Limit the use of FBI Director luxury travel and require the FBI to maintain a record of all flights taken by the FBI Director.

Require DHS to disclose documents related to contracts awarded to companies with deep ties to former Secretary Kristi Noem as part of her $220 million advertising campaign;

Senator Welch’s proposed amendments to lower costs and make rural America more affordable included amendments to:

Support community health centers and lower prescription drugs costs by making more drugs eligible for Medicare price negotiations;

Provide relief for farmers affected by increased costs of fertilizer, fuel, and other input costs as a result of the Iran War;

Provide funding for rural communities detrimentally impacted by a significant reduction in international tourism in 2025 and 2026;

Require that DHS prioritizes providing tariff refunds to small businesses first and provide relief for tariff-related cost increases to household staples, such as food and paperware;

Senator Welch’s proposed amendments to support clean energy and help communities recover from natural disasters would:

Help FEMA accelerate the delivery of disaster response and mitigation assistance to rural communities and allow FEMA to increase the capacity of rural communities to better respond to natural disasters;

Help FEMA implement climate and resiliency programs and prevent the Secretary of Energy from using emergency authorities to order continued use of uneconomical fossil fuel power plants;

Invest in improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure, energy efficiency, business development, and high-speed internet infrastructure in rural communities;

Lower the price of energy by extending the tax credits for solar and wind projects.

Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.

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Wyden Calls for Republicans To Put Real Surveillance Reform On the Table; Pulte Shows that No Administration Should be Given Warrantless Domestic Spying Powers

Without Reforms, FISA Section 702 Warrantless Spy Powers Will Be Abused By Pulte and other Trump Officials to Intimidate, Blackmail and Smear Trump’s Enemies

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called for Republican leaders to negotiate on real reforms to warrantless government surveillance, instead of insisting on repeating their failed effort to extend FISA Section 702 without a single meaningful reform. The Senate voted 47-52 early Friday morning against taking up a FISA extension bill.

“Americans aren’t going to stand for law-abiding people being spied on. There’s bipartisan agreement in Congress that the status quo isn’t good enough to protect Americans’ rights against abuse by the government,” Wyden said. “Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting Director of National Intelligence is a symptom of the larger problem: Warrantless FISA surveillance depends on a handful of government officials to choose not to misuse the most powerful spying apparatus the world has ever seen. Firing Pulte won’t solve the real problem. Americans are demanding real protections written into the law, not promises that the next guy will be trustworthy.

“Republican leaders have failed three times this year to pass a long-term extension of warrantless FISA surveillance without a single new meaningful protection. Instead of trying a fourth time, they should put real surveillance reforms on the table.”

Wyden has authored bipartisan surveillance reform legislation to reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and has spent decades leading the fight against the expansion of unnecessary government surveillance.

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LEADER JEFFRIES ON MS NOW:”DONALD TRUMP DOESN’T GIVE A DAMNABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFEOF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s PoliticsNation, where he highlighted the contrast between the extreme MAGA Republicans, who continue to visit chaos, cruelty and corruption on the country, and Democrats, who are fighting hard to make life better for hardworking American taxpayers.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Joining me now is the Democratic Leader in the House, the Congressman from Brooklyn, Hakeem Jeffries. Thank you for joining us again tonight on PoliticsNation, Mr. Leader. Let’s start with the spending bill. The package contains $70 billion in funding for ICE and Border Patrol that Democrats shut down the government for 43 days to block, demanding reforms that Republicans promised to consider, but never did. Money for Trump’s ballroom was stripped out in the Senate, but there’s no language in there to formally stop President Trump from setting up a so-called government weaponization slush fund, an idea he has floated, but now claims he will not follow through on. What kind of reception is this legislation going to receive from you and your Democratic colleagues?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, great to be with you, Rev. House Democrats are going to strongly oppose this $70 billion reckless Republican budget bill because we believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people in an environment where the Trump economy is crashing in real time, the cost of living is out of control, gas prices have skyrocketed as a result of this reckless and costly war of choice and Donald Trump wants to spend $70 billion in taxpayer money to continue to unleash masked and untrained ICE agents on law-abiding immigrant families, and in some cases, brutally target or kill American citizens.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, we mentioned in the open, some Republican Congresspeople are breaking with Trump’s foreign policy, casting votes against his Iran War and in favor for more aid to Ukraine. This is happening even as Trump has been successful picking off pretty much any Republican that dares to defy him in the primaries. Now that many of those primary contests are over, do you expect resistance from Trump to grow inside the GOP and are Democrats looking for ways to take advantage of these divisions?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I certainly think the closer that we get to the general election, the more likely you’re going to see more independence from House Republicans who are in jeopardy of losing their seats. Now, over the last several months, House Democrats have repeatedly advanced bills to the Floor over the objection of Donald Trump and Mike Johnson, the Speaker, in areas like extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years so that more than 20 million people would be able to afford to go see a doctor when they need one, we did that successfully. We were able to push back against a Trump executive order that wiped away collective bargaining rights for more than a million different federal employees. We were able to restore Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants. We did that with Democratic support, joined by a handful of Republicans and, of course, most recently, on the Floor this week, over the objection of Donald Trump and Mike Johnson again, we were able to pass a War Powers Resolution to try to end this reckless war of choice that Donald Trump has gotten us into in Iran, and at the same period of time, to try to impose sanctions on Donald Trump’s buddies over in Russia, starting with Vladimir Putin and the oligarchs connected to the Kremlin.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, with Republicans divided and public opinion turning against them, we would appear to be poised for a massive Democratic wave election, were it not for Republicans’ efforts to suppress the vote and change the maps in order to cling to power. We saw that effort get a clear boost from the conservative Supreme Court’s ruling this week, citing the colorblind Constitution, while allowing Alabama to go back to using an old electoral map previously ruled to be racially discriminatory. The text of the decision suggests the high court sees only a limited role in overseeing state electoral policies now that it has gutted Voting Rights Act protections. What’s the impact of all of this, in your view, and how will Democrats overcome it?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re going to take back control of the House of Representatives. We’ll need to flip about six or eight seats at the end of the day when it comes to this upcoming midterm election. And as House Democrats, we’ll continue to make our case to the American people that we’re fighting to lower the high cost of living, to fix our broken healthcare system and to clean up the corruption that’s out of control in Washington, D.C., of course, including the Trump cartel, which continues to try to run the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country. This Supreme Court decision was particularly outrageous because it overturned a decision by a three-judge panel in Alabama that declared the map that Republicans were trying to use as racially discriminatory and in violation not just of the Voting Rights Act, but of the Fourteenth Amendment. Those three judges were appointed by Donald Trump in two instances, and in the other instance by Ronald Reagan. And yet, this court ignores the facts, ignores the law, ignores the Constitution, because Supreme Court right-wing justices have become basically functional operatives for the Republican Party. That all said—we believe we’re on track to winning control of the House of Representatives. We’re going to make our case to the people. We need an overwhelming, overwhelming electoral response from people all across the country, and we’re seeing signs of that as we travel America.

REV. AL SHARPTON: So it’s going to come down to turnout in many of these areas. Staying with redistricting, you and the Congressional Black Caucus have joined the call for Black athletes to boycott SEC schools as a way to call out Southern states for their erasure of Black political representation. What can you tell us about how this effort and other efforts are going? And what have you heard from young athletes and from people in these states saying that it’s time to penalize people that would in ways redraw lines that are racially set up?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, I stood with Derrick Johnson, the NAACP, the civil rights community and the Congressional Black Caucus in support of this effort to make it clear if there’s going to be no electoral participation for African American communities—because the Supreme Court, in gutting the Voting Rights Act, has unleashed these Jim Crow-like tactics that Republicans in Southern states immediately seized upon to try to rip away the opportunity for African American communities to elect the candidates of their choice—if there’s going to be no electoral participation in these states, there should be no athletic participation at the same period of time. And there are a lot of options for young African American athletes. I know these are personal choices, but as you know, Rev., and you’ve worked with a lot of the athletes throughout the years, throughout the decades, who have stepped into the social and racial justice space, we see this as a Muhammad Ali moment. It’s a Jackie Robinson moment. It’s a Bill Russell moment.

REV. AL SHARPTON: And we hope they will step up and and do that and as we rally people—you joining us August 28th, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea King and I with a March on Washington. We have to keep rallying people. But let’s stick with sports a minute. The Knicks are up 2-0 in the Finals and it’s the first appearance in nearly 30 years. President Trump plans to attend game three at the Garden on Monday, maybe even game four. You’ve said he should stay home and let New Yorkers enjoy the game in peace. I want to play an exchange the President had with a Bloomberg reporter about why many fans won’t be able to experience the series the way he will. Take a listen.

RECORDING OF REPORTER: What do you think that the game you’re going to, the cheapest price for the game that you’re going to is $8,000? Everyday Americans can’t afford these sporting events.

RECORDING OF DONALD TRUMP: Well, I know, but they can watch it on television. It’s sort of semi-free to watch it on television, but that’s the way life goes.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, I had Spike Lee here last week. I have friends that have tickets. I may or may not go to the third or fourth game, but to act like it’s nothing expensive, these tickets, the Knicks are hot tickets, obviously, but the President doesn’t seem very concerned about why so many things feel out of reach for working Americans right now. Does he seem like there’s any empathy there at all?

LEADER JEFFRIES: There’s zero empathy, and he’s repeatedly made clear he doesn’t give a damn about the well-being, the quality of life or the personal finances, as he indicates, he didn’t give a damn about the personal finances of the American people and he continues to lean in to that particular narrative and listen, the economy is broken. The cost of living is out of control. He’s ripping healthcare away from the American people. He’s got us into this reckless and costly failed war of choice in the Middle East. And he wants to inject himself, parachute in to Madison Square Garden, where Knicks fans are trying to enjoy this moment in peace after 27 years of not being in the NBA Finals.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Finally, Leader Jeffries, we are about to speak with your New Jersey colleague, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver next. I know you were both able to enter the Delaney ICE Center—detention center in Newark last week to conduct oversight and place some pressure on Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to address the situation during the hearings this week. Last night, there were new clashes between demonstrators and private prison employees outside the facility after the city pulled back their police presence there. What needs to happen inside and outside Delaney Hall, in your view?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we need Delaney Hall to be closed. It is not a facility that operates consistent with American values. We believe that immigration enforcement should be fair, just and humane. As Representative McIver, who’s been leading this effort, has forcefully articulated, the conditions inside Delaney Hall are abhorrent. And in talking to people who’ve been detained there, in some instances, for months, that was clear to me. The reality is you have insufficient nutrition, you have insufficient medical assistance, insufficient and unsanitary living conditions. And it’s because, I believe, that this facility, like many others, is a for-profit facility. And so, corners seem to be cut in order to maximize profits, and that’s not the type of country that we should live in. And look, on the outside, we want to continue to urge people to peacefully demonstrate and protest, exercise your First Amendment rights as they exist, in terms of freedom of expression and freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but, you know, do that in a manner that doesn’t allow for the other side of the aisle to try to distract from the conditions that exist that we’re trying to change.

REV. AL SHARPTON: And that’s all it will do if you play into their hands, that the cause should stand for itself, because it’s a just cause, in my opinion. Thank you, Democratic Leader of the House, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.

Full interview can be watched here.


LEADER JEFFRIES ON FOX NEWS: “THIS IS DAY 100 OF DONALD TRUMP’S RECKLESS AND COSTLY WAR OF CHOICE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing with Jacqui Heinrich, where he highlighted Democrats’ commitment to ending Donald Trump’s war of choice in the Middle East, lowering the high cost of living and pushing back on the corruption being unleashed by Republicans in Washington, DC and across the country.

Leader Jeffries on Donald Trump’s war in Iran: We as Democrats—and Republicans—particularly in an environment right now where this is day 100 of Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice, have to be focused on ensuring, one, that we always, at all times, protect the national security interests of the American people. That’s not what’s happening right now as it relates to what’s going on in Iran. In fact, Iran is stronger now than they were before this reckless and costly war of choice was started and life is more expensive, particularly as it relates to gas prices. And so, as it relates to national security interests, I think front and center right now is ensuring that the Senate moves on the Democratic resolution that just passed the House of Representatives to actually end this reckless and costly war of choice and put the American people first, which is what the President promised that he was going to do. Not start wars in the Middle East, but stop them. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has turned around and done the exact opposite.

Leader Jeffries on Republican failure to lower costs: This Republican-controlled Congress has failed the people of this country. They promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven’t gone down. Costs have gone up. The cost of living in this country is out of control. There are far too many people of every race, of every region, all across this country who are working hard, they’re playing by the rules, but they are unable to actually thrive. They can barely survive. People are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. So as House Democrats, we’re going to continue to focus on driving down the high cost of living and addressing the problems that the American people have asked us to confront.


Nadler, New York City Local Elected Officials, Community Members Rally Against The Trump Takeover Of Penn Station

In new letterto DOT Secretary Duffy, leaders demand answers for the secret, politically driven process that resulted in the appointment of Penn Transformation Partners as the “master developer” for the Penn Station renovation

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Assemblymembers Tony Simone (District 75) and Micah Lasher (District 69), State Senators Liz Krueger (District 28) and Erik Bottcher (District 47), and New York City Councilmember Carl Wilson (District 3) railed against Donald Trump’s attempt to make New Yorkers pay for his takeover of Penn Station.

“The Trump administration has weaponized the Department of Transportation against New Yorkers in a blatant attempt to steal money, land, and power," said the lawmakers. "The Penn Station redevelopment process has broken every precedent and trampled on the rights of New York City residents and the hundreds of thousands of riders who use Penn Station every day. There has been no transparency on the overall cost, who will pay this unknown price, no input from the MTA or key stakeholders, and no public proposal over which land will be used and for what purposes now or later. New Yorkers’ voices have been muted from the discussion happening between billionaires behind closed doors.

The lawmakers continued, “Additionally, the legislation moving through Congress right now—the McDowell and Moulton Amendment—is a blatant attempt to advance the Trump agenda, hurting New Yorkers in the process. The amendment strips away local control and hands broad authority to a Trump-controlled Amtrak and his real estate developer friends. These entities, all of whom have a significant financial stake in this project, would have the ability to permanently reshape land use around Penn Station while exempting themselves from New York’s laws, weakening our tax base, and bypassing our communities. Without any discussion or negotiation, Amtrak and big real estate would now be exempt from local zoning laws and New York City real estate taxes. The current process has already shown a disregard for New Yorkers. If the McDowell-Moulton Amendment is adopted, New Yorkers’ homes and hard-earned dollars will be up for grabs by Donald Trump and the billionaires and multinational corporations he handed this project to. This is an infringement on local authority and New Yorkers' pocketbooks."

"We represent Penn Station, the riders who rely on the transportation it facilitates, and the community members who live here. We will never stop fighting to make sure their voices are heard, and their hard-earned dollars are protected from corrupt efforts to fulfill Donald Trump’s fantasies for Penn Station and New York City,” said the lawmakers.

"Before anything else, Penn Station's rebuild should save commuters time and money," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "A secret selection process and legislative land grab are the opposite of the transparency and accountability riders deserve. We must have reassurance that riders' needs aren't taking a back seat to private ambition. With so much at stake for millions of people far beyond the West Side of Manhattan, it's essential that New York leaders have a seat at the table to protect what belongs to riders and advance our needs throughout the renovation.”

"My New York City neighborhood, including all of Block 780, should never have been under the threat of destruction by former governor Cuomo or the Amtrak, MTA and NJ Transit Railroads and their allies including the RPA for an unneeded, horrendously expensive, outdated and inefficient terminal track southern expansion of Penn Station. The case for this destruction of a vibrant New York City neighborhood was never made as industry standard Rail Traffic Controller dynamic modeling simulations were never performed. These simulations should have been used to determine if through running plans could meet future capacity needs within the existing footprint of Penn Station before an expansion was even considered by the Railroads and their allies. Such simulations have or are being performed for every other capacity expansion proposed for Penn Station including Penn Access and the Empire Corridor. No government agency — federal, state or local — should ever be able to demolish an entire neighborhood and waste so much taxpayer money to build an expansion train station when these simulations haven't been performed. We have and continue to ask the DOT and others for transparency on this issue. If the Railroads have performed such simulations, it is time for them to stop wordsmithing objections to their production and share the results with the public. If Andy Byford and the Penn Transformation Partners are sincere in their promises to see our neighborhood spared we hope they will see to it that RTC simulations are performed and the matter of the need for a southern expansion of Penn Station is finally put to rest," said Eugene Sinigalliano, 251 West 30th Street Residential Tenants Association.


Crapo Statement on Pentagon Decision to Omit Latter-day Saints from Christian Designation

"The move by the Pentagon to leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints off its list of Christian religions is confounding and unacceptable. Regardless of one's own religious philosophy, you will find Latter-day Saints, whose foundational beliefs are centered on Jesus Christ, among the most patriotic individuals in our country, serving not only in the military, but throughout various government departments and around the world. I join with my colleagues and fellow Idahoans calling on the Pentagon to make an immediate correction."


Alford Advances $1.6 Million for Cass County Digital Forensics Unit

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027. Through his role on the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) secured $1,597,750 to modernize the Cass County Sheriff’s Digital Forensics Unit in the House-passed legislation.

This targeted investment will construct a secure addition to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office to address growing demand for digital evidence processing by providing updated laboratory space, climate-controlled evidence storage, upgraded infrastructure, and specialized forensic equipment to support law enforcement investigations.

“Through our work on the Appropriations Committee, we’re pursuing targeted investments for reasonable projects in the Fourth District focused on healthcare, law enforcement, and infrastructure,” said Congressman Alford. “I was proud to secure this funding for the Cass County Digital Forensics Unit. By modernizing and expanding the unit’s capability, we’re helping bolster public safety and protect our most vulnerable through the work of the Western Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Together, we will turn the ‘Show Me State’ into the ‘Grow Me State.’”

“I am very appreciative of Congressman Alford's work to secure funding for this project. It will directly strengthen our ability to protect children and support our partner agencies,” said Cass County Sheriff Jeff Weber. “Expanding our forensic capacity means faster analysis, quicker identification of offenders, and better outcomes for victims.”

Digital evidence now plays a role in nearly every major investigation. In 2025 alone, the Digital Forensics Investigative Unit processed 589 devices totaling 127 terabytes of data. Investigators assigned to the 7 county Western Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received 245 cyber tips, opened 190 investigations, and identified 36 child victims. Current facility limitations contribute to backlogs that can delay arrests, victim identification, and court proceedings.

Here’s what other Cass County elected leaders are saying about this critical federal investment:

“We are grateful to Congressman Alford for securing this funding to help protect children in Cass County and across western Missouri,” said Cass County Presiding Commissioner Bob Huston. “This investment strengthens the work of law enforcement and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force by providing the tools needed to investigate crimes against children, identify offenders, and help keep our youngest and most vulnerable citizens safe.”

"Public safety is a top priority,” said Missouri State Rep. Sherri Gallick (District 62). "Without safe communities, families, businesses, and economic growth cannot thrive. Thank you to Congressman Alford for securing this important investment for Cass County. Modernizing the Digital Forensics Unit will strengthen investigations, preserve critical evidence, and enhance law enforcement’s ability to keep our communities safe.

“I wish to convey my profound thanks to Congressman Alford for his unwavering support of Law Enforcement, especially his instrumental role in securing funding for the Cass County Sheriff's office to upgrade their digital evidence storage and processing capabilities,” said Missouri State Rep. Bill Irwin (District 55). Drawing from my experience as a retired Lees Summit Police Officer and my current role on the Crime and Public Safety Committee in the House of Representatives, I recognize the pivotal role this plays in ensuring the successful prosecution of crimes and protecting our citizens. Thank you, Congressman Alford, for your exceptional service; please keep up the fantastic work.”

“We greatly appreciate and strongly support Congressman Alford’s efforts to secure funding in the Agriculture Appropriations bill for the modernization of the Cass County Sheriff’s Digital Forensics Unit. This investment is especially important for a county like ours, where many of our communities are rural and often face unique funding challenges for such things. These improvements will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate crimes, protect victims, and support the critical work of the Western Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,” said Harrisonville, MO Mayor Mike Zaring.

“We appreciate Congressman Mark Alford’s continued leadership and commitment to representing communities of all sizes across our region. We are fortunate to have a representative who is so accessible and willing to advocate not just for larger cities, but also for the needs of the smaller rural municipalities,” Mayor Zaring continued. “His efforts are crucial in making sure all communities have a voice and access to the resources needed to remain safe and secure.

Community Project Funding is a way for Members of Congress to direct federal money to specific local projects in their districts as part of the annual appropriations, or government funding, bills. This gives Members a tool to address real community needs, with new rules aiming to reduce waste and increase transparency compared to the previous earmark process.

Congressman Alford is the only Missourian on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which controls the purse strings for the entire federal government. Through this role, Alford secured almost $23,000,000 in targeted investments in Fiscal Year 2026 for the Fourth District to help turn the “Show Me State” into the “Grow Me State.”

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Arrington Testifies on Reconciliation Package Funding ICE and CBP

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) testified before the House Rules Committee in support of the Secure America Act to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Click HERE to watch.

Remarks as Delivered:

Democrats reneged on funding the government. They had one of the longest shutdowns ever, second to only the one prior to this over a COVID-era, fraud-ridden tax or subsidy expansion.

This was 76 days that the American people had to have a Homeland Security service and apparatus go dark. We didn't have our Coast Guardsmen to defend our ports against terrorist attacks. We couldn't enforce immigration laws and protect our border from drugs and people being trafficked into this country. We didn't have CISA agents being able to man their posts so that our critical infrastructure wasn't hacked.

We can say that this is Republicans' attempt to make good on our good-faith negotiation the first time and to make sure that our brave law enforcement officers have the tools they need to do the job that Joe Biden and the Democrats, when they had total control of this town, absolutely didn't do.

They abdicated the first and most important job of the federal government, which is to provide for the common defense. They didn't secure our border. They didn't enforce our laws. And we had a record deluge of drugs, people, crime, gangs, people on the terrorist watch list, people from countries of interest—record.

And it was destroying the fabric of this country, and it was putting at great risk every neighborhood, in every community, in every city and state in this nation.

This president, Donald J. Trump, was elected—in every swing state, popular and electoral vote—to clean up this mess.

You have rogue cities and states that refuse to work with our law enforcement to actually enforce the law. They would rather break the law and harbor people who have broken the law to come to this country rather than work to identify the most hardened criminals so that we can deport them and we can get back to rule of law, regular order, peace, tranquility—the things the American people expect us to do up here for them, of all parties, across the board.

So, yes, you're right. It is an all-Republican exercise, because I can't find a Democrat that would stave off a 22% tax hike, and I can't find one that's willing to enforce the law as it relates to immigration, secure the border, and actually take the criminal elements that have come into this country, like the people who came into this country illegally by the millions, and actually rid our great country of those threats.

If we could, we wouldn't be here.

All you have to do is listen to all the litany of statements that have been made. Governor Tim Walz says ICE officers are a threat to the public, ‘modern-day Gestapo.’ Governor Pritzker says that ICE is turning the country into Nazi Germany. They are the ‘reign of terror’—John Hickenlooper. Chuck Schumer said ICE doesn't belong in our neighborhoods.

I mean, think about the incendiary rhetoric. Think about the seeds that have been sown of obstruction and resistance that have made it nearly impossible to do the job of cleaning up the streets of our cities because of what's happened over the last four years under the Biden administration and Democrat control.

So, it's been impossible.

And we're working better together because we're talking and coordinating. That's what Texas does. That's what Florida and other states do. We never had any of the problems of Minnesota.

But I think it's reckless and irresponsible, and it's insulting to have these labels attached to our brave men and women who risk their lives to enforce the laws. We're going to give them the resources they need.

Listen, what we're also going to do is [fund our law enforcement] for three years so that Democrats can't use [these men and women] as leverage, Homeland Security as leverage, and the American people's security as leverage in a shutdown again.

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Castor Urges Quick Delivery of Home Energy Rebates to Lower Costs for Florida Families After Months of Delays

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today called on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Gov. DeSantis and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson to move quickly to deliver $346 million in long-delayed savings she championed for Florida families.

The rebates are designed to help families lower their monthly utility bills through home energy-efficiency improvements, weatherization upgrades and more efficient appliances.

“Floridians are paying too much for nearly everything right now—from housing and insurance to groceries and utility bills. Energy costs remain a significant burden for many families, especially during Florida’s long, hot summers when air conditioning is a necessity,” said Rep. Castor. DOE finally released updated guidance last week for the Home Energy Rebates Program that should allow states to distribute rebate savings to Floridians. The updated guidance is an important step in getting long-overdue savings to Florida families as they grapple with an intense affordability squeeze.”

DOE’s updated guidance explicitly contradicts U.S. law by imposing new restrictions that limit consumer choice and create barriers to adoption. DOE’s decision to issue guidance that conflicts with the law is another attempt to thwart energy efficiency savings for consumers. At every turn, the Trump Administration has sided with polluters and special interests to the detriment of hardworking Americans. Nevertheless, the home rebates still provide a significant opportunity to help families reduce costly energy waste, improve home comfort and lower monthly utility bills.

Florida is slated to receive approximately $346 million through the Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) initiatives. The funding was secured through legislation championed by Rep. Castor and included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Florida’s funding was approved in January 2025, but implementation has been delayed by the Trump Administration since then. Rep. Castor is encouraging both federal and state officials to quickly complete any remaining steps so Floridians can begin accessing the savings as Congress intended.


Castro Pushes to End Child Detention and ICE Secrecy in Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) submitted two amendments to the Senate’s $70 billion reconciliation package, to end child detention and to reverse ICE’s policy that makes it harder for Members of Congress to meet with detained individuals.

“Under Donald Trump, ICE has become a rogue and abusive agency. Masked agents are brutalizing our communities and locking away our children. ICE has become more secretive and has imposed punitive restrictions on Congressional oversight visits. My amendments would require ICE to facilitate meetings among Members of Congress and people in ICE facilities and end the detention of kids altogether. Child detention is leaving a dark stain on our nation’s history, and we must push back against the administration’s inhumane treatment of our most innocent,” said Congressman Castro.

Background:

Congressman Castro has visited the Dilley Detention Center six times this year to conduct congressional oversight, report on conditions, and push for the release of detained individuals including children, women, men, and their families. As of the end of May, there are 97 children at the Dilley trailer prison, many of whom have been detained for longer than the 20-day limit for child detention as directed by the 1997 landmark Flores Settlement Agreement. Read the Prohibition of Family Detention (Amendment No. 115) amendment here.


Fox News Op-Ed by Rep. Smith'Tiananmen Square tank man taught us to stand up against the worst of China'

By Rep. Chris Smith

Published June 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM EDT

This past June 4, we marked the 37th somber anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, where millions of Chinese citizens peacefully and earnestly asked for political reform and democratic openness. Instead, their hope was met with tanks.

On that awful day, the Chinese Communist Party unleashed the People’s Liberation Army on these peaceful demonstrators. Mothers lost sons. Fathers lost daughters. And China lost an idealistic generation.

Over three decades later, and China has still not accounted for those killed, imprisoned, or disappeared, instead endeavoring to erase a massacre the world must never forget. But, despite the CCP’s best efforts, Tiananmen cannot be erased.

The enduring image of that day is the Tank Man, the solitary figure standing before a column of tanks. His courage reminds us that the desire for freedom is not Western, not foreign, and not imposed from outside — rather, it is universal.

As I have said before, a choice has to be made by us all: you either stand with the Tank Man, or you stand with the tank. There is no middle ground. And there is no middle ground in the issue of transnational repression.

The same Party that tried to crush truth at home now tries to chase and snuff out the truth abroad. The tactics and technology have changed, but the reach has expanded.

Inside China, the CCP uses surveillance, censorship, prison, torture, forced disappearance, and fear to maintain power. Now, what happens in China no longer stays in China. The Party wants to control what is said about China here and control who says it.

As both Chair and Co-Chair of the CECC over the past several years, I have warned about the CCP’s documented and consistent pattern of global abuses stretching outside of China’s borders, beginning with Confucious Institutes in 2014.

Over time, tactics have become more digital and more ruthless: detaining family members in China, doxxing, spyware, deepfakes, Hong Kong bounties, and illegal police stations, right here in the United States. The purpose, however, is the same: to make people afraid to speak the truth — by almost any means necessary.

Transnational repression is part of a broader, interconnected CCP strategy that targets and threatens Americans. It is outrageous and absolutely unacceptable, and it must end.

We see the CCP’s strategy in scam networks that steal from US citizens, fentanyl that poisons our cities, PRC-linked land purchases near military installations, efforts to corrupt our politicians and elections, steal private personnel and biometric data, and intellectual-property theft from businesses and universities.

These may look like separate problems, but they share a common purpose: to exploit our openness, gather leverage, weaken our institutions, spread propaganda, and make Americans pay a price for standing up to Beijing. Transnational repression is the most personal form of that strategy. It brings the pressure campaign to the doorstep of the student, journalist, dissident, artist, and family member. That is why state and local responses matter.

A victim may first call local police, a student may go to a university official, a state attorney general may see the pattern, and a state legislator may realize existing law does not fit the threat. But do local officers recognize this threat, do universities know how to protect students, do states have the tools they need, and does the federal government have a real strategy?

Today, I am working with Chairman Sullivan, Senator Merkley, and Representative McGovern on the Transnational Repression Policy Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would define the abuse, improve coordination, train officials, support targeted communities, and hold perpetrators accountable.

If the CCP threatens people here, there must be investigations and prosecutions. If it reaches across our borders to spread fear, there must be sanctions. If it takes family members hostage to silence a critic, we will demand their release and expose the cruelty of that tactic. And if it tries to censor a free people, we will defend and spread the rights Beijing fears most: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and the right to tell the truth without fear.

A regime that fears a student’s question, a refugee’s protest, an artist’s statue, or the simple memory of Tiananmen is not a strong and confident superpower. It is afraid. And fear in the hands of a dictatorship is dangerous. It becomes coercion. It becomes censorship. It becomes repression that crosses borders and reaches into our communities. So, our response must be unmistakable.

Because in the United States of America, unlike in China, no one needs the Party’s permission to speak, to worship, to protest, to remember, or to be free.


Holding Nicaragua’s Murillo-Ortega dictatorship accountableRep. Smith applauds Sec. Rubio, President Trump for imposing visa restrictions on 100+ Murillo-Ortega dictatorship officials

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and author of the Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2026 (HR 7055), issued the following statement in response to the State Department’s announcement today that the U.S. has imposed additional visa restrictions on more than one hundred Murillo-Ortega dictatorship officials and their family members:

“The brutal Murillo-Ortega regime continues to eviscerate the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of the Nicaraguan people. Today’s actions by the Department of State are a welcome step in furthering accountability for authoritarian dictators in Latin America.

“President Trump and Secretary Rubio are sending a clear message that the United States stands with the Nicaraguan people, will not tolerate the Murillo-Ortega regime’s extreme repression of non-violent individuals, and will hold those responsible who were complicit in the death of Brooklyn Rivera and the detention of his family members.

“For far too long, the Murillo-Ortega regime has suppressed civil society—especially the Catholic Church, which has been the focus of congressional hearings I chaired in 2021, 2022, and 2023—conducted extra-judicial killings of activists, and brazenly stolen millions of dollars that rightfully belong to the Nicaraguan people. All tools available must be used to hold corrupt regime officials accountable for their role in oppressing the Nicaraguan people.

“The Trump Administration continues to demonstrate the resolve of the United States in securing a free future for the Western Hemisphere and holding dictators accountable to the rule of law.”

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HR 1744, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026House overwhelmingly passes Smith bill to reauthorize and strengthen U.S. international religious freedom board

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 1744), legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to extend and authorize annual appropriations for USCIRF through fiscal year 2028.

During the floor debate on HR 1744, Smith reiterated the necessity of continued federal funding for the Commission: “USCIRF’s high-quality reporting and high-profile commissioners influence the State Department’s work on religious freedom, making it more transparent, honest and effective.

“The Commission defends the universal right to freedom of religion abroad. It sponsors hearings, fact-finding trips, and reviews reports of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations,” the leading human rights lawmaker continued.

USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency designed to promote religious freedom, was created through the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 (PL 105-292), of which Smith was an original cosponsor. The law instituted a strong, coordinated U.S. government response for addressing and combatting worldwide religious persecution, establishing numerous religious freedom-focused offices and positions at the State Department and the National Security Council.

“[The IRFA of 1998] created a system for naming and taking action against Countries of Particular Concern, or CPCs,” Smith said on the House floor. “History has shown that when the U.S. elevates religious freedom and that priority is conveyed to Countries of Particular Concern, conditions often change for the better, prisoners of conscience gain their freedom and progress is made toward freer exercise of religious liberty.”

Smith is also the author of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (PL 114-281), which updated the IRFA of 1998 to enhance and expand United States’ actions to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts.

“Since its founding, USCIRF has issued 27 annual reports and recommended that 26 countries be designated CPCs—18 of them have ultimately been designated by the State Department,” noted Smith, who has chaired more than 30 congressional hearings on the state of religious persecution throughout the globe.

A notable and recent example of the State Department implementing USCIRF’s recommendations for CPC status is the case of Nigeria, where thousands of Christians and non-radical Muslims are executed by Islamist extremists for their religious beliefs every year.

“USCIRF recommended Nigeria for the CPC list in 2009 and has done so every year since. But, the Obama Administration would not make the designation,” stated Smith. “The first Trump Administration got it done in 2020, but the Biden Administration returned to the Democratic position of attributing this horrific modern martyrdom to climate change and tribal conflict.

“The second Trump Administration restored Nigeria to the CPC list last year. Through it all, USCIRF recommended CPC status, calling it like it is and pulling no punches,” asserted the senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“USCIRF is a genuinely independent force, a constructive influence on the State Department… USCIRF is important to millions of people of all faiths. I therefore ask all our colleagues to join us in reauthorizing it for two more years,” concluded Smith.

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CREATORS CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS, REPS. CLARKE and VAN DUYNE, HOST FIRST-EVER CREATOR ROW ON CAPITOL HILL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 8, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

More than 30 creators, eight major platforms, and a university joined lawmakers and congressional staff to showcase the growing creator economy

WASHINGTON, DC – Creators Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) hosted the first-ever Creator Row: A Creator Economy Showcase on the Hill, partnering with eight digital platforms – bringing together more than 30 creators and a university, for a first-of-its-kind showcase highlighting the growing creator economy across the nation.

The Creator Row was designed to give Members of Congress and congressional staff a firsthand look at the creator economy, the innovators who drive it, and the challenges they navigate daily. Today’s creators are entrepreneurs and small business owners, managing complex tax obligations, adapting to evolving trade policies, and operating within a rapidly changing digital media landscape.

This event provided participants the opportunity to engage directly with creators, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges shaping today’s creator economy. Brief remarks from the Co-Chairs, Members, and participating creators framed the discussion and highlighted the growing importance creators play as drivers of innovation, economic growth, and civic engagement.

Attendees heard remarks from Co-Chair, Rep. Van Duyne (R-TX), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX), and two creators. To watch these remarks, click here.

“The creator economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our modern economy, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure creators have the resources, protections, and opportunities they need to succeed. As digital entrepreneurs continue to reach billions of people globally, their work is driving innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening communities here at home and abroad,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “Through the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus, we’ve created a first-of-its-kind forum for creators, industry leaders, and policymakers to work in tandem on the opportunities and challenges facing this new generation of small business owners. Creators’ voices deserve to be part of the policymaking process, and my colleagues and I are committed to ensuring their experiences help shape policies that support their continued growth and success.”

“The creator economy is empowering opportunities in every corner of America. From small towns to major cities, America is filled with creators building their brands and businesses, hiring local talent, contributing to their communities, and reaching audiences around the world,” said Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne. “The first-ever Creator Row demonstrated the value of bringing together creators, platforms, and policymakers to strengthen the future of the creator economy.”

“Online content creation is a rapidly growing industry that is supporting livelihoods across the country. I am proud to be a member of the bipartisan Congressional Creator Caucus to help creators navigate the unique challenges they face,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner.

“Creators are workers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, and it’s long past time their voices had a real seat at the table.” Rep. Horsford explained. “Hearing directly from creators, seeing firsthand the challenges they navigate and the communities they’ve built, is not just valuable, it’s essential to getting policy right. The creator economy isn’t a trend, it’s a driving force in our economy and our culture. The Creators Caucus exists to make sure that as this economy grows, creators aren’t left behind and that the legislation we pass reflects the reality of the people living it. I look forward to continuing these conversations and to the work ahead.”

“Adobe was honored to join the Congressional Creators Caucus at Creator Row to hear directly from creators around the country about the opportunities and concerns that they see in a rapidly evolving creative landscape. Our fundamental mission is empowering everyone to create, and we are grateful to Representatives Van Duyne, Clarke, and the Creators Caucus for their leadership in working to protect the interests and livelihoods of the creative economy.” – Karen Robinson, Senior Vice President, Adobe

“Creators are driving economic growth and innovation in congressional districts across the country. The Creator Economy Showcase on the Hill was an incredible opportunity for lawmakers to hear directly from creators about the unique opportunities and hurdles they face daily. We thank the House Creators Caucus for elevating these voices to ensure that future policies support the small businesses and independent workers who power the creator economy.” – Alexandra Veitch, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Americas, YouTube

“We appreciate the Creator Caucus for allowing creators to share the challenges they face every day – and to demonstrate how innovative tools like our AI glasses help them overcome these challenges. Conversations, like these, allow leaders to understand how new technology is helping small businesses thrive by streamlining tasks and making more time for creativity.” – Andrea Vega Yudico, Innovation Policy Lead, Meta

“We are proud to showcase TikTok’s thriving creator community to the Congressional Creator Caucus. Across the United States, TikTok enables creators to share their passions, build communities, and turn creativity into opportunity, while helping 8.5 million U.S. businesses reach customers and grow. We are grateful to the Caucus for recognizing the important economic impact these entrepreneurs bring to the American economy.” – Nicole Nason, Head of Public Policy, TikTok U.S.

“Creator Row was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when creators have a seat at the table. Patreon came to Capitol Hill with our creators front and center. This is a constituency that deserves recognition, and watching members of Congress engage directly with creators’ work and stories made that even clearer. We’re proud to have been part of this moment alongside the Congressional Creators Caucus and look forward to what comes next.” –Courtney Duffy, Head of External Affairs & Chief of Staff, Patreon

“The Creator Economy Showcase demonstrated what’s possible when Congress moves fast and meets the moment with technology, media, and policy. Creators are the small business owners of the present and the future. Substack is committed to empowering creators and working with the Creators Caucus to protect their livelihoods. This is the way.” – Catherine Valentine, Head of Politics, Substack

“Creators and their independent voices are essential to today’s digital ecosystem. Rumble was built to empower, support, and amplify these voices, with a commitment to free expression and fair monetization. We commend the Creators Caucus for fostering the growth of the creator economy through initiatives like Creator Row.” – Abbie Sumbrum, Director of Government Affairs

“Syracuse University is committed to preparing students for fields that are evolving in real time—a philosophy underscored by our work building the trailblazing Center for the Creator Economy. We are honored to be the only university invited by the Congressional Creators Caucus to participate in the Creator Row event, a dynamic opportunity to showcase the potential of the creator economy. Thank you to Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke for recognizing the important role higher education plays in this national conversation. Through the Center for the Creator Economy, Syracuse University is proud to help students build the skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to shape what comes next.” – Mark J. Lodato, Dean, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University

“The U.S. entertainment industry has entered a new era. People no longer need to move to the coasts to make it – they can build a media career from their hometown in Arkansas, North Carolina, Vermont, or Texas. Local economies across the country are sharing in the $110 billion-plus opportunity from the creator economy as creators launch media careers, employ teams, and build studios in every state.” – Carly Munnelly, Head of Public First’s U.S. Practice, Public First’s June 2026 Report

“As someone who educates healthcare content creators on ways to use social media to inform the public about health information, I was excited to share my work with legislators. They listened and were curious about the need for healthcare content creators to feel protected and supported while countering health misinformation online. They also validated the need for more formal education when helping younger content creators to navigate this industry safely and under the supervision of parents and caretakers in order to prevent negative outcomes. I felt hopeful about the future of the creator economy after this event. Creators are entitled to safe workplaces where they feel protected, respected, and valued. This event gave me the reassurance that one day, creator workplaces will be recognized as being just as valuable and essential as traditional workplaces.” – Dr. Judith Fiona Joseph, M.D., M.B.A

Background

In 2025, Representatives Yvette D. Clarke and Beth Van Duyne launched the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus to recognize, support, and empower the rapidly expanding creator economy. The caucus brings the voices and perspectives of online content creators into the public policy arena to educate Members of Congress on the unique challenges they face as the new start-ups of the modern economy.

Creator Row represents the caucus’s first on many events, highlighting the creators, creator-led small businesses, and institutions driving growth in communities across America.

Click here to watch the Creator Row livestream.

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Clyburn, Van Hollen, Carson, DeLauro, Johnson, Khanna, Nadler Lead 119 Democrats in Condemning the Anti-Muslim “Sharia-Free America Caucus” and Harmful Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Chair of the Democratic Faith Working Group, and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), with Representatives Andre Carson (IN-07), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Hank Johnson (GA-07), and Ro Khanna (CA-17) led 119 Democratic Members in a letter condemning the establishment of the bicameral, anti-Muslim, self-styled “Sharia-Free America Caucus,” which would promote legislation that discriminates against the faith tradition of American Muslims. Ugly voices are growing louder and threatening to strip away our First Amendment rights to freely practice our faith and to violate the Constitutional prohibition of government picking one religion over another. We must oppose efforts to spread racist and xenophobic misrepresentations that sow more ignorance and hate.

The premise underlying this caucus and the measures associated with it reflects longstanding Islamophobic narratives and anti-Muslim sentiment rather than any demonstrated policy need.

In their letter, the lawmakers denounced the hateful caucus and urged leadership to speak clearly against initiatives that discriminate and stigmatize against any religious community.

“To be clear, American Muslims serve this nation in every capacity and are entitled to the same constitutional protections as all other Americans. They are guided by both faith and civic responsibility to respect the U.S. Constitution, follow the law, and contribute positively to their communities and to the nation they call home. Congress must not legitimize anti-Muslim proposals that undermine those protections or foster division among the people we represent.”

The lawmakers condemned the following legislation associated with the “Sharia-Free America Caucus”:

Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act (H.R. 5722 / S. 3009)

No Shari’a Act (H.R. 5512 / S. 3008)

Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act (H.R. 7611)

The lawmakers continued, “These proposals address no identifiable gap in U.S. law and raise serious constitutional concerns. The U.S. Constitution already makes clear that federal and state law govern civil and criminal matters, and courts have repeatedly invalidated measures that single out a particular religion for disfavored treatment.

“Sharia, like Catholic canon law and Jewish Halakha, is a system of personal religious guidance developed through centuries of religious scholarship. For American Muslims, it primarily governs matters of faith and ethics, such as prayer, charity, honesty, family responsibilities, and service to others, and does not supersede U.S. law. Islamic teachings emphasize that Muslims should honor the laws of the country in which one resides.”


TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks on Republican Reconciliation 2.0 Bill, Discusses Republican Priorities, Camp East Montana, ICE & CBP Funding

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) provided testimony during the House Rules Committee hearing on S.2, the FY2026 Budget Resolution (also known as Reconciliation 2.0). This legislation passed in the Senate last week and is to be considered in the House this week.

In her opening remarks, she spoke about Camp East Montana, the $1.8 billion slush fund Donald Trump continues to advocate for to pay off domestic terrorists, hypocrisy by Republicans proudly supporting this legislation, and more.

Congresswoman Escobar also had several follow up interactions with the Rules Committee. In the first, she was asked by Democratic Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon to further discuss the waste, fraud, and abuse she’s seen with ICE and CBP, particularly in regards to Camp East Montana. In the second, she discusses with Representative Teresa Leger Fernández what she believes the purpose of the Republican legislation is. She also responds to several Republican talking points about the bill.

The videos can be found here (opening remarks), here (first follow up), and here (second follow up), and a transcript of all of the Congresswoman’s speaking roles can be found below:

Opening Remarks

House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx: Representative Escobar, you’re recognized.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Madam Chair and Madam Ranking Member.

Let's bring some facts back into this room. I want to begin by saying it's a privilege for me to serve on both the House Budget and Appropriations Committees. I serve on the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which is where we should be talking about appropriations. But unfortunately, Congress is helping the president take away our obligation and duty to fund the government through this reconciliation bill.

I want to remind everyone here and everyone watching that the One Big, Beautiful Bill provided $140 billion - billion with a B - for CBP and ICE. It increased our deficit by $4.7 trillion - trillion with a T - and the Department of Homeland Security still has $100 billion left. $100 billion. There is money in the bank, and Republicans want the American taxpayer to give them $70 billion more in order to blow up the deficit even further.

I want to talk about also what this money - what the One Big, Beautiful bill money - has unleashed in our country. And I want to begin by by saying I live on the US-Mexico border. I am one of a handful of members of Congress that actually live on the border. No one wants a safe, secure border more than those of us who live there. Those of us who raised our families there. Those of us who go home every weekend.

But what the reconciliation dollars are doing is not creating a safer or more secure country. In fact, this money has unleashed abuses that U.S. citizens are offended by. If you look at President Trump's polling numbers, you will see that American voters, American people, do not like the way this administration is unleashing those dollars against our very own fellow citizens.

In fact, as a result of this money, 170 US citizens were arrested and two were killed on the streets of Minneapolis. 60 people have died in ICE custody. This is a historic, shocking number, and that includes a homicide that occurred inside the detention facility in my district at Camp East Montana. This money has unleashed abuses and violations of law and violations of the Constitution. And there have been attempts, after attempts, after attempts to limit our oversight of this money.

I want to tell you about Camp East Montana in my district, which is funded with the One Big Beautiful Bill dollars that Republicans approved. That facility can hold up to 5,000 human beings. It is a $1.24 billion facility. I've had conversations with my constituents about what that $1.24 billion could do to help them improve their lives.

Instead, it's going into a tent city that is run by a private contractor who has prioritized profits over meeting federal standards. And that's not all. This money has also been used by DHS to purchase three warehouses, warehouses that were created to hold pecans from our agricultural industry, purchased by DHS in my district for $122 million. ICE is now going to spend probably hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit these warehouses so that they can hold 8,500 immigrants.

It is - that should shock the conscience of everyone. There's not even the water capacity or wastewater capacity to hold that many people. But this money has emboldened and empowered ICE to do this. And I will say, instead of - it is shocking that instead of using the $100 billion still available - this $70 billion that's being added will really further empower ICE to do more of the same.

And we all do support law enforcement. I take great offense to Republicans claiming we do not support law enforcement. This is why Democrats uniformly are opposed to the $1.8 billion slush fund that Donald Trump wants to use to pay off insurrectionists who beat cops on January 6th. So please, do not lecture us about not supporting law enforcement.

And if we want to talk waste, fraud and abuse, let's not forget that Kristi Noem used reconciliation money for a luxury jet. Was it one or was it two? I can't remember - three! Three luxury jets. Also, her bizarre commercial that cost more than most Hollywood films cost. There's some waste, fraud and abuse there, for sure, and Republicans want $70 billion more.

Budgets certainly are a statement of our values. And if we - I can imagine what Democrats would do with the with the $70 billion that Republicans are asking for.

So what what could that $70 billion actually buy? It could build more than 280,000 new affordable housing units in America. It could cover almost 9 million people on Medicaid for a full year. It could feed nearly 10 million families on SNAP for a full year. It could fix more than 70,000 miles of highway. It could provide mental health care to more than 9 million veterans for a full year.

But instead of doing that at a moment when American families are hurting because of Trump's tariffs, because of Trump's illegal war in Iran, families are seeing increased grocery prices, increased gasoline prices, increased utility prices, and health care and nutrition programs that have been cut.

This is what Republicans are doing. I strongly oppose this bill, and I encourage everyone here to do the same. I yield back, Madam Chair.

1st Follow Up with Congresswoman Scanlon

House Rules Committee Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon: I guess first I'd like to go to Representative Escobar. We're hearing a lot about fraud, waste and abuse here. Can you talk to us a little bit about the money that ICE and CBP have and what is happening with that money, particularly in your district? I know in my district we've had a lot of concerns. We've had a constituent die in ICE custody because he wasn't given appropriate medical treatment.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Miss Scanlon. I'll be glad to detail for this committee what my team and I have seen inside these facilities in my district in El Paso. And again, just as a reminder, CBP and ICE currently have $100 billion unspent, $100 billion. Just a reminder to everyone.

But the One Big, Beautiful Bill (so-called) funded Camp East Montana, a $1.24 billion tent city. And the American taxpayer is allegedly paying for medical care that detainees are not getting, cleaning services that are not happening, laundry services that are not happening. But the private corporations running these facilities are still getting their money.

I want to give you an example of the horrific cases we've seen. I'll give you a couple of quick ones. First, there was a gentleman who entered the country legally, mind you, because the vast majority of the folks I've met have no criminal record and entered the country legally. I sat and I spoke with him, and he told me about an injury he sustained in Minneapolis when he was arrested by ICE. He was arrested so violently by the ICE agents that they broke his arm. He was then flown to El Paso, to Campus Montana, and he was wearing a brace when I met him. He had been in the facility for a few weeks. I asked him how his arm was doing. He took off his brace. I could literally see the break in his forearm. His arm - his broken arm - had never been set. He was given aspirin to deal with the pain. Clearly, after weeks of that kind of break, his bones were fusing in a way that he would very likely need surgery.

There are other examples. One of our colleagues, Angie Craig, flew to El Paso to visit one of her constituents, who was arrested, detained and arrested. The week she was supposed to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, ICE flew her to El Paso to Camp East Montana, held her for four months, refused to let her get her surgery. She was finally released on humanitarian parole. It took Senate intervention. She may not ever be able to have children because she was prevented from getting the medical care she needed.

I have met dozens and dozens and dozens of detainees who told me they have to clean their own what are called pods. Now, some people might rejoice in that, but the company is getting paid to clean these pods, and they're forcing detainees to do it instead.

When I have visited, I've seen clothes hanging up inside their pods on their beds because they don't have access to laundry services, yet Congress is paying a private company to do this. So there is not just - there are just not horrific abuses happening inside these facilities, but there's massive fraud. Meanwhile, the private corporations who won these contracts, by the way, with no bid contracts, so there was no competitive bidding that took place.

The company that that was hired to run Camp East Montana had never run immigration detention ever before, but were supposed to care for 5000 people per day. There was a homicide inside of Camp East Montana, and I still have yet to get information on what the consequences were for the private detention employee who committed the homicide.

But the medical examiner in El Paso ruled it a homicide. And guess what? After that, they no longer use the services of the medical examiner. So this money is being used to perpetrate fraud, perpetrate waste and for in-humanitarian purposes. And many of the folks inside those facilities should not be held in detention at all.

2nd Follow Up with Congresswoman Leger Fernandez

Congresswoman Leger Fernandez: Did you want to address it? Because you have seen this - you, Representative Escobar - you have seen the mistreatment of women in ICE detention facilities. And we can read some of the stories. Pregnant women shackled, pregnant women miscarrying, almost bleeding to death. And there is nothing in this bill that addresses guardrails. So this doesn't continue to happen. So I have a lot of questions to get to, but I know you want to add something to that.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you so much, Miss Leger Fernandez. You hit the nail on the head. There are zero guardrails in this bill. And that is, I believe, by design and why Republicans have chosen to use reconciliation instead of the normal appropriations process. Through reconciliation, there are very strict rules. One of them, the Byrd rule, so it's very difficult to add in policy on the Senate side.

My colleagues - my Republican colleagues - here in the House know that. And so this essentially creates a slush fund for Donald Trump to continue to reward his cronies with no bid government contracts and also to create conditions that should be unacceptable to all of us.

I want to also address something Mr. [Chip] Roy said about how this somehow corrects what happened during the Biden years. A number of the individuals I have met in immigration detention have been here for decades. And, to again point out something I mentioned in my testimony, many of the folks I have met entered the country legally. So when Donald Trump says we're going to go after all of the "bad people," that's not true. That's never been true.

This is about funding Stephen Miller's mass deportation fantasy, rewarding contractors who essentially are engaged in a pay to play situation. And with regard to the other claim that the existing $100 billion cannot be used to pay for CBP operations and personnel: [Trump’s] been doing that. The president has been using that money. And in fact, even during his first administration, he violated the Empowerment Control Act over and over and over again. So did DOGE. [They] violated that act over and over and over again. But they want to tell us that he can't use $100 billion in the DHS fund to pay for operations? I don't believe that for a minute.