Rep. Ronny Jackson Announces Candidacy for Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13) officially announced his candidacy to serve as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Jackson brings decades of military service and national security leadership to the race. A retired United States Navy Rear Admiral with 25 years of service, he currently serves as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, where he oversees some of the nation's most important defense and intelligence capabilities. He also currently serves as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, demonstrating his unique and trusted perspective across the House of Representatives’ committees with national security jurisdiction.

Before his election to Congress, Rep. Jackson served as Physician to the President, Assistant to the President, and Chief Medical Advisor to the White House during the first Trump administration, providing leadership at the highest levels of the federal government.

“I'm proud to officially announce my candidacy for Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,” said Rep. Jackson. “Through more than 25 years in the U.S. Navy and throughout my service in Congress, I have remained committed to ensuring our military remains the strongest, most capable fighting force in the world. As Chairman, I will fight to advance military readiness, make critical investments in our national defense, and always put our servicemembers and their families first. With the support of my colleagues, I will lead the Committee in delivering the authorities necessary to ensure our military is prepared to meet the growing threats posed by our adversaries. Together, we will work to keep America free and safe.”


LEADER JEFFRIES: “DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE”

LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump promised the American people that Republicans would lower the high cost of living on day one, but costs haven’t gone down during Donald Trump’s presidency. Costs have gone up. Donald Trump promised that ICE enforcement in this country would target the worst of the worst. But instead, billions of taxpayer dollars are being used by ICE to brutalize and kill American citizens and violently target law-abiding immigrant families and communities, including in Maine earlier today. Donald Trump promised that he was elected not to start wars in the Middle East, but to stop them. He then turned around, along with compliant Republicans, and launched a reckless and costly war of choice in Iran that’s ongoing and now has been taking place for more than 100 days with over $100 billion in taxpayer money being wasted, while leaving Iran in a stronger position than they were in before the war and the American people economically in a weaker position, particularly as it relates to high gas prices.

Donald Trump and the Republican majority in the House and the Senate has been a complete and total failure. Life hasn’t gotten better under Republicans in Washington, D.C. It’s gotten much worse. And as House Democrats, we continue to be committed to doing the things that are necessary to drive down the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system, get ICE under control, end the reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East and clean up corruption in this town.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON ANOTHER DEADLY SHOOTING BY ICE AGENTS

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

Less than one week after ICE agents fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas, they brutally killed another unarmed person, a 26-year-old Colombian man, in Maine in cold blood. This pattern of violent immigration enforcement actions shocks the conscience and must immediately come to an end.

Donald Trump promised that ICE enforcement in this country would target the worst of the worst. Instead, more than $200 billion given by House Republicans to Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine is being used to brutalize and kill American citizens and violently target law-abiding immigrants.

The American people deserve transparency, accountability and an independent investigation into both killings. The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement system is out of control. ICE agents must be compelled to behave like every other law enforcement officer in America and criminally prosecuted when they violate the law. Enough.

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Kamlager-Dove, Simon, and Pressley Introduce Resolution to Advance Reproductive Justice and Support Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In recognition of the 250th anniversary of American independence and the work still to be done to create a nation that lives up to the founding ideals of liberty and justice for all, Congresswomen Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced the America 250 Reproductive Justice Resolution. This resolution affirms reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right and supports policies that advance reproductive justice, including universal healthcare, maternal healthcare, paid family leave, comprehensive sex education, and protections against pregnancy-related criminalization.

"Trump and Republicans are using America's 250th birthday to push a dystopian, warped definition of freedom that actually restricts our freedoms, especially for women," said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. "As we celebrate America at 250, we must reaffirm that our founding ideal of freedom includes not just reproductive freedom, but reproductive justice. Every woman should be free to access the full spectrum of reproductive health care—including abortion—and to decide when, if, and how to have children. Reproductive justice is a fundamental human right.”

“While Republicans are spending the 250th anniversary attacking our fundamental freedom, we have to name what the future can and should look like for women and families. The reproductive justice movement was started by Black women in the 1990s, and I am honored to join my colleagues and reproductive justice leaders Congresswomen Pressley and Kamlager-Dove to introduce this resolution,” said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. “As the Supreme Court and the Trump Administration rollback reproductive healthcare protections, wage a war on Medicaid and education, and drive prices ever upward, they are putting women, children, low-income people, and families in impossible situations. This resolution is our blueprint for what the reproductive justice movement needs to look like going forward, and we will fight until every person has the dignity, resources, and access to care that they deserve.”

"As we mark America's 250th anniversary, we must also acknowledge that the fundamental freedoms this nation was founded on are not enjoyed by all its people—especially the right to one’s own body and reproductive freedom," said Rep. Pressley, Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. "As Trump and his co-conspirators attempt to deny essential reproductive health care, it's more important now than ever that we affirm and fight for every person's freedom to access reproductive care and make their own health care decisions. I'm proud to introduce this critical resolution with Congresswomen Lateefah Simon and Sydney Kamlager-Dove and work to build a world where bodily autonomy is enshrined as a right, not treated as a privilege."

Read the full text of the resolution here and find more information on the legislation below.

This resolution is endorsed by: All Above All, Women's March, UltraViolet Action, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, New Jersey Black Women Physicians Association, Oshun Family Center, SIECUS, Women with a Vision, Doula Alliance of Maryland, SisterReach Illinois and SisterReach, Inc., Women's Law Project, IBBG, SiX Action, Avow, Working Families Party, Birth In Color, Women's Health & Evolutionary Wellness, Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, Guttmacher Institute, Black Muva Convos, Ibis Reproductive Health, ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, National Health Law Program, Baltimore City Women's Commission, Equality Federation, Forward Together, Reproductive Justice Maryland, Gender Justice, Cobalt, Ipas US, Pro-Choice Minnesota, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Women's Health Specialists, Abortion Action Missouri, Men4Choice, MomsRising, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, Medical Students for Choice, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, Catholics for Choice, Power to Decide, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.

"America was founded on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—a promise that has too often been denied to women, people of color, immigrants, low-income communities, and gender-expansive people. As we mark this country's 250th anniversary, we have a responsibility to reflect honestly on where America has fallen short and to push it toward the best version of itself,” said All Above All President Nourbese Flint. “At a moment when those in power are rolling back our rights—banning abortion, attacking trans people, targeting immigrant families—the For All Our Futures resolution insists on something bigger: a future where reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, and the freedom to build our families are central to the American promise.”

As co-lead of the Democratic Women’s Caucus’ Caregiving Task Force, Congresswoman Simon is committed to advocating for policies that protect healthcare and education and provide opportunities for families to thrive. She is the cosponsor of a number of bills that advance reproductive justice ideals and promote safe, healthy, and supportive communities including the EACH Act of 2025, Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, WIC Benefits Protection Act, Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025, Child Care for Every Community Act, Every Child Deserves a Head Start Act of 2025, the FAMILY Act, and more.

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Kelly Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Advance AI-Driven Pediatric Cancer Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), co-chair of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, joined Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.) in introducing the Accelerating Innovation (AI) for Kids Act, bipartisan legislation that would accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve and transform pediatric cancer research, treatment options, and data storage.

The legislation builds on efforts to harness emerging technologies to advance pediatric cancer research, improve patient care, and expand treatment opportunities for children battling cancer.

“Congress should always consider new, innovative ways not only to treat cancer, but to defeat cancer,” said Rep. Kelly. “This legislation would leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen patient care and patient outcomes. I’m proud to sponsor the bipartisan Accelerating Innovation (AI) for Kids Act as we work to ensure pediatric cancer patients and their families have every tool at their disposal to receive the care and cures they deserve.”

“Since I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus 17 years ago, advancements in technology have radically expanded the frontiers of healthcare,” said Rep. McCaul. “We owe it to our nation's children to leverage cutting-edge AI to improve their care and treatment options. I'm proud to introduce this bill, which codifies and builds on President Trump's executive order to unlock cures for pediatric cancer patients. By empowering AI to continuously drive research forward, we move one step closer to beating this heartbreaking disease once and for all.”

“Pediatric cancer remains one of the most heartbreaking diagnoses any family can face, and we have a responsibility to use every tool available to improve outcomes for children,” said Rep. Bera. “The bipartisan Accelerating Innovation in Medicine for Kids with Cancer Act would leverage cutting-edge AI and data tools to transform pediatric cancer research, improve clinical trial design and access, and deliver more personalized treatment options for young patients. I am proud to support this effort to accelerate innovation, strengthen the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, and move us closer to ending cancer as we know it.”

The Accelerating Innovation (AI) for Kids Act would leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen pediatric cancer research, improve clinical trial design and access, enhance data storage and sharing, and support more personalized treatment options for children with cancer.

Click herefor the full text of the Accelerating Innovation (AI) for Kids Act.


Kelly leads resolution marking second anniversary of Trump assassination attempt in Butler

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), introduced a resolution to recognize the second anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. The resolution also honors the life of Corey Comperatore, who was killed during the shooting; and, the resolution honors Corey's wife, Helen, and their daughters, Allyson and Kaylee, who survive him.

Kelly, of Butler, chaired the bipartisan U.S. House task force that investigated the events of that day.

"Today, as we mark two years since the tragic events in Butler, I continue to pray for President Trump and for the Comperatore family. What happened in Butler that day will forever be a part of not only our local history, but our national history. It is providential that the President is leading our great nation today. Political violence has no place in America," said Rep. Kelly.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Comperatore shielded his family from gunfire during the rally, ultimately saving their lives. He leaves behind his wife, Helen, and daughters Allyson and Kaylee. Mr. Comperatore was 50-years-old.

Mr. Comperatore is remembered for his dedication to his family, especially as a "girl dad;" his strong Christian faith as an active member at the Cabot Church, and as a lifetime member of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department in Sarver, Pa. He also served as the department's fire chief in the early 2000s. Mr. Comperatore was a 1992 graduate of Freeport High School. After high school, he served 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Kelly first introduced a resolution honoring Corey Comperatore in 2024.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Clay Fuller (R-GA), Greg Steube (R-FL), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Michael Rulli (R-OH), and Barry Moore (R-AL).

You can read the text of the new resolution here.


Krishnamoorthi Presses FEMA to Stop Conditioning Counterterrorism Funding on Trump's Voter Suppression Demands

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter on Monday to Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Robert J. Fenton after the agency announced it would condition more than $1 billion in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) terrorism prevention funding on states adopting a series of new election requirements, including citizenship verification mandates, restrictions on voting equipment, mandatory post-election audits, and voter registration verification requirements. In the letter, Krishnamoorthi argues the policy is a coercive and unconstitutional attempt to pressure states into adopting the Trump Administration's voter suppression agenda by threatening to withhold critical counterterrorism funding.

The Congressman writes:

“According to the notice, FEMA will withhold 20 percent of each recipient's total HSGP award until the recipient proves it has complied with the Department's newly invented 'Election Security' requirements. This unprecedented attempt to leverage congressionally appropriated funds to influence state election administration is directly drawn from Project 2025, and it is coercive and unconstitutional. I urge you and the Trump Administration to stop all attempts to undermine trust in our elections on baseless claims of widespread fraud, and maintain full funding for state's HSGP awards.”

The Congressman further writes:

“The specific conditions that FEMA has outlined make clear that this is yet another attempt to threaten American voters' access to the ballot box. The notice conditions funding for grant recipients by requiring states to submit plans to eliminate ballot-marking devices in favor of hand-marked paper ballots, commit to a 5 percent manual post-election audit, reconcile voter turnout figures with ballots cast, and use the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to check the citizenship status of every registered voter within 120 days of accepting the award. Several of these mandates, such as the SAVE requirement, have already been blocked or viewed with considerable skepticism by federal courts when the Administration tried to impose them through executive order.”

The Congressman requested the following records no later than July 29, 2026:

All records, communications, and legal analyses concerning the decision to condition HSGP funding on the FY 2026 Election Security NPA requirements, including any role played by the Department of Homeland Security or the White House;

An accounting of which states and urban areas have had HSGP funds withheld to date, and the dollar amount withheld from each;

Any legal opinion FEMA relied upon in concluding it may condition terrorism-prevention funding on election administration requirements unrelated to the statutory purposes of the Homeland Security Grant Program; and

All records reflecting consideration of Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership in the drafting of the FY 2026 HSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity.


Larson Applauds Court Ruling Blasting Sham “Get Out of Jail Free” Settlement for Trump and MAGA Allies

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded Judge Kathleen William’s court decision castigating President Trump’s sham $1.8 billion settlement with the IRS that included payments to the Trump family and January 6th insurrectionists, as well as a “get out of jail free card” that would bar the government from investigating tax returns filed by the Trump family and their companies.

“Judge Williams saw what Americans saw from the beginning—this lawsuit was nothing more than an attempt to redirect taxpayer dollars to Donald Trump’s bank accounts,” said Larson. “The federal government is not his personal ATM. The attorneys who signed off on this unprecedented theft of taxpayer dollars should face disciplinary proceedings for their mockery of our legal system, including Todd Blanche. The Senate must swiftly reject his nomination for Attorney General, and Congress needs to pass my bill to stop this scam for good, including their sweetheart deal to shield the President and his family from ever having to pay the taxes they owe.”

In May, Larson filed a court brief urging Judge Williams to dismiss the President’s unprecedented lawsuit. Last month, he introduced the Don’t Settle for Corruption Actto block the settlement agreement by requiring Congressional approval before the Department of Justice (DOJ) can spend taxpayer dollars on any legal settlement resolving a case involving the President, the President’s immediate family, or any business entity they own or control.


Letlow Statement on Meta Expansion in Northeast Louisiana

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Julia Letlow released the following statement on Meta's announced expansion in Richland Parish, creating jobs while promising to pay for costs related to energy, water, and related infrastructure.

"Meta’s transformative, $50 billion expansion in Richland Parish will cement the company’s promises and effectively position Northeast Louisiana in the modern economy," said Congresswoman Julia Letlow. "I’m thrilled that Meta is committing to cover the full cost, protecting ratepayers while supporting our local businesses, education, and infrastructure. After years of our children moving away, responsible growth is on the horizon and there is tremendous hope for a brighter future in the Delta region."


Despite Trump, Landmark Housing Bill Becomes Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) celebrated the enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the most significant federal housing reform package in more than 30 years. The bipartisan law, which became law today, includes four bills led or co-led by Liccardo, the most by any Democratic freshman member.

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes four bipartisan bills I led or co-led with my colleagues, will cut red tape, lower costs, and boost the supply of housing, both market-rate and rent-restricted,” said Rep. Liccardo. “Seeing this bipartisan effort become law despite our deeply divisive political headwinds– and President Trump's attempt to hold it hostage over unrelated voting legislation– gives me hope. We need to build on this momentum and keep rolling up our sleeves to tackle the housing crisis confronting far too many American families.”

A rare success for a first-term member of the minority party in this deeply partisan Congress, Liccardo secured inclusion of four bipartisan bills in the final package, including two with the Republican Chair of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, Congressman Mike Flood. Together, the provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act reflect growing agreement across party lines that solving America’s housing shortage requires faster federal reviews, cutting red tape, smarter permitting, and policies that empower local communities to build.

President Trump refused to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act unless Congress also passed his voter suppression bill, the SAVE Act. Fortunately, Article I of the Constitution allows legislation to become Law after 10 days of presidential inaction. As a result, the housing package became law on Friday at 9 pm Pacific Standard Time.

Liccardo’s bills include:


Utah Delegation Welcomes President Trump's Monument Proclamation

Washington, D.C. — The Utah federal delegation welcomes President Trump's action modifying the boundaries of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. This decision represents a return to an appropriate application of the Antiquities Act as Congress intended.

When Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906, it authorized presidents to protect historic and scientific objects by reserving only "the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected." The law was never intended to place millions of acres under monument designation with the stroke of a pen. For years, Utahns have voiced concerns that these monument designations were made without meaningful input from the local communities most directly affected. This updated designation better reflects the perspectives of stakeholders in Utah whose voices should be part of decisions affecting these public lands.

The lands outside the modified monument boundaries remain federal public lands and continue to be protected under existing federal laws. Today's action does not remove those protections. Instead, it better aligns the monument boundaries with the Antiquities Act while ensuring these landscapes remain available for responsible stewardship and multiple use.

The president’s action represents a step toward restoring the rule of law, respecting the intent of Congress, protecting Utah's remarkable cultural and natural resources, and ensuring that future land management decisions are guided by both the text of the Antiquities Act and the voices of the Utahns who know these lands best.

Quotes:

Sen. Mike Lee: “Today’s proclamation shows that President Trump listens to Utahns and respects the limits Congress placed on the Antiquities Act. For too long, presidents have weaponized monument designations to lock up millions of acres, close roads, restrict grazing, and cut rural communities off from lands their families have lived on and worked for generations. I thank the President for correcting this abuse and keeping his promise to the people of Utah.”

Sen. John Curtis: “President Trump’s executive action restores a more balanced approach to managing Utah’s public lands and shows a willingness by this Administration to listen to the state of Utah. While today’s announcement is an important step in the right direction and a more appropriate interpretation of the Antiquities Act, the responsibility remains with Congress to do what executive orders cannot: bring stakeholders together, work through disagreements, and enact lasting solutions. This approach worked in Emery County, which serves as a strong example to build on.”

Rep. Burgess Owens: "The Antiquities Act is crystal clear: presidential designations meant to protect objects should be 'confined to the smallest area compatible' with the proper care and management of those objects. That mandate was ignored. The mess started with Bill Clinton, who acted from a seat in Arizona with his back turned to Utah. It was compounded by Barack Obama in the waning hours of his presidency. Together, they created monuments larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined which is an unmistakable violation of the 'smallest area compatible' standard. I am grateful for President Trump's actions today, and for his willingness to listen to the Utah communities who cherish and honor these landscapes. Utah deserves leaders who respect the rule of law. Today, accountability prevailed."

Rep. Blake Moore: “This has, unfortunately, become a back-and-forth issue between administrations. Today’s announcement takes into consideration years of local concern over restricted access and misuse of the Antiquities Act while still protecting our state’s natural and cultural resources for future generations. If the Antiquities Act is going to be used, it needs to be on the smallest area possible—that’s what we’re doing here.”

Rep. Celeste Maloy: "Utahns have long supported protecting our state's extraordinary cultural and natural resources. This action honors that goal while following the law Congress passed and giving greater consideration to the people who know these lands best.”


ENGLISH/ESPAÑOL Rep. Diaz-Balart Demands the Immediate Release of Political Prisoners on the 5th Anniversary of the Pro-Democracy J11 Protests in Cuba

MIAMI, FL - Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, issued the following statement in solidarity with the Cuban people on the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021, pro-democracy protests in Cuba:

“Today, we stand in solidarity with the brave Cuban people who, on July 11, 2021, made history by rising up across the island to demand freedom, dignity, and an end to decades of tyranny.

The historic J11 protests further exposed the brutality of the Castro regime. Instead of responding to the Cuban people's legitimate calls for liberty, the dictatorship’s thugs unleashed violent repression, arrests, and harsh prison sentences against demonstrators, including minors. Still today, over 1,300 courageous Cubans –including 40 children– remain unjustly imprisoned.

I demand the immediate release of all political prisoners, the end of impunity for those responsible for these heinous crimes, and I reaffirm my unwavering solidarity with those struggling for freedom.”

MIAMI, FL – El congresista Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), presidente del Subcomité de Seguridad Nacional, Departamento de Estado y Programas Relacionados del Comité de Asignaciones de la Cámara de Representantes, emitió la siguiente declaración en solidaridad con el pueblo cubano en el quinto aniversario de las protestas prodemocracia del 11 de julio de 2021.

“Hoy nos solidarizamos con el valiente pueblo cubano, que en el 11 de julio de 2021 hizo historia al levantarse en toda la isla para exigir libertad, dignidad y el fin de décadas de tiranía.

Las protestas históricas del 11J expusieron aún más la brutalidad del régimen castrista, que en vez de responder al legítimo llamado de libertad del pueblo cubano, desató una ola de represión violenta, arrestos y sentencias extremas en contra de los manifestantes, incluyendo a menores. Aún hoy, más de 1.300 cubanos valientes -incluyendo 40 menores- se encuentran injustamente detenidos.

Exijo la liberación inmediata de todos los presos políticos, el fin de la impunidad de los responsables de estos crímenes atroces, y reafirmo mi solidaridad inquebrantable con todos aquellos luchando por su libertad”.

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MATSUI STATEMENT ON FINALIZATION OF $225 MILLION FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN BOSCH’S ROSEVILLE FACILITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), co-author of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, issued the following statement after the Department of Commerce finalized an award of $225 million in direct funding for Bosch under the CHIPS and Science Act.

“When I co-authored the original CHIPS Act, days like today are exactly what we had in mind—transformative investments that create lasting economic anchors, reignite domestic manufacturing, and ensure a resilient supply chain,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Innovation has always been the backbone of America’s economic edge. Bosch is poised to boost domestic production of silicon carbide chips that are essential to electric vehicles, clean mobility, and next-generation energy technologies—helping accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more efficient economy. This $225 million federal investment in the Sacramento region reflects what we’ve been building for years—a place ready to lead now and for decades to come.”

In 2023, Bosch acquired the former Sacramento-area campus of TSI Semiconductors. With more than $2 billion in total investment, Bosch is installing a fabrication line that will produce silicon carbide chips—critical components that power electric vehicles, clean mobility, and next-generation energy technologies. These massive public and private investments reinforce the Sacramento region’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation—delivering long-term economic growth, supporting high-quality jobs, and helping ensure the United States remains the global leader in semiconductor technology.


ICYMI: Chairman Emeritus McCaul on ABC's "This Week"

WARSAW, Poland – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) joined Martha Raddatz on ABC's "This Week" in the wake of Sen. Lindsey Graham's passing to honor his legacy and enduring friendship.

McCaul was interviewed from Warsaw, Poland, following his own trip to Ukraine, where he visited with Ukrainian troops near the front lines of the war and received a presidential citation from President Zelensky for his support for Ukraine — especially his work to pass the 2024 supplemental package.

In the interview, he discussed Senator Graham's bipartisan sanctions bill, which McCaul and Graham intended to introduce in their respective chambers this week. McCaul still plans to introduce the legislation in the House and champion its passage to honor the senator's legacy.

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Click to watch

Excerpts from the interview:

On how he will remember his good friend, Senator Lindsey Graham:

"Well, first of all, it's a sad day for America. I think the Senate lost a giant today. He was my mentor, my friend. We shared the same worldview that we are strongest at home — the United States is — when we're stronger abroad. He believed in a strong America and a strong foreign policy. He believed in Reagan's peace through strength doctrine. And I think that's how he would like to be remembered.

"I also remember so many trips with him and the legendary John McCain. ... [Senator Graham had] a very great sense of humor, but great vision, great ideas. The latest one is the sanctions bill that we've worked on for the last year. We were planning to introduce the sanction bill together this coming week.

I will still introduce that bill [in the House], and I think in his honor that we owe it to Lindsey Graham to pass that tough Russian sanctions bill. He would love nothing more than that."

On the current status of aid to Ukraine:

"Well, I think the biggest aid that we're giving them is through the ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance. I met with the Defense Intelligence Agency in Ukraine. I have to say, also, the NATO summit had a big impression on Ukraine. Zelensky was very upbeat because two things happened there. One, President Trump agreed to these licensing agreements so that Ukraine can build their own Patriot interceptors to take down the ballistic missile threat, which is their biggest vulnerability right now. But secondly, I think most importantly ... as I was on the front lines, [I could see that there has been a] morale boost to the troops who are, by the way, Martha, winning now. Who would have thought four years ago that they'd be winning the war four years later? ...The political will of the Ukrainians and President Zelensky walking out of that meeting, that was a game changer. [It was] a truly remarkable meeting between President Trump and Zelensky, and I think we're on the right course."

On Ukraine's effective use of drone technology and how quickly they can build Patriot systems:

"You know, when I passed the emergency wartime supplemental bill, it gave [Ukraine] a lifeline, $60 billion in military equipment, a lifeline to advance to where they are today. Now, they are the leader in the world in terms of drone technology. We need to be in that laboratory. You know, the best testing ground is on the battlefield, and they are learning so much.

"You are correct, though; it takes one to two years for Lockheed to make these interceptors. I think the Ukrainians can make them faster. But we have to come up with creative ways to get interceptors in there now. We need to give them a short-term Band-Aid to fix this problem. They're winning in the drone war space. Where they're vulnerable, and I experienced this in Kyiv several nights, are the constant bombardments of ballistic missiles, and Putin knows they're vulnerable here, and we need to help them stop that."

On whether Putin is serious about his desire to end the war:

"No. The only thing that will end it is maximum pressure to get Putin to the negotiating table. President Zelensky told me just yesterday he's ready for a ceasefire. He's ready to negotiate. The only man stopping this peace process is Mr. Putin. And that won't happen until we put maximum pressure — that being the interceptors, the drones, which are knocking out billions of dollars of Russian equipment and technology, and the Russian sanctions bill that Lindsey Graham wanted so, so much."


Chairwoman McClain Helps Secure Better Deal to Open Gordie Howe International Bridge

WASHINGTON—Today, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) announced new details on the deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27. McClain joined President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as the administration negotiated better terms for the United States.

“We took a bad deal and turned it into an economic opportunity for Michigan and the entire country,” Chairwoman McClain said. “I am proud to have worked with President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to get this bridge open while securing a better deal for the American people. The Gordie Howe Bridge will strengthen Michigan’s economy and keep trade moving across our northern border. I will remain directly involved as we put these new resources to work creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity in Michigan.”

Under the old deal, the United States wouldn't see a single penny in toll revenues for at least 50 years. Under the new agreement, the United States will receive half of the bridge’s revenue after operating costs for 15 years and will have a say on toll changes. The agreement also establishes a 15-year economic development fund tied to bridge revenue. Those revenues will flow to the federal government, and McClain will work with the Trump administration to ensure the resulting investments support economic development in Michigan.

The six-lane bridge will provide a direct connection between Interstate 75 and Ontario’s Highway 401. It will also include the largest land ports of entry on the U.S.-Canada border. The new crossing is expected to reduce congestion, shorten trips for commercial traffic, and save the trucking industry an estimated $2.3 billion over 30 years.


Rep. Mejia Convenes Voting Rights Forum Marking 158th Anniversary of the 14th Amendment

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Today, Rep. Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) hosted "Defending Democracy: The 14th Amendment and Voting Rights Act Forum" at Montclair State University, bringing together legal experts, civil rights advocates, and community members to mark the 158th anniversary of the 14th Amendment's ratification and examine growing threats to equal protection, due process, and the right to vote.

Rep. Mejia and panelists traced the 158-year arc of the 14th Amendment, from its roots in the fight for voting rights to the landmark rulings on marriage equality and bodily autonomy it helped make possible. That progress now faces real threats, from the Supreme Court's rollback of key Voting Rights Act protections to new legislation like the SAVE America Act aimed at making it harder to register and vote. The conversation dug into how we arrived at this moment, what is genuinely at risk for everyday New Jerseyans right now, and the concrete steps advocates, courts, and lawmakers must take to rebuild and defend the amendment for the next 158 years.

The forum comes as Rep. Mejia leads the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force alongside House Democrats, a coalition she launched this week to push back against efforts to weaken constitutional protections for equal protection, due process, and citizenship.

“So many Americans don't realize how much of their daily lives are shaped by the 14th Amendment, from the right to vote to the right to marry who you love, the right to citizenship by birth, and the right to make decisions about your own body. These protections were not handed to us. We fought for them, amendment by amendment, ruling by ruling, and we can lose them the same way if we stop paying attention. That is why events like today's forum matter,” said Congresswoman Mejia. “We brought together legal experts, advocates, and our neighbors to break down how we got here, what is at stake right now, and how we rebuild and protect these rights going forward. This work does not end today. I lead the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force in Congress, and I will keep pairing public education with legislative action, because an informed community is one of our strongest defenses against losing the rights this amendment guarantees.”

The forum featured a keynote address from Nuzhat Chowdhury of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, followed by a panel discussion with Erik Cruz-Morales of the League of Women Voters, DaWuan Norwood of the ACLU, Milena Bimpong of New Jersey’s League of Conservation Voters, and Roslyne Shaio of AAPI New Jersey. The event closed with a conversation between Rep. Mejia and Reverend Charles Boyer of Salvation and Social Justice. Partner organizations supporting the forum included New Jersey LCV, Salvation and Social Justice, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and the ACLU.


Menendez Responds to ICE’s Continued Intent to Convert Warehouse to Detention Facility in Roxbury

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Rob Menendez today released the following statement after reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) is again pursuing its previously abandoned plans to convert a warehouse into a detention facility in Roxbury.

“We have been clear from day one: New Jersey does not want the expansion of ICE detention in our communities.

“When ICE’s Roxbury warehouse plan first came to light, we fought back, bringing together thousands of New Jerseyans in opposition.

“We will continue to fight to stop this facility alongside our New Jersey Democratic delegation colleagues, Governor Sherrill, local officials in Roxbury, and every New Jerseyan opposed to the warehousing of human beings in their communities.”

Since coming to Congress, Rob Menendez has been a leader on fighting for immigrant rights and on oversight of detention centers. An initiative created by Congressman Menendez united thousands of New Jerseyans in ultimately successful opposition to the Roxbury warehouse. Congressman Menendez also previously led the New Jersey Democratic delegation in multiple letters demanding that DHS halt ICE’s warehouse detention plan in Roxbury.


One Year Later: Democrats Tout Tax Cuts They Voted Against

House and Senate Democrats are regretting their votes in support of a $5 trillion tax hike on working families

WASHINGTON — One year after President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts into law, hardworking American families across the nation are paying lower taxes and keeping more of what they earn – outcomes the legislation was written to achieve. Democrats unanimously opposed these transformational tax provisions for working families, instead voting for a $5 trillion tax hike – the largest in history.

However, despite Congressional Democrats’ vehement and unanimous opposition and state-level Democrat attempts to actually block implementation of these tax provisions, many Democrats are now claiming to see the wisdom of providing tax relief to working families. Many House and Senate Democrats are lying to their voters, taking credit for legislation they actively opposed.

“With their unanimous opposition to the Working Families Tax Cuts, Congressional Democrats in unison voted against no tax on tips and overtime, the doubled child tax credit, $50 billion for rural healthcare, and investment accounts for every newborn in America,” Speaker Johnson said. “Now, as tens of millions of citizens are benefitting from this historic tax relief, Democrats are attempting to mislead the American people and claim credit for something they opposed vehemently. Republicans will not let the American people forget that if Democrats had it their way, every taxpayer would have faced the largest tax increase in American history.”

A few examples of how Democrats support the Working Families Tax Cuts:

Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet ran two television ads in her district funded using taxpayer dollars to say she “passed Working Families Tax Credit” and that she is “helping Michiganders claim the Working Families Tax Credit.” Spoiler alert: like every other Democrat in Congress, she opposed the Working Families Tax Cuts. Now she’s trying to take the credit.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced a bill that would make Trump Accounts permanent and automatically enroll newborns into the program, which he renames “American Dream Accounts,” and a bill to make No Tax on Tips permanent, saying “we must ensure that [...] as many workers as possible can benefit as much as possible.”

Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Susie Lee (D-NV), along with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent “to ensure the successful implementation of this [No Tax on Tips] provision for our constituents and tipped workers across the country.” They all voted no, despite knowing they are “lawmakers representing our nation’s most hospitality and service industry dependent economy.”

Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) admitted, “There are certain things that I liked in the big, ugly bill.” He and Emilia Sykes (D-OH) helped introduce a bill to expand eligibility for No Tax on Overtime.

Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) sent a joint press release, and Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ) also took credit, for securing hundreds of millions of dollars in security funding for the World Cup – despite trashing the Working Families Tax Cuts, voting against the legislation which included the funding, and taking repeated voted to keep the Department of Homeland Security –the agency tasked with World Cup security – closed.

Why are Democrats taking credit for this monumental legislation? Because the policies – and the successful results that followed – speak for themselves:

KEEPING MORE OF YOUR MONEY

97% of filers received a tax cut this past filing season, who would have otherwise owed taxes absent the extension of President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.

$82 billion has been returned to the American people from the individual tax cuts in the WFTC.

96% of filers receiving a tax cut earned less than $200,000.

Filers earning between $100,000 to $200,000, who claimed one of President Trump’s signature tax cuts, received an average tax cut of over $1,250.

Nearly 70% of filers receiving a tax cut earned less than $100,000.

Filers earning between $50,000 to $100,000, who claimed one of President Trump’s signature tax cuts, received an average tax cut over $815.

No Tax on Tips: Over 7.5 million filers have claimed No Tax on Tips, with an average deduction of over $7,000.

90% of filers claiming the No Tax on Tips deduction had income under $100,000.

99% of filers claiming the No Tax on Tips deduction had income under $200,000.

No Tax on Overtime: Over 29 million filers have claimed No Tax on Overtime, with an average deduction of over $3,100.

75% of filers claiming the No Tax on Overtime deduction had income under $100,000.

96% of filers claiming the No Tax on Overtime deduction had income under $200,000.

Enhanced Senior Deduction: Over 35 million seniors have claimed the Enhanced Deduction for Seniors, with an average deduction of over $7,500.

68% of filers claiming the Enhanced Senior Deduction had income under $100,000.

94% of filers claiming the Enhanced Senior Deduction had income under $200,000.

No Tax on Car Loan Interest: Over 1.4 million filers have claimed No Tax on Car Loan Interest on their new American vehicles, with an average deduction of over $1,800.

62% of filers claiming the No Tax on Car Loan Interest deduction had income under $100,000.

98% of filers claiming the No Tax on Car Loan Interest deduction had income under $200,000.

Enhanced Child Tax Credit: Nearly 40 million families have claimed the enhanced Child Tax Credit, which is permanently doubled and expanded by the Working Families Tax Cuts.

65% of all families claiming the credit had income under $100,000.

89% of all families claiming the credit had income under $200,000.

Doubled Standard Deduction: Over 127 million filers, or 90% of all tax filers, have claimed the permanently doubled standard deduction, simplifying tax filing for millions across America.

Boosts take home pay for a typical hardworking family by over $10,000 a year.

More than 6 million Trump Accounts have been opened for American children, and 1.4 million are eligible to receive the initial $1,000 seed contribution from the Working Families Tax Cuts.

86% of Trump Accounts opened are linked to families earning less than $200,000 annually.

500,000 children received the $1,000 seed fund on July 4, 2026 from the Trump administration.

THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS

Puts American Farmers First: Prevents foreign countries from flooding our markets with biofuel feedstocks that compete with American grown agriculture.

Invests in Rural America: Created the Rural Health Transformation Program and invested $50 billion over five years to transparently and efficiently transform rural health access.

Supports Family Farms: Protects two million family farms from excessive taxation by raising the death tax exemption, helping generational farms stay in the family by increasing the amount family farms can inherit tax free.

Expands Access to Disaster Aid: Expands access to standing disaster programs and conservation programs.

Invests in American Agriculture: Expands affordable crop insurance and improves risk management tools for livestock, aquaculture, honeybees, and specialty crops.

Ensures Tax Dollars Benefit Americans, Not Illegals: Ensures American taxpayers are no longer funding benefits for illegals on Medicaid and SNAP.

Provides Small Business Relief: Provides immediate tax relief to farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans by increasing the small business expensing threshold and permanently extending the Small Business Deduction.

Delivers Historic Tax Relief: This landmark legislation puts more money back into Americans’ pockets with American families and workers claiming $82 billion in individual relief directly from the Working Families Tax Cuts.

Makes Permanent the Child Tax Credit: Permanently increased and enhanced $2,200 child tax credit for tens of millions of families.

Supports School Choice and Parental Rights: Creates the first-ever federal tax credit to provide scholarships to children to attend a K-12 school of their choice.

Creates Trump Accounts: Gives eligible children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, a $1,000 contribution from the Treasury Department.

Expands the Adoption Tax Credit: Improvements to the Adoption Tax Credit make adoption more affordable

Expands Skills-Based Training: Allows students to pay for short-term vocational and technical training programs that align with in-demand, high-skill, high-wage jobs.

Expands Education Savings: Doubles the allowed annual distribution amount for K-12 expenses and expands qualified K-12 expenses to include materials, books, testing fees, online programs, tutoring. Expands qualified distributions for post-secondary career paths to include trade schools, technical certifications, and other workforce development credentialing.

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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Championed by Miller-Meeks, Becomes Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the most significant housing reform legislation in a generation, officially became law this week. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), a vocal champion of the bill, celebrated its enactment as a major victory for Iowa families who have been squeezed by rising housing costs.

After passing the House 358-32 and the Senate 85-5 with overwhelming bipartisan support, the legislation became law after the 10-day constitutional window for presidential action passed, as provided under Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution.

Congresswoman Miller-Meeks championed the legislation throughout the process and publicly called on the President to sign it into law, emphasizing that Iowa families could not afford to wait for housing relief.

"For years, working families have been priced out of the homes they deserve. Young couples doing everything right, saving every dollar, and still watching homeownership slip further away," said Miller-Meeks. "This law changes that. It cuts red tape, builds more homes, lowers costs, and ensures Iowa homes go to Iowa families, not Wall Street. I am proud to have fought for it every step of the way."

How the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Delivers for Iowa Families:

Lowers housing costs by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers and allowing pre-approved home designs so builders can get permits faster.

Builds more homes by modernizing HUD programs, updating manufactured housing rules, and converting vacant buildings into attainable housing.

Bans Wall Street from buying Iowa homes, prohibiting large institutional investors that own at least 350 single-family homes from purchasing more.

Empowers community and rural banks by cutting red tape so local lenders can finance new home construction for Iowa families, farmers, and small businesses.

Protects Iowa veterans by improving access to VA home loan benefits and ensuring disability compensation does not count against housing eligibility.

Preserves affordable rural housing for 400,000 rural families whose housing is tied to maturing USDA mortgages.

Congresswoman Miller-Meeks will continue working to lower housing costs and expand opportunities so more Iowa families, renters, and first-time buyers can achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

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Griffith Announces More Than $1.2 Million FEMA Grant for Helene Relief Bridge Repair

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a Hurricane Helene-related grant of $1,203,957 to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This funding will support repairs to a 160-feet long and 14-feet wide bridge in Damascus, Virginia, that was lifted off its foundations and washed downstream as a result of intense flooding from Hurricane Helene.

In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Hurricane Helene’s impact continues to be felt in Virginia’s Ninth District.

“This FEMA grant for more than $1.2 million helps the Virginia Department of Transportation deliver renewed access to a bridge in Damascus, Virginia.”

BACKGROUND

FEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.

In January 2025, Rep. Griffith announced $46.67 million in Helene relief to Virginia from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

In April 2025, Congressman Griffith announced nearly $6 million in Helene relief in a separate grant for Washington County water line repairs.

In January 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $4.2 million in Helene relief for a Wytheville wastewater treatment system.

In February 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $8.6 million in Helene relief for water line repair.

In April 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.7 million in Helene relief for bridge repair.

In June 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $2.8 million in Helene relief for road repair.

In July 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $9.3 million in Helene relief for waterline repair.

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Moulton Cosponsors Bill to Lower Costs of Groceries, Goods and Services

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) has joined Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) as a consponor of the Shedding Light on Algorithms Setting Higher (SLASH) Prices Act.

The SLASH Prices Act would lower the costs of goods and services by requiring companies to disclose the use of surveillance pricing in a clear and prominent location that consumers can see. It would also allow consumers to opt-out of surveillance pricing data collection.

“Big corporations shouldn't be allowed to secretly weaponize your personal data to jack up the price of your groceries,” said Congressman Moulton. “Surveillance pricing is a stealth tax on families when they are already feeling squeezed at the checkout counter. This bill is about transparency and fairness, it forces companies to be honest about their algorithms and gives everyday consumers the power to opt out of data tracking so they can keep more of their hard-earned money.”

Read the full letter here.

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Congresswoman Nikema Williams Applauds 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Becoming Law, Secures Key Provisions to Preserve Homeownership and Generational Wealth

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act becoming law. The legislation includes two provisions championed by Congresswoman Williams: the Whole Home Repairs Act, which would provide essential home repair assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners and small landlords, and a requirement for a federal survey on heirs properties based on the Congresswoman’s HEIRS Act.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Despite Trump’s refusal to sign the most significant housing package in decades, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law. This legislation makes meaningful investments in families and communities and takes an important step toward addressing our nation’s affordable housing crisis. I’m especially proud that it includes two of my bipartisan bills—the Heirs Property Preservation Act and the Whole-Home Repairs Act—which will help families keep the homes they worked so hard to secure, preserve generational wealth, and continue closing the racial wealth gap.

This legislation is rightly called the ROAD to Housing Act because it is not the destination—it is the beginning. It puts us on a path toward ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at the promise of America and the security and dignity that come with having a place to call home. No one’s ZIP code or bank account should determine whether they can build wealth, put down roots, and thrive.”


Norton Introduces Bill to Address Retirement Issues for Certain Public Servants Under D.C. Revitalization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to address several retirement issues for several categories of workers who used to be under the District of Columbia retirement system. First, the service of some employees from 1987-1997 who participated in D.C.’s defined contribution plan and were transferred to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) had those 10 years of service not fully counted for their annuity. The bill would allow those employees to buy into the FERS annuity amount from those 10 years, which would give them the full retirement benefit to which they should be entitled.

“D.C.’s dedicated civil servants, including teachers, police, firefighters and judges, should receive the full federal pension benefits they earned,” Norton said. “These workers should have all of their service recognized and counted in determining the annuity they receive.”

The bill also addresses two benefit issues for employees in the teachers, police officers, and firefighters pension plans, whose pre-1997 benefits are funded by the federal government. First, the bill would recognize domestic partner benefits for pre-1997 benefits, like D.C. enacted for benefits post-1997. Second, the bill would change the age at which a surviving spouse may remarry without losing survivor benefits to bring them in line with both the post-1997 benefits and the retirement benefits for most federal employees, and also make the analogous change for D.C. judges, whose retirement benefits are funded by the federal government.

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 Technical Corrections Act of 2026

July 13, 2026

Today, I introduce the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 Technical Corrections Act of 2026, which would address several retirement issues for current and former District of Columbia employees that resulted from the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (Revitalization Act). The Revitalization Act, among other things, transferred several categories of employees who were in the D.C. retirement system to the federal retirement system and transferred responsibility from D.C. to the federal government for funding pension benefits earned by D.C. teachers, police officers, firefighters and judges before 1997.

First, the Revitalization Act transferred several categories of employees, primarily related to D.C.’s criminal justice system, who participated in D.C.’s defined contribution plan from 1987 to 1997 to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). However, these employees’ service from 1987 to 1997 was not counted for purposes of creditable service or annuity amount in FERS. In 2009, Congress passed legislation counting this service for creditable service, but not annuity amount. This bill would allow these employees to buy into the FERS annuity amount for 1987 to 1997 by paying 1.3 percent of their base pay plus interest, essentially the employee contribution for this time, which would give them the full retirement benefit to which they should be entitled.

Second, this bill would address two benefit issues for employees in the D.C. teachers, police officers and firefighters pension plans, whose pre-1997 benefits are funded by the federal government. In 2018, D.C. enacted a law to provide domestic partner benefits for the police and firefighters pension plan, which mirrored a law already enacted for teachers. However, these domestic partner benefits apply only to service accrued after 1997, since the federal government funds pre-1997 benefits. This bill would make the domestic partner benefits available for pre-1997 benefits, too.

Finally, in 2012, D.C. enacted a law that reduced from 60 to 55 the age after which a surviving spouse can remarry without losing survivor benefits in the D.C. teachers, police and firefighters pension plans. However, these benefits apply only to service accrued after 1997, since the federal government funds pre-1997 benefits. This bill would bring those pre-1997 benefits in line with both the post-1997 benefits and the retirement benefits for federal employees in the Civil Service Retirement System and FERS and make an analogous change for D.C. judges, whose retirement benefits are funded by the federal government. In general, for federal retirees, 55 is the age after which a surviving spouse can remarry without losing survivor benefits.

This bill would give these workers the retirement benefits they deserve. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Rep. Omar Statement on Rubio ICC Announcement

WASHINGTON – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement in response to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement on his intent to dismantle the International Criminal Court:

“Secretary Rubio’s announcement that he will dismantle the International Criminal Court is reckless and dangerous. It undermines the rule of law, weakens global accountability, and turns America's back on the values we claim to champion.

“The ICC is an independent international court created to ensure that perpetrators of the world's gravest crimes—genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity—cannot escape justice.

“Secretary Rubio claims that the ICC poses ‘an intolerable threat to U.S. sovereignty’ and that American servicemembers could be prosecuted simply for serving our country. That is simply not true. The ICC is an international court of last resort, intended to prosecute only the most horrific crimes – war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity – when countries are unable or unwilling to do so themselves. The best way to avoid ICC scrutiny is simple: don't commit atrocity crimes, and if credible allegations arise, investigate them transparently and hold those responsible accountable.

“The United States should lead by example, not exempt itself from the standards it expects everyone else to follow. In 2022, I introduced a resolution calling on the United States to join the ICC because I believe America should stand with victims of atrocities, defend human rights, and strengthen the international rule of law. I will reintroduce that resolution in the coming days, and I urge my colleagues who believe in justice and human rights to join me.

“America is strongest when we lead with our values, not when we demand immunity from them. If we respect human rights, uphold the rule of law, and hold ourselves to the same standards we ask of others, we have nothing to fear from the ICC.”

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CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN LAUNCHES HUDSON VALLEY WIDE PETITION TO STOP POTENTIAL ICE FACILITY IN NEWBURGH

Following Border Czar Tom Homan’s promise of an ICE surge in New York, Congressman Pat Ryan immediately raised the alarm on reports of a new facility in Newburgh and is demanding answers on if the site will be used for ICE detention

Ryan has led the fight against a mass detention center opening in the Hudson Valley for months; his petition opposing the proposed facility in Chester amassed more than 25,000 signatures

Today, Ryan is launching a petition opposing the potential Newburgh facility

NEWBURGH, NY – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan is launching a petition opposing a potential ICE facility in Newburgh. Following Border Czar Tom Homan’s promise of an ICE surge in New York, Congressman Pat Ryan immediately raised the alarm on reports of a new facility in Newburgh and is demanding answers on if the site will be used for ICE detention.

For months, Ryan has led the fight against a mass detention center being built in the Hudson Valley. When reports of a Trump Administration plan to build a mass detention center in Chester broke in January, Ryan immediately joined the community in raising the alarm. His petition opposing the site amassed more than 25,000 signatures, which he submitted directly to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Now, Ryan is continuing his fight to keep ICE out of the Hudson Valley – in Chester, Newburgh, or anywhere else.

“From the very beginning, the Trump Administration – particularly ICE and DHS – have refused to be transparent with our community. We’ve made it clear: we strongly reject a mass detention center or any ICE facility in the Hudson Valley. It’s shameful, un-American, and the exact opposite of everything our community stands for,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Under Trump, ICE has a budget that is larger than most other countries’ militaries – and they’ve used it to kill law-abiding Americans, kidnap children, deport veterans, and terrorize our communities. We have a very simple message for Trump, Homan, Mullin and the rest of them: stay out of the Hudson Valley. When they tried to build a facility in Chester, we rallied with one voice to stop it – and we’re ready to do the same thing again. Together, the Hudson Valley is standing on the side of justice, accountability, and humanity – and whether in Newburgh, Chester, or anywhere else, we won’t stand idly by while ICE makes us all less safe.”

Led by Congressman Ryan, the Hudson Valley community has made their feelings about ICE detention in their backyards very well known. Earlier this year, the Chester proposal received wide, bipartisan backlash, and Ryan’s petition opposing the facility has amassed more than 25,000 signatures.

Ryan has been leading the fight against ICE detention in the Hudson Valley for months. He has repeatedly voted against funding DHS, citing the agency’s unconstitutional overreach and their already inflated budget – larger than most countries’ militaries. Ryan also sponsored articles of impeachment against then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for her clear violations of the US Constitution and betrayal of the public trust.

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CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN RALLIES WITH WEST PARK COMMUNITY, POSTAL WORKERS TO SAVE WEST PARK POST OFFICE

When West Park residents abruptly received notice that their post office would be closing, with no information or timeline provided on when services will resume, Ryan immediately wrote to USPS demanding the closure be reversed

He then launched a petition, which got more than 100 signatures in just a few days, showing the West Park community’s massive opposition to the closure

Today, Ryan joined local elected officials and community members to rally against the closure, which would place undue burden on the West Park community

WEST PARK, NY – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan joined members of the West Park community to rally against USPS’s proposed closure of the West Park post office. When West Park residents abruptly received notice that their post office would be closing, with no information or timeline provided on when services will resume, Ryan immediately wrote to USPS demanding the closure be reversed.

There is no home delivery in the area, so residents must travel to the post office daily to receive their mail, including medications, bills, and critical correspondence. Ryan launched a petition opposing the closure, which got more than 100 signatures in just a few days, and released initial results demonstrating the massive community backlash.

Members of the West Park community are encouraged to sign this petition, voicing their opposition to the closure of their post office.

“For many communities in the Hudson Valley, the U.S. Postal Service is a lifeline. That’s especially the case in West Park where it’s one of the few meeting places in town. The way this community has jumped into action has been so inspiring.,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “ In just a few days since launching the petition, I’ve heard from seniors worried about picking up their medication, small business owners who rely on the shipping services, and most of all from neighbors, worried about losing this center of their community. We need to make sure USPS understands just how vital this post office is to the West Park community. The crowd gathered here today speaks for itself. USPS owes the Hudson Valley better, and our community will keep fighting to save the West Park post office and ensure our neighbors don’t get left behind.”

“As a cradle West Parker, I'm horrified that the heart and hub of our hamlet could be removed from our lives. Closing or relocating West Park Post Office would erase our core connection with our neighbors and the rest of the world,” said Mary Ellison, West Park resident. “In rural areas like ours, if we are to survive, access to essential services must be maintained or improved, not reduced. When access to vital resources is blocked or eliminated, communities falter as residents struggle to secure essential services. West Park enjoys a strong history of community organizers and activists. That spirit will move us forward as we work to save our post office, the heart and hub of our hamlet. We are more than a zip code, more than our post office box numbers.”

“The Postal Service is part of our National Constitution and under the Postal Reorganization Act the Postal Service is what binds the people of this country together. The West Park Post Office is a perfect example of this. The Post Office has been the center of this community for 140 years! This community will fight back until they have their Post Office in West Park!,” said Diana Cline, President APWU Mid Hudson Area Local #3722.

“The post office is what I would consider to be both an important American service as well as a great tradition,” said Jessie Levey, West Park resident. “Mail connects people from afar and the post office connects people to their community. Losing our local post office is losing a central part of our West Park community.”

“The West Park Post Office has been a vital part of our close-knit community for over 125 years. If it were to close, we would lose the essential hub of our hamlet,” said Joan Burroughs, great-great-granddaughter of John Burroughs and president of the John Burroughs Association.

“Rerouting West Park residents to Highland creates an unnecessary hardship, particularly for our seniors and individuals with disabilities,” said Town Supervisor Roscoe Pecora. “We believe there is an opportunity to avoid that disruption, but we need the Post Office to engage and come to the table now. The West Park community isn't asking for special treatment—they're asking for collaboration from the USPS. The landlord has repeatedly stated that he is willing to enter a lease temporarily. We are simply asking USPS and its lease management contractor, JLL Properties, to come to the table, extend the lease, and give everyone the opportunity to work together on a long-term solution that keeps postal services in West Park.”

“The West Park Post Office provides an essential service to the hamlet and serves as the heart of this community,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “There is no home delivery in West Park, and it would be extremely disruptive to residents’ lives if forced to travel to another town every day for their medications, bills, and other mail. Closing it with barely a month’s notice and no plan for continuity is simply unacceptable. I want to thank Congressman Ryan for leading the charge, together with the hamlet’s County representative, Legislator Amy Dooley, and I stand fully with affected residents in demanding that USPS keep postal service in West Park. Postmaster Tammy Firmbach and her team have served this hamlet with dedication, and we will fight to ensure that service continues without interruption.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Our neighbors in West Park deserve reliable, uninterrupted postal service in their community, and the federal government has an obligation to provide it, not take it away. The outpouring of concern from our residents about this planned closure speaks for itself: seniors who rely on the West Park post office for life-saving medications and Social Security checks, business owners who depend on it for shipping and correspondence, and hundreds of local residents who would face hardship if they lost access. In this rural community, West Park has served as both a valued local gathering spot and a connection to an essential government service. This decision must be reversed, and I will keep fighting alongside my partners at every level of government and in labor to find a way for West Park to stay open.”

“West Park has been my home for the last 9 years, and in that time, have fallen in love with my neighbors and my community,” said Claire Buglion, West Park resident. “The post office and Tammy is so much more than a small brick building with someone working behind a counter. Driving to Highland is not just an inconvenience and for many of my friends and neighbors a hardship. It is stripping away our identity as a town. I strongly oppose this unnecessary action, and demand that all actions be taken to stop it.”

“West Park is a strong, close-knit community, and having our own local post office—with Tammy as our wonderful postmaster—is part of what makes this small hamlet so special,” said Patricia Cutugno, West Park resident. “It’s places like these, and the people who serve them with kindness and dedication, that help make West Park feel like home.”

“I am a senior and I walk to the Post Office in West Park,” said Melissa Ortquist, West Park resident. “I get some of my medications through the mail. Going to Highland to get my mail would be a huge inconvenience for me and my neighbors. I am worried that I will not get my prescriptions on time. Highland is way out of my way.”

“I heard from a neighbor the West Park PO is closing in a month and we will be directed to Highland PO. It’s an unbelievable short amount of time to hear about it through the grapevine,” said Mary McCrindle, West Park resident. “My husband and I have lived here 39 years. Many personal and professional things associated with our PO box that are not easy to change/notify!!! We want our PO to stay open!!”

Ryan has had repeated success of pressuring USPS to save Hudson Valley post offices, and is demanding the agency prevent critical lapses in service for the West Park community and call off the closure of the West Park office.

Members of the West Park community are encouraged to sign this petition, voicing their opposition to the closure of their post office.

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Reps. Pocan, Dexter, Leger Fernandez, and Ramirez Return From Cuba Fact-Finding Mission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) released the following statement upon the conclusion of their four-day Congressional delegation to Cuba:

“I went to Cuba thirty years ago, three and a half years ago, and now today,” said Rep. Pocan. “As a small business owner for 37 years myself, I have seen how the island’s private sector has the potential to thrive like never before, but is also hamstrung by U.S. sanctions that limit its access to financing, punish its workforce, reduce its customer base, and cut off its suppliers and export possibilities.”

“United States' policies continue to exacerbate a crisis of displacement: a situation that, for many Cubans, makes it impossible to stay and realize self-determination in their own land. From what I heard directly from Cubans, many feel like they are forced to emigrate. But when Cubans decide to leave behind their land and look at the United States with hope, they are confronted by the U.S.’s outdated immigration system and the Trump administration's white nationalist agenda,” said Rep. Ramirez. “It is an impossible choice: face hunger, illness, and destitution on your own land or the abuse of ICE in the U.S.”

“Cuba created a free, universal healthcare system that millions of Cubans and others around the world have come to expect and depend on,” said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. “Today that system is buckling under sanctions that the White House has unleashed on the Cuban people. This is creating a humanitarian catastrophe, and it’s on us to stop it. I will be using all the tools at my disposal to remove the barriers to delivering health care to the Cuban people.”

“What the United States is doing to this island is a siege,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “We’re blocking medical supplies, fuel and other essential inputs, leading its infant mortality rate to rise nearly 150% in recent years, from 4 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births. I doubt any American wants innocent Cuban babies to die due to our policies.”

The Members jointly wrote:

“As elected lawmakers tasked with oversight of U.S. foreign policy, we traveled to Havana to meet with Cubans of all walks of life and political perspectives to hear about the hardships the Trump administration’s maximum pressure policies are creating for Cuban citizens, learn about recent reform efforts aimed at modernizing the Cuban economy, and explore ways to reset U.S.-Cuba relations on a path of engagement, diplomacy and mutual respect.

“The de facto U.S. fuel blockade on Cuba is producing indiscriminate pain for the most vulnerable Cubans, contributing to nationwide electrical blackouts—including one during our trip—buildups of trash on street corners, severe shortages of food, medicine, and public transportation, and widening inequality on the island.

“In our meetings with religious leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, humanitarian groups, medical professionals and farmers, everybody we heard from - no matter their views of the Cuban government or the pace and scope of the announced reforms - agreed on one thing: that they are being strangled to death under the current executive orders and longstanding economic blockade.

“The Trump administration has not provided any evidence that Cuba poses a pressing national security threat to the United States and our interests at home and abroad. We believe that any pretext used to launch an illegal, unauthorized, and unpopular military operation against the island would exacerbate a grave humanitarian catastrophe, put U.S. service members at unnecessary risk, and hurt the very people we claim to support.

“The severe secondary sanctions - including more announced today - mean that there is almost no fuel and no banking on the island, forcing blackouts that can last days. Foreign businesses are fleeing the island, crippling Cuba’s private sector. Without electricity, hospitals, health care and all basic services are impacted. There is a growing humanitarian crisis and international aid organizations cannot distribute aid throughout the country. In other words, our policies are killing everyday Cuban citizens.

“We call on the Trump administration and our colleagues in Congress to listen to the majority of U.S. and Cuban citizens and the rest of the world by lifting the cruel sanctions weighing on the Cuban people and engaging in serious and comprehensive negotiations with Cuban authorities that help advance trade with the island, promote respect for human rights, and provide a much-needed solution for a Cuban population that doesn’t have any more time to wait.”


Congresswoman Pou Blasts Restarting of Iran War

“Today, President Trump has officially notified us that he is restarting our nation’s war against the Iranian government, a war Congress did not ratify and which the American people do not support,” said Congresswoman Pou. “The House voted to halt this illegal war; President Trump disregarded us. Overwhelming majorities of Americans have signaled their disapproval; Trump ignored them. Gas prices have skyrocketed and will now rise some more; the administration does not care. America’s allies beseech us to stop fighting; crickets from the White House. This war is illegal, unwanted, counterproductive, destructive, ill-advised, outrageous. This renewal will benefit no one but the Iranian dictators themselves.”

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NEWS: Essential Pressley Bills Enacted into Law in Most Robust Housing Package in Decades

Pressley-Led Bills Will Address Bias in Home Appraisals, Expand Affordable Housing, Strengthen Oversight of Corporate Landlords, and Help Families Reach Financial Stability

Pressley Condemned Trump’s Refusal to Sign Housing Package into Law

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued a statement following the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act being enacted into law—the most robust housing package in decades. The package includes Rep. Pressley’s four bills to address bias in home valuations, expand affordable housing, strengthen oversight of corporate landlords, and help families reach financial stability.

“I’m proud to deliver essential housing resources to families in the Massachusetts 7th and throughout the country,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “This robust housing package and my four bills within it will bring necessary relief to Americans struggling to keep up with soaring housing costs. My bills will confront racial bias in home appraisals, protect renters from abusive corporations, expand access to affordable housing, and help families build long-term financial stability. It’s time we treat housing as the human right that it is—and these laws are an essential step forward to do exactly that.”

Rep. Pressley’s four bills in the housing package include:

The Appraisal Modernization Act. This bill would promote equity and combat systemic bias in the home appraisal process that has disadvantaged many current and aspiring homeowners—especially homeowners of color.

The Innovation Fund Act. This bill would establish a grant program to reward communities that are taking innovative steps to increase housing supply.

The Renter Resource Center Act. This bill would protect renters and strengthen oversight of corporations by creating a database of institutional investors that buy single-family homes, requiring HUD to provide resources to renters, and more.

Helping More Families Save Act.This bill would help families receiving federal housing assistance achieve financial independence as a pathway to wealth building by modernizing and expanding HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.

Following Trump’s refusal to sign the package into law without advancing his voter suppression bill, Rep. Pressley joined lawmakers in demanding Trump support the housing package and the essential, expanded access to housing it would deliver for Americans.

In January 2026, Rep. Pressley, alongside Congresswomen Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) held the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ (CPC) Lowering Costs Taskforce’s first shadow hearing, titled “Building the New American Dream: Lowering Housing Costs for All.” The shadow hearing brought together housing experts and CPC Members to advance solutions to lower costs by building more affordable, public, and market-rate housing; cracking down on corporate and landlord greed; and expanding federal assistance for low-income families.

As a Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for policies that affirm housing as a human right and center the dignity and humanity of all people.

In May 2026, during Fair Housing and Second Chance Month, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) reintroduced the Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy (Housing FIRST) Act of 2026, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing. The bill would advance housing justice and help disrupt the prison-to-homelessness pipeline by removing unjust barriers to housing and limit tenant screening criteria for criminal records in background checks.

In April 2026, Rep. Pressley along with Rep. DeLauro and Rep. Gomez, founder and co-chair of Congressional Renters Caucus, introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to protect tenants facing illegal evictions, crack down on credit reporting of evictions, and more.

In March 2026, Rep. Pressley joined Financial Services Committee Democrats in a comment letter condemning HUD’s proposed mixed-status families rule, which would increase evictions, separate families, and increase homelessness across the country.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley convened local advocates and community partners to sound the alarm on the housing crisis created by Donald Trump.

In December 2025, Rep. Pressley underscored the need to support grandfamily and kinship households, which are vital to preventing homelessness and keeping families and communities whole.

In November 2025, Rep. Pressley joined House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (CA-35) and 52 colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, calling on him to rescind a recent HUD decision to slash essential Continuum of Care (CoC) program funding.

In November 2025, Rep. Pressley introduced the Appraisal Modernization Act, legislation to promote equity and combat systemic bias in the home appraisal process that has disadvantaged many current and aspiring homeowners—especially homeowners of color.

In May 2025, Rep, Pressley, along with Representatives Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Greg Casar (TX-35), reintroduced the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, legislation to protect the power of tenants, including those with federal vouchers, to organize.

In June 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Maxine Waters (CA-43) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), re-introduced the Tenant Empowerment Act, bold legislation to strengthen HUD tenant protections and provide renters with the tools necessary to improve the quality of their homes.

In March 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Mayor Wu, visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.

In March 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Senators Warren and Markey, applauded the final passage of $850,000 in federal community project funding for The Pryde, an affordable housing development for LGBTQ+ seniors in Hyde Park.

In March 2024, Rep. Pressley urged Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut interest rates to boost home affordability and construction of affordable housing.

In January 2024, Rep. Pressley, during a House Financial Services Committee Hearing, highlighted the growing housing crisis and how appraisal bias and discriminatory tenant screening practices exacerbate the racial wealth and homeownership gaps, especially for Black communities.

In January 2024, Rep. Pressley celebrated the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood in Somerville.

In December 2023, Rep. Pressley requested the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide data on housing needs for Medicaid beneficiaries and feedback on challenges the agency is having in covering housing support for people requiring home and community-based services (HCBS).

In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), reintroduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act, critical legislation to provide much-needed assistance to those facing eviction amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In September 2021, Rep. Pressley joined Rep. Bush and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 to enact an urgently needed nationwide eviction moratorium.

On July 2021, ahead of the expiration of the previous CDC eviction moratorium, Reps. Pressley, Bush, Gomez and their progressive colleagues sent a letter renewing their calls for President Biden and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to extend the federal eviction moratorium and prevent the historic and deadly wave of evictions that would occur if the government failed to do so.

On July 30, 2021, Rep. Pressley joined House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) in introducing the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021, legislation to extend the eviction moratorium through the end of the year.

In June 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Reps. Gomez and Bush, led over 40 of their colleagues on a letter urging President Biden and CDC Director Walensky to extend and strengthen the moratorium for the duration of the public health crisis.

In June 2021, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), re-introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 18, 2021, Reps. Bush and Pressley sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling on the CDC to strengthen and extend the federal moratorium on evictions, ensuring families can remain safely in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 global health emergency.

On July 28, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. DeLauro and Sen. Harris introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to provide much-needed, layered assistance to those facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 24, 2020, in a Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the unprecedented financial cliff facing millions of renters and homeowners, the economic consequences of millions losing their homes, including the ability to return to work, and why funding for legal representation is so critical.

On May 11, 2020, Reps. Tlaib, and Joe Neguse (D-CO) urge House and Senate leadership to include $11.5 billion in funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) in the next relief package to aid the nation’s homeless population who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 10, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Congressional leadership to prioritize recurring monthly cash payments to those most at-risk during the COVID-19 crisis. This funding would allow people to cover all their bills, including rent.

On April 17, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and colleagues introduce the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 23, 2020, Reps. Pressley and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Public Health Emergency Shelter Act of 2020, legislation to provide critical funding to states and local governments responding to the needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation was included and passed through the HEROES Act and H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020.

On March 19, 2020, Rep. Pressley, along with progressive lawmakers and organizations, introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act to authorize more than $200 billion in federal spending over 10 years for crucial housing infrastructure and reduce homelessness.

On March 18, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Katie Porter (D-CA) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to HUD calling for a moratorium on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic.

In July 2019, Rep. Pressley announced legislation that would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology.

In November 2019, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Tlaib wrote to HUD blasting the agency for ignoring low-income tenants seeking to save their homes.

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Amata Honors the Life of Senator Lindsey Graham

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is honoring the life of Senator Lindsey Graham, a Veteran, and a statesman, who championed a strong U.S. military and the nation’s obligations to Service Members, and a belief in a pro-active foreign policy that emphasized freedom.

File photo in the White House Rose Garden with Sen. Lindsey Graham

“I was blessed to know and be friends with Senator Graham, and he was also a friend to America Samoa, with influential roles in the Senate regarding appropriations, budget, military, and foreign affairs. I was shocked and saddened to learn of this tragic news.

“His legacy is secure, starting out as an admirable American success story. He grew up in apartment over the family business, then following his parents’ death, took on the responsibilities of raising and supporting his younger sister, Darline, then 13 years old.

Senator Graham with Congresswoman Amata

“He served in the U.S. Senate for more than 20 years, including numerous key committees and chairmanships, and prior to that as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Lindsey Graham was a lifelong public servant, including 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, and he didn’t retire from that service until 2015, with the rank of Colonel. That’s a patriotic record that American Samoans will appreciate and honor.

“He was outgoing, hopeful, persuasive, personable, enthusiastic about legislating, willing to work with anyone where he could build a point of agreement, and always happy to share in a joke.

“I take comfort from his Christian faith. He was open about his beliefs without seeking attention, respected others, and defended religious freedom. I join the many prayers and condolences for his family, his sister, the people of South Carolina, his Senate staff, and all who knew him. He will be widely missed and remembered.”

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Ramirez Statement on Oversight Visit To Cuba and Humanitarian Crisis on the Island

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the co-chair and co-founder of the Global Migration Caucus, released the following statement after returning from an oversight visit to Cuba:

“As a member of Congress, it is my responsibility to understand the effects of U.S. policies on the lives of our neighbors in Cuba. That's why this weekend, I visited Cuba to hear first-hand accounts about the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the island. Through my conversations with civil society, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, farmers, and many other Cubans, one thing is clear: under the pretense of freeing the Cuban people, the United States government wounds them, cutting them off from access to reliable infrastructure, economic opportunities, and a thriving life on their island. Plain and simple, our 60-year-long imperialistic policies, including an immoral, inexcusable, cruel blockade, have contributed to the dire conditions facing Cubans who yearn to be free.

And through their actions, Trump and Rubio continue to exacerbate a crisis of displacement: a situation that, for many Cubans, makes it impossible to stay and realize self-determination in their own land. From what I heard directly from Cubans, many feel like they are forced to emigrate. But when Cubans decide to leave behind their land and look at the United States with hope, they are confronted by the U.S.’s outdated immigration system and the Trump administration's white nationalist agenda. It is an impossible choice: face hunger, illness, and destitution on your own land or the abuse of ICE in the U.S. Case in point: during my trip, I met a mother who was deported, leaving her daughter and husband behind. A family separated by inhumane policies, who asked me, “How can we be hopeful” under these conditions.

But, even facing such hardship, I heard directly from the Cuban people that they desire new relationships based on cooperation and diplomacy. That is why we must demand an end to the blockade. We must end the sanctions. We must end the siege on the Cuban people. We must oppose and dismantle every U.S. policy that violates U.S. and international law, harms our neighbors, or undermines the human rights and dignity of the Cuban people. We must change course to realize our collective liberation. We must honor our dignity, shared humanity, and sovereignty at home and abroad. We must immediately pass Rep. Velazquez’s Cuba War Powers Resolution that asserts our Congressional authority, as well as our New Good Neighbor Act. We can and must become good neighbors."