Welch on the NDAA: “This national defense authorization fails to address the critical question that is before this country right now...the war in Iran.” Welch on the NDAA:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today delivered remarks from the Senate floor urging his colleagues to reconsider debate or advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), citing the ongoing, escalating war with Iran and the inclusion of new policy provisions that require the U.S. to deepen our defense and intelligence sharing relationship with the government of Israel.

“This national defense authorization fails to address the critical question that is before this country right now, and that is the war in Iran,” said Senator Welch. “It fails to address the changing nature of warfare, by spending half a trillion dollars more on weapons systems that are the weapons systems of yesterday…It outsources, to another country, decisions on intelligence sharing and weapons production that should only be made by our country. It commits the taxpayers of this country to the obligation of another half trillion dollars, with absolutely no outline of how we’re going to pay for it—and this, on top of a deficit that is the highest we’ve ever had in this country.”

Watch Senator Welch’s speech below:

Read an excerpt of Senator Welch’s remarks:

“When it comes to sharing intelligence, I want our generals; I want our national security officials; I want our president, our chief executive and commander in chief; to have unfettered discretion to make those decisions about with whom we share information, what information we share, and under what circumstances, to be our decision and our decision alone…We’ve never, ever, had an obligation to relinquish the exclusive right of decision making that has to fundamentally be made on the best interest of what is in the national security interest of the people in this country. We cannot relinquish that right and that responsibility.”

•••

Last week, Senator Welch joined a letter led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) urging their colleagues to oppose the motion to proceed with a vote on the NDAA, unless it addresses provisions that lock in U.S.-Israel defense and intelligence cooperation. These new provisions were included in the bill despite reports by U.S. intelligence agencies that the Israeli government has worked to undermine the President’s peace negotiations and is spying on the United States.

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Whitehouse Releases Outstanding DOJ Oversight Requests Ahead of Nomination Hearing of Todd Blanche

Whitehouse’s letter from last month has yet to receive any response

Unanswered questions relate to DOJ’s cushy treatment of Ghislaine Maxwell, Patel’s private jet use, changes to bend the justice system to Trump

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released a letter sent in late June to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche alerting him to numerous outstanding, unanswered oversight requests the Senator has issued to the Department of Justice. The Senator’s inquiries and requests have been ignored or met by incomplete answers from recalcitrant Trump administration officials at the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation – despite Congress’s constitutional oversight power. Whitehouse’s outstanding inquiries relate to Blanche’s cushy treatment of sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, FBI Director Kash Patel’s prolific private jet usage, and the DOJ bending the justice system to President Trump’s will.

“I write ahead of your confirmation hearing to bring to your attention multiple outstanding oversight requests that I submitted to the Department of Justice during your tenure as Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General. These requests, which number in the dozens, have gone unanswered, leading me to seek responses via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)—something to which a Member of Congress, with constitutional oversight authority, should never have to resort,” Whitehouse wrote in the letter.

“No new Attorney General should be confirmed until the Department has provided meaningful responses to all outstanding oversight requests, and commits to timely responses going forward,” added Whitehouse.

Whitehouse requested production of responses and documents before the start of Acting Attorney General Blanche’s confirmation hearing for Attorney General, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 15.

On July 1, Senator Whitehouse joined Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter pressing Acting Attorney General Blanche for answers on dozens of oversight matters that remain outstanding, either due to no response or insufficient response from DOJ. In November, Senators Whitehouse, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) filed a batch of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to DOJ seeking records related to various episodes of potential executive branch misconduct or corruption.

Whitehouse has long urged his colleagues in Congress to take up bipartisan reform efforts to strengthen Congress’s hand in executive branch oversight. Whitehouse and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) held a series of hearings during the Biden administration that culminated in a bipartisan report detailing how information disputes between the executive branch and Congress thwarts Congress’s constitutional authority to conduct oversight.

Full text of the letter is below and a PDF is available here.

June 23, 2026

The Honorable Todd Blanche

Acting Attorney General of the United States

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Acting Attorney General Blanche:

I write ahead of your confirmation hearing to bring to your attention multiple outstanding oversight requests that I submitted to the Department of Justice during your tenure as Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General. These requests, which number in the dozens, have gone unanswered, leading me to seek responses via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)—something to which a Member of Congress, with constitutional oversight authority, should never have to resort. The Department then failed to answer those FOIA requests in an adequate or timely fashion, despite FOIA’s statutory mandate that agencies “shall make available to the public” all requested, nonexempt information.[1]

At her confirmation hearing, former Attorney General Bondi committed to me that she would respond to questions from members of both parties—even FOIA requests.[2] Similarly, FBI Director Patel told me at his confirmation hearing that he would “ensure timely and appropriate responses to oversight inquiries.”[3] He also said in the Wall Street Journal, the night before his hearing, that “Members of Congress have hundreds of unanswered requests to the FBI. If confirmed, I will be a strong advocate for congressional oversight, ensuring that the FBI operates with the openness necessary to rebuild trust by simply replying to lawmakers.”[4]

None of those promises were kept. No new Attorney General should be confirmed until the Department has provided meaningful responses to all outstanding oversight requests, and commits to timely responses going forward.

A catalog of my unanswered oversight requests follows. Please preserve all records relevant to these topics and produce thorough responses to each outstanding request before your hearing.

Outstanding Questions for the Record.

FBI Director Patel and former Attorney General Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September and October 2025, respectively. I also submitted written Questions for the Record on topics including Director Patel’s still-undisclosed grand jury testimony in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, his use of jet travel for personal purposes, the decision to close a bribery investigation into Tom Homan, and the review of suspicious activity reports relating to Jeffrey Epstein. I have not received a response to any questions. I would add that Patel appears to have lied to the Committee.

Actions Related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

I have submitted multiple requests to DOJ about its actions related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. First, on July 28, 2025, Ranking Member Durbin and I sent a letter to you asking for information related to the interviews you conducted with Ghislaine Maxwell and DOJ’s review of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. We noted that your meeting with Ms. Maxwell was especially odd given your senior role at DOJ, your unfamiliarity with the case against Ms. Maxwell, her “history and willingness to lie under oath,” her concurrent attempts to overturn her criminal convictions, and recent reporting about President Trump’s relationship with Epstein.[5]

Then, roughly one week after your unusual meetings with Ms. Maxwell, she was transferred to a minimum-security facility. As I noted in my August 7, 2025, letter inquiring about this matter, Ms. Maxwell’s transfer appeared to violate standard BOP policy prohibiting someone with Ms. Maxwell’s history of sex offenses to be placed in a minimum-security facility. The timing of these events raised the question whether Ms. Maxwell’s transfer was part of a political deal with you. Then, following your ascension to Acting Attorney General, BOP updated its policy to give you unilateral authority to determine where BOP inmates are imprisoned. I again wrote to BOP on June 23, 2026, to ask for information related to that policy change.

On March 9, 2026, I requested that DOJ preserve all records related to its failure to disclose information regarding sexual assault allegations made against President Trump in 2019. It appears that DOJ still has not published 37 pages of those records, despite the clear requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

On March 16, 2026, I inquired with DOJ, FBI, and DEA about a DOJ investigation involving Jeffrey Epstein—Operation Trip Knot. Although Epstein’s name apparently “surfaced repeatedly” during that investigation, DOJ appears to have disclosed only one document related to this investigation as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.[6]

Former Attorney General Bondi’s Departure.

I have also inquired about former Attorney General Bondi’s departure and your ascension to Acting Attorney General. The details of that transition matter both to ensure that former Attorney General Bondi complied with all federal ethics laws and to understand the contours of your temporary duties. More than two months after my April 13, 2026, inquiry, and on the verge of your confirmation hearing, we still have no response.

Hiring of Jared Wise to Work in Deputy Attorney General’s Office.

Last year, DOJ hired Jared Wise to be part of the so-called “Weaponization Working Group” run by Ed Martin. DOJ apparently hired Mr. Wise despite—or perhaps because of—his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol and his assault on police defending the Capitol on January 6, 2021. A grand jury indicted Mr. Wise on six charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers and aiding and abetting the same conduct. Video footage shows Mr. Wise calling the officers who defended the Capitol “disgusting,” “the Nazi,” and “the Gestapo.”[7] When rioters attacked these officers, he shouted, “Yeah, fuck them! Yeah, kill ‘em!”[8]

Ranking Member Durbin, Senator Schiff, and I urged you in a September 3, 2025, letter to immediately terminate Mr. Wise given his record, explain how he was hired, and explain the nature of the work he did for you. Instead, Mr. Wise remained at DOJ for at least nine months, and DOJ has never explained what he did and why he was suitable to work at the Department.

Changes to Public Integrity Section.

DOJ’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) was formed after Watergate to ensure that DOJ investigates public corruption without regard for partisanship. DOJ under your leadership has dismantled PIN, reportedly reducing the number of full-time career prosecutors from forty to two and removing PIN’s authority to oversee corruption investigations.[9] DOJ under this administration has focused obsessively on purging any offices or officials involved with the prosecutions against President Trump, while letting flagrant corruption go uninvestigated.

On March 20, 2025, I sent a letter asking DOJ to reverse course or, at minimum, provide a briefing on these changes. No such briefing has occurred. DOJ’s multiple embarrassments in selective and vindictive prosecution of multiple Democratic officials and public officials personally targeted by President Trump are the entirely predictable result of DOJ removing oversight by career PIN prosecutors.

Shuttering of Task Force KleptoCapture.

One of Attorney General Bondi’s first actions was shuttering anti-kleptocracy efforts, including Task Force KleptoCapture, the Kleptocracy Team, and the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. Formed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Task Force KleptoCapture had secured the forfeiture, or consent to forfeiture, of at least $170 million worth of private oligarch assets—with approximately $450 million more pending in litigation. Similarly, the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative was a 15-year-old program that had recovered more than $1.7 billion for the benefit of people harmed by corruption and abuses of office.

I asked on February 28, 2025, for a briefing on why DOJ chose to abandon such a valuable effort—especially during Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine. I have still not received that briefing.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Just two months into this administration, DOJ and the FBI reportedly began investigating the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund after EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on social media his desire to claw back the funding. Zeldin asserted without evidence that the grant awards were fraudulent, “a rush job with reduced oversight” meant to “get billions of your tax dollars out the door before Inauguration Day.”[10] Public reporting indicates that the investigation was not properly predicated, but was a pretext to interfere with the lawfully appropriated and obligated funds, leading to the resignation of a senior career attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Following the refusal of any career attorney, the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia personally submitted his own seizure warrant application to freeze the funds, which the court rejected for lack of probable cause. Then, the Acting Deputy Attorney General shopped the same investigation and warrant application to other U.S. Attorney’s offices, without success.[11]

On March 11, 2025, I wrote to former Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel requesting information regarding DOJ’s and the FBI’s investigation of the Fund. On May 15, 2025, DOJ responded to my request, refusing to provide information regarding the investigation.

“Anti-Weaponization Fund”

On May 18, 2026, DOJ announced the creation of a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a purported settlement of litigation with President Trump. You testified to Congress last month that rioters who stormed the Capitol and attacked police officers on January 6, 2021, could apply to be paid under the Fund.[12] Although you subsequently told a House subcommittee that DOJ would not move forward with the Fund, Department lawyers recently refused to submit a sworn declaration providing that assurance to a federal court.[13] Moreover, reports have suggested that administration officials are exploring alternative ways to reward January 6 rioters and other administration allies through the Federal Tort Claims Act.[14]

On May 19, 2026, DOJ released an addendum to the purported settlement—signed only by you—stating that the U.S. government would be “forever barred” from pursuing “examinations” of President Trump, his family, “related or affiliated individuals,” and related trusts and businesses, for any matter involving previously filed tax returns or “Lawfare and/or Weaponization.”[15] This addendum purports to grant President Trump and a wide swath of associates and related companies immunity from any ongoing tax audits.

On May 26, 2026, Ranking Member Durbin and I requested that DOJ preserve all related records. DOJ has not acknowledged compliance with that request.

Proposal to Supersede State Ethics Processes.

Earlier this year, DOJ proposed a rule purporting to give the Attorney General the right to review any state bar complaint against DOJ attorneys and to request that state bars suspend investigations until DOJ completes its review. The proposed rule also states that DOJ “shall take appropriate action to enforce this regulation or to prevent the bar disciplinary authorities from interfering” if state bars refuse to cede to DOJ’s demand.[16] That proposed rule prompted more than one million comments, including a highly critical comment from the Conference of Chief Justices—represented by state chief justices from across the country.[17]

On March 16, 2026, I requested that DOJ preserve all records related to the proposed rule, including any materials reflecting DOJ’s development of and decision to issue the proposed rule. DOJ has not acknowledged its compliance with this request either. It appears that DOJ has disabled the Office of Professional Responsibility, so the suggestion that DOJ would conduct legitimate inquiries merits examination.

Outstanding Freedom of Information Act Requests.

Faced with near-total obstruction from DOJ, two of my colleagues and I have been forced to file FOIA requests related to our outstanding oversight and other topics. Given Congress’s inherent constitutional oversight authority, no Member of Congress should ever have to resort to FOIA requests to receive basic information from the executive branch. Yet even here DOJ has stonewalled our inquiries.

Senator Blumenthal, Senator Schiff, and I have submitted requests related to the now-closed investigation of Tom Homan; any Office of Professional Responsibility investigation into former DOJ official Emil Bove; Director Patel’s still-undisclosed and immunized grand jury testimony; suspicious activity reports related to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates; DOJ’s White House contacts policy; DOJ’s disbanding of anti-kleptocracy initiatives; DOJ’s attempt to rescind obligated money under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; investigations into threats against judges spurred by Elon Musk and Laura Loomer; BOP’s transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell; DOJ’s hiring of Jared Wise; DOJ’s meritless ethics complaint against Chief Judge Boasberg; communications between DOJ political appointees and Trump-appointed judges who have thwarted contempt inquiries involving DOJ; and President Trump’s acceptance of a Qatari jet plane.

Nearly seven months have passed since we submitted these requests. DOJ has failed to respond to most of our requests, in violation of the 20-day requirement imposed by the FOIA statute.[18] That failure is unacceptable in any case, but it is especially egregious when responding to Members of Congress and when delays are likely caused at least partly by DOJ actions that led to a “significant decrease in staffing.”[19]

* * *

I look forward to your prompt resolution of these requests before your confirmation hearing. Considering some of these requests were submitted more than a year ago, I am eager to avoid any further delay.

Sincerely,

[1] 5 U.S.C. § 552(a).

[2] The Nomination of the Honorable Pamela Jo Bondi to be Attorney General of the United States: Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 119th Cong. (Jan. 15, 2026) (testimony of Hon. Pamela Jo Bondi).

[3] Questions for the Record to Kashyap Patel from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Nomination Hearing: Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 119th Cong. (Jan. 30, 2025).

[4] Kash Patel, Opinion, Kash Patel: How I’ll Rebuild Public Trust in the FBI, Wall St. J. (Jan. 29, 2025), https://www.wsj.com/opinion/how-ill-rebuild-public-trust-in-the-fbi-kash-patel-on-what-he-would-do-if-confirmed-0e116c87.

[5] Letter from Sens. Richard J. Durbin & Sheldon Whitehouse to Hon. Todd Blanche, at 2 (July 28, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025-07-28%20Letter%20to%20DOJ%20re%20Maxwell.pdf.

[6] Jason Leopold, Ketamine, Prostitution and Money: Details of a Secret DEA Probe of Jeffrey Epstein, Bloomberg

(Mar. 6, 2026), https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-06/epstein-investigated-in-dea-probe-for-

ketamine-money-laundering.

[7] Letter from Sens. Richard J. Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse & Adam B. Schiff to Hon. Todd Blanche, at 2 (Sept. 3, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Letter%20to%20Bondi%20on%20Jared%20Wise.pdf.

[8] Id.

[9] Ryan Lucas, How the Trump administration has undermined the fight against public corruption, NPR (May 13, 2026), https://www.npr.org/2026/05/13/g-s1-121485/trump-pardons-public-corruption-justice.

[10] EPA Press Office, Administrator Zeldin Announces that Billions of Dollars Worth of “Gold Bars” Have Been Located at Outside Financial Institution, EPA (Feb. 13, 2025), https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-zeldin-announces-billions-dollars-worth-gold-bars-have-been-located.

[11] See Spencer S. Hsu, Maxine Joselow & Nicolás Rivero, FBI takes up EPA probe amid pushback from judge, prosecutors, Wash. Post (Feb. 27, 2025), https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/02/27/trump-fbi-epa-grant-investigation/; Spencer S. Hsu, Carol D. Leonnig & Nicolás Rivero, High-ranking D.C. federal prosecutor resigns over order to freeze EPA funds, Wash. Post (Feb. 18, 2025), https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/02/18/federal-prosecutor-dc-resigns/.

[12] Hailey Fuchs & Josh Gerstein, Todd Blanche tells appropriators payouts for Jan. 6 rioters are possible,

Politico (May 19, 2026), https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/05/19/congress/blanche-doesnt-rule-out-j6-payouts-00927704.

[13] Tierney Sneed, DOJ rebuffs judge’s request for Blanche to declare in court that anti-weaponization fund is dead, CNN (June 19, 2026), https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/19/politics/doj-anti-weaponization-fund-judge-request.

[14] Sarah Fitzpatrcik, Trump Isn’t Giving Up on His Slush Fund, Atlantic (June 11, 2026), https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/06/trump-anti-weaponization-fund/687500/; Rebecca Beitsch, DOJ has other routes to payouts beyond Trump ‘anti-weaponization’ fund, Hill (June 7, 2026), https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5912674-justice-department-settlements-ftca/.

[15] Off. of the Att’y Gen., Addendum1 (2026), https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1441216/dl.

[16] Review of State Bar Complaints and Allegations Against Current and Former Attorneys for the Government, 91 Fed. Reg. 10780, 10787 (proposed Mar. 5, 2026) (to be codified at 28 C.F.R. pt. 77).

[17] Conference of Chief Justices, Comment Letter on Proposed Rule for the Review of State Bar Complaints and Allegations Against Department of Justice Attorneys (Mar. 24, 2026), https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOJ-OAG-2026-0001-36670.

[18] 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A).


Houlahan Leads PA Members of Congress Demanding Answers on Delayed Grant Funding for PA Research Universities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Pennsylvania Members of Congress in demanding answers of Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought and National Science Foundation (NSF) Chief of Staff Brian Stone about overdue grant funding for Pennsylvania research universities.

Specifically, Houlahan and the co-signers want to know the number of grants currently pending, the operational factors causing delays, the role of OMB in reviewing grants, the steps taken by NSF and OMB to ensure an efficient grant process, and the guidance provided by NSF to applicant institutions.


Rep. Adams’ New Bill Targets Mental Health Service Gaps in Criminal Justice System

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on July 14, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), introduced the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Pilot Program Act.

FACT programs are specialized community-based mental health programs that help people with serious mental illness who have been involved with the criminal justice system get the urgent psychiatric care they need, successfully re-enter their communities, and reduce the risk of being incarcerated again.

This program model uses a dedicated team that provides around the clock care for clients. The team includes mental health professionals, specialists in psychiatry, substance abuse treatment, employment and housing services, forensic peer support, and a criminal justice system partner.

The FACT Pilot Program Act would establish a 5-year pilot grant program that provides funding for existing FACT programs to expand and increase capacity to serve more clients.

This initiative is in direct response to the increased rates of serious mental illness for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, with two in five people who are incarcerated having a history of mental illness.

“Many people with a serious mental health condition leave the criminal justice system with no psychiatric support, no job, and no housing. They are being set up to fail,” said Congresswoman Adams. “FACT programs have been shown to improve mental health outcomes and reduce repeat offenses. If we want to reduce crime rates and address the mental health crisis, expanding this program should be a national priority.”

This bill would also fund a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and provide recommendations for improvement at the end of the five years. The study would also create a framework to help states and localities, especially rural communities, develop and implement FACT programs.

In 2025, North Carolina invested $9.5 million into FACT teams in high-needs areas across the state. Currently, this funding supports only five county programs, limiting the number of clients who can be served. Additional investment is needed to ensure that FACT programs throughout the state can meet the growing demand for services.


Congressman Aderholt Applauds ARC Funds Secured for Red Bay Water & Gas Project

This office is located on the backside of the Cullman Dental Arts building up the handicap ramp. It serves Cullman and Winston Counties.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office serves Marshall, DeKalb, and Blount Counties.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office serves Fayette, Lamar, Marion and Walker Counties. It also serves the portion of Tuscaloosa County north of the Black Warrior River, but also down the western side of the county to include the Ralph, Fosters areas.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office serves Colbert and Franklin Counties. It also serves residents of Lauderdale County from roughly Center Star, west to the Mississippi line.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office is located on the backside of the Cullman Dental Arts building up the handicap ramp. It serves Cullman and Winston Counties.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office serves Marshall, DeKalb, and Blount Counties.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office serves Fayette, Lamar, Marion and Walker Counties. It also serves the portion of Tuscaloosa County north of the Black Warrior River, but also down the western side of the county to include the Ralph, Fosters areas.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.

This office serves Colbert and Franklin Counties. It also serves residents of Lauderdale County from roughly Center Star, west to the Mississippi line.

We encourage you to make an appointment before coming into the office so that our constituent services representatives can pull up relevant information beforehand to help with your request of a federal agency.


Rep. Green Addresses Pres. Trump’s Making $1.74M in Crypto Per Day While Nearly 1M Other Investors Lost $3.8B

(Washington, DC) — On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “The Federal Reserve’s Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report."

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green's remarks by clicking here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).


Amodei Votes in Favor of Passing of Sunshine Protection Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 139, the Energy and Commerce Committee's Sunshine Protection Act. The passing of this bill makes Daylight Savings time permanent, eliminating the need to turn back the clocks come November.

Congressman Mark Amodei released the following statement:

"I am proud to join the majority of my colleagues in the passing of the Sunshine Protection Act," said Rep. Amodei. “I have spoken with countless Nevadans over the years that are in favor of making Daylight Savings permanent. This bill is the first step in allowing them to do so. The Sunshine Protection Act improves the quality of life for not only Nevadans, but all Americans, providing an additional hour of light at the end of the day."

Key Takeaways:


Rep. Ansari Condemns ICE Murders, Calls for Passage of Drain ICE Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) delivered a speech on the House Floor condemning ICE under the direction of the Trump Administration for its continued terrorization of communities across America, including the murder of innocent people.

“ICE, the President’s paramilitary secret police force, continues to roam American streets and murder people in broad daylight and in cold blood. We are a nation of laws — not a nation of secret police, cold-blooded murders by federal agents on city streets, and blacksite detention centers,” said Rep. Ansari. “We must urgently work to stop these horrific abuses, hold Donald Trump and his cronies to account, abolish ICE, and reform our immigration system. We need to pass my Drain ICE Act so that this horrific agency has not one more cent to terrorize American families and communities.”

Ansari's remarks come after her eleventh congressional oversight visit. Last week, Ansari visited the Eloy Detention Center, where detained individuals reported lacking access to basic necessities. Detainees told her that melting ice was often their only source of clean drinking water unless they purchased bottled water from the commissary, and that air conditioning had not worked properly for three months during Arizona's extreme heat.

Due to a measles outbreak, Ansari was barred from entering the Florence Correctional Center but spoke by phone with Marcos, a Brazilian asylum seeker detained there. Marcos described spending seven days at the Mesa Gateway ICE facility sleeping on hard floors, going without showers, and eating the same meals every day. After being transferred to the Florence Correctional Center, he told Ansari that detainees must purchase clean drinking water while in custody.

WATCH

Below is a transcript of Rep. Ansari’s full remarks as delivered on the House Floor:

Madam Speaker — ICE, the President’s paramilitary secret police force, continues to roam American streets and murder people in broad daylight in cold blood.

First it was Ruben Ray Martinez in March of 2025, but ICE covered it up and kept it from the public. Then it was Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

ICE shot and killed these two innocent people in Minnesota who had done nothing more than exercise their constitutional right to protest and free speech.

And then the administration’s right-wing propaganda machine got to work, smearing these two heroes as quote “domestic terrorists” with not an ounce of evidence.

This was coordinated and directed by leadership in the Department of Homeland Security, by then Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, and by the White House itself through heinous, racist voices like Stephen Miller.

It’s not a mistake – ICE agents are completely out of control and that is on purpose. That is their mission.

This is what the Trump Administration wanted to happen from the start – to funnel hundreds of billions of dollars to their paramilitary force and then use masked agents and a nationwide effort to spread fear and terrorize immigrant communities.

The mass deportation agenda is part of their fascist far-right scheme to amass power by using immigrants as scapegoats and deploying federal troops to American cities, like my home town of Phoenix.

All across this country, people are shocked, outraged, and appalled by ICE’s conduct and the sheer cruelty of Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

And yet it continues to happen in service of arbitrary, brutal quotas for bodies.

Quotas for bodies of real people to fill beds so that for-profit prison companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic can rake in billions of dollars. So families can be torn apart and deported to third countries they've never known.

We’re talking about 10,000 arrests in a five-day period this past week.

And as part of all these horrors, ICE has conducted two sickening murders just in the last week. One in Houston and one in Maine.

ICE is using pathetic excuses and spreading more misleading information with the federal government’s bully pulpit to cover up their crimes.

This is Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old father who was driving to work and was shot and murdered while doing so.

He was not a domestic terrorist; he wasn’t going to ram his vehicle into anybody. He had no criminal record whatsoever.\

He was a hardworking beloved father of American citizens who was working hard to build the American dream. And if you haven’t watched his son Ronaldo speak about his dad, I recommend you do so. It is heart-wrenching.

It’s outrageous and insane that ICE is claiming Lorenzo “weaponized” his vehicle “in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer.”

Multiple witnesses testified that, “there were never any ICE agents in front of the van. They came in and started shooting from the sides.”

As with Alex Pretti and Renee Good, ICE is LYING and lying badly. I honestly cannot believe how terrible their lies are. And then that wasn’t enough. ICE murdered another person in Maine, 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, somebody who had a work permit, somebody who had a US social security number. And then DHS put out a statement just yesterday, just last night, that said that this man was trying to drive away and they shot him for these vague quotes of public safety.

ICE murdered a Maine resident, a law-abiding resident in front of his wife and his three-year-old daughter for no reason whatsoever. This is just pure evil. Democrats in Congress have been demanding accountability for well over a year.

We are a nation of laws, not a nation of secret police, of cold-blooded murders by federal agents on city streets, and of black sight detention centers.

We must urgently work to stop these horrific abuses, it is a moral stain on our country. We must abolish ICE and we are going to prosecute every single person responsible for directing or enabling or carrying out these crimes.

Lives are at stake. How many more families and communities need to be torn apart for republicans in congress to do something.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back.

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House Passes Barr-Led Bill Protecting Second Amendment Privacy

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) helped lead key legislation protecting the Second Amendment through the House of Representatives. Barr’s legislation, the “Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act,” prohibits financial institutions from using a new Merchant Category Code (MCC) to track purchases of firearms and ammunition.

This legislation stops banks and credit card companies from compiling and analyzing sensitive data on law-abiding Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights to own and purchase firearms.

“Law-abiding Kentuckians should not be targeted for exercising their constitutional rights,” said Congressman Barr. “Creating a system that flags firearm purchases opens the door to data collection schemes, discrimination against responsible gun owners, and a weaponized federal government that could choke off access to financing for gun stores.”

“The implementation of Merchant Category Codes to surveil lawful purchases is nothing more than an ill-conceived attempt to create a de facto national firearms registry,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA. “On behalf of millions of NRA members and gun owners nationwide, we thank Representatives Moore, Hudson, and Barr for protecting our Second Amendment rights and our privacy.”

Merchant Category Codes are commonly used across the financial industry to catogrize transactions, but applying a district identifier to firearm related purchases has raised concerns about privacy, data security, and potential misure by both private institutions and government actors.


Barrett Introduces Fifth Aviation Safety Bill in Response to 2025 Potomac River Crash

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced the Military Next-Gen Collision Avoidance Act (H.R. 9620), legislation aimed at helping prevent tragedies like the January 2025 Potomac River crash between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet. Specifically, this bill would direct the United States Secretary of Defense to advance the deployment of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System–X (ACAS-X) — the next generation of anti-crash technology — in military aircraft.

“After the Potomac River tragedy, it became clear we must identify shortcomings in how military aircraft operate alongside civilian flights and take real steps to fix them,” said Barrett. “This bill helps accelerate the deployment of the next generation of collision avoidance technology across our military fleet so our pilots have the best tools available to prevent midair collisions. We owe it to the 67 people who lost their lives — and to every service member and air traveler — to keep strengthening our aviation safety systems so tragedies like this never happen again.”

The Military Next-Gen Collision Avoidance Act builds on Barrett’s first four bills in response to the Potomac River Crash:

The Military Helicopter Training Safety Act was signed into law in December 2025 and began the process of equipping military helicopters with traffic collision avoidance systems, as well as the ADS-B In system, which received data from ADS-B Out systems on other aircraft.

The Safety in Shared Skies Act would require the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out system in every military aircraft to be tested and serviced every 90 days.

The Military ADS-B Out Loophole Act would prevent military helicopter pilots from turning off ADS-B Out transmissions during non-sensitive portions of flight missions.

The Next-Gen Collision Avoidance Act would require the Federal Aviation Administration to advance the deployment of the ACAS-X in civilian and military aircraft.


Bilirakis Celebrates House Passage of Sunshine Protection Act to "Lock the Clock"

Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, managed debate on the House Floor for H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, which passed with bipartisan support. The legislation would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent nationwide, while allowing states that have previously exempted themselves from observing Daylight Saving Time to remain on permanent standard time. For years, Americans have voiced frustration over the twice-yearly clock changes, and earlier this Congress the House Energy and Commerce Committee examined the issue during a hearing that highlighted the many benefits of permanent Daylight Saving Time. Witnesses testified that adopting permanent DST could improve motor vehicle safety, lead to better health outcomes, and provide more usable daylight in the evening, allowing Americans more time to exercise outdoors, safely pick up children from school, spend time with family, and support local businesses.

"For years, Floridians have made it clear that they are tired of the outdated and unnecessary practice of changing the clocks twice a year," said Congressman Bilirakis. "The biannual time change disrupts daily routines, inconveniences families and businesses, and no longer reflects the needs of our modern economy. Establishing Permanent Daylight Saving Time will provide Americans with greater consistency, more usable daylight in the evening, and the certainty that comes with ending the twice-yearly clock changes. Americans are ready to ditch the switch, and today we took an important step toward making that long-overdue goal a reality."

Bilirakis has long championed efforts to end the twice-yearly time change and has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance a permanent solution. As the House manager for the Sunshine Protection Act, he guided the legislation through House debate, helping secure its passage in the House of Representatives. The Sunshine Protection Act now advances to the Senate for final consideration.


Buchanan Celebrates Passage of His Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill

Buchanan’s Sunshine Protection Act Passes House in Bipartisan Vote

Click here to watch Buchanan’s House floor speech on the Sunshine Protection Act.

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan released the following statement after his Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139), a bill to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent year-round and end the twice-annual clock change, passed the House in a bipartisan vote:

“Today, the House took an important step toward ending the outdated practice of changing our clocks twice a year by passing my bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act. This commonsense legislation reflects what Americans have been saying for years: it’s time to lock the clock and make daylight saving time permanent.

“Permanent daylight saving time will improve public safety, promote healthier and more active lifestyles and give families more daylight to enjoy after work and school. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this bipartisan effort, and I urge the Senate to send this long-overdue reform to the president’s desk.”

Buchanan’s Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. In Florida, the state legislature overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation in 2018 to become the first state in the nation to adopt permanent DST. Across the U.S., 19 states have since enacted legislation or passed similar resolutions to adopt this change, pending congressional approval.

The Sunshine Protection Act allows states to opt out of permanent daylight saving time in favor of permanent standard time if opt out legislation is passed through their respective state legislatures. States can do so right up until the bill’s enactment.

The legislation has 33 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, and Senate companion legislation (S. 29) introduced by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has 18 bipartisan cosponsors. President Trump has also consistently said that he wants to end the twice-annual clock change.

Buchanan has introduced the Sunshine Protection Act each Congress since 2018.

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For Immediate Release: Congressman Burchett Introduces Bill to Improve SNAP Trafficking Data

Low-income families rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for vital access to food security. SNAP trafficking occurs when benefits are illegally exchanged for cash or non-eligible goods.

The Stop Retail Food Store SNAP Trafficking Act improves the collection of SNAP trafficking data to enable better oversight of potential abuse across the country. Additionally, this legislation strengthens enforcement by increasing penalties on malicious actors from $100,000 to $250,000.

“SNAP has become notorious for being plagued with fraud and abuse,” said Rep. Burchett. “My bill will empower the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct better oversight to ensure that your taxpayer money is being used to serve the least amongst us, not fraudsters.”


Burlison Leads Roundtable on Strategic Competition with China

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) delivered opening remarks at today’s roundtable titled “Winning the Economic Competition with China: Working Families, the AI Race, and Energy.” In his remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Burlison highlighted China’s push to control key global industries like critical minerals processing, shipbuilding, AI development, pharmaceutical supplies, and other manufacturing in order to seize economic dominance over the rest of the world and undermine American leadership. He also noted that the Working Families Tax Cut Act stopped China from benefiting from American tax provisions and can be a key tool in maintaining the U.S.’s leadership on the world stage.

WATCH: Rep. Burlison's Opening Remarks

Below are Subcommittee Chairman Burlison’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good afternoon.

I want to welcome everyone to this roundtable hosted by the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs.

Today, we will be discussing the United States’ strategic economic competition with China, and how H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, reverses misguided policies championed by Democrats and strengthens our position to win.

Just over two weeks ago, our great nation celebrated 250 years since our Founding Fathers declared independence from Great Britain.

At the time, that mighty empire sought to grow its economic might at the expense of our peoples’ rights and liberty.

250 years later, the United States is the most powerful nation the world has ever known.

Throughout our history, we have faced significant threats from nations who opposed our liberty and threatened our economic prosperity.

Today, we face such a threat yet again, from the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party dictatorship that leads it.

While China seeks to cast itself as a traditional economic competitor, it is unlike any adversary we have ever faced.

Quite simply, its ambition is to reshape and dominate the global economy and international order of the 21st Century.

China — through massive government subsidization, strategic central planning, and rampant violation of rules other nations respect — now controls key chokepoint industries, such as critical minerals processing, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals supply, and other essential manufacturing sectors.

As part of undermining American AI development, China is funding nonprofits in the U.S. and spreading propaganda to impede data center construction and energy projects.

We are even hearing reports of China-linked groups using American AI to spread misleading anti-data center content.

Their intent is clear.

China will use any means to undermine American AI and other key American industries so that they, not the United States, will lead the world’s future.

Both abroad and in the U.S., China has been dumping “green” energy products such as solar panels to create both a supply chain dependency and a backdoor risk to our electric grid security.

The Biden Administration’s and congressional Democrats’ misguided Inflation Reduction Act played into China’s hands, greatly expanding tax credits for wind and solar energy, with the ultimate aim of phasing out American fossil fuels.

China quickly exploited these tax credits, setting up factories in the U.S. to build their solar panels here.

To compete with and win against China in these key areas, the U.S. economy needs firm legislative support.

With the passage of H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — also known as the WFTCA — on July 4, 2025, Republicans ended the Biden-era climate slush fund and provided key support to the U.S. economy.

The WFTCA stopped China from benefiting from our tax provisions, prohibiting Foreign Entities of Concern from eligibility.

The bill included key provisions to support expansion of our reliable domestic fossil fuel production, bolstering American energy dominance.

The bill also provided $7.5 billion to expand the United States’ domestic critical minerals capacity, which is essential for the development of American AI, semiconductors and more.

China has been aggressively accelerating its shipbuilding, leveraging its critical minerals chokehold, and taking punitive measures against American businesses.

WFTCA has strengthened our hand against China, directly addressing many of these concerns.

But we have more we must do.

Our Founding Fathers understood that people are endowed by God with unalienable rights, and that government derives its power from the consent of the governed.

The Chinese Communist Party, however, views individual rights as granted by and subordinate to the will of the party.

If the United States loses its economic competition with China, the Chinese Communist Party will leverage its economic victory to impose that ideology of oppression upon the world.

In the face of this, competing alone is not enough.

We must win.

Today I hope we can discuss how the WFTCA strengthens our position against China, and how we can build on its success to win the battle for the future.


Bynum Leads Effort to Protect Clean Drinking Water for Oregon Communities

Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) led a letter along with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), urging the District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Colonel Larry Caswell Jr., to ensure impacted communities are fully prepared before beginning work on the Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown which is scheduled for later this year.

The lawmakers expressed concerns over recent findings from the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (“SEIS”), indicating that the drawdown would mobilize sediment and pass it downstream, potentially harming local water systems and impacting the availability of clean drinking water.

In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that varying levels of resilience and preparedness currently exist across affected water systems. They argue that in order to preserve public health and safety, the Corps must allow affected communities to execute the infrastructure and operational improvements necessary to maintain safe and reliable drinking water service before implementing the Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown.

"[M]anagement of the Willamette Valley System must balance fish recovery objectives with the public health, safety, and economic needs of Oregon communities. Success should be measured not only by our ability to strengthen salmon recovery, but by whether every downstream community can still turn on the tap with confidence,” the lawmakers wrote. “We have heard serious and repeated concerns from local governments, public water providers, emergency managers, and community stakeholders in the North Santiam Canyon and throughout Marion County regarding the potential impacts of the proposed drawdown on turbidity, drinking water reliability, public health, and critical infrastructure."

Earlier this year, Rep. Bynum successfully led a letter along with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) requesting additional time for community engagement on the USACE proposed drawdown of Detroit Reservoir.

This letter is part of her ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of Oregonians and ensure they have a voice in decisions that affect their communities.

The full text of the letter is available HERE.

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Carbajal Announces Funding for Central Coast Water Projects Passed House Committee

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a bipartisan bill containing more than $66 million for Central Coast water projects. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 will now need to be considered by the full House and Senate for final passage.

“Like many communities across the nation, the Central Coast has some water systems that are aging beyond their intended service life or must be upgraded to accommodate our region’s growth. As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m proud to have secured federal funding in this committee-passed bill to strengthen water infrastructure throughout the Central Coast. As the bill moves toward final consideration, I will continue working to ensure this essential investment is delivered to our communities,” said Rep. Carbajal, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The following projects and authorizations have been included in the committee-passed bill.

$30,000,000 for the Los Olivos Community Services District (LOCSD). The funding will be used for a new septic-to-sewer project. Once completed, the proposed project will collect wastewater from the LOCSD and send the waste approximately 3.5 miles to a connection point with the City of Solvang. The City of Solvang will then treat and dispose of the LOCSD’s wastewater at their regional facilities.

$25,000,000 for the City of Ojai. The project would replace the metal pipes that service the City’s storm water collection system. These pipes are at the end of their expected life, having been in place since the early 1960s.

$3,200,000 for Summerland Sanitary District to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure.

$6,300,000 for the City of Lompoc. The City’s projects include the modernization of the City’s water treatment plant and construction of a stormwater treatment and flood control system.

$2,000,000 for the City of Solvang to improve its water and water supply infrastructure, including the distribution systems.

Authorization of the City of Morro Bay’s seawall repair and harbor enhancements project.

“The City of Solvang is grateful for Congressman Carbajal’s leadership and continued advocacy for Solvang. His support helps advance important infrastructure priorities that are essential to the long-term health, reliability, and resilience of our community,” said Mayor David Brown.

“The legislative language advocated by Congressman Salud Carbajal will ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lives up to its responsibility to repair and maintain breakwater, revetment, and seawall infrastructure that is vital to ensuring safe navigation and operations in Morro Bay Harbor. We appreciate Rep. Carbajal’s leadership and his hard work in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Morro Bay and California,” said Mayor Carla Wixom.

“The Summerland Sanitary District is incredibly grateful to Congressman Carbajal for his continued advocacy for our coastal infrastructure. Securing this $3.2 million authorization in the draft WRDA bill is a vital milestone in rehabilitating our ocean outfall. This federal partnership establishes the critical pathway we need to protect our local environment and ensure reliable wastewater services for our community,” said Diantha Glaser, General Manager of the Summerland Sanitary District.

“Building a sewer system to solve a problem that has persisted for more than 50 years isn't glamorous, and it certainly is not easy. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Salud Carbajal for his leadership and support in helping secure funding for this critical community infrastructure. This investment gives Los Olivos a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the solution our community has long supported while ensuring that local decisions remain in local hands. It allows us to move forward with a project that reflects the needs and priorities of the people who live and work here,” said Los Olivos Community Services District President Julie Kennedy.


Congressman Castro on ICE: “They've Engaged in Cold-Blooded Murder”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to speak out against ICE’s brutality and the killings of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine.

View press conference clip here.

Remarks as delivered below:

I'm Joaquin Castro, and proud to represent San Antonio, Texas, here in the U.S. Congress. And want to say thank you to my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, most especially Representative Silvia Garcia, who, after the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, did so much work in the community to try to start to heal the community, but also to get answers to why ICE brutally murdered Lorenzo. And also to other members of the Houston delegation who were here, Lizzie Fletcher and Christian Menefee, who have also been very helpful in Houston.

We are confronted once again with the fact that ICE has become, under Donald Trump, an abusive and rogue agency that should be broken up and disbanded. Yesterday, a woman walked out of her home and into the chaos of the street, where she saw a young girl, no more than three years old.

ICE had just shot and killed a 26-year-old man, shot him six times. While he was lifeless on the floor, they handcuffed him. Neighbors said the man was the father of that young girl. It was seven o'clock in the morning, and the young girl was still wearing her Bluey pajamas. The woman said, "things like this never happen.”

Except under Donald Trump, they seem to happen every week. And if we let this go longer, they will happen every day. I have said for a while that there is a brutality by ICE on the streets and behind the prison walls of places like Dilley, and Karnes, and Pearsall, and so many other detention centers across the country. This is an agency that is targeting, that is profiling, that is stalking Latinos across the country. I found it very interesting that in both cases, ICE has admitted that neither man was targeted. That they were not the targets of enforcement.

I think there's a reason for that, because they have contracted people who are essentially bounty hunters, as well as their regular agents, to go out in the streets to look for people in beat up work trucks, to look for Latino men early in the morning and coming home at night, who are going to and from construction sites, who are going to stores to buy supplies for construction and home building, and they're targeting those folks. So, they don't need names on a paper. They're driving around to see who's brown, driving around to see and listen to who speaks Spanish out in public, and then they're stopping those people. They're asking them whether they have papers, and in these last two cases, they've engaged in cold-blooded murder.

I think you'll agree with me that when law enforcement has video to prove its case, it releases it right away. They release the video evidence right away, and yet ICE has released nothing in either case. In Lorenzo's case, they literally have not released a shred of evidence to support their claim that he was a danger to them. They were a danger to him. They were a danger to the Latino community, and all of this is driven by a racial animus out of the White House—not just Donald Trump, but Stephen Miller, who's the architect of this racial animus and hatred and bigotry, so Americans have to stand up together, have to refuse to be silent.

We have to disband ICE in this Congress. We have to freeze their hiring. We should give them no more money. Congress has to use every leverage that it can to change ICE's behavior. Otherwise, these killings will continue. There will be another victim in a few days or a few weeks. I want to say thank you to the communities in Houston and throughout Texas who have spoken up loudly, the neighbors in Maine who got out yesterday into the streets in protest, and Americans across the country who have done the same thing. Your words matter, your voices matter, your actions matter.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is contracting private companies to track and locate people, a bounty hunting process known as skip tracing. According to the American Immigration Council, these private contractors receive up to 50,000 names per month and use data tools, online research, and artificial intelligence to locate people and inform ICE where and when operations should take place.

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Congressman García’s Statement on ICE’s Ongoing Criminality

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the ongoing brutality and criminality of ICE:

“ICE is out of control. Federal immigration agents have killed two more people in just one week: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine. Both victims were fathers, husbands, hard-working immigrants who were contributing members of their communities. In both cases, ICE has lied about the facts that led to these murders, just like they lied when they killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez and shot Marimar Martinez in Chicago last year. Beyond these and other ICE murders, at least 50 people have died in immigration detention since the beginning of Trump’s second term. Yet, last month Republicans gave DHS $70 billion more for ICE and CBP, effectively funding these agencies through the end of the Trump administration. We cannot continue to fund these rogue, lawless agencies. Republicans need to stop pretending that ICE is an immigration enforcement agency when it’s acting like an immigrant extermination agency. We must hold these agents accountable, dismantle DHS and rebuild the immigration enforcement system from the ground up.”


Congressmen García, Casar Lead Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Lift Sanctions on Venezuela to Allow for Response to Catastrophic Earthquakes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Greg Casar (TX-35) led a letter to President Donald Trump, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging them to lift sanctions on Venezuela and facilitate access to frozen assets abroad, to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the devastating June 24 earthquakes.

The letter, which was signed by 14 Members of Congress, highlights the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and emphasizes that the U.S. government’s punishing sanctions regime is severely hampering urgent relief efforts. “In this moment of crisis, a robust state-coordinated response, unhampered by sanctions, is essential for preventing a humanitarian collapse and addressing the vast civilian and infrastructure needs that exceed the capacity of non-governmental approaches alone. The removal of sanctions will also allow state institutions to more effectively coordinate and deliver emergency healthcare, shelter, and food, clear debris, and rebuild roads, schools, and homes,” the letter says.

Noting that these sanctions “discourage foreign suppliers, increase import costs, disrupt international payment mechanisms, weaken state capacity, and generate and exacerbate shortages,” the letter argues they have caused an immense, unprecedented depression in Venezuela, and in order for recovery and reconstruction to succeed, they must be lifted entirely, not merely waived. It also urges the Trump Administration to facilitate the restoration of

Venezuelan institutions’ ability to access, safeguard and deploy their assets in response to the

unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.

The letter concludes by stating that President Trump’s decision to launch military strikes, forcibly detain Nicolas Maduro, and proclaim that his Administration “runs” the country means his Administration bears additional responsibility for the humanitarian response.

The letter was also signed by Representatives Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

A copy of the full letter can be found here.

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Declaración del Congresista García sobre la Criminalidad Persistente de ICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — El Congresista Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) emitió la siguiente declaración sobre la brutalidad y criminalidad continuas de ICE:

“ICE está fuera de control. Agentes federales de inmigración han matado a dos personas más en tan solo una semana: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo en Texas y Joan Sebastian Guerrero en Maine. Ambas víctimas eran padres, esposos e inmigrantes trabajadores que contribuían activamente a sus comunidades. En ambos casos, ICE ha mentido sobre los hechos que condujeron a estas muertes, tal como mintieron cuando mataron a Silverio Villegas-González y dispararon contra Marimar Martínez en Chicago el año pasado. Más allá de estos y otros asesinatos cometidos por ICE, al menos 50 personas han muerto bajo custodia de ICE desde el inicio del segundo mandato de Trump. Sin embargo, el mes pasado los republicanos otorgaron al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) 70,000 millones de dólares adicionales para ICE y CBP, financiando así a estas agencias hasta el final de la administración Trump. No podemos seguir dando fondos a estas agencias que actúan al margen de la ley y sin control alguno. Los republicanos deben dejar de fingir que el ICE es una agencia de control migratorio cuando actúa como una agencia de exterminio de inmigrantes. Debemos exigir responsabilidades a estos agentes, desmantelar el DHS y reconstruir el sistema de control migratorio desde sus cimientos”.

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Los Congresistas García y Casar Encabezan A Sus Colegas Para Instar a la Administración Trump a Levantar las Sanciones Contra Venezuela y Permitir una Respuesta Ante Los Catastróficos Terremotos

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hoy, los Congresistas Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) y Greg Casar (TX-35) encabezaron una carta dirigida al Presidente Donald Trump, al Secretario del Tesoro Scott Bessent y al Secretario de Estado Marco Rubio, instándolos a levantar las sanciones contra Venezuela y facilitar el acceso a los activos congelados en el extranjero para responder a la crisis humanitaria causada por los devastadores terremotos del 24 de junio.

La carta, firmada por 14 miembros del Congreso, destaca la crisis humanitaria en Venezuela y subraya que el régimen de sanciones punitivas del gobierno de EE. UU. está obstaculizando gravemente las labores urgentes de ayuda. "En este momento de crisis, una respuesta sólida coordinada por el Estado, sin las trabas de las sanciones, es esencial para prevenir un colapso humanitario y atender las enormes necesidades de la población civil y de infraestructura que superan la capacidad de las iniciativas no gubernamentales por sí solas. El levantamiento de las sanciones también permitirá a las instituciones estatales coordinar y proporcionar de manera más eficaz atención médica de emergencia, refugio y alimentos, así como retirar escombros y reconstruir carreteras, escuelas y viviendas", señala la carta.

Al señalar que estas sanciones “desalientan a los proveedores extranjeros, aumentan los costos de las importaciones, causan disturbios en los mecanismos de pago internacionales, debilitan la capacidad del Estado, generan y empeoran la escasez”, la carta sostiene que han causado una depresión inmensa y sin precedentes en Venezuela, y para que la recuperación y la reconstrucción tengan éxito, las sanciones deben ser levantadas por completo, no simplemente suspendidas. También insta a la Administración Trump a facilitar la restauración de la capacidad de las instituciones venezolanas para acceder, salvaguardar y desplegar sus activos en respuesta a la catástrofe humanitaria que se está desarrollando.

La carta concluye afirmando que la decisión del presidente Trump de lanzar ataques militares, detener por la fuerza a Nicolás Maduro y proclamar que su Administración “dirige” el país significa que su Administración tiene una responsabilidad adicional en cuanto a la respuesta humanitaria.

La carta también fue firmada por los Representantes Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).


Congressman Cleaver Celebrates UMKC-Led Critical Materials Crossroads Engine  Selection for $160 Million NSF Award

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), celebrates the National Science Foundation’s selection of the University of Missouri-Kansas City-led Critical Materials Crossroads Engine as one of just twelve new NSF Regional Innovation Engines nationwide.

The designation makes the Kansas City region eligible to receive up to $160 million over the next decade, positioning Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District as a national hub for critical materials research, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and supply chain innovation.

“Today’s announcement proves that the future of American innovation is being built right here in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District,” said Congressman Cleaver. “UMKC’s designation as an NSF Regional Innovation Engine reflects the extraordinary talent and collaboration that define our community. This investment will strengthen our economy, create good-paying jobs, and ensure our region continues to lead in developing the critical technologies of tomorrow. I congratulate Chancellor Agrawal, UMKC, and all of the partners who helped make this achievement possible. Today, we are reminded that our greatest successes come when there’s collaboration towards a shared vision. That’s the Kansas City way, and today the nation is taking notice.”

The UMKC-led consortium includes more than 260 partners across Missouri and Kansas spanning higher education, industry, entrepreneurship, government, and workforce development. The initiative is expected to support approximately 10,000 jobs by 2036 while generating as much as $40 billion in economic output across the region.

Critical Materials Crossroads will help establish the Kansas City region as a national leader in developing and commercializing the advanced materials used in technologies ranging from semiconductors and batteries to medical devices, aerospace, and national defense.

Earlier this year, Rep. Cleaver joined a bipartisan, bistate delegation from Missouri and Kansas in sending a letter to the Acting Director of the National Science Foundation advocating for UMKC’s selection as a Regional Innovation Engine.

Rep. Cleaver has long supported robust federal investment in research, innovation, and higher education as drivers of economic growth and American competitiveness. The Congressman congratulates UMKC and its regional partners on this landmark achievement and looks forward to seeing the lasting economic opportunities this investment will create for Missouri’s Fifth District.

The 12 newest NSF Engines are:

NSF BRIDGES Engine in Alabama and Tennessee, led by the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology.

NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine in the Kansas City Region, led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

NSF Critical Mineral Accelerator Engine in Alaska, led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

NSF FAST Engine in Oregon, led by Oregon State University.

NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas, led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana, led by Indiana University.

NSF NEO-SMART Engine in Northeast Ohio, led by Case Western Reserve University with more than 70 regional partners.

NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut, led by the University of Connecticut.

NSF RETI Engine in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, led by West Virginia University in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and the U.S. Research Impact Alliance.

NSF Rural STAMINA Biomanufacturing Engine in Iowa and Nebraska, led by Iowa State University.

NSF Seafood Engine in New England, led by the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems.

NSF STELLAR Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York, led by the University of Rochester.

To learn more about these NSF Engines, visit the NSF Engines Cohort 2 webpage.

View a map of these NSF Engines.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.


Banks, Cloud Lead House GOP Members In Charge to Urge White House to Enact Grant Transparency Rule to Block Woke Activism Funding

Daily Signal

Pedro Rodriguez | July 14th, 2026

Citing the “network” of liberal activists funded by President Joe Biden’s administration, 34 Republican lawmakers are urging the Office of Management and Budget to finalize a proposed rule they say would bring greater transparency to the federal grant-making process and give taxpayers more insight into how government funds are spent.

The lawmakers—including Reps. August Pfluger of Texas, Michael Cloud of Texas, and Byron Donalds of Florida, and Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana—penned the letter last week as part of a larger effort to protect taxpayer dollars from mismanagement or fraud, waste, and abuse.

“Every dollar the federal government awards in grants should serve the American people and uphold the Constitution. That has not been happening,” Cloud told the Daily Signal. “Federal grants have been funding discrimination, gender ideology, and open border advocacy. These are not organizations serving the American people.”

“They are organizations that have used taxpayer dollars to violate federal law. This rule puts a stop to that. We are glad Director [Russell] Vought is moving forward on this,” Cloud added.

In the letter, the conservative coalition argued that “it is vital that recipients of government assistance comply with federal law” because “each year, the federal government distributes trillions of dollars in grants and financial assistance.”

The lawmakers argued that Congress has a responsibility to ensure federal funding does not support activities that conflict with laws passed by Congress or constitutional provisions ratified by the states.

“We have an interest in stopping these funds from advancing peripheral and experimental ideologies that seek to destabilize the American project and harm the American people,” the letter continues. “For years, taxpayer dollars have supported unlawful activities.”

The coalition also contended that increased transparency is especially important given what members described as inconsistent enforcement of federal law across presidential administrations.

The letter specifically raises concerns about federal funding for organizations involved in immigration-related services. The lawmakers cited what they described as a “network of over 200 non-governmental organizations” that allegedly helped facilitate the entry of illegal immigrants and received funding during the Biden administration.

According to the letter, some organizations used taxpayer funds to provide assistance such as housing, cash support, and transportation. The lawmakers further alleged that some groups encouraged fraudulent asylum claims or engaged in anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement activism.

“OMB has clear legal authority to deny federal funding in support of these projects,” the letter states.

The proposal has received support from conservative advocacy groups.

Daniel West, Heritage Action’s director of government relations, said the rule could increase accountability in the federal grants system and help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent in accordance with federal law.

“OMB’s proposed rule restructures our nation’s inefficient grants system and puts power back in the hands of American taxpayers,” West told the Daily Signal. “Under this proposed rule, there will finally be accountability and an end to taxpayer dollars supporting these destructive practices.”

West praised Banks, Cloud, and the other lawmakers who signed the letter, saying they are fulfilling their constitutional duty to oversee federal spending.


Clyburn Statement on Swearing-In of U.S. Senator Darline Graham Nordone of South Carolina

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following statement on the swearing-in of U.S. Senator Darline Graham Nordone of South Carolina:

“Congratulations to Senator Darline Graham Nordone on this historic achievement. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for our state.

“A 2009 graduate of South Carolina State University, Senator Graham Nordone becomes the first woman and the first HBCU graduate to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. This is a testament to the progress our nation continues to make in expanding opportunities for women to serve at the highest levels of public office.

“I feel certain her historic accomplishment will inspire generations of South Carolinians to believe that no barrier is beyond reach and wish her Godspeed.”

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Rep. Clyde Honors Pearl Harbor Survivor, WWII Veteran as Special Georgian of the Ninth

GAINESVILLE, GA — Over the weekend, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) recognized World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Ken Schubring as a Special Georgian of the Ninth to honor his courageous service.

At 104 years old, Retired U.S. Army Captain Ken Schubring is one of the few remaining Pearl Harbor survivors. He enlisted at just 17 years old, serving in combat from the first day of World War II to the very last.

On Saturday, Congressman Clyde attended Habersham County’s America 250 Celebration in Clarkesville. During the patriotic event, Rep. Clyde delivered remarks highlighting Captain Schubring’s heroism and extraordinary service. Additionally, the Congressman presented Schubring with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor and a Special Georgian of the Ninth Certificate.


Congressman Cohen Announces $3.9 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude and UTHSC

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced five grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which will provide a total of $3,956,287 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).

The first St. Jude grant, for $665,425, is for research into deciphering the complexities of inflammasome activation following RSV infection under the direction of Dr. Steven M. Varga from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. RSV is one of the leading causes of severe respiratory disease in children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, and there is no currently available vaccine for it. The inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes which are responsible for the activation of inflammatory responses. This project aims to enhance our understanding of how RSV generates inflammatory responses and will impact the evaluation and design of new therapeutic targets for RSV. A second grant, for $1,834,564, is for research into sickle cell disease under the direction of Dr. Shannon McKinney-Freeman from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Sickle cell disease is associated with the development of additional hematological diseases as the patient grows older, however the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of additional diseases isn’t fully understood. This project aims to test a new potential drug therapy for sickle cell disease in cell and non-human disease models and discern whether the body’s own stem cells can return to normal function, and restore function to the bone marrow.

The first of three UTHSC grants is for $687,753 to research the role of genetic factors on nicotine abuse under the direction of Dr. Burt M. Sharp from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The second, for $517,060, is for research into therapeutic targeting of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler under the direction of Dr. Lawrence M. Pfeffer from the National Cancer Institute. Chromatin are the tightly wound packages of DNA in the cell’s nucleus, and the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler plays a major role in gene transcription in eukaryotic cells. In glioblastoma, the most common primary malignancy of the adult brain, a portion of the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler enhances the ability for the tumor cells to repopulate and resist treatment with drugs such as temozolomide. This project will evaluate a potential new treatment which targets that portion of the SWI/NSF chromatin remodeler to restore sensitivity to other therapeutic compounds in non-human and cell models. A third grant, for $251,485, is for biomedical research training under the direction of Dr. Shannon J. Moore. This project aims to promote healthcare-associated job training and learning for fields such as clinical laboratory sciences, to high school students.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“This important investment in medical research conducted in Memphis will reveal critical insights. I congratulate Drs. Varga, Sharp, Pfeffer, McKinney-Freeman and Moore for receiving this funding and thank them for the work they do.”

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Congressman Cohen Demands Answers on ICE Agents and Task Force Crackdowns

WASHINGTON – Following two recent killings in Memphis by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force and recent killings in Houston and Biddeford, Maine, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers about the policies, practices and standards employed by the accelerated federalized law enforcement in American cities.

Congressman Cohen wrote several letters to Mullin’s predecessor, Kristi Noem, which received no replies, and questioned her claim to be deporting “the worst of the worst” at a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing in March.

The letter to Mullin reads in part:

“I write out of deep concern about the conduct of the Memphis Safe Task Force in my community. Just in the past four days, we have had two Memphians killed at the hands of Task Force members. I remain particularly concerned about the deployments of the National Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) patrolling the streets. The rush to put Task Force members on the street – without the proper training in community policing- has had deadly consequences.

“This is a matter of absolute urgency. Just today, I learned of another individual shot by an ICE agent in Maine. Last week, before this most recent incident, The New York Times reported that since 2025, ICE has been involved in 29 shooting incidents, with over 20 people shot and at least 8 killed.

“I wrote your predecessor on several occasions to express my concerns and inquire about the composition of and training for the Memphis Safe Crime Task Force – particularly ICE agents. I renew those questions and look forward to your answers.

Law enforcement is most credible when it reflects the communities it serves. Please provide a demographic breakdown (including race, gender, and previous law enforcement experience) of ICE active agents by year of first employment by the agency.

How many individuals have been shot by either Memphis Safe Crime Task Force members in Memphis or DHS agents throughout the United States since January 20, 2025? How many were killed in those shootings or later succumbed to injuries caused by an ICE shooting?

How many DHS agents have been disciplined for excessive force since January 21, 2025? Please provide a short narrative describing those incidents, the resolution, and any disciplinary action resulting from such incidents.

Did any current ICE agents participate in the January 6, 2021, insurrection? Were any current ICE agents convicted of a crime (pardoned or otherwise) for the crimes committed on January 6, 2021?

Has any current ICE agent ever been associated with the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers?

We recently learned the federal government has begun to share evidence with state and local authorities in Minnesota regarding the killings of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti. Do you commit to sharing all evidence collected regarding a DHS agent firing upon a civilian with the respective state and local authorities should they request it?

Please describe and provide training materials for ICE agents on responding to individuals in crisis, de-escalation, cultural competency, and other skills that are essential for effective community policing.

Please describe and provide training materials regarding interacting with armed individuals and the use of deadly force. Does ICE policy permit shooting at a moving vehicle?

Please provide the standards for hiring agents. Do ICE’s recruiting practices align with the Model Policies and Resources designed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police?

Is an independent review conducted after every use of deadly force by an ICE agent? Please describe the review process.

Is this the process that was used after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis?

Were the Good and Pretti reviews completed? If so, please provide the findings. If not, what is causing the delay, and when will the full review be complete?

I look forward to your prompt response.”

See the letter here.

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Congressman Cohen Says Trump is Stealing from the American Public

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke from the House floor, focusing on aspects of the corrupt Trump presidency that he likened to theft from the American people. “We have a man who is out of control as our president, and it scares me tremendously,” he said.

In his remarks, he said in part:

“My friend, Mr. (Joe) Wilson (of South Carolina) made some remarks about how everybody benefitted from the Big Beautiful Bill. What he didn’t tell you was President Trump made a deal with himself when he sued the IRS for a billion dollars for releasing his tax returns along with (those of) thousands and thousands and thousands of other Americans. He settled the case with himself and the man he wants to make Attorney General with a clause, an agreement, that the IRS would not prosecute, or even look at, his tax returns, his family’s tax returns or any businesses they’re involved with. That means the $2.2 billion they made this year off of crypto and other questionable companies will be tax free. That means he’s stealing from you and me – the American public…Our country’s in trouble. We have a man who is out of control as our president, and it scares me tremendously and it should scare you as well.”

See his entire remarks here.

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Collins Lauds Transportation Committee Passage of Water Resources Development Act

Washington, D.C. -- Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, bipartisan legislation to authorize programs and projects of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (GA-10), who co-led the bill with Full Committee Chairman Sam Graves, issued this statement following the markup:

“American ports, harbors, and intracoastal waterways are the nation's economic backbone,” said Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins. “That is why I am proud to advance WRDA 2026. This bipartisan legislation empowers the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enhance our waterways, which are vital for the nation's economic strength, reliable supply chains, and commercial navigation. WRDA 2026 delivers for Georgia and the entire nation.”

Background

WRDA 2026 authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs to improve project delivery, strengthen flood protection, modernize ports and inland waterways, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and support communities and commerce across the country. Specifically, the bill:


Courtney Meets with Australian Parliament Delegation to the United States

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Friends of Australia Caucus, welcomed Australian Speaker of the House Milton Dick MP, a delegation of Australian Members of Parliament and Senators, and Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty to Washington, DC for the Australian American Leadership Dialogue. The group met in Congressman Courtney’s office on Capitol Hill.

“It was an honor to welcome Speaker Dick, his colleagues in Parliament, and Ambassador Moriarty to my office for a discussion on AUKUS, particularly the work ahead to strengthen our submarine industrial base in both nations,” Courtney said. “Our longstanding alliance is stronger than ever today under AUKUS.”

Left to right: Hon Zaneta Mascarenhas MP, Senator James Paterson, Senator Susan McDonald, Senator Jonathon Duniam, Congressman Joe Courtney, Hon Milton Dick MP, Hon Alison Penfold MP, Senator Raff Ciccone, Ambassador Greg Moriarty

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Davids Calls for Stronger Water Infrastructure to Reduce Flooding Risks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Representative Sharice Davids underscored the critical importance of investing in water infrastructure for Kansas communities facing both flooding and drought conditions.

“Water infrastructure is not abstract for Kansas families — it’s personal,” said Davids. “From severe flooding in eastern Kansas that damages homes and roads to drought conditions in western Kansas that strain agriculture and local water supplies, our communities depend on smart, reliable investments. I’m focused on making sure Kansas has the tools it needs to manage both extremes and protect families, farmers, and local economies.”

WATCH: Davids speaks on protecting Kansas communities from extreme flooding and drought

WRDA is the primary federal legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects, including flood control, levees, dams, navigation systems, and ecosystem restoration. For Kansas, these investments directly impact communities that regularly face weather extremes — helping reduce flood risk, improve water management, and strengthen long-term resilience.

In 2024, Davids’ WRDA request was successfully passed, saving Kansas taxpayers $41 million in water contracts. This update provides significant financial relief for Kansas, benefiting municipalities, industries, and water supply districts relying on these reservoirs. It also ensures a more affordable and reliable water supply for residents and businesses, addressing the challenges of ongoing drought and extreme weather.

Davids has consistently advocated for flood safety, including securing investments for the national levee safety initiative and advancing solutions to help Kansas communities respond to increasingly extreme weather. In partnership with local governments, she has also helped secure federal funding to address flooding in Princeton and support the Upper Turkey Creek levee project in Merriam.

During the markup, Davids championed an amendment to make U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracting rules more consistent across different types of projects. Right now, similar engineering work is treated differently depending on whether it’s for military construction or civil water projects like flood control and levees. Her amendment would update the rules, so the Corps uses the same approach in both cases, helping them hire the best qualified experts more efficiently and deliver projects more effectively for communities.