{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/news-rep-jim-costa-delivers-65-million-federal-funding-central-valley", "NEWS: Rep. Jim Costa Delivers $6.5 Million in Federal Funding for Central Valley Communities", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", "costa", "https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This month Representative Jim Costa (CA-21) has secured $6.5 million in federal funding for four community projects included in the fiscal year 2026 agriculture funding package. These investments will strengthen key infrastructure and public safety initiatives across the Central Valley, helping to improve the quality of life for constituents in California\u2019s 21st Congressional District.\n\nThe four community project funding requests that Rep. Costa secured are as follows:\n\n$3.5 million for the Kaweah River Siphon Project by Tulare Irrigation District. This funding will replace the existing siphon, an underground pipeline that carries water underneath the river, that was damaged by the 2023 winter storms. Replacement of the siphon would boost groundwater recharge, improve the reliability of water deliveries, and enhance flood protection in the City of Visalia and surrounding communities.\n\n$1 million for the Orange Cove Police Department. This funding will enable the City of Orange Cove to build a new, modern police department headquarters to enhance public safety. The new facility will include senior housing and commercial space, a multi-use development that strengthens public services, supports local economic activity, and addresses housing needs.\n\n$1 million for Kingsburg Emergency Operations Center. This funding will enable the City of Kingsburg to build a new Emergency Operations Center, strengthening the region\u2019s ability to respond to weather-related disasters and public safety emergencies.\n\n$1 million for the Parlier Police Department. This funding for this project will help the City of Parlier to fully renovate and modernize its police department. Key improvements include expanding the evidence room, replacing leaking roofs, and adding a public lobby to serve as a community space for outreach.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nUnder guidelines issued by the House Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funds for up to 15 projects in their community for Fiscal Year 2026. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Congressman Jim Costa submitted funding requests for important community projects in California\u2019s 21st Congressional District to the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nFour out of the fifteen projects requested were approved for funding. The government funding process remains ongoing as Congress continues to negotiate spending packages.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-don-davis-releases-2025-year-end-review-highlighting-year-results", "Congressman Don Davis Releases 2025 Year-End Review, Highlighting A Year of Results for Eastern North Carolina", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "Donald G. Davis", "D000230", "dondavis.house.gov", "dondavis", "https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) released his 2025 NC-01 Year in Review detailing 365 days of progress and results for eastern North Carolina. The report highlights major legislative accomplishments reflecting his ongoing commitment to North Carolina\u2019s First Congressional District.\n\n\u201cOur focus is simple: strengthening eastern North Carolina's economic future. We have met people where they are, families, workers, farmers, small business owners, and veterans, to hear firsthand how rising costs and limited market access are squeezing household budgets and affecting their lives,\u201d said Congressman Don Davis. \u201cEven with progress, too many families are struggling to get ahead. We will keep pushing for lower costs, a stronger local economy, and good-paying jobs so the American Dream remains within reach here in the East.\u201d\n\nSIGNIFICANT HIGHLIGHTS:\n\nIntroduced 26 bills.\n\nReturned over $9.2 million from federal agencies to eastern North Carolina families, veterans, and seniors.\n\nResolved 843 constituent casework requests.\n\n59,000 pieces of constituent correspondence.\n\nAdvanced innovation and regulatory clarity as the ranking member of the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee with the U.S. House passage of the CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act.\n\nReceived the Congressional Management Foundation\u2019s Best of Bipartisan Engagement & Collaboration award.\n\nSecured over $48.03 million in Community Project Funding in Fiscal Year 2026.\n\nVoted to reopen the federal government after the longest shutdown in American history, securing critical community investments, including:\n\nTown of Whitakers Community Center \u2013 $1.015 million\n\nGates County Community Center \u2013 $1 million\n\nBertie County Fire Department Critical Equipment \u2013 $1 million\n\nTown of Williamston Fire Ladder Truck \u2013 $1 million\n\nBertie County Emergency 911 Center \u2013 $1 million\n\nTown of Plymouth Public Health & Safety Facility Upgrades \u2013 $1 million\n\nGreene County Senior Center of Excellence \u2013 $1.015 million\n\nSJAFB Combat Arms Training and Maintenance facility \u2013 $41 million\n\nVoted for the National Defense Authorization Act, which included a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers and 17 amendments for eastern North Carolina:\n\nSJAFB Child Development Center \u2013 $54 million\n\nMCAS Cherry Point F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center \u2013 $40 million\n\nMCAS Cherry Point Flightline Utilities Modernization Project \u2013 $15 million\n\nFind the 2025 Year in Review HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/krishnamoorthi-preckwinkle-cook-county-leaders-warn-aca-tax-credit-expiration", "Krishnamoorthi, Preckwinkle, Cook County Leaders Warn ACA Tax Credit Expiration Will Double Premiums, Strain Cook County Health and Stroger Hospital", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Dr. Lauren Smith, Chief Medical Officer, Donnica Austin-Cathey, Chief Hospital Executive\u2013Stroger, and other Cook County leaders today at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County to warn that the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits at midnight will sharply raise health care costs and place severe strain on Cook County Health and its flagship safety-net hospital.\n\n\u201cLetting these ACA tax credits expire isn\u2019t an accident\u2014it\u2019s a choice,\u201d said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. \u201cRepublican leadership must allow a vote to extend these credits and stop blocking action to protect Medicaid from devastating cuts. Without action, premiums will nearly double, families will lose coverage overnight, and Cook County Health and Illinois taxpayers will be forced to absorb the fallout.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt Cook County Health, we will help patients navigate coverage changes, and provide the care they need, but we can not do it alone. Our efforts will not be able to offset the loss of federal support. Letting the Affordable Care Act subsidies expire will cost people in our community their insurance, their health, and in some cases, their lives. We urge policymakers to consider the consequences of allowing these subsidies to expire,\u201d said Donnica Austin-Cathey, Chief Hospital Executive, Stroger Hospital, Cook County Health.\n\nMore than 550,000 Illinois residents are enrolled in the ACA marketplace in 2025, including over 360,000 Cook County residents, roughly 90 percent of whom rely on premium tax credits to afford coverage. If the credits expire, average monthly ACA premiums in Cook County are projected to rise by about 95 percent, pricing many families out of insurance overnight.\n\nHealth care leaders warned that coverage losses will hit safety-net hospitals first. In 2023, charity and discounted care at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital totaled nearly $140 million, almost six times more than the next closest hospital in Illinois. Increased uncompensated care is expected to place additional financial pressure on Cook County Health and local taxpayers.\n\nThe ACA coverage cliff comes as Cook County Health faces additional strain from President Trump\u2019s \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act,\u201d which cut Medicaid by more than $1 trillion nationwide and imposed new work requirements. More than 3 million Illinois residents\u2014one in four statewide\u2014depend on Medicaid, which accounts for approximately 56 percent of Cook County Health\u2019s patient revenue. The system estimates it could lose $88 million annually in Medicaid reimbursements as patients lose coverage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1990", "Congresswoman Scanlon Announces Winner of 2025 Congressional App Challenge", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mary Gay Scanlon", "S001205", "scanlon.house.gov", "scanlon", "https://scanlon.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today announced the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is an opportunity for students in PA-05 to create and submit their original app for a chance to win the Challenge competing against students from all over the country. In order to participate in the competition: Students must be in middle or high school by the time the competition ends and must either live or go to school in the registered district they wish to compete in; and, apps can be coded on any platform, on any language, on any theme.\n\n\u201cThe annual Congressional App Challenge is a great program that engages our youth in STEM-related fields,\u201d said Rep. Scanlon. \u201cAt a time when science and technology fields are rapidly evolving, it\u2019s important that we invest in programs that help our youth develop skills for success in the future. I\u2019m pleased to celebrate all of our participants this year and congratulate this year\u2019s winner.\u201d\n\nA team of judges evaluated six submissions using a rubric to rate each of the apps along two general categories \u2014 Concept and Technology.\n\nThis year\u2019s first-place winner is Allison Tan from Lower Merion High School, who came up with OpiWarrior, an iOS app that helps people quickly find nearby pharmacies that stock buprenorphine, a life-saving medication for opioid use disorder. Runner up Christopher Armstrong from Strath Haven High School coded the app Coaster Dreams, a minimalistic, open-ended roller coaster design video game.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/scholten-showcases-top-legislation-endorsed-lowering-costs-caucus-slash-costs", "Scholten Showcases Top Legislation Endorsed by the Lowering Costs Caucus to Slash Costs for Families", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Amidst a growing affordability crisis, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, a founder of the Lowering Costs Caucus (LCC) in Congress, announced her end-of-year showcase of legislation to lower costs for American families. The highlighted LCC-endorsed legislation could help lower the cost of housing by tens of thousands of dollars per family; the cost of baby products by hundreds of dollars; the cost of health care by up to tens of thousands per person; and much more.\n\nThe LCC is a group of committed lawmakers in Congress committed to producing policy ideas that will tackle the affordability crisis head-on. Founded just this year, the group has already produced dozens of bills and ideas that would save Americans thousands of dollars each and every year. Members of the Lowering Costs Caucus can submit and vote to endorse legislation that would make a meaningful difference in cutting costs for everyday Americans. The caucus also reaches out to members who are not yet part of the caucus to submit their legislation for endorsement. The Lowering Costs Caucus then endorses bills that showcase some of the best solutions in Congress to the affordability crisis.\n\n\"From groceries to childcare to energy and healthcare, Americans are just paying too much. It doesn't have to be this way,\u201d said Rep. Scholten. \u201cThere are easy policy solutions that will help us lower costs, if we're willing to put American families first. That's what the Lowering Cost Caucus is all about. I'm so proud of the work this caucus has done so far this year, and there's even more to come in 2026!\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear from constituents in California every day that their costs are too high. Families in Orange and Los Angeles counties are seeing prices go up for everything from groceries to gas to day care. I was proud to join Rep. Scholten and Rep. Landsman as founding members of the Lowering Costs Caucus to shut out the politics-as-usual noise in Washington and focus on what we are actually hearing from families back home,\u201d said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45). \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to continuing to reach across the aisle in the new year to lower costs and make life affordable again for the American people.\u201d\n\n\"The affordability crisis that has plagued our country for years, and which has worsened with Trump\u2019s trade wars and Congress\u2019s devastating cuts to healthcare and energy construction, is killing the American dream,\u201d said Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01). \u201cThese bills will immediately help families pay their bills, afford a home, and lower costs - from healthcare to utility bills.\u201d\n\nHousing\n\nIt\u2019s no secret that owning a home \u2014 a core part of the American dream \u2014 is moving out of reach for many Americans. Americans without a strong credit history face an additional barrier in the form of sky-high interest rates, and one of the most common large payments they make \u2014 rent\u2014 is often not factored into their credit history.\n\nThe LCC endorsed the Access to Homeownership Act, commonsense legislation that would allow renters to improve their credit score when they pay rent on time. It would factor on-time rent payments into a person\u2019s credit history, helping them eventually get lower interest rates when they look to take out a loan to buy a home. Interest rates can drastically change the cost of a home; lower interest rates could save Americans buying a home up to tens thousands of dollars over the course of their mortgage.\n\nGroceries\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s tariffs caused grocery prices to skyrocket this year. The LCC endorsed the No Tariff on Groceries Act to require that the President ask Congress permission to put Administration-proposed tariffs on food and to stipulate that tariffs cannot go into place without a subsequent act of Congress to approve them.\n\nChild Care\n\nAmerican families are suffocating under the crushing costs of childcare. Congresswoman Scholten introduced LCC-endorsed legislation to slash those costs by two-thirds. Under her Tri-Share Child Care Act, the cost of child care would be shared between the caregiver, their employer, and the state and federal governments.\n\nThe Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Act of 2025 would allocate $250 million a year for three years to create a pilot Tri-Share program beginning the year after enactment of the legislation. Parents will be eligible if they:\n\nAre employed by an employer participating in the program, with states responsible for coordinating and soliciting employer enrollment.\n\nMake under 500% of the federal poverty level.\n\nHave a child who is under the age of mandatory schooling.\n\nBaby Products\n\nAccording to a Joint Economic Committee report, the cost of five common items bought for new babies increased by 24 percent, or $98, in the period between April 1st \u2013 just before Trump announced major tariffs on nearly every country \u2013 and June 9th. The Committee estimated that new parents across the U.S. may have been forced to spend an additional $875 million in total on key baby goods in 2025. Michigan families alone may have been forced to spend an additional $24.6 million.\n\nThe Lowering Costs Caucus has endorsed legislation to get these costs back down for families.\n\nThe Baby Food Tax Relief Act would exempt essential baby feeding products, including formula, highchairs, and baby bottles from reckless tariff policies.\n\nThe Baby Safety Tax Relief Act would specifically exempt baby strollers, carriers, and car seats from tariffs.\n\nThis legislation would eliminate the extra costs on families caused by tariffs.\n\nHealth Care\n\nAn unexpected diagnosis or medical bill can be life changing.\n\nThe LCC-endorsed Health Care Affordability Act would make popular tax credits for people who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act more generous and available to more Americans. The Health Care Affordability Act was signed into law as a part of the American Rescue Plan and extended in the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\nPrescription drugs and medical devices can also cost Americans thousands or more each year.\n\nThe LCC endorsed the bipartisan Fair Price Device Act to make it cheaper for generic versions of drug devices \u2014 things like epipens and insulin pumps \u2014 to get to market. Ultimately, that means lower prices for the people who rely on these lifesaving devices.\n\nThe LCC also endorsed the Making Insulin Affordable for All Children Act, which would ensure that insulin costs no more than $35 a month for anyone under the age of 26 covered by private insurance or Medicaid. For many, insulin is a substantial expense; this legislation would allow diabetes patients to put money currently being spent on insulin elsewhere.\n\nChildren and Families\n\nThe LCC-endorsed FAMILY Act would guarantee 12 weeks of paid leave for workers dealing with health conditions, including pregnancy and childbirth. It would also offer this leave to Americans who need to take time off work to care for a family member or welcome an adopted child home. It would help ensure that no American is forced to make the devastating choice between earning a paycheck to stay afloat and taking care of their health or their loved ones.\n\nThe LCC-endorsed American Family Act would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit. The Child Tax Credit was implemented as part of the American Rescue Plan; it cut child poverty by 30%, keeping 3.7 million kids out of poverty by making more parents eligible for the credit and helping them pay their bills every month.\n\nTax Reform That Works For All Americans\n\nThe LCC-endorsed American Affordability Act is tax legislation that offers a real plan to lower costs and expand economic security for working families.\n\nSpecifically, the bill:\n\nTackles the housing crisis by dramatically expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, creating new tools to convert vacant commercial buildings into affordable homes, supporting first-time homebuyers, and providing meaningful rent relief for families struggling to stay housed. These are real, scalable solutions to the shortage of housing in every state.\n\nLowers energy costs by restoring clean-energy incentives gutted by Republicans, expanding credits for energy efficiency, and investing in grid resilience and advanced manufacturing. The bill reduces utility bills, cuts carbon pollution, and boosts domestic jobs.\n\nMakes child and family care more affordable by enhancing the Child Tax Credit, expanding the Child and Dependent Care Credit, supporting working caregivers, and ensuring adoption remains within reach for all families. These are investments proven to lift millions of children out of poverty.\n\nReduces education costs and supports workers by making higher education more affordable through a fully refundable American Opportunity Tax Credit. The bill also protects borrowers from hidden student-loan tax penalties and strengthens deductions for teachers, union members, and working-class employees.\n\nLowers health care costs by making premium assistance permanent and closing the Medicaid coverage gap.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-hickenlooper-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/", "Bennet, Hickenlooper Slam Trump\u2019s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act:\n\n\u201cNothing says \u2018Make America Great Again\u2019 like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump\u2019s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump\u2019s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst\u2014putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-statement-on-federal-intervention-at-northwest-colorado-power-plant/", "Bennet Statement on Federal Intervention at Northwest Colorado Power Plant", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement following the Department of Energy\u2019s 202(c) 90-day order to require Craig Station\u2019s Unit 1, a 427 MW coal-fired power plant in Northwest Colorado, to remain operational past its planned 2025 retirement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s so-called \u201cenergy emergency\u201d is being used to justify tying the hands of utilities, forcing them to keep aging, outdated power plants open, often at high cost to the consumers they serve, whether or not it makes sense for energy reliability. It is unacceptable to burden ratepayers with these unnecessary costs. The Department of Energy (DOE) should be focused on doing everything it can to partner with transitioning communities and make energy more affordable. Instead, this administration is overriding business decisions and ignoring the costly consequences for Coloradans.\n\n\u201cThe DOE order is the latest in a string of attacks against Colorado, because we refuse to bend to the President. President Trump continues to take out his personal and political grievances on Coloradans who are already struggling to make ends meet. Federal intervention like this makes long-term planning impossible \u2013 this is not how you operate a business, plan an electric grid, or help a community stay prosperous. I am disappointed but not surprised by this continued revenge tour.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet Slam Trump\u2019s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "DENVER \u2014 U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act:\n\n\u201cNothing says \u2018Make America Great Again\u2019 like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump\u2019s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump\u2019s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst\u2014putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-ninth-circuit-court-order-returning-control-of-national-guard-to-california/", "Padilla Statement on Ninth Circuit Court Order Returning Control of National Guard to California", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Alex Padilla", "P000145", "www.padilla.senate.gov", "padilla", "https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay on a federal judge\u2019s order barring the Trump Administration from deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles, ending the federalization of California\u2019s National Guard and returning authority over them to the state:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s order affirms what we\u2019ve said from the beginning: the Trump Administration\u2019s choice to federalize and deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles was unlawful. This deployment is reckless, harmful, and an abuse of executive power that has put service members in an impossible position.\n\n\u201cThe fight is not over but I look forward to the remaining service members returning to their families, their jobs, and their primary critical missions as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bennie-thompson-announces-department-health-human-services-grant", "Congressman Bennie Thompson Announces Department of Health & Human Services Grant Award to the State of Mississippi", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MS", "Bennie G. Thompson", "T000193", "benniethompson.house.gov", "benniethompson", "https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BOLTON, MS \u2013 Today, Congressman Bennie Thompson announced that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has awarded $205,907,220 in grant funds to the state of Mississippi for a Rural Health Transformation program. This award will strengthen rural healthcare by expanding access, improving care coordination and modernizing infrastructure, growing the workforce and using telehealth to improve health outcomes.\n\nThis award is provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.", 1, "2026-04-10T05:46:57Z", "2026-04-10T05:48:19Z"], ["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bennie-thompson-announces-doj-grant-support-mississippi-internet", "Congressman Bennie Thompson Announces DOJ Grant to Support Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MS", "Bennie G. Thompson", "T000193", "benniethompson.house.gov", "benniethompson", "https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BOLTON, MS \u2013 Today, Congressman Bennie Thompson announced a $416,214 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Mississippi Attorney General\u2019s Office to continue leading the Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.\n\nThe funding, awarded through the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Justice Programs and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, will support efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute online child exploitation crimes across Mississippi. The Attorney General\u2019s Office has led the ICAC Task Force since 2007 in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bennie-thompson-announces-federal-transportation-and-safety-grants", "Congressman Bennie Thompson Announces Federal Transportation and Safety Grants for Mississippi\u2019s Second District", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MS", "Bennie G. Thompson", "T000193", "benniethompson.house.gov", "benniethompson", "https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BOLTON, MS \u2013 Today, Congressman Bennie Thompson announced multiple federal transportation and safety grants awarded to communities across Mississippi\u2019s Second Congressional District to improve roadway safety, strengthen planning efforts, and support aviation infrastructure.\n\nHinds County \u2014 Safe Streets: Robinson Road Project\n\nHinds County will receive $20,000,000 through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program to reconstruct a 2.75-mile segment of Robinson Road between Interstate 220 and West Capitol Street in Jackson. The project will add ADA-compliant sidewalks, bicycle lanes, improved lighting, access management, and pedestrian safety features to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes along this high-risk corridor.\n\nBolivar County \u2014 Bolivar County Safe Streets Project\n\nBolivar County will receive $200,000 in SS4A funding to conduct data collection, crash and speed analysis, and demonstration activities to update its countywide Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. The project will help guide future safety improvements across the county.\n\nTunica County \u2014 Tunica County Safety Action Plan\n\nTunica County will receive $248,000 to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, including a five-year crash analysis, public engagement, identification of high-injury roadways, and a web-based dashboard to track safety performance.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/correa-announces-anaheim-student-as-congressional-app-challenge-winner", "CORREA ANNOUNCES ANAHEIM STUDENT AS CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE WINNER", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "J. Luis Correa", "C001110", "correa.house.gov", "correa", "https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. \u2014 Today, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced Xiong Yi, a student at Fairmont Prep Academy in Anaheim, Calif. as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in California\u2019s 46th District. As one of the challenge winners, Xiong will be invited to demonstrate his app to Members of Congress and their staff in the U.S. Capitol.\n\nPhoto of Xiong Yi\n\nYou can watch a walkthrough of Xiong\u2019s app, MathFluent, HERE and by clicking the image below.\n\nScreenshot of Xiong\u2019s app, MathFluent\n\nWhen asked what inspired the creation of MathFluent, Yi said: \u201cThe idea for Math Fluent came from a personal realization: many students can solve math problems, but they don\u2019t always understand why their solutions work. I used to be one of those students. I could follow steps, memorize methods, and get the right answers \u2014 but I didn\u2019t always grasp the deeper meaning or logic. Everything changed when I began questioning the purpose of each step. Instead of rushing to the answer, I practiced asking myself what the problem was teaching, whether my logic made sense, and how I could explain it clearly. My approach didn\u2019t just improve my performance \u2014 it made math enjoyable, empowering, and intellectually satisfying. That insight inspired MathFluent. I wanted to create a tool that trains students to think like mathematicians: curious, analytical, expressive, and independent. Math is a language, and fluency in that language comes from understanding, not pattern-recall. Building this app lets me help others build that skill early, rather than discovering it later by chance.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from Omidyar Network, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others. The wildly successful competition continues to impress upon House Members the importance of computer science education and the need to develop a pipeline of diverse, domestic STEM talent.\n\n\u201cI created this app because I believe every student is capable of deep thinking when given the right guidance. When students learn why math works, the subject becomes exciting, not intimidating. It becomes a tool for life \u2014 for engineering, physics, problem-solving, innovation, and even everyday decisions,\u201d Yi added. \u201cMath Fluent is more than an app \u2014 it\u2019s a mission. I want students to feel empowered, capable, and fluent in their thinking. I hope this tool inspires confidence and unlocks the joy that comes from truly understanding math.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-01T05:41:29Z", "2026-04-01T05:42:36Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jim-costa-announces-2025-congressional-app-challenge-winner", "Rep. Jim Costa Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", "costa", "https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FRESNO, Calif. \u2014 Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) today announced Natalie Bonilla as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for California\u2019s 21st Congressional District.\n\nNatalie Bonilla, a senior at Selma High School, developed Community Support, a mobile app designed for both iOS and Android platforms. The app compiles critical community support resources\u2014including hotline numbers, support groups, phone numbers, and nearby locations\u2014to ensure individuals in the Central Valley can quickly access help during times of need.\n\nInspired by her own personal experiences, Natalie created Community Support to help reduce the stigma around seeking assistance and to make life-saving information more accessible to members of her community. The app provides a user-friendly way for individuals to locate urgent and non-urgent resources in one centralized place.\n\nNatalie built the app using Java and completed most of the coding at home and at school. Through the process, she navigated technical challenges such as adapting the app\u2019s design across different devices and debugging code, gaining a deeper appreciation for the complexity and time required to develop a fully functional application.\n\n\u201cNatalie\u2019s app demonstrates how technology can be used to strengthen communities and support those who may be experiencing difficult moments,\u201d said Congressman Jim Costa. \u201cAs one of America\u2019s future leaders, Natalie has already shown creativity, persistence, and a strong commitment to service. I\u2019m proud to recognize her achievement and look forward to seeing what she accomplishes next.\u201d\n\n\u201cI come from a family deeply involved in social services, which motivated me to continue helping others. I\u2019m very grateful for this opportunity and honored to have been chosen as this year\u2019s winner,\u201d said Natalie Bonilla. \u201cI was completely shocked and didn\u2019t expect it at all. My teacher encouraged me to apply, even though I had a lot of doubts. When I received the news, I was incredibly happy.\u201d\n\nAbout the App\n\nCommunity Support connects users directly to crisis hotlines and local support groups, allowing individuals to quickly find the assistance that best fits their situation. Natalie plans to expand the app in the future by adding additional resources, such as food and transportation services, and enhanced features to improve the user experience.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-secures-nearly-13-million-new-safe-streets-funding-bolster", "Kaptur Secures Nearly $1.3 Million In New Safe Streets Funding To Bolster Vision For A Safer NW Ohio", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "The new awards announced today totaling $1,275,370 include:\n\n$653,200 awarded to Lucas County for Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities for Northwest Ohio Transportation Safety Action Plan\n\nThis award will be used by Lucas County to pilot and evaluate countermeasures and conduct supplemental planning to implement the Transportation Safety Action Plan across Lucas County. Activities include temporary curbs, signal preemption for emergency medical services, speed studies, walk audits, road safety audits, and development of design tools to evaluate crash and emergency response outcomes.\n\n$542,170 awarded to the City of Toledo for Toledo/Lucas County Fleet Vehicle Safety Supplemental Planning and Demonstration\n\nThis award will be used by City of Toledo to conduct supplemental planning activities and demonstration activities to assess fleet vehicle crash risk, pilot safety technologies and trainings, and update the multi-jurisdictional Northwest Ohio Transportation Safety Action Plan. Deliverables include a consultant-led fleet assessment, driver monitoring in 186 vehicles, pilot interventions, telematics and crash evaluation, and a final report with prioritized procurement and implementation recommendations for Northwest Ohio.\n\n$80,000 awarded to the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments for Safety Locations Reports for Ottawa and Sandusky Counties\n\nThis award will be used by Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments to produce Safety Location Reports for Ottawa and Sandusky Counties that identify high-crash intersections and segments eligible for Ohio Department of Transportation safety funding. Deliverables include county-specific reports to prioritize eligible sites, support future road safety audits, and streamline Highway Safety Improvement Program applications to accelerate implementation of Proven Safety Countermeasures.\n\n\u201cImproving safety for walkers, bikers and drivers across Northwest Ohio is an important part of building a brighter future for all of our residents. These awards are about more than just concrete and new infrastructure improvements \u2014 it\u2019s about making life safer and creating community spaces that are accessible for all our people,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).\u201cSafe Streets investments across our region will allow our community leaders to meet the needs of today while planning the way for a safer tomorrow. I want to thank all our partners for their initiative to apply for these awards, and I will continue fighting to bring more funding like this back to our communities across Northwest Ohio.\u201d\n\n\"We are pleased to receive our third Safe Streets and Roads for All grant from the US Department of Transportation,\" said Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski. \"These funds will be used to develop measures to make Lucas County roadways safer for all users including better understanding the impacts of speed and safety on our roadways, improvements to access management systems, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities. These investments in highway safety pay back by providing a higher quality of life for our residents.\"\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to the US Department of Transportation for awarding this Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. These funds will allow us to identify high-crash locations in Ottawa and Sandusky Counties and prioritize safety improvements that save lives,\" said Sandy Spang, Executive Director of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. \"By producing detailed Safety Action Plans, we can help local communities access resources faster and implement proven strategies to make our roads safer for everyone.\u201d\n\nThe SS4A program, administered through the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, aims to fund critical projects nationwide that prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries, especially in high-risk areas. This award is part of an ongoing initiative by the USDOT to support local efforts that prioritize the safety and wellbeing of community members through modernized infrastructure and strategic safety planning. This funding highlights the importance of investing in preventative measures that support a sustainable, people-centered approach to transportation infrastructure.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sam-liccardos-first-term-defined-bipartisanship-and-focus-local-priorities", "Rep. Sam Liccardo\u2019s First Term Defined by Bipartisanship and Focus on Local Priorities", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Sam T. Liccardo", "L000607", "liccardo.house.gov", "liccardo", "https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo released his end-of-year report highlighting a first term that balanced a focus on bipartisan problem-solving on housing and other cost-of-living issues with the imperative of responding to lawless, reckless, and harmful actions of the Trump Administration.\n\n\u201cAmid the least productive legislative session in modern history, I came to Congress determined to get things done for our community,\u201d said Liccardo. \u201cNonetheless, I worked to build partnerships on both sides of the aisle \u2013 authoring a bipartisan ACA tax extension to resolve a historic stalemate over health care, garnering committee approval for two bills to accelerate affordable housing, and becoming an original cosponsor of stablecoin legislation that passed the House and ultimately (through the Senate bill) got signed into law.\u201d Several of these proposals\u2013on housing, health care, and tech innovation \u2013gained the attention of national news outlets. \u201cWe\u2019ll build on this momentum, Liccardo observed, and push more legislation to deliver results, particularly on housing and lowering costs.\u201d\n\nLiccardo also highlighted the groundwork laid this year to advance America\u2019s long-term competitiveness. \u201cI crafted and launched an Innovation Agenda to unleash America\u2019s potential to win the 21st century, and I\u2019m proud that this framework earned the support of the largest caucus in Congress, the 116-member New Democratic Coalition,\u201d he added. Liccardo and the NDC are now working to get aligned behind a slate of pro-innovation bills, and he has forged bipartisan support for efforts to counter the Trump Administration\u2019s attacks on high-skill immigration.\n\nLiccardo noted the important work of his team within California\u2019s 16th District as well: \u201cBeyond legislation, our hard-working team enabled the restoration of more than $3 million owed to constituents, and we launched two major regional initiatives\u2014the Wildfire Resilience Partnership and the Partnership for the Coastside\u2019s Future\u2014to strengthen federal, state, and local coordination as our region confronts the inevitable impacts of climate change.\u201d Liccardo concluded, \u201cWe\u2019re entering 2026 with real momentum\u2014rare progress for a first-term member of the minority\u2013 and a mandate to keep pushing.\u201d\n\n2025 Highlights Include:\n\nAdvancing two bipartisan housing bills through the House Financial Services Committee, as part of a package awaiting a vote of the full House in January.\n\nIntroducing the only bipartisan ACA tax credit extension to save taxpayers money, which gained national attention in interviews with cable outlets across the ideological spectrum, from FOX and NewsNation to NBC to CNN and MSNBC.\n\nLeading dozens of colleagues to successfully urge reversal of the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed changes to Continuum of Care funding that would have evicted thousands of extremely low-income families from their homes.\n\nCreating and launching the New Democratic Coalition\u2019s Innovation Agenda, and hosting several bipartisan gatherings of colleagues with AI thought leaders, such as Jensen Huang, Dario Amodei, and Sam Altman.\n\nReturning more than $3 million to constituents and resolving more than 1,400 cases with federal agencies\n\nEstablishing the Wildfire Resilience Partnership and the Partnership for the Coastside\u2019s Future to accelerate and scale infrastructure and risk reduction efforts throughout the district.\n\nAnticipating a future change in leadership, authoring and introducing legislation\u2013and garnering the support of dozens of colleagues as cosponsors\u2013 to combat some of the most severe abuses of the Trump Administration, including efforts to counter:\n\nUnlawful deployment of the military in U.S. cities, through HR 4998, the SUN Act (joined by 56 cosponsors) and HR 6533, The Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act. (joined by 31 cosponsors)\n\nUnconstitutional executive branch retraction (or \u201cimpoundment\u201d) of federal appropriations for critical federal services and programs, through HR 3454, the Protect Our Constitution and Communities Act (POCCA) (joined by 41 cosponsors)\n\nSelf-enriching actions of elected officials violative of the emoluments clause and longstanding ethic prohibitions, to issue cryptocurrency, securities, and other investment instruments, through HR1712, The MEME Act. (joined by 33 cosponsors)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-april-mcclain-delaney-reports-proposed-ice-detention", "Statement from Congresswoman April McClain Delaney on Reports of a Proposed ICE Detention Facility in Hagerstown", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney released a statement on reports of a proposed ICE detention facility in Hagerstown, Maryland:\n\n\"I am outraged by reports that the Trump Administration may be considering the construction of an ICE detention facility in or near Hagerstown. If true, this proposal is unacceptable\u2014and I will fight it with every tool available to me.\n\n\"The mass detention of human beings without due process is a profound moral and constitutional failure. Detaining people\u2014like asylum seekers and families\u2014far from legal counsel, their support systems, and meaningful oversight creates a grave risk of unlawful detention and irreversible harm.\n\n\"Hagerstown is not a dumping ground for a broken federal system\u2014it is a proud community built on fairness, decency, and the rule of law. I will not quietly accept a facility that threatens civil liberties, undermines due process, and contradicts our values.\n\n\"Let me be clear about what I am doing, and what I will continue to do, to stop this:\n\nI am demanding full and immediate transparency from DHS and ICE, including all planning documents, contracts, internal analyses, and communications related to any proposed detention facility in Washington County. There will be no secrecy and no backroom decisions.\n\nI am scheduled to meet with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations field office in Baltimore in January, where I will conduct my constitutionally required oversight of this facility which has my constituents locked inside.\n\nI will work with colleagues to use aggressive congressional oversight\u2014including formal investigations\u2014to expose any effort to rush this project forward while cutting corners on legality, due process, or human rights.\n\nI will oppose any attempt to detain people without full constitutional protections, and I will challenge policies that normalize prolonged or unlawful detention under the guise of efficiency.\n\nI will stand with community members, faith leaders, advocates, and local governments who are speaking out against this proposal, and I will elevate their voices at every level of the federal government.\n\n\"This is about values and who we are, and that begins with protecting our neighbors. A government that detains people in bulk, behind walls and razor wire, without transparency or accountability, is a government that has lost its moral compass.\n\n\"I will not allow Hagerstown to become a symbol of that failure. I will fight this proposal publicly, relentlessly, and unapologetically\u2014and I will keep the people of this community informed every step of the way.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-neguse-hits-50-city-milestone-2025-timnath-roundtable", "Congressman Neguse Hits 50-City Milestone in 2025 with Timnath Roundtable", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Last week, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse hosted a roundtable discussion with local leaders in Timnath. He was joined by Mayor Robert Axmacher, Police Chief Laurie Scott, Fire Chief Derek Bergsten, and other local leaders to discuss community priorities. Rep. Neguse\u2019s visit to the Northern Colorado town marked the 50th community he\u2019s visited in Colorado\u2019s 2nd Congressional District in 2025, building on his trademark for showing up for people across the state. He has also held 17 in-person town halls this year \u2014 more than every other member of Colorado\u2019s U.S. House delegation combined.\n\n\u201cWhen you represent a district as large as Colorado\u2019s 2nd, you learn early on that showing up matters, and that the best way to serve the people you were elected to represent is to engage with them directly. Which is why I\u2019ve made it my mission over the past year to show up in every community \u2014 no matter how big or small \u2014 to hear directly from our constituents,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cIn the new year, we\u2019ll keep traversing our district, engaging with everyone, and speaking up \u2014 because fixing what\u2019s broken in our politics requires working together to build a future we all believe in.\u201d\n\nCongressman Neguse has represented Colorado\u2019s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. Covering more than 12,000 square miles, the district is one of Colorado\u2019s largest and most rural, spanning twelve counties: Boulder, Weld, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, Summit, Jackson, Routt, and Broomfield.\n\nIn 2025 alone, Neguse visited 50 cities and towns across the district, including Allenspark, Eldorado Springs, Erie, Gold Hill, Gunbarrel, Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Niwot, Superior, Central City, Empire, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Silver Plume, Avon, Eagle, Edwards, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, Vail, Wolcott, Black Hawk, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Winter Park, Walden, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Laporte, Loveland, Red Feather Lakes, Hayden, Oak Creek, Phippsburg, Steamboat Springs, Yampa, Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Timnath.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-blasts-trump-administration-denial-8-million-passaic-county", "Congresswoman Pou Blasts Trump Administration Denial of $8 Million for Passaic County Schools", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Nellie Pou", "P000621", "pou.house.gov", "pou", "https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PATERSON, NJ \u2014 Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today hammered the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s refusal to reverse its decision to strip $8 million in funding for Passaic County schools under the Full-Service Community Schools grant program.\n\n\u201cDespicable does not begin to describe this unjust and outrageous decision. With its denial today, the Trump Department of Education is ripping support right from the hands of our students in Paterson and Passaic,\u201d said Congresswoman Nellie Pou. \u201cWith zero warning, little explanation, no rational basis, and days before Christmas, Paterson schools were notified that $7.9 million in federal support they were counting on would be terminated. This critical aid funds a myriad of vital services including after-school programming, tutoring, counseling, food assistance, and health services \u2013 all of which will now cease to exist because of the Trump administration\u2019s callousness and cruelty.\n\n\u201cDespite the Paterson Public School District\u2019s willingness to remedy any concerns the Administration had with its programming under the grant, the Education Department refused to engage and has now hung these students and educators out to dry. At a time when the Department of Education has rolled back support to K-12 schools from coast to coast, New Jersey students will now be forced to return to their classrooms in the new year with fewer tools to help them succeed, incurring consequences that will be felt for years to come. The President promised to dismantle public education in America, and today he is doing exactly that. These cuts must be reversed and this funding must be restored.\u201d\n\nOn December 18, Congresswoman Pou sent an urgent letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon highlighting the \u201ccatastrophic harm\u201d these cuts would cause and demanded the funding be restored \u201cbefore it is too late.\u201d During Christmas week, Pou\u2019s office had been in touch with administration officials to make clear the district\u2019s willingness to work with the Department to address their priorities.\n\nFull-Service Community School grants support a myriad of resources in New Jersey including social, health, nutrition, and mental health services, early childhood education programs, juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs, and educational programs to support the next generation of workers.\n\nThe cuts impact eight Passaic County schools in the Ninth District: Passaic MLK School No. 6, Passaic High School, Joseph A. Taub Middle School, Paterson International High School, Paterson Eastside High School, Paterson School No. 16, Paterson School No. 6, and Alonzo T. Moody Academy High School.\n\nIn total, $7.9 million in federal grants will be slashed from these schools ($2.8 million for 2026, $2.8 million for 2027, and $2.3 million for 2028). Nationwide, 18 Full-Service Community School grants were scheduled for elimination by the Trump administration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/scholten-advances-bipartisan-bill-modernize-aviation-supply-chain", "Scholten Advances Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Aviation Supply Chain", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Hillary Scholten advanced the Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025 with unanimous, bipartisan support out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This bipartisan legislation aims to study the potential to accelerate digital supply chain documentation at the Federal Aviation Administration to improve safety standards and combat forgery within supply chains. Representative Brad Knott (R-NC) is the Republican lead of the legislation.\n\n\u201cOutdata data systems in our aviation supply chain not only cost time and money, they present a threat to safety and security,\u201d said Congresswoman Scholten. \u201cIt is beyond time for the FAA to transition to digital documentation - a change that prevents counterfeit parts in the supply chain and keeps us all safe. West Michigan is a leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing, proudly home to 406 such businesses. We need our federal processes to keep pace with industry. I am proud to be leading this straightforward, commonsense, and bipartisan legislation and am glad to see it pass out of committee with unanimous support. I urge Speaker Johnson to move this bill to the floor as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nThe Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025 is a commonsense bill that builds on the work of the Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force. The Task Force\u2019s report to Congress underscored a concerning rise in counterfeit or improperly documented aerospace parts in the supply chain. Because FAA documentation proving the airworthiness of these parts is not digitized, authorized release certificates are easy to forge, allowing bad actors to slip fraudulent parts into the supply chain. This bill will charge the U.S Government Accountability Office with conducting a study on the barriers to adopting digital documentation and verification throughout the entirety of the aerospace supply chain. The report will include suggestions on voluntary digitalization, as well as best practices to catalyze digital documentation.\n\nCongresswoman Scholten\u2019s remarks on the legislation are available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5837", "Rep. Dina Titus End of Year Report Shows Major Results for Southern Nevada", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", "titus", "https://titus.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) today released an end of year report detailing her 2025 accomplishments on behalf of Nevada\u2019s First District.\n\n\u201cAs the year and the first half of the 119th session of Congress come to a close, I am proud to look back upon my service to the people in Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District,\u201d said Congresswoman Titus. \u201cIn Washington, D.C, and in my Las Vegas district office, we have sought to address their concerns and needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have introduced legislation to prevent mushroom clouds in our backyard, help Southern Nevadans cope with the increasing effects of extreme heat, and conserve our precious water resources,\u201d she continued. \u201cAdditionally, I delivered over $433 million in federal grants for Nevada\u2019s First District and returned $2,323,418 to constituents in social security, veterans\u2019 benefits, and tax refunds.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has been my privilege to serve the people of Congressional District 1 in 2025, and I look forward to working together with you in 2026 to improve lives and livlihoods in Southern Nevada,\u201d the Congresswoman finished.\n\nRead the Full Report Here\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=B6BF6C33-92F6-4587-8F5C-F59D674DF378", "Klobuchar and Local Duluth Business Owners Advocate to Change Federal Hemp Ban", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "DULUTH, MN \u2014 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was joined by Ryan Kopperud, Vice President of Growth for Birdie at Wild State Cider, and Adam Ruhland, CEO of Wild State Cider, to advocate to change the recently enacted federal ban on hemp. Klobuchar is working across the aisle to change it.\n\n\u201cA one-size fits all approach to hemp regulation doesn't work for states like Minnesota that already have strong safety standards in place,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cWe can protect our kids and support our small businesses \u2014 Minnesota\u2019s model proves that\u2019s possible. Under current state rules, small businesses like Wild State Cider are licensed, meet labeling and packaging standards, and ensure their products are available only to adults. I want our state\u2019s small businesses and farmers to know: I\u2019ve got your back.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s at stake here is not just one business. Not just one taproom. It\u2019s manufacturers, distributors, retailers, farmers, labs\u2014the entire system behind these hemp products people already trust. Responsible, compliant, transparent businesses, and the jobs, revenue, and tax base that come with them. This is what happens when policy meets reality. And that reality\u2014for us and for thousands of Minnesota businesses\u2014is frankly terrifying,\u201d said Ryan Kopperud, Vice President of Growth for Birdie at Wild State Cider.\n\nWild State Cider is a well-known cidery based in Duluth that was founded in 2019. The cidery specializes in producing ciders made with natural ingredients. In 2023, Wild State Cider launched a successful line of THC-infused products called \u201cBirdie.\u201d However, a recent bill signed into law includes provisions that could severely impact Minnesota\u2019s hemp industry by banning many products currently manufactured in the state. Senator Klobuchar voted against the bill and voted for an amendment by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to remove the provision impacting Minnesota\u2019s hemp businesses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-and-expand-mental-health-services-in-michigans-rural-communities", "Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen and Expand Mental Health Services in Michigan\u2019s Rural Communities", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and expand mental health services in Michigan\u2019s rural communities. The Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act \u2013 which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) \u2013 aims to help states grow their behavioral health workforce, particularly in rural areas, to ensure mental health resources are accessible across the state. Specifically, the bill would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue guidance for states on ways to increase education, training, recruitment, and retention of mental health and substance-use disorder providers under Medicaid and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleague in leading this bipartisan bill to help ensure all Michiganders can access quality mental health care from trained professionals. With the demand for mental health support higher than ever before, this commonsense legislation would help states strengthen this critical workforce to expand the mental health services available in rural and underserved communities,\u201d said Senator Peters.\n\nThe Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act is supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).\n\nPeters has been a consistent advocate for mental health care, supporting policies that expand access to quality, affordable treatment. Earlier this year, Peters introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase access to care in areas experiencing shortages of mental health care professionals. In 2024, Peters also cosponsored bipartisan legislation to expand access to telemental health care.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/over-the-past-year-schatz-worked-to-protect-federal-funding-for-hawaii-amid-national-cuts-secured-more-than-1-billion-to-support-mauis-recovery-improve-infrastructure-expand-high-speed-internet-across-the-state", "Over The Past Year, Schatz Worked To Protect Federal Funding For Hawai\u2018i Amid National Cuts; Secured More Than $1 Billion To Support Maui\u2019s Recovery, Improve Infrastructure, Expand High-Speed Internet Across The State", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 In 2025, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) worked to protect Hawai\u2018i from significant cuts to federal funding by the Administration across the country and helped secure more than $1 billion for Hawai\u2018i to support Maui\u2019s ongoing recovery, expand high-speed internet, and improve airports and infrastructure, among other things.\n\n\u201cThis year, we delivered more than $1 billion to Hawai\u2018i, including funding to support Maui\u2019s ongoing recovery, help upgrade airports and health centers, and expand high-speed internet. My top priority always is making sure Hawai\u2018i gets its fair share of federal dollars, and together with the delegation and state and local leaders, we\u2019re going to continue working to lower costs and support families and communities across the state,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\nFunding highlights include:\n\nNearly $31 million to expand high-speed internet statewide. The federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 will be used to build out and improve broadband infrastructure statewide.\n\nNearly $9.8 million to support the ongoing recovery effort on Maui following the devastating fires. The funding, which Schatz helped secure, will help the community of Lahaina rebuild the Waiola Church, Hale Aloha Museum, the Old Lahaina Courthouse Building, and the Master\u2019s Reading Room.\n\nMore than $70 million for Kona International Airport. The federal funding for Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, the largest airport on Hawai\u2018i Island and the state\u2019s second international entry point, will be used to help complete KOA\u2019s ongoing runway rehabilitation project.\n\n$1 million for the Lana?i Community Health Center. The funding will support the Lana?i Community Health Center, a nonprofit and federally qualified health center serving the island of Lana?i, to purchase equipment.\n\nMore than $140 million for the Red Hill Water Treatment Plant. The funding will help build a water treatment facility provides a drinking water treatment facility at the Red Hill water supply shaft and ensures that treated water continues to meet all Federal and State drinking water standards.\n\nMore than $50 million for Lihu?e Airport. The funding will help improve takeoff and taxiway operations at LIH by increasing the Runway Safety Area.\n\nNearly $2 million to protect Hawai\u2018i-grown coffee. The funding will support the research and programs needed to stop coffee leaf rust, a devasting disease caused by a rust fungus.\n\nMore than $553 million to replace Dry Dock 3 at Pearl Harbor. The funding will support the construction of the new Dry Dock 5 to replace the existing Dry Dock 3. Dry Dock 5 will be able to accommodate maintenance and sustainment work on Virginia class submarines and the Next Generation Attack Submarine (SSNX), ensuring that Hawai\u2018i\u2019s public shipyard workforce will be able to support Navy\u2019s submarine fleet for years to come.\n\nThis year, Senator Schatz secured Senate passage of key legislation, including a bill to help stop illegal ahi from reaching people\u2019s plates, while protecting Hawai\u2018i fishermen. The bipartisan Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and certain species of tuna imported into the United States.\n\nSchatz also authored and secured Senate passage of the Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act, bipartisan legislation to expand Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits to U.S. veterans who reside in the Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-greens-congressional-report", "Congressman Al Green\u2019s Congressional Report", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "3 federal judges I recommended were nominated and confirmed: Alfred H. Bennett to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, George C. Hanks Jr. for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and Gregg J. Costa to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas as well as to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.\n\nHundreds of billions in support for our port, airports, rail line, hospital district, schools, housing, roads, bridges, and infrastructure.\n\n$10 billion in funding for small businesses through my reauthorization of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (The SSBCI) Renewal Act.\n\n$9 billion through the establishment of my Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) to provide low- and moderate-income community financial institutions funding to support small businesses, as well as consumers, in their communities.\n\n$325 million in local projects.\n\n$100 million in appropriations for my permanent codification of the Minority Business Development Agency through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n$90 to $100 million for flood control within the district.\n\n$22.5 million for the first congressionally funded police body cameras.\n\nMillions for Texas Southern University\u2019s National Transportation Security Center of Excellence.\n\nHistoric passage of my Fair Lending for All Act in the House of Representatives, which imposes criminal penalties for intentional lender discrimination.\n\nPassage of my Reforming Disaster Recovery Act in the House, a bill which would codify the requirements and objectives of the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, which provides critical funding to those impacted by natural disasters and other extreme events.\n\nPassage of my Systemic Risk Authority Transparency Act in the House, a bill that requires more transparency from our banking regulators in the event of a bank failure.\n\nSupported passage of the PRO Act to strengthen workers rights to unionize and collectively bargain.\n\nHaving a foundation for the historic impeachment of President Donald John Trump by bringing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Articles of Impeachment against him to a vote.\n\nHaving recently filed and brought new Articles of Impeachment to a vote wherein most House Democrats (187) declined to halt proceedings through a motion to table.\n\nPassage in the House of H.Res.517 \u2013 my Historic Original Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution and introduced the Historic Original Slavery Remembrance Month Resolution which call for the establishment of Slavery Remembrance Day and month in August of each year similar to other Remembrance events for 9/11, Pearl Harbor, and the Holocaust.\n\nIntroduced a resolution to create a Cabinet level Department of Reconciliation to reconcile issues associated with invidious discrimination across the country.\n\nPassed a resolution through the House Honoring the NAACP.\n\nPassed a resolution through the House recognizing Black History Month.\n\nPassed a resolution through the House recognizing the hanging of nooses as a horrible act when used for the purpose of intimidation.\n\nFought to protect the constitutional and human rights of all people, including undocumented persons within the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-announces-68-million-safe-streets-all-grants", "Congressman Cohen Announces $6.8 Million in Safe Streets for All Grants from the Department of Transportation", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "MEMPHIS \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Program has awarded two grants totaling $6,891,760 to the Memphis Fire Department and the MidSouth Development District.\n\nCongressmen Cohen, Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), and Robert Garcia (CA-42) introduced the Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act in September to strengthen the SS4A program whose life-saving projects in more than 1,600 communities across the United States are reducing roadway fatalities and serious accidents.\n\nCongressman Cohen made the following statement:\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been proud to support the SS4A Program and have recognized the life-saving funding it provides in a region unfortunately too familiar with traffic- and pedestrian-vehicle fatalities. These investments in advanced training and careful planning for the future will save lives. I was pleased to discuss the MidSouth Development District\u2019s plans with Executive Director Anna McQuiston in my office before the holidays to review the district\u2019s ambitious goals.\u201d\n\nThe first grant is for $5,648,960 to the City of Memphis Division of Fire Services to construct and equip an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course and traffic incident management training facility to improve responder driving, on-scene safety, and to reduce secondary crashes. Between 2018 and 2022, the Memphis region experienced 936 fatalities, including some involving responders struck while managing incidents. The facility will be built at 4165 Millington Road. U.S. DOT says the effort aligns with the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program and National Fire Protection Association standards, and advances the Mid-South Safety Action Plan.\n\nThe second is a $1.2 million grant to the MidSouth Development District to develop a Regional Safety Action Plan for the six-county Mid-South area (Shelby, Tipton, Fayette and Lauderdale in Tennessee, DeSoto in Mississippi and Crittenden in Arkansas) and to conduct supplemental planning activities and demonstration activities.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-urges-governor-lee-seek-millions-summer-food", "Congressman Cohen Urges Governor Lee to Seek Millions in Summer Food Assistance for Children by Thursday\u2019s Deadline", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", "cohen", "https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "MEMPHIS \u2013 Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) tonight wrote Governor Bill Lee a letter urging him to have the State of Tennessee apply for Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) funding for a Summer U.S. Agriculture Food Assistance Program for an estimated 700,000 children and not fail to apply for it as he did last year.\n\nThe U.S. Depart\u00adment of Agri\u00adcul\u00adture\u2019s Sum\u00admer EBT pro\u00adgram provides $120 in food bene\u00adfits to sup\u00adport school-aged chil\u00addren who don\u2019t have access to free or low-cost school meals dur\u00ading sum\u00admer months.\n\nThe letter reads in part:\n\n\u201cI concur with Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar and urge you to direct the Tennessee Department of Human Services to notify the U.S. Department of Agriculture of its intent to apply to the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) before the deadline of January 1, 2026.\n\n\u201cI wrote to you last year urging you to apply for these benefits. You chose not to, and the state instead ran its own program that cost much more to feed far fewer children. The state program fed 18,000 children and only reached 15 rural counties, while Summer EBT would have fed nearly 700,000 children and reached all 95 counties.\n\n\u201cAs you know, grocery prices are up tremendously. It is concerning you would turn down nearly $84 million meant to feed hungry children at a time when affordability should be the first issue on all our agendas.\n\n\u201cI hope you will decide to apply for these important funds. There is no good reason to turn down aid for hungry children.\u201d\n\nSee the letter here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-don-davis-welcomes-213m-rural-healthcare-north-carolina", "Congressman Don Davis Welcomes $213M for Rural Healthcare in North Carolina", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "Donald G. Davis", "D000230", "dondavis.house.gov", "dondavis", "https://dondavis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) welcomed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\u2019 (CMS) announcement of an award of more than $213 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to North Carolina as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The funding, which the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will administer, will help expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.\n\n\u201cThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\u2019 North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program award is vital for improving health outcomes for rural North Carolina families,\u201d said Congressman Davis.\n\nBefore this announcement, Congressman Davis led members of the North Carolina congressional delegation in a letter expressing strong support for North Carolina\u2019s RHTP application and urging funding that reflects the state's disproportionately large rural population.\n\nNorth Carolina\u2019s $213 million award represents a proportional distribution and ranks as the tenth-highest RHTP allocation in the nation. Additional funding announcements for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 are also expected.\n\n\u201cApproval will allow our state, which has three million rural residents across 85 counties\u2014the second-largest rural population in the nation\u2014to expand proven innovative models, foster sustainable innovation, and strengthen our rural workforce. By FY2031, NCRHTP aims to increase rural provider-to-population ratios, reduce preventable hospital readmissions and emergency visits, lower chronic disease risk factors, and expand access to integrated behavioral, mental health, and substance use services,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in their letter dated December 16 to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.\n\nCongressman Davis was joined by North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, and Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Addison McDowell (NC-06), David Rouzer (NC-07), Richard Hudson (NC-09), Alma Adams (NC-12), and Tim Moore (NC-14).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/29/dear-colleague-on-january-6th-five-year-anniversary/", "Dear Colleague on January 6th Five-year Anniversary", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Dear Colleague:\n\nI write with respect to the upcoming solemn anniversary of the January 6th brutal attack on the Capitol. Nearly five years ago, a violent mob incited by Donald Trump attempted to halt the peaceful transfer of power. As a result of the extraordinary bravery of the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement professionals, the treacherous effort to prevent certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election failed.\n\nHowever, the cost was profound. More than 140 heroic police officers were seriously injured and many suffered lasting physical and psychological trauma. Several tragically lost their lives. In the years since that disgraceful day, far-right Republicans in Congress have repeatedly attempted to rewrite history and whitewash the events of January 6th. Our country has been indelibly scarred.\n\nDonald Trump promised to lower the high cost of living on day one of his presidency. One year later, costs are out of control, America is too expensive and Republicans believe that the affordability crisis is a hoax. They have done nothing to lower costs for everyday Americans, but are gutting healthcare and enacted massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors.\n\nThe toxic priorities of the Republican Party are clear. On day one of his second term, President Trump issued blanket pardons and commutations to the nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the January 6th attack, including hundreds of violent felons who brutally assaulted law enforcement officers. Several of those individuals have been charged with new crimes throughout the country, putting the safety of the American people in jeopardy. A troubling number of the criminals pardoned by Donald Trump have been arrested for child molestation, sexual assault and kidnapping. Republicans own the failed economy, their broken promise to lower costs and the crime spree the dangerous criminals pardoned by the President have visited on our country.\n\nWe must never forget the horrors of January 6th and will continue to honor the brave law enforcement officers who were injured and lost their lives defending the rule of law in the United States. To that end, on the fifth anniversary of that fateful day, led by the Honorable Bennie Thompson and the Members of the January 6th Select Committee, House Democrats will hold a special hearing that will commence at 10:00 a.m.\n\nAt the hearing, we will examine ongoing threats to free and fair elections posed by an out-of-control Trump administration, expose the election deniers who hold high-level positions of significance in the executive branch and detail the threats to public safety posed by the hundreds of violent felons who were pardoned on the President\u2019s first day in office. We will also present a panel of Members who wish to share their personal experiences from that horrific day. If you wish to testify, please contact Emily.Berret@mail.house.gov by 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 2.\n\nThank you for your leadership and I look forward to our continued work in the new year to make life better for the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\nHakeem Jeffries\n\nDemocratic Leader", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-files-appeal-notice-in-ice-oversight-case-says-shes-not-backing-down", "McIver Files Appeal Notice in ICE Oversight Case, Says She\u2019s Not Backing Down", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, NJ \u2013 Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) filed a notice of appeal after, in November, a federal judge ruled to deny pretrial motions to dismiss the case against her. The appeal will focus on legislative immunity. The charges against McIver, brought by the Trump administration, stem from a lawful oversight visit to an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention center in Newark, New Jersey, in May 2025. McIver faces up to 17 years in federal prison.\n\n\u201cFrom the beginning, I\u2019ve fought back against this administration\u2019s cruelty and attempts to silence dissent\u2014this appeal is the next step in the fight. The Trump administration\u2019s case is dangerous, baseless, and designed to stop me from doing my job. I won\u2019t,\u201d said McIver. \u201cThis appeal is for everyone who is standing up to this administration as they try to operate without oversight, silence the people who oppose them, and shut down those who protect the vulnerable. They want to make an example out of me, but I will not let them. I will not be bullied out of doing my job and protecting our communities. Not now, not ever.\u201d\n\nMcIver and counsel sought to have criminal charges brought against her by the Trump administration dismissed. A judge in Newark partially denied those motions, a decision on one count remains pending. The appeal noticed today will head to a Third Circuit panel.\n\nLast week, McIver returned to the Delaney Hall detention center for an oversight visit in the wake of the death of a detainee. This was her first time returning to Delaney Hall since charges were brought against her for her earlier oversight visit in May.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://stevens.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-stevens-releases-2025-year-review-report", "CONGRESSWOMAN STEVENS RELEASES 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW REPORT", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Haley M. Stevens", "S001215", "stevens.house.gov", "stevens", "https://stevens.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) released her 2025 end of year report, highlighting the work she and her team accomplished for constituents of the MI-11 Congressional district this year.\n\nRead the report here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-key-2025-efforts-as-2025-draws-to-a-close", "Duckworth Highlights Key 2025 Efforts as 2025 Draws to a Close", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 As 2025 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year:\n\n\u201cWhether helping nearly 2,900 Illinoisans recover more than $13 million the federal government owed them, passing a law making it easier for new parents to travel with critical breast milk supplies, pushing back against Trump and Republicans as they work to jack up costs for everything from groceries to health care, fighting Donald Trump\u2019s illegal and reckless invasion of our state or getting Veterans\u2019 jobs back after this Administration cruelly fired Veterans Crisis Line workers\u2014I\u2019m proud of everything we\u2019ve been able to do this past year,\u201d Duckworth said. \u201cWhile this year was far too difficult for far too many in our community, I am as committed as ever to showing up and getting things done for my fellow Illinoisans\u2014and all those who feel targeted by the Trump Administration. I look forward to continuing my work for our state in 2026.\u201d\n\nOver the past year, Duckworth and her office responded to over 1,047,000 emails as well as other messages and assisted more than 2,800 Illinoisans who were experiencing difficulties navigating the federal bureaucracy, helping recover more than $13.2 million in Social Security payments, Veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds and more for her constituents. A select list of Duckworth\u2019s accomplishments from the past year is below.\n\nDuckworth hosted a series of town halls and telephone town halls this year to hear directly from her constituents on how the Trump Administration is negatively impacting their lives and the lives of their families and communities, hearing from Illinoisans in McHenry County, Rockford, Carbondale and throughout Chicagoland.\n\nKey Efforts:\n\nDuckworth\u2019s Bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act Became Law: After passing the House and unanimously passing the Senate, bipartisan legislation authored and championed by Senator Duckworth to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies became one of roughly 30 bills to be signed into law in 2025. Senator Duckworth\u2019s Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products, including ice packs, in consultation with leading maternal health groups.\n\nFighting to Prevent Healthcare Costs from Skyrocketing: As Republicans time and again voted to gut Medicaid with Trump\u2019s Big, Beautiful Betrayal and did nothing to stop health insurance premiums from skyrocketing, Senator Duckworth fought against these efforts at every turn. She voted against the Republicans\u2019 Big Beautiful Bill and voted against all of Republicans\u2019 extreme partisan funding bills. She met with health care leaders throughout Central Illinois, Southern Illinois and the Chicagoland area to discuss how these cuts will impact health care access for all Illinoisans. Trump and Republicans plunged the nation into the longest government shutdown in history to guarantee that out-of-pocket health care costs will skyrocket, refusing to negotiate an extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)\u2019s enhanced premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. Duckworth continuously called out Republicans for refusing to help stop health insurance bills from doubling or even tripling for millions of hardworking families, including their own constituents. Then, in December, when Republicans finally had the chance to vote to extend these ACA subsidies, they chose to please Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies rather than serve the tens of millions of Americans who will see their premiums rise\u2014or the four million who will lose coverage entirely.\n\nDefending Reproductive Freedom and Expanding Access to IVF: Senator Duckworth has been a strong advocate for reproductive freedom and access to IVF in the face of Republicans\u2019 anti-choice crusade. In June, she introduced the Protect IVF Act to establish a nationwide right to IVF. She has also long pushed to pass her Right to IVF Act\u2014which Senate Republicans blocked not once, but twice last year\u2014that would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle-class families across the country. This year, Duckworth successfully secured a provision in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act requiring TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including IVF, for servicemembers, reflecting her earlier IVF for Military Families Act. However, Speaker Mike Johnson single-handedly blocked her provision, denying troops the same IVF coverage available to Members of Congress despite broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. This is the second time Duckworth secured this provision in an NDAA bill that passed committee, only to have Republicans block her amendment from the final NDAA\u2014despite it being included in the committee-approved version.\n\nProtecting Our State from Trump\u2019s Unlawful Domestic Deployment: Senator Duckworth, alongside Governor Pritzker and Senator Durbin, helped lead our state\u2019s effective pushback against the Trump Administration\u2019s unconstitutional and dangerous deployments of National Guard troops into American cities, including Chicago. She singlehandedly secured the first and only Senate hearing on Trump\u2019s domestic deployments, during which top Trump Defense officials admitted to three damning revelations that had never been publicly stated before. In addition to numerous actions, including visiting Naval Station Great Lakes amid threats to deploy the military to Chicago and filing an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit against Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military, Duckworth successfully advanced her Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act to finally help rein in Trump\u2019s continued misuse of our military and troops.\n\nPushing Back on DHS\u2019 Invasion on Chicago: In light of Trump\u2019s \u201cOperation Midway Blitz,\u201d Senator Duckworth continued her efforts as an outspoken champion for defending Illinoisans and their First Amendment rights. She condemned DHS\u2019s excessive and aggressive force, including unlawful abductions, deploying tear gas near schools and raiding community shelters. Additionally, she demanded an end to forcing law enforcement to abandon criminal investigations in order to assist ICE and called on ICE and CBP to enforce body-camera requirements in compliance with federal orders. Duckworth and Senator Durbin also visited the grounds of the Broadview ICE processing center in their congressional oversight roles.\n\nSupporting Servicemembers and Holding Pete Hegseth Accountable for Putting Them at Needless Risk: As a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator Duckworth has condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth\u2019s lack of experience or qualifications to lead our troops, repeatedly calling on him to resign, especially after reports confirmed he sent highly-sensitive war plans in an unclassified group chat with other Trump Administration officials, putting servicemembers at greater risk and undermining mission effectiveness. She denounced the Trump Administration\u2019s unlawful military strikes and supported a resolution to block illegal use of force in or against Venezuela without congressional approval, while raising concerns about violating the laws of war and endangering our servicemembers and national security.\n\nSupporting Our Veterans: After Trump fired more Veterans than any other President in history and imposed illegal pauses in federal funding and slashed Veterans\u2019 care, Senator Duckworth continued her life\u2019s mission of advocating for our brave servicemembers and their families affected by Trump\u2019s recklessness. This year, she introduced legislation to protect the lifesaving Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) and restore collective bargaining rights for VA health care professionals. She demanded accountability from Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins for the VCL firings. She also introduced her Protect Veteran Jobs Act to reinstate Veterans who were fired from their jobs as part of Trump and Elon Musk\u2019s indiscriminate purge of federal employees. Duckworth spoke at the \u201cUnite for Veterans\u201d rally on the National Mall, criticizing Trump for using Veterans as political pawns and undermining their care and benefits. She also hosted a Veterans town hall in Crystal Lake to hear directly from Veterans about the impact of the Trump Administration and Elon Musk\u2019s cuts to federal programs and mass federal worker firings.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2025-end-of-year-report", "Murphy Releases 2025 End Of Year Report", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday released his 2025 End of Year Report. In a year marked by turmoil, Senator Murphy joined with elected leaders, civic organizers, and Connecticut residents to defend Americans\u2019 rights and fight for a better future. This report highlights the measures Sen. Murphy and his office took to stand up to Trump\u2019s corruption and deliver for Connecticut families. As Donald Trump systematically dismantled programs working people rely on, while transforming the government into a tool of personal enrichment, Murphy helped deliver federal dollars to Connecticut while taking action to unrig our economy and democracy from billionaire interests.\n\nThis year, Murphy and his office:\n\nIntroduced or co-sponsored 270 pieces of legislation and amendments, including 91 bills, resolutions, or amendments as the lead sponsor;\n\nCompleted his ninth Walk Across Connecticut: four days, 67 miles, 11 towns, and hundreds of conversations with Connecticut residents along the way;\n\nEngaged with over 436,800 calls, emails, and letters;\n\nReturned more than $7 million to constituents, including owed Social Security payments, veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds, and other savings from federal agencies;\n\nHelped over 3,233 constituents work through federal issues and get their owed benefits", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-fights-protect-low-income-residents-access-sources", "Congressman Johnson Fights To Protect Low-Income Residents\u2019 Access To Sources Of Renewable Energy", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr.", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", "hankjohnson", "https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) led a Georgia delegation letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin pressing him to reinstate funding for the Solar for All program that invested $7 billion in clean-energy grants to 60 state, tribal, municipal, and nonprofit organizations, including $156 million to the Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition. The program was designed to help nearly 500 homeowners in Georgia who earn less than 80% of the area median income to install solar panels to help defray energy costs, which have skyrocketed in recent years thanks to six rate hikes since 2022 in Georgia.\n\nIn the letter, the members said: \u201cGeorgia, which faces one of the highest energy burdens in the nation, was on track to establish a stronger, cleaner energy grid. However, the abrupt cancellation of Solar for All grants has forced the Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition to pause these programs, delaying the deployment of readily available energy resources and the necessary transition to clean energy. This leaves Georgia families with higher energy bills and fewer job opportunities, while utilities struggle to meet the growing demand for power. We urge your office to approach this matter with transparency and urgency, recognizing the critical role this program can play in supporting a more resilient energy grid, reducing energy costs, and creating economic opportunities for Georgia families.\u201d\n\nTo read the full letter, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-honors-rev-jason-coker-and-rev-jenell-coker-of-oceanside-as-december-2025-co-constituents-of-the-month", "Rep. Mike Levin Honors Rev. Jason Coker and Rev. Jenell Coker of Oceanside as December 2025 Co-Constituents of the Month", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "levin.house.gov", "levin", "https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Oceanside, CA\u2014Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) recognized Rev. Jason Coker and Rev. Jenell Coker, co-lead pastors of The Oceanside Sanctuary, as his December 2025 Co-Constituents of the Month.\n\nThrough their tireless leadership, The Oceanside Sanctuary, one of the oldest churches in North County San Diego, provides critical support to vulnerable neighbors who are hungry, unhoused, or struggling, while expressing the grace and goodness of God to anyone in need. In addition, Rev. Jason Coker and Rev. Jenell Coker are community organizers who advocate for socially-just policies that address the root causes of poverty and inequality.\n\nWhen Rev. Jason Coker started at The Oceanside Sanctuary, the church had fewer than 40 active members and was preparing to close after decades of decline. Today, it is thriving with more than 400 active members and annual contributions exceeding $500,000, making it larger and stronger than at any point in its 150-year history.\n\nRev. Jenell Coker helped grow The Oceanside Sanctuary into what it is today and has been a religious leader for more than 25 years. She is a certified spiritual director through the University of Redlands and San Francisco Theological Seminary, with spiritual formation rooted in the Christian tradition.\n\nUnder their leadership, The Oceanside Sanctuary started a partnership with Feeding San Diego and opened a food panty that provides meals to more than 400 food insecure San Diegans each month. They also joined with other local organizations to offer shelter and aid to asylum seekers who were being dropped off at the Oceanside Transit Center in 2023.\n\nRep. Levin recognized Rev. Jason Coker and Rev. Jenell Coker for their incredible work and dedication to helping people in their community. They are true pillars of Oceanside and have ensured The Oceanside Sanctuary will always maintain its legacy of service.\n\nSee below for Rep. Levin\u2019s statement recognizing Rev. Jason Coker and Rev. Jenell Coaker in the Congressional Record:\n\n\u201cMr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Rev. Jason Coker and Rev. Jenell Coaker as my December 2025 Co-Constituents of the Month.\n\n\u201cRev. Jason and Rev. Jenell Coker are being recognized for their extraordinary leadership, vision, and long-standing commitment to community transformation. Together, they have grown The Oceanside Sanctuary into a thriving, historic congregation that serves as a hub for inclusive, justice-centered ministry in North County San Diego.\n\n\u201cTheir work extends far beyond the church walls through ecumenical and interfaith collaboration, nonprofit leadership, education, and community organizing, and is grounded in a fully LGBTQ-affirming faith that prioritizes dignity, equity, and belonging. Through decades of service, the Cokers have demonstrated how thoughtful, courageous leadership can strengthen institutions, empower communities, and create lasting positive change.\n\n\u201cThey are immensely deserving of this recognition and our district is better off because of their work.\u201d\n\nABOUT THE CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH PROGRAM:\n\nRep. Levin\u2019s Constituent of the Month program recognizes outstanding North County San Diego and South Orange County residents who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and represent the best of our country. Rep. Levin\u2019s November 2025 Constituent of the Month was Mel Vernon, Captain of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, author, professional musician, and esteemed public speaker and educator. The October 2025 Constituent of the Month was Annalise Aitken, a 17-year-old San Clemente resident, student, and volunteer extraordinaire.\n\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-bolster-northeast-energy-reserve", "Pappas Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Northeast Energy Reserve", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Chris Pappas", "P000614", "pappas.house.gov", "pappas", "https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) reintroduced his bipartisan Bolstering Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Act to require the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a long-range strategic review of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (NEHHOR) and report to Congress on opportunities to strengthen it.\n\nThe Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve was established as a source to reduce the impact of severe supply disruptions for the region. However current reserves in the Northeast are ill-suited to addressing supply disruptions. This bipartisan legislation would examine the NEHHOR to understand their current limitations and provide ways of improvement for potential future needs, to ensure that this reserve can provide proper assistance to the Northeast in the event of supply disruptions or emergency energy needs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/scholten-applauds-advancement-legislation-reauthorize-great-lakes-restoration", "Scholten Applauds Advancement Of Legislation To Reauthorize The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten voted alongside her colleagues to advance the American Water Stewardship Act, which includes the reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. During the committee\u2019s markup, she led the effort to increase GLRI\u2019s authorization level from $475 million to $675 million to keep pace with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s investments into the program. GLRI is a collaborative effort to address the most significant environmental concerns of the Great Lakes, including pollution, the degradation of habitats, and the proliferation of invasive species.\n\n\u201cThe Great Lakes are vital to our culture and way of life in Michigan, and the GLRI does critical work preserving these waters and safeguarding public health,\u201d said Rep. Scholten. \u201cJust 40 years ago, Muskegon Lake was a symbol of environmental degradation, serving as a dumping ground for industrial pollution, municipal wastewater, and sewer overflows. Following a $10 million investment through GLRI, the EPA removed Muskegon Lake from its list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. This delisting is anticipated to produce more than $66 million in economic benefits \u2013 a 6 to 1 return on investment. This is the kind of good work EPA regional programs can do, and we cannot take our foot off the brake. I am proud to have voted to advance this bipartisan legislation, and I urge Speaker Johnson to move this bill to the floor as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nThe Great Lakes and their connecting channels form the largest fresh surface water system on Earth, constituting nearly one-fifth of the world\u2019s freshwater supply and nine-tenths of the U.S.\u2019s supply. These lakes are also an economic powerhouse, creating $3.1 trillion in gross domestic product and employing 25.8 million people.\n\nRepresentative Scholten is a longstanding advocate for the health of the Great Lakes. She is an original cosponsor of the GLRI Act of 2025, which would reauthorize the GLRI through 2031. Last year, she led a bipartisan letter urging the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure leadership to swiftly reauthorize GLRI. This year, she led another bipartisan letter \u2013 with the support of several Republican and Democratic Great Lakes members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee \u2013 urging the extension of GLRI.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=082A36F7-1B14-44EB-81D7-6852ADCB2B2F", "Klobuchar, Sullivan and Colleagues Introduce VISIT USA Act to Promote U.S. Tourism", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) \u2014all members of the Senate Commerce Committee \u2013 introduced the bipartisan Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA (VISIT USA) Act to fully restore Brand USA\u2019s funding in Fiscal Years (FY) 2026 and 2027.\n\nBrand USA is a public-private partnership charged with promoting America as a premier international travel destination and clearly communicating U.S. visa and entry policies abroad.\n\nThis legislation will fully fund Brand USA to promote the United States as an international travel destination ahead of several significant events hosted in the U.S., including the 250th anniversary of America\u2019s independence, the FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Olympic games. President Trump\u2019s FY 2026 budget request also calls for fully funding Brand USA.\n\n\u201cTravel and tourism powers economic growth in communities in Minnesota and across our country,\u201d said Sen. Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will restore funding for Brand USA, providing the resources it needs to continue to support an additional 1.6 million visitors, $6 billion in spending, and nearly 80,000 jobs every year\u2014all at no cost to taxpayers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States is the third most visited country in the world. As we prepare to host several once-in-a-generation global events\u2014from America250, to the FIFA World Cup, to the 2028 Olympic Games\u2014there has never been a better moment to showcase all that our country has to offer,\u201d Sen. Sullivan said. \u201cRestoring Brand USA\u2019s full funding will help us welcome more international visitors, strengthen our tourism economy, and support the thousands of small businesses that make America and Alaska such remarkable places to experience.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the U.S. Travel Association. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) have introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cThis legislation is an important step forward, and we are grateful for Senators Sullivan and Klobuchar for leading this effort,\" said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. \"With the World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the U.S. has a pivotal chance to capture global attention. By restoring Brand USA\u2019s resources, Congress can help drive new visitors, support jobs nationwide and ensure the United States stands out on the world stage.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://figures.house.gov/media/in-the-news/figures-mantra-his-first-year-office-involves-one-question", "Figures\u2019 mantra for his first year in office involves one question", "2025-12-25", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Shomari Figures", "F000481", "figures.house.gov", "figures", "https://figures.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 After casting the last votes of his first year in office, freshman Congressman Shomari Figures said he\u2019s proud to have shone a \u201cspotlight\u201d on the communities in Alabama\u2019s 2nd Congressional District that have not always been top of mind in the halls of the U.S. Capitol.\n\nAs Alabama\u2019s sole first-time member of Congress this year, representing the newly redrawn 2nd District, spanning from Mobile to Montgomery, Figures said he and his team start off discussing each issue that comes to their office with one simple question.\n\n\u201cHow does this impact people in the district?\u201d Figures, D-Mobile, said in a brief interview with Alabama Daily News as he walked back to his Washington office at the end of the 2025 session.\n\nAnswering that question can sometimes lead him to work with lawmakers across the aisle and against a majority of the Democratic Party, especially in a year when Republicans control all three branches of government.\n\nOne of the most recent examples is his sponsorship of the now-stalled Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, which would place guidelines around name, image, and likeness for college athletes.\n\nThe Alabama Democrat\u2019s strong support of the legislation that would also prohibit student-athletes from becoming employees of universities placed him at odds with a majority of his Democratic colleagues and fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which criticized the bill for not adequately protecting student-athletes and for giving too much power to the athletic conferences.\n\n\u201cSome of the members just need to take the time to actually read the bill themselves and not rely on talking points,\u201d Figures told ADN in early December when House leadership cancelled a vote on the bill. \u201cI think in diving into the bill, they will see that a lot of the concerns are addressed.\u201d\n\nFor students and universities in Alabama and across the country, Figures said the greater risk would be doing \u201cnothing\u201d to regulate NIL.\n\nHe also joined with Republicans on the first piece of legislation he introduced, the Rural Hospitalization Stabilization Act, which would provide grants to rural hospitals.\n\n\u201cBuilding bipartisan relationships has also been something that I\u2019ve been proud of in terms of working with people on the committees that I serve on, as well as off the committee to try to navigate things,\u201d Figures told ADN.\n\nFigures is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.\n\nAs far as what he\u2019s most proud of accomplishing during his inaugural year, Figures quickly replied that it was securing federal dollars for multiple projects in communities throughout his district through earmarks.\n\n\u201cWe got a million dollars for the hospital down in Jackson, a million dollars for a project in Crenshaw County, a million dollars for a project in Macon County and Tuskegee, and that\u2019s something that we take a lot of pride in doing that,\u201d he said.\n\nFigures is no stranger to Congress and Washington, previously having served as counsel in a U.S. Senate office and in the Obama and Biden administrations. But now being a member himself, he said he was still surprised to see how other lawmakers were motivated by outside factors and not their district\u2019s needs.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s certainly disappointing to be in an environment where people, at least in my view, are not prioritizing the people who sent them here in terms of the things that we\u2019re working on,\u201d Figures told ADN.\n\nAffordability is one of those issues that he wishes Congress focused on more this year, calling the lack of action the \u201cbiggest disappointment\u201d of his first year representing Alabama.\n\nRepublicans contend that they have helped address affordability concerns with the tax savings in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\nThe freshman congressman has also been frustrated by the absence of passed legislation that would help Americans with the high cost of health care and insurance premiums next year. Figures has been a champion of extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies.\n\n\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be playing buzzer beaters with people\u2019s health care and their ability to afford it,\u201d Figures said.\n\nBut after four moderate Republicans defied Speaker Mike Johsnon, R-LA, late this month to sign onto the Democratic discharge petition to force a vote on extending the tax credits for three years, Figures became slightly more hopeful for finding a solution, most likely with lawmakers from both parties.\n\nAs the Alabama Democrat looks to the new year, he will start it like he ended 2025, asking himself how the latest issues that arise impact the district.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/ranking-member-shaheen-senators-tillis-rosen-barrasso-coons-king-moran-merkley-van-hollen-statement-on-russias-christmas-bombing-of-ukraine/", "Ranking Member Shaheen, Senators Tillis, Rosen, Barrasso, Coons, King, Moran, Merkley, Van Hollen Statement on Russia\u2019s Christmas Bombing of Ukraine", "2025-12-25", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWe condemn Russia\u2019s brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer.\n\n\u201cIt bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity\u2019s holiest days.\n\n\u201cEven for countries at war, there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including notably during World War I. Today\u2019s decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.\n\n\u201cWe stand with the people of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk marking the birth of Christ under the most challenging of circumstances. Ukrainians\u2019 faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/2025/12/24/rep-aguilar-2025-report/", "Rep. Aguilar Releases End-Of-Year Report for 2025", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", "aguilar", "https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Press Releases\n\nRep. Aguilar Releases End-Of-Year Report for 2025\n\nHighlights from 2025 include answering 55,691 constituent letters and calls, returning over $2.5 million in federal dollars to constituents and highlighting nearly $90 million in grant funding for the Inland Empire\n\nToday, Rep. Pete Aguilar issued a report to Inland Empire residents outlining how he fought for California over the course of 2025. Rep. Aguilar prioritized securing resources for the region, lowering costs and fighting back against costly and reckless Republican policies.\n\n\u201cAs 2025 comes to a close, I am proud to share some of the ways I\u2019ve fought to deliver for Inland Empire families and to improve our Californian community,\u201d said Rep. Pete Aguilar. \u201cThis year, I\u2019ve fought for the issues that matter most to the hardworking people I represent: lowering costs, protecting access to quality, affordable health care and strengthening our economy. It is the honor of a lifetime to serve the community that my family has called home for generations, and I will keep fighting for our region in 2026 and beyond.\u201d\n\nDuring 2025, Rep. Aguilar delivered for the Inland Empire in a variety of ways:\n\nCasework:\n\nHelped 647 Inland Empire residents resolve outstanding issues with federal agencies, such as accessing the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\n\nReturned nearly $2.6 million the federal government owed to Inland Empire residents by federal agencies, including IRS refunds, veterans\u2019 benefits and Social Security payments.\n\nCommunity Funding:\n\nAnnounced nearly $90 million in federal funding for the Inland Empire, including funding for public safety, education, transportation, cybersecurity, and public health projects. In total, California\u2019s 33rd Congressional District received more than $190 million in federal funding for 44 grant projects. Specifically, this includes:\n\n$66,032,669 for San Bernardino County\u2019s Head Start Programs to ensure children in the Inland Empire have access to quality early childhood education programs.\n\n$9,360,000 for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to hire and train 21 new firefighters, helping to expand the region\u2019s 24-hour on-call fire response coverage and improving safety in the Inland Empire.\n\n$7,397,004 for the San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) Authority\u2019s Airport Improvement Program to reconstruct a portion of the high-traffic taxiway and repaint and slurry the airport\u2019s runways.\n\n$5,306,794 for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to expand access to and improve HIV prevention, early intervention and treatment services for underserved communities in San Bernardino County.\n\n$1,000,000 in federal grant funding for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside (UCR), to expand and enhance artificial intelligence (AI) education and workforce development in the Inland Empire.\n\n$300,000 for CSUSB to enhance its research into the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on the cybersecurity workforce. This funding will enable educators to adapt their curriculum as AI technology rapidly evolves.\n\nLegislative Achievements:\n\nEnacted the University Centers for Growth, Development, and Prosperity (GDP) Act into law. The law codifies the U.S. Economic Development Administration\u2019s (EDA) University Center Economic Development Program and will boost economic development, create jobs and promote innovation and entrepreneurship at schools like Cal State San Bernardino.\n\nPassed legislation in the Appropriations Committee that would allow recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, also known as Dreamers, to work in the United States Congress.\n\nPassed legislation in the Appropriations Committee allowing DACA recipients to work in the United States federal government. The legislation now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.\n\nIntroduced the No Hungry Kids in Schools Act to expand access to meals for every student in America by allowing states to provide no-cost meal programs in public schools.\n\nIntroduced the Housing Stability for Dreamers Act to clarify that DACA recipients can access mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\n\nIntroduced the Affordable Housing Resident Services Act to provide funding to owners of affordable housing properties to offer supportive services for their residents.\n\nIntroduced the bipartisan National GIS Day Resolution to designate November 19, 2025, as National Geographic Information System (GIS) Day and encourage the use of GIS to help drive economic growth and foster a more informed and connected world.\n\nCommunity Outreach:\n\nAttended nearly 300 events throughout the Inland Empire.\n\nHosted community events for constituents. Event highlights from this year include:\n\nHeld five town halls attended by nearly 900 constituents to listen to their concerns and share updates with them about his work in Congress.\n\nHosted a U.S. Post Office dedication ceremony to honor the late Dr. Margaret B. Hill, a longtime educator and community advocate in the Inland Empire.\n\nCo-hosted a Vietnam War Veterans Commemoration to present local Vietnam War veterans with the Vietnam Veterans Lapel Pin provided by the Department of Defense to honor them for their service and provide a lasting memento expressing the nation\u2019s gratitude.\n\nHosted the third annual Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Fair with Fontana Unified School District for students to connect them with local employers providing good-paying career opportunities that don\u2019t require a college degree in the Inland Empire.\n\nHosted an annual Service Academy Night for local high school students interested in attending a United States Service Academy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/norton-introduces-district-columbia-chief-financial-officer-salary-home-rule", "Norton Introduces the District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Holmes Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", "norton", "https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced her bill to allow D.C. to set the pay for its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The salary of the CFO is paid by D.C.\u2019s own local funds. In the 117th Congress, the bill passed the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.\n\nUnder the D.C. Home Rule Act, Congress established a maximum rate of pay of the CFO, and the D.C. Council has no authority to increase that rate. Congress does not cap, or otherwise establish, the pay of any other D.C. employee. Under this bill, the CFO would be paid at the greater of a rate equal to the current maximum rate of pay or a rate established in law by D.C.\n\n\u201cLike every other municipality in the nation, D.C. should have the authority to set the pay for their local officials. They are paid by the people they serve through their tax dollars,\u201d Norton said. \u201cGiving the District the ability to raise the pay for its CFO will make the position more lucrative and incentivize high quality candidates to apply when a vacancy arises.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/as-holiday-gifts-continue-to-be-delivered-pappas-pushes-for-porch-pirates-crackdown", "As Holiday Gifts Continue to Be Delivered, Pappas Pushes for \u2018Porch Pirates\u2019 Crackdown", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Chris Pappas", "P000614", "pappas.house.gov", "pappas", "https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "As Granite Staters eagerly await the delivery of gifts for friends and loved ones, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) is pushing Congress to pass the Porch Pirates Act, which would increase penalties for package theft and safeguard millions of dollars that New Hampshire residents lose each year to so-called \u201cporch pirates.\u201d\n\nOne out of every 25 people in New Hampshire loses at least one package to theft every three months. So far this year, 104 million total packages have been stolen, and nearly half of all Americans have been victims of porch pirates. Last year, shoppers lost nearly $16 billion in stolen goods they paid for. Porch pirates cost Americans an estimated $16 billion in the past year, with more than 104 million packages stolen nationwide.\n\nPappas helped introduce the Porch Pirates Act, which would impose the same penalties for the theft of packages from private carriers like FedEx and UPS as those that apply to the theft of United States Postal Service mail.\n\n\u201cGranite Staters are still receiving deliveries of holiday gifts for their friends and loved ones, and package theft remains a significant concern,\u201d said Congressman Pappas. \u201cSo far 104 million packages have been stolen this year, costing families and businesses billions of dollars. To combat the rise in porch piracy and deter theft, this bipartisan legislation will put in place the same federal penalties for package theft, whether a package was delivered by a private carrier or by the U.S. Postal Service. I\u2019m urging Congress to take up and pass this common-sense legislation now.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/nancy-pelosi-san-francisco-examiner-i-believe-san-francisco", "Nancy Pelosi in the San Francisco Examiner: 'I believe in San Francisco'", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", "pelosi", "https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "San Francisco \u2013 In a deeply personal holiday reflection published today in the San Francisco Examiner, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi reflected on her nearly four decades representing San Francisco in Congress, expressing gratitude for The City\u2019s people, resilience and enduring spirit. Writing directly to San Franciscans, Pelosi emphasized The City\u2019s history of compassion in moments of crisis and its role in leading the nation with dignity, justice and hope.\n\nAs she prepares for her final year of service in Congress, Pelosi\u2019s message underscored her belief in San Francisco\u2019s future 'as heaven on Earth\u2019, reaffirmed her commitment to democratic participation and called on residents to continue lighting the way with goodness for the country and generations to come.\n\nRead the full letter below:\n\nNancy Pelosi: \u2018I believe in San Francisco\u2019\n\n[By Nancy Pelosi, 12/24/25]\n\nDear San Francisco,\n\nAt this holy time of year \u2014 a season of reflection, hope and gratitude \u2014 my heart is full.\n\nWe are blessed to call this extraordinary city home. Yes, its beauty is breathtaking, but the true wonder of San Francisco has always been its people: the workers and families, the students and veterans, the dreamers and doers who fill our neighborhoods \u2014 from Chinatown to the Mission, from the Fillmore to the Sunset \u2014 with culture, compassion and creativity.\n\nIn every season, I am especially grateful for the spirit that has seen us through triumphs and trials alike. When earthquakes struck, when HIV/AIDS devastated our community, when economic hardship tested us \u2014 San Franciscans met those moments with courage, innovation and an abiding sense of responsibility for one another. Our city proved that progress is possible when compassion leads the way.\n\nAs I wrote recently, America is great when America is good \u2014 and San Francisco has always led with goodness. We show the nation what it means to honor the dignity of every person, to welcome newcomers, to stand tall for justice and to build a future rooted in hope.\n\nFor nearly 40 years, representing you in Congress has been the greatest official honor of my life. You entrusted me to be your voice, to fight for our shared values, and to bring home resources that strengthened our health care, expanded transit, protected our environment, and lifted up families and communities across our city.\n\nAs I prepare for my final year of service as your proud representative, I am filled with gratitude for your confidence, your partnership and your example. And I am filled with optimism in our future. Because I believe in San Francisco. I believe in the goodness of its people. And I believe, as St. Francis teaches us, that we are called always to be instruments of peace.\n\nThis Christmas, my prayer for our city \u2014 and for our country \u2014 is that we continue to offer faith where there is darkness, hope where there is despair and love where there is sorrow; that we remain full participants in our democracy; and that we carry forward our city\u2019s tradition of lighting the way \u2014 for the country and for generations to come.\n\nSan Francisco, know your power. Know your beauty. Know your goodness.\n\nThank you for the blessing of representing the greatest city on Earth \u2014 the place that I will always believe is heaven on Earth.\n\nMay God bless you. And from my family to yours: Merry Christmas and happy holidays.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-delauro-warren-renew-fight-pass-part-time-worker-bill-rights-act", "Schakowsky, DeLauro, Warren Renew Fight to Pass Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Janice D. Schakowsky", "S001145", "schakowsky.house.gov", "schakowsky", "https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in reintroducing the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act, legislation created to strengthen protections for part-time workers and allow them to better balance their work schedules with personal and family needs. The legislation will address one of the primary issues that hourly workers face - work schedules that do not provide as many hours as they need to support their families - and provide additional protections and benefits for part-time workers.\n\n\u201cPart-time workers across the country deserve better. More than one in five American workers are part-time and they face volatile work hours, unstable incomes, and low wages,\u201d said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. \u201cI reintroduced the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act with my colleagues Representative DeLauro and Senator Warren to ensure equitable workplace treatment and conditions for part-time workers. This legislation requires employers to treat part-time and full-time employees impartially and gives part-time workers access to stable hours and medical leave. We must improve the quality of part-time work for millions of families across the country.\u201d\n\n\"Part-time workers are crucial to the strength of our economy,\" said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. \"Yet, far too often, these workers are at a disadvantage when it comes to the stability, opportunity, and benefits that are afforded to full-time employees. The Part Time Workers Bill of Rights Act provides part-time workers with the peace of mind they deserve by ensuring they have access to additional hours and receive benefits like Family and Medical Leave and retirement plans, which we know are crucial to the well-being of our workers and their families. I am glad to partner with Congresswoman Schakowsky and Senator Warren on this issue.\"\n\n\u201cEvery worker deserves a chance at providing for themselves and their families, but greedy giant corporations are using loopholes to exploit part-time workers instead,\u201d said Senator Elizabeth Warren. \u201cI\u2019m fighting hard to pass the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights and ensure companies put their workers over profits.\u201d\n\nCorporations often attempt to avoid providing workers benefits and higher wages by giving part-time workers fewer hours than they want and spreading work among many part-time employees rather than hiring full-time employees.\n\nThis month, Starbucks agreed to pay $38.9 million to settle claims it violated New York law by failing to provide regular schedules to employees, cutting workers' scheduled hours without their consent, and giving shifts to new hires first instead of to existing employees.\n\nThe Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act would:\n\nRequire employers to offer available hours to current, available, qualified part-time employees before hiring new employees or subcontractors. The legislation requires employers with more than 15 workers to compensate existing employees if they hire new employees instead of assigning new work to available, qualified, existing employees. This provision is based on successful access to hours ordinances in cities across the country, including those in Chicago, Emeryville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.\n\nMake more part-time employees eligible for family and medical leave. The legislation guarantees any employee who has worked for their employer for at least a year access to federal leave protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act.\n\nAllow part-time workers to participate in their employers\u2019 pension plans. The legislation amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to give part-time workers who have worked at least 500 hours for two consecutive years access to retirement plans if they are offered by their employers to full-time workers.\n\nThe Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act is supported by: 9to5, A Better Balance, Action for Children, AFL-CIO, African American Health Alliance, All-Options, American Association of University Women, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, BreastfeedLA, Catch Fire Movement, CDF, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Center for Popular Democracy, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Chicago Foundation for Women, Child Care Aware of America, Citizen Action of New York, Coalition for Social Justice, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Coalition on Human Needs, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Economic Policy Institute, Equal Rights Advocates, Every Texan, Faith in Public Life, Family Values @ Work, Healthy Nourishment, Jobs With Justice, Justice for Migrant Women, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Legal Aid at Work, Legal Momentum, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, MANA - A National Latina Organization, MomsRising, National Black Worker Center, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women's Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Network of Jewish Human, Service Agencies, North Carolina Justice Center, Oxfam America, Poligon Education Fund, Public Justice Center, ROC United, Service Employees International Union, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Start Early, Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, TakeAction Minnesota, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, United for Respect, We All Rise, Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest PA, Women Employed, Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Women's Law Project, Women's Media Center, Workplace Fairness, YWCA of the University of Illinois, YWCA USA, ZERO TO THREE.\n\nThe legislators also introduced the Schedules That Work Act, complementary legislation to help ensure that low-wage employees have more certainty about their work schedules and income. The Schedules That Work Act protects workers who ask for schedule changes from retaliation and requires employers to consider their requests. For retail, food service, and cleaning occupations, it requires employers to provide schedules two weeks in advance. The legislation also provides compensation to these employees when their schedules change abruptly or they are assigned to particularly difficult shifts, including split shifts and call-in shifts.\n\nA recent Berkely study found that unpredictable schedules - which often mean lack of access to enough working hours - are associated with financial insecurity, housing insecurity, high stress, poor health outcomes, and, for parents, less time spent with children, which, in turn, leads to worse outcomes for children. One study found that 65% of respondents with part-time jobs had dealt with \"at least one serious material hardship\" in the past year. Workers facing these challenges are disproportionately women and workers of color as exposure to schedule instability is 16% higher among workers of color compared to white workers.\n\nLaws to help workers access more work hours have already been passed as part of fair workweek laws across the country, including in Chicago, Emeryville, California; New York City; Philadelphia; San Francisco; San Jose; Seattle; and SeaTac, Washington.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-holidays-scholten-introduces-bill-expose-how-trumps-tariffs-are-hitting", "Ahead Of Holidays, Scholten Introduces Bill To Expose How Trump\u2019s Tariffs Are Hitting Small Businesses And Families", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Ahead of the holidays, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten (MI-03) introduced the Trump Tariff Transparency Act, legislation to highlight the devastating impact President Trump\u2019s illegal trade war is having on Michigan\u2019s small businesses and families. The bill would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis, to produce a quarterly report on how much Trump\u2019s tariffs are costing America\u2019s consumers and small businesses. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11) co-lead the legislation. This bill adds to Scholten\u2019s True Cost of Tariffs bill, introduced this summer, demonstrating her commitment to tariff transparency for the American people.\n\n\u201cMichigan families and small businesses shouldn\u2019t have to pay the price for President Trump\u2019s chaotic, reckless tariffs - especially around the holiday season,\u201d said Rep. Scholten. \u201cTariffs are a tax on working families and a burden on our small businesses. As prices continue to skyrocket on everything from beef to coffee to appliances to stocking stuffers, we deserve to know exactly how big that tax is. As a working mom and a member of the House Small Business Committee, I am proud to be introducing this commonsense legislation to study the true toll of this administration\u2019s catastrophic economic policies and work towards finding real solutions for Michigan families and small businesses.\u201d\n\nAs families begin to shop in preparation for the holiday season, many consumers say they have noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts, with overall spending going down from previous years. Many popular holiday items have been especially impacted by tariffs, including toys, personal care products, small appliances, clothing accessories, jewelry, and household tools. Research also shows that tariffs have driven up prices for domestically manufactured and everyday goods, including groceries and other household essentials.\n\nRep. Scholten is a champion for lowering costs and fighting back against this administration\u2019s chaotic and reckless economic policies. This year, she founded the Lowering Costs Caucus, which aims to support legislation that delivers meaningful economic relief for hard-working families, prioritizing kitchen table issues over tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy. The caucus has endorsed a slate of legislation that would lower costs on everything from baby products to health care.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/scholten-leads-effort-stop-power-plant-reliability-act-legislation-would-keep", "Scholten Leads Effort to Stop The Power Plant Reliability Act, Legislation That Would Keep Costly, Outdated Power Plants Open, Raising Costs For American Families", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Hillary Scholten led an effort in Washington to stop H.R. 3632, the Power Plant Reliability Act, legislation that gives the federal government the power to force power plants to stay open even when local utilities and state regulators have decided it makes more sense to close them. It also requires utilities to give years of notice before closing a plant, creating red tape and giving Washington bureaucrats more chances to step in and overrule local decisions.\n\nRep. Scholten offered a motion to recommit on the bill, which, if adopted, would have stopped the final passage vote on the bill and sent it back to its committee of jurisdiction.\n\n\u201cThe Power Plant Reliability Act will force costly, outdated power plants to keep running, even when communities have decided on a different power sources \u2013 and stick families with the bill,\u201d said Rep. Scholten. \u201cWhen utilities decide to close a power plant, they do not do it on a whim. These decisions come after years of study to make sure the power stays reliable and bills stay as low as possible. H.R. 3632 cuts around that process and makes energy more expensive for American families. In West Michigan, we have already seen what happens when the federal government steps in like this. A power plant that was set to close\u2014after years of careful planning\u2014was ordered to stay open. That plan would have saved Michigan families $600 million on their power bills. Instead, those savings disappeared, and people paid more each month. H.R. 3632 would make this kind of outcome more common. At a time when families are struggling to pay for groceries, health care, and housing, they cannot afford higher energy bills caused by decisions made in Washington. While my motion to kill this legislation was ultimately not adopted, I remain committed to this fight and to keeping costs down for American families.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murkowski-and-merkley-lead-call-for-inspector-general-audit-following-dojs-failure-to-release-the-full-epstein-files-as-demanded-by-survivors-required-by-law", "Blumenthal, Murkowski & Merkley Lead Call for Inspector General Audit Following DOJ\u2019s Failure to Release the Full Epstein Files as Demanded by Survivors, Required by Law", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators in writing Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume requesting the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) perform an audit of the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein.\n\n\u201cGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAs such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal, Murkowski, and Merkley, today\u2019s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Gary Peters (D-MI).\n\n\u201cFull transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cSurvivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\u201d\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nWe write to you following the December 19 deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act for the Department of Justice (\u201cDOJ\u201d or \u201cthe Department\u201d) to release all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. By the Department\u2019s own admission, it is in violation of the law\u2014before DOJ had even begun to release the files, Deputy Attorney General Blanche admitted that it would not disclose them all by the December 19 deadline. And DOJ has lived up to that promise, failing to fully disclose the files in violation of the Act.\n\nNot only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.\n\nGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential. As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\n\nIn passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress demonstrated a clear, bipartisan mandate for public transparency in the Epstein case. The legislation expressly enumerates the limited circumstances in which withholding or redaction is permitted. Any withholding or redaction beyond those specified circumstances is against the law. But because Congress and the public do not have complete access to the Epstein documents, we are not able to fully assess for ourselves whether records were inappropriately withheld or redacted. DOJ OIG\u2014with access to the full Epstein files and with independence from the larger Department\u2014is ideally positioned to do a complete and independent assessment of the Administration\u2019s compliance with the Act.\n\nDespite calls from Epstein survivors for complete release of the documents, this Administration has shown consistent hostility towards transparency and a perceived willingness to weaponize the case for political ends. In February, Attorney General (\u201cA.G.\u201d) Bondi gave binders of supposedly newly declassified Epstein files\u2014not to survivors, but to reported \u201cright-wing influencers.\u201d She also claimed that Epstein\u2019s so-called \u201cclient list\u201d was \u201csitting on [her] desk right now to review.\u201d Yet, in July, DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo directly contradicting her, and claiming it had found no evidence of Epstein having kept a client list. In August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In November, President Trump expressly and publicly urged A.G. Bondi to investigate prominent Democrats and banks connected to Epstein. Just days later, A.G. Bondi announced she would follow the President\u2019s command. These actions, including inconsistent public statements about the contents of the files, have raised fundamental questions about the Department\u2019s willingness to faithfully and impartially comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These questions have only grown in volume since the incomplete release of files on December 19.\n\nGiven DOJ OIG\u2019s ability to access the full set of Epstein files and its independence from the Department, it is ideally placed to perform an audit to ensure the Department\u2019s compliance with the law. Such an audit is essential not only to ensure the Department has acted as the law requires, but also to maintain the public\u2019s trust in the disclosure of the files and in the Department\u2019s handling of the case. Specifically, DOJ OIG should ensure that: (1) redactions were properly applied to protect all survivors; (2) redactions were not used to shield abusers, perpetrators, or enablers; (3) records were not withheld for any reason other than those enumerated in the statute; (4) all withholding of records was appropriate under the statute and narrowly tailored; and (5) the Department did not consider politics in deciding whether or how to release documents.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this important request. Full transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes. Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-trumps-va-abortion-ban-that-denies-millions-of-veterans-the-care-theyve-earned", "Duckworth Statement on Trump\u2019s VA Abortion Ban That Denies Millions of Veterans the Care They\u2019ve Earned", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration quietly implemented a policy banning the VA from providing abortion care to Veterans and their families\u2014including in cases of rape, incest or to protect the health of the mother\u2014despite widespread opposition from advocates and the Veteran community:\n\n\u201cOur Veterans risked their lives to safeguard our freedoms. And yet a man who has never served a day in his life is taking away their own freedom to choose what's best for their health.\n\n\u201cIn cases of rape, incest or when the health of the mother is at risk, Trump is denying our heroes the care they\u2019ve earned through their service\u2014and it\u2019ll be those living in states with extreme abortion bans who will suffer the most.\n\n\u201cTrump implemented this extreme policy during the holiday season, quietly and over the objections of Veterans, thinking we wouldn\u2019t notice. Well, we did. And I will keep fighting to give Veterans and all Americans the health care and reproductive freedom they deserve.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/blumenthal-murkowski-merkley-lead-call-for-inspector-general-audit-following-dojs-failure-to-release-the-full-epstein-files-as-demanded-by-survivors-required-by-law/", "BLUMENTHAL, MURKOWSKI & MERKLEY LEAD CALL FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT FOLLOWING DOJ\u2019S FAILURE TO RELEASE THE FULL EPSTEIN FILES AS DEMANDED BY SURVIVORS, REQUIRED BY LAW", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators in writing Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume requesting the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) perform an audit of the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein.\n\n\u201cGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAs such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal, Murkowski, and Merkley, today\u2019s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Gary Peters (D-MI).\n\n\u201cFull transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cSurvivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\u201d\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nWe write to you following the December 19 deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act for the Department of Justice (\u201cDOJ\u201d or \u201cthe Department\u201d) to release all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. By the Department\u2019s own admission, it is in violation of the law\u2014before DOJ had even begun to release the files, Deputy Attorney General Blanche admitted that it would not disclose them all by the December 19 deadline. And DOJ has lived up to that promise, failing to fully disclose the files in violation of the Act.\n\nNot only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.\n\nGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential. As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\n\nIn passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress demonstrated a clear, bipartisan mandate for public transparency in the Epstein case. The legislation expressly enumerates the limited circumstances in which withholding or redaction is permitted. Any withholding or redaction beyond those specified circumstances is against the law. But because Congress and the public do not have complete access to the Epstein documents, we are not able to fully assess for ourselves whether records were inappropriately withheld or redacted. DOJ OIG\u2014with access to the full Epstein files and with independence from the larger Department\u2014is ideally positioned to do a complete and independent assessment of the Administration\u2019s compliance with the Act.\n\nDespite calls from Epstein survivors for complete release of the documents, this Administration has shown consistent hostility towards transparency and a perceived willingness to weaponize the case for political ends. In February, Attorney General (\u201cA.G.\u201d) Bondi gave binders of supposedly newly declassified Epstein files\u2014not to survivors, but to reported \u201cright-wing influencers.\u201d She also claimed that Epstein\u2019s so-called \u201cclient list\u201d was \u201csitting on [her] desk right now to review.\u201d Yet, in July, DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo directly contradicting her, and claiming it had found no evidence of Epstein having kept a client list. In August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In November, President Trump expressly and publicly urged A.G. Bondi to investigate prominent Democrats and banks connected to Epstein. Just days later, A.G. Bondi announced she would follow the President\u2019s command. These actions, including inconsistent public statements about the contents of the files, have raised fundamental questions about the Department\u2019s willingness to faithfully and impartially comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These questions have only grown in volume since the incomplete release of files on December 19.\n\nGiven DOJ OIG\u2019s ability to access the full set of Epstein files and its independence from the Department, it is ideally placed to perform an audit to ensure the Department\u2019s compliance with the law. Such an audit is essential not only to ensure the Department has acted as the law requires, but also to maintain the public\u2019s trust in the disclosure of the files and in the Department\u2019s handling of the case. Specifically, DOJ OIG should ensure that: (1) redactions were properly applied to protect all survivors; (2) redactions were not used to shield abusers, perpetrators, or enablers; (3) records were not withheld for any reason other than those enumerated in the statute; (4) all withholding of records was appropriate under the statute and narrowly tailored; and (5) the Department did not consider politics in deciding whether or how to release documents.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this important request. Full transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes. Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-raise-alarm-over-loss-of-mental-health-access-in-eastern-oregon/", "Wyden, Merkley Raise Alarm Over Loss of Mental Health Access in Eastern Oregon", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senators: Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 budget bill threatens essential mental care for nearly 800 Malheur County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote health care providers serving Malheur County to ask how they\u2019ll ensure nearly 800 residents keep access to the mental health services they need in the wake of new coordinated care organization (CCO) coverage changes brought on by the devastating cuts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to Medicaid.\n\n\u201cWe understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. CEO Ann Ford and Eastern Oregon CCO CEO Sean Jessup. \u201cAs you manage through this calamity, We ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cAmong those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\u201d\n\nThe senators asked Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI), which distributes Medicaid dollars for mental health in eastern Oregon, to answer the following questions no later than January 9, 2026:\n\nHow will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?\n\nWhat circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?\n\n\u201cWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task,\u201d Wyden and Merkley wrote. \u201cRepublicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\u201d\n\nThe entire letter is below.\n\nAnn Ford\n\nGreater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.\n\n3729 Klindt Dr.\n\nThe Dalles, OR 97058\n\nSean Jessup\n\nEastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization\n\n601 SW Second Ave\n\nPortland, OR 97204\n\nDear Ms. Ford & Mr. Jessup,\n\nWe write with deep concern about recent reporting that nearly 800 residents of Malheur County enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will not be able to see the mental health providers they rely on starting next year. We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill. As you manage through this calamity, we ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\n\nWe know that Oregon\u2019s families and health care providers are staring down the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history. Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill cuts federal funding for the U.S. health care system by over $1 trillion, raising health care costs for everyone while kicking 15 million Americans off of their health insurance. States, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care providers will need to make impossibly hard choices. Already, the effects of these catastrophic cuts are harming rural communities like Malheur County. Hospitals are closing. Mental health counselors, nurses, doctors, and other essential health care workers are losing their jobs. Service access, especially care for new mothers and babies, is dwindling.\n\nIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties. Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\n\nWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task. Republicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\n\nAs you navigate this challenging landscape, we ask that you limit life-threatening disruptions for patients and their families and ensure the residents of Malheur County have ample access to a sufficient network of health care providers.We are hearing from members of the community who are deeply concerned about their ability to continue to see the doctor of their choice, and ask that you share answers to the following questions:\n\nAccording to reports, the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOHBI) is offering a transition period, permitting patients to complete a current episode of treatment after January 1, 2026 with an out-of-network provider and allowing extension requests for medically-necessary care. How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat is GOHBI\u2019s process for granting medically-necessary extensions?\n\nPlease describe appeals processes and other patient protections available to patients related to provider access.\n\nYou represent the best of our nation\u2019s health care system, and we know you seek to do right by the patients with mental health and substance use disorders who you tirelessly serve. Please provide the requested information to Andrew Cutler at Andrew_Cutler@wyden.senate.gov no later than January 9th, 2026. Thank you for providing a prompt response to this inquiry.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-pause-discriminatory-national-park-entry-fees", "Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Pause Discriminatory National Park Entry Fees", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators express concerns over January 1 implementation \u2014 without proper notice \u2014 of $250 America the Beautiful non-resident annual passes and $100 non-resident fee for highly visited national parks\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has joined colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to pause its expensive new national park entry fees and annual passes for non-residents scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.\n\nWyden and the other senators emphasized these new passes and fees were not properly noticed in accordance with the law, will slow park entry, and will further limit international visitation. In late November, the federal Department of Interior announced a new fee structure for access to public lands. Beginning next year, the annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and residents and $250 for non-residents, the first time the United States has required proof of residency to have access to public lands. Non-residents age 16 and up who don\u2019t have an annual pass will be forced to pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the country\u2019s most visited national parks.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country\u2019s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history,\u201d the senators wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. \u201cWhile we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe National Park Service is permitted to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. These fees play an important role in making sure these parks can provide a positive visitor experience for citizens and non-residents alike. However, the law requires the Secretary of the Interior to allow the public the chance weigh in on the development of or changes to recreation fees, and it mandates advanced notice to affected communities in local publications. The senators criticized the administration for failing to provide this legally required opportunity for public input.\n\nIn addition to Wyden, the letter led by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was also signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).\n\nThe senators also warned that this plan would further strain the understaffed Park Service workforce, as the Trump administration has cut 24% of permanent Park Service employees since January, including positions like fee collectors and information technology specialists. These staffing shortages will likely further compound entry delays, especially at the highly visited parks charging an extra $100 for non-residents.\n\nWith overseas visitation to national parks already down over 3% (and down 25% for visitors from Canada), the senators expressed concerns that these numbers could fall even further with the steep price of non-resident passes, hurting the U.S. economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-raise-alarm-over-loss-of-mental-health-access-in-eastern-oregon", "Wyden, Merkley Raise Alarm Over Loss of Mental Health Access in Eastern Oregon", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators: Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 budget bill threatens essential mental care for nearly 800 Malheur County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote health care providers serving Malheur County to ask how they\u2019ll ensure nearly 800 residents keep access to the mental health services they need in the wake of new coordinated care organization (CCO) coverage changes brought on by the devastating cuts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to Medicaid.\n\n\u201cWe understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. CEO Ann Ford and Eastern Oregon CCO CEO Sean Jessup. \u201cAs you manage through this calamity, We ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cAmong those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\u201d\n\nThe senators asked Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI), which distributes Medicaid dollars for mental health in eastern Oregon, to answer the following questions no later than January 9, 2026:\n\nHow will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?\n\nWhat circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?\n\n\u201cWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task,\u201d Wyden and Merkley wrote. \u201cRepublicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\u201d\n\nThe entire letter is below.\n\nAnn Ford\n\nGreater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.\n\n3729 Klindt Dr.\n\nThe Dalles, OR 97058\n\nSean Jessup\n\nEastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization\n\n601 SW Second Ave\n\nPortland, OR 97204\n\nDear Ms. Ford & Mr. Jessup,\n\nWe write with deep concern about recent reporting that nearly 800 residents of Malheur County enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will not be able to see the mental health providers they rely on starting next year. We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill. As you manage through this calamity, we ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\n\nWe know that Oregon\u2019s families and health care providers are staring down the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history. Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill cuts federal funding for the U.S. health care system by over $1 trillion, raising health care costs for everyone while kicking 15 million Americans off of their health insurance. States, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care providers will need to make impossibly hard choices. Already, the effects of these catastrophic cuts are harming rural communities like Malheur County. Hospitals are closing. Mental health counselors, nurses, doctors, and other essential health care workers are losing their jobs. Service access, especially care for new mothers and babies, is dwindling.\n\nIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties. Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\n\nWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task. Republicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\n\nAs you navigate this challenging landscape, we ask that you limit life-threatening disruptions for patients and their families and ensure the residents of Malheur County have ample access to a sufficient network of health care providers.We are hearing from members of the community who are deeply concerned about their ability to continue to see the doctor of their choice, and ask that you share answers to the following questions:\n\nAccording to reports, the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOHBI) is offering a transition period, permitting patients to complete a current episode of treatment after January 1, 2026 with an out-of-network provider and allowing extension requests for medically-necessary care. How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat is GOHBI\u2019s process for granting medically-necessary extensions?\n\nPlease describe appeals processes and other patient protections available to patients related to provider access.\n\nReports suggest GOHBI\u2019s changes to the Malheur County provider network will reduce the number of available mental health and substance use disorder providers from four to just one, representing a dramatic downward shift. What determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?\n\nDoes GOHBI have plans to monitor patient access throughout 2026?\n\nWhat circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?\n\nWere anticipated cuts to the Oregon Health Plan a factor? Thank you.\n\nYou represent the best of our nation\u2019s health care system, and we know you seek to do right by the patients with mental health and substance use disorders who you tirelessly serve. Please provide the requested information to Andrew Cutler at Andrew_Cutler@wyden.senate.gov no later than January 9th, 2026. Thank you for providing a prompt response to this inquiry.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405112", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Year-End Report: Fighting to Lower the Cost of Living, Delivering Hurricane Recovery Aid,  Answering the Call for Immigration Assistance, Serving Tampa Bay Neighbors Directly", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", "castor", "https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "TAMPA, Fla. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) announced today that her team worked to deliver over $24.4 million in aid, benefits and refunds to veterans, seniors, small businesses, and families in 2025. Additionally, $1,604,681,095 in federal grants were secured for disaster assistance, veterans' support services, early childhood learning through Tinker K-8 and Head Start, and public transportation. Castor credits her team, local partners, and nonprofits for helping win significant federal investments for the Tampa Bay area in a year when the Trump Administration significantly altered the federal grant landscape.\n\n\u201cThe success of the Tampa Bay area relies on strong collaboration with our local partners and nonprofits. From the University of South Florida to Moffitt Cancer Center to Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) to Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART), our community received 371 federal grants in 2025. In addition to securing these grants, we successfully contested the Trump Administration\u2019s closure of the Pinellas Job Corps Center for hardworking students and its illegal federal funding freezes on many local organizations so they could continue their critical work.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, our neighbors, small businesses, and local partners worked in tandem with the federal partners to recover and begin rebuilding across the Tampa Bay area. I am proud to have championed $965,630,000 in federal community development disaster recovery grants, including $158 million for the City of St. Petersburg and $709 million for Hillsborough County. Team Castor honored 30 Tampa Bay area Hurricane Heroes who selflessly served their neighbors after the hurricanes. The Tampa Bay area is resilient, and I am thankful for the generosity of our community as we continue our recovery.\n\n\u201cThis year, I was proud to advocate for passage of legislation to save the Affordable Care Act tax credits, lower flood insurance costs, protect constituents\u2019 personal identifiable information, lower electric bills, increase investments in lifesaving health research and protect our Florida coasts from offshore drilling. My 34 pieces of legislation introduced were informed by community needs and the best interests of Florida families.\n\n\"I am grateful for my incredible teams \u2013 in Tampa, St. Pete and in the Nation\u2019s Capital \u2013 for their work on behalf of Tampa Bay families. I am particularly proud of the casework assistance we provided to neighbors who continue to grapple with higher costs, unprecedented cruelty and illegal actions of the Trump Administration. My team assisted with over 700 immigration-related cases to ensure our neighbors have the guidance and assistance they need to navigate the Trump Administration\u2019s chaotic policy changes. My team is always available to take neighbors' calls and respond to their emails. We responded to over 110,000 constituent emails regarding food assistance, concerns about the cost of living, the Republican government shutdown, the Republican Health Care Crisis and the concerning actions of the Trump Administration. I also enjoyed hosting four telephone town halls, two in-person town halls, four virtual town halls and listening sessions.\n\n\u201cNeighbor engagement with my office is paramount to my work. I am grateful for their voices. Thank you to my team, my partners and our neighbors for illustrating why the 14th District of Florida is the best in the nation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-meeks-raskin-send-letter-to-rubio-demanding-documents-on-cecot-agreement-with-el-salvador", "Castro, Meeks, Raskin Send Letter to Rubio Demanding Documents on CECOT Agreement with El Salvador", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representative Joaquin Castro, Ranking Member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding documents and information regarding reports that the administration terminated U.S. law enforcement agreements as part of a quid pro quo with El Salvador\u2019s President, Nayib Bukele, to enable third-country removals to the notorious CECOT prison.\n\n\u201c...Since our prior requests for information, it has been reported you personally spoke with President Bukele on March 13, 2025. In this discussion, you reportedly promised that the United States would terminate its informant arrangements with certain high-ranking members of MS-13 in U.S. custody who had been cooperating with law-enforcement so that the men could be turned over to El Salvador, preventing them from testifying in federal courts. In exchange, President Bukele would receive and detain Venezuelan nationals and other deportees from the United States. This quid pro quo was arranged in spite of the reported objection of officials from the Department of Justice, who warned that terminating the informant agreements risked undermining years of work and U.S. law-enforcement agencies\u2019 ability to engage informants in the future...\n\n\u201cWe remain deeply concerned that you would prioritize protecting President Bukele\u2019s reputation over delivering justice for American victims of MS-13 crimes by agreeing to give up informants under U.S. protection whose knowledge and testimony is integral to ongoing federal investigations into MS-13 leadership, operations, and ties with President Bukele\u2019s administration. Multiple credible reports have alleged that the Bukele government engaged in direct negotiations with MS-13 leadership between 2019 and 2021 to secure reductions in homicide rates and support for Bukele\u2019s political party in exchange for prison privileges, political protection, or promises to stall gang leader extraditions. One of these leaders, C\u00e9sar L\u00f3pez Larios, who was facing serious charges including conspiracy to finance terrorism and support narco-terrorism, was deported to El Salvador two days after your reported March 13 conversation with Bukele.\u201d\n\nA PDF of the full letter can be found here.\n\nThis letter follows up on a letter Castro and Meeks sent in April requesting documents related to the bilateral deal struck with El Salvador. Contrary to the law, the State Department has refused to provide details on the bilateral agreement.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-tours-delaney-hall-ice-facility-calls-for-accountability-and-immediate-closure-after-detainee-death/", "CLARKE TOURS DELANEY HALL ICE FACILITY, CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMMEDIATE CLOSURE AFTER DETAINEE DEATH", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 23, 2025\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nBROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Representatives Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) toured the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark following the death of Haitian migrant Jean Wilson Brutus under ICE\u2019s custody and mounting reports of inhumane conditions and systemic abuse within detention facilities.\n\n\u201cCongressional oversight is essential to preventing and ending the abuses at Delaney Hall and within other detention facilities nationwide. No human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the veil of Donald Trump\u2019s deportation machine, today. But while the state of this facility was shocking, it was not at all unexpected. This administration and its ICE enforcers have demonstrated nothing but cruelty through their xenophobic and inhumane immigration policies that disproportionately target blue states and have swept up immigrants and U.S. citizens alike, often without due process, before they are funneled into detention facilities designed to strip them of their dignity and expose them to serious harm.\n\n\u201cMr. Jean Wilson Brutus should still be alive today. This administration\u2019s despicable response to this tragedy and their total lack of transparency speak volumes and tell us everything we need to know about how ICE views the human beings in its care. Let me be clear: any death in the custody of the United States federal government is the responsibility of our government and the administration that leads it. With four reported deaths in ICE custody in recent weeks and a record number since this administration took power, it is an insult to call this incident isolated. Being undocumented should not be a death sentence. I will continue to demand accountability and closely monitor the situation as we learn more.\n\n\u201cTo see so many faces that look just like my own and those of my constituents\u2019 be filled with fear for their lives and grief for a future that was stolen from them was a heartbreaking experience, and one that will stay with me for all time. Every day, this administration\u2019s actions are rotting the soul of America. It is time to remember that we are better than these horrors. Our nation reaches its greatest heights when guided by our hearts, compassion, and a moral obligation to our neighbors in need. That is why my home of New York City will remain a sanctuary city to the oppressed and powerless. Our doors will always be open to those seeking refuge and safety, and they will always be closed to Donald Trump and his agents of hatred.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleavers-statement-kansas-city-chiefs-relocation", "Congressman Cleaver\u2019s Statement on the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 Relocation", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Emanuel Cleaver", "C001061", "cleaver.house.gov", "cleaver", "https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "(Kansas City, MO) - Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the Kansas City Chiefs announced their relocation from Missouri to Kansas.\n\n\u201cWhen a major corporation leaves the city, it hurts badly but it will heal. When a major league franchise leaves the city, especially when it has become a part of the city's culture, it damages the heart. The healing of the heart will last a generation, and even then, there might be a leaking valve.\n\n\u201cThis is an extraordinarily disappointing outcome for Missourians, Chiefs fans, and taxpayers throughout western Missouri and eastern Kansas. With this announcement, I fear, comes the resumption of the economic border war between Missouri and Kansas, guaranteeing a race to the bottom that will lead to more subsidies for big businesses, paid for by fewer quality services for hardworking families and the communities we love.\n\n\u201cMy heart breaks for the generations of Chiefs fans across Missouri who have demonstrated die-hard loyalty to this franchise through the hardest of times and the greatest of moments. They have been, and will continue to be, the greatest fans in sports.\n\n\u201cKansas City has proven we are a major league destination, and as we move forward, we must do so together. City, County, and State officials must immediately turn their attention toward a coordinated and unified effort to retain the Royals and the benefits they bring to Kansas City and Jackson County. Our citizens deserve nothing less.\u201d\n\n###\n\nEmanuel 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.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-concludes-first-year-senate-passage-legislation-support-veterans", "Dexter Concludes First Year with Senate Passage of Legislation to Support Veterans", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) announced that her bipartisan legislation, the Focused Assistance and Skills Training for Veterans\u2019 Employment and Transition Success (FAST VETS) Act passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation passed out of the House in the fall and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cAs someone who worked at the VA, I have seen firsthand how critical it is for veterans to have access to timely, outcomes-based support as they transition to civilian life,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cThe FAST VETS Act ensures we are meeting veterans where they are and more efficiently connecting them with the career resources they need to succeed in civilian life. I\u2019m grateful that in a historically divided Congress, the Senate has passed this legislation and moved it one step closer to becoming law.\u201d\n\n\"I'm thrilled to see the FAST VETS Act pass the Senate with bipartisan support,\" said Ranking Member Mark Takano. \"This legislation represents our continued commitment to ensuring veterans receive the employment support and career counseling they've earned through their service. Strengthening the VR&E program will make a lasting difference in veterans' lives as they transition to civilian careers. I look forward to working with my colleagues and Representative Maxine Dexter to pass more legislation that safeguards the benefits and services our veterans depend on.\"\n\nFAST VETS Act strengthens the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program to better connect veterans with meaningful employment opportunities. If signed into law, this bill will improve outcomes for individual veterans in the VR&E program, while expanding the number of veterans who can access its critical supports.\n\nCongresswoman Dexter serves on the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs and is one of only three physicians in Congress who provided care to veterans at the VA. She serves on both the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs.\n\nFor a one-page fact sheet on this legislation, click here. For full bill text, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7171", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Releases 2025 Annual Report for Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released her 2025 Annual Report detailing her work representing Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District this year. The report highlights some of Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s work to bring the voices of the district to the national conversation about our values as Americans, our vision for the future, and our priorities for the moment, outlining how she has worked to advance these priorities and values in Congress, in the courts, and in the community this year.\n\nHighlights of the 2025 Annual Report include:\n\nWork in Congress to bring down costs, oppose harmful program and spending cuts to programs and services Americans rely on, oppose the Trump tariffs on goods Americans use every day; and fight for access to quality, affordable health care for people in Texas and across the country.\n\nWork in the Courts as part of the House Democratic Litigation Task Force to protect and defend our country and our constitution, filing briefs in 25 cases before courts across the country.\n\nWork in the community, including more than 1,500 meetings with constituents and people advocating for them, hosting six town hall meetings and participating in many more in partnership with elected officials across the district, hosting four passport fairs and nine \u201cpop-up\u201d constituent services events.\n\nConstituent Advocacy: This year, Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s office resolved more than 1,260 constituent matters before federal agencies, and reached the milestone of resolving more than 16,000 constituent matters since she assumed office in 2019.\n\nTo view the full 2025 Annual Report, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-goldman-demands-classified-briefing-trump-administration-following-pause", "Rep. Goldman Demands Classified Briefing with Trump Administration Following Pause of Offshore Wind Projects", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "New York, NY - Today, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticizing the recent decision to pause all offshore wind leases and demanding a classified briefing with the appropriate officials on the national security concerns cited as the rationale for the pause. One of the affected offshore wind projects, Empire Wind 1, is located partially in New York\u2019s 10th Congressional District and will be adversely impacted by the decision.\n\nIn the letter, Goldman lays out the urgent need for offshore wind projects like Empire Wind 1 and calls out President Trump\u2019s hypocritical crusade against renewable energy, which has only served to raise costs for families across the country and further drive the affordability crisis.\n\nRep. Goldman writes, \u201c[Empire Wind 1] is an economic driver for the state of New York, helping to create over 4,000 jobs, and is expected to generate upwards of 810 megawatts of electricity, enough to power an estimated 500,000 homes.\u201d\n\nHe continues, \u201cSince President Trump took office in January, electricity prices are up 13 percent nationwide, and the cost of electricity is climbing more than twice as fast as the rate of inflation. Moreover, with a significant increase in high-energy data centers around the country, demand for energy will continue to increase, placing additional upward pressure on energy prices in New York. Instead of embracing offshore wind\u2019s potential to lower costs for New Yorkers, the decision to pause Empire Wind 1\u2019s lease is yet another example of the President\u2019s illogical, irrational, and economically irresponsible vendetta against renewable energy.\u201d\n\nGoldman has consistently pushed back against the Trump administration\u2019s reckless renewable energy policies, and his efforts were central to the administration lifting its stop work order against Empire 1 when it was previously arbitrarily targeted by President Trump earlier this year. Goldman also helped lead opposition to the approval of a new fracked natural gas pipeline in New York harbor, which would endanger marine ecosystems, threaten public health, and undermine New York\u2019s landmark climate goals.\n\nThe Congressman continues, \u201c[T]he Department of the Interior\u2019s press release oddly \u2014 and for the first time \u2014 cites national security concerns as the principal rationale for the current decision to pause construction of Empire Wind 1. The press release cites classified documents supplied by the Department of Defense in support of this assertion.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccordingly, pursuant to my Constitutional oversight duties, I hereby request access to the documents cited in the press release and a classified briefing with both the Departments of Interior and Defense when Congress is next in session the week of January 5, 2026.\u201d\n\nRep. Goldman\u2019s statement on the pause can be found here. A copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-goldman-deluzio-introduce-legislation-improve-affordability-stadium", "Reps. Goldman, Deluzio Introduce Legislation to Improve Affordability of Stadium Concessions", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u2018Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act\u2019 Would Direct FTC to Investigate Concession Price Gouging at Sports Stadiums\n\nDespite Public Subsidies of Stadiums, Going to Ball Games Unaffordable for Working Families\n\nStadiums Concessions Charge New York Captive Audiences Double the Street Price, Despite Receiving Billions in Public Subsidies\n\nWashington, DC - U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced the Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a nationwide study of concession pricing practices at sports venues.\n\nDespite the significant public investment into sports venues, the cost of many concessions remains unaffordable for the average American family. The average beer at Madison Square Garden in New York City costs $16. At Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, beer costs nearly $10, double the price fans would pay elsewhere. The average lowest price for a hot dog across MLB\u2019s 30 ballparks in 2024 was nearly $6. Working families should be able to afford to take a break and see a game \u2013 at venues supported by their tax dollars \u2013 without facing massive price markups. For example, taxpayers paid $1.2 billion for Yankee Stadium, while Madison Square Garden receives an estimated $42 million annually from New York City through a property tax exemption.\n\nWorking families are already struggling to pay rising prices thanks to Trump's reckless economic agenda, and being charged inflated prices for concessions at publicly funded stadiums adds insult to injury. The HOTDOG Act would shine a much-needed light on exploitative pricing practices and allow the FTC, lawmakers, and most importantly, working families, to gain more transparency into potential price gouging by venues and determine best practices for affordable pricing.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to ensure that hardworking families can afford to enjoy nights out at ball games - especially when their hard-earned tax dollars are supporting big sporting projects across the state and country,\u201d said Congressman Goldman. \"That\u2019s why I\u2019m leading legislation to push to ensure that we have a better understanding of how stadiums and sports organizations are pricing concessions. Federal dollars should be used for the benefit of the people, not just the benefit of the corporations or the owners.\u201d\n\n\"One of life\u2019s great joys is a hot dog and a cold beer or pop watching the Black and Gold. But concessions at pro stadiums across the country have become a ripoff, with so many teams pricing out fans and families,\" said Congressman Deluzio. \"Congressman Goldman and I are introducing the HOTDOG Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to find ways to stop this price gouging. People should be able to go enjoy a game and grab a bite or a drink without breaking the bank.\"\n\nThe HOTDOG Act would direct the FTC to evaluate pricing practices at professional sports stadiums that were constructed or are operated with public subsidy funds. The FTC would examine the prices of comparable food and drinks inside and outside stadiums; pricing practices such as dynamic pricing, service fees, and promotions; transparency of concession prices to consumers, and other types of pricing policies. The bill requires the FTC to issue a report to Congress detailing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or industry action to improve affordability and transparency.\n\n\u201cAny American who's been to the ballpark or a concert recently knows that, too often, a stop by the snack counter can feel like a shakedown,\u201d said Alex Jacquez, Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative. \u201cWorking families are already struggling to pay rising prices thanks to Trump's reckless economic agenda, and being charged inflated prices for concessions at publicly-funded facilities adds insult to injury. Rep. Goldman\u2019s legislation would bring much-needed transparency to pricing practices at stadiums and other venues so Americans can enjoy their favorite pastimes without feeling ripped off.\"\n\n\"For too long, fans have been gouged at the concession stand in the same venues built with their own tax dollars,\u201d said Brian Hess, Executive Director, Sports Fans Coalition. \u201cThe HOTDOG Act will shine a much-needed light on exploitative pricing practices and help identify solutions that make attending games affordable for working families again. When taxpayers invest hundreds of millions into stadiums, they deserve transparency about why a hot dog costs three times what it does on the street outside. We applaud Representatives Goldman and Deluzio for taking this important first step toward holding venues accountable and making game day affordable for American families.\"\n\n\"Public Citizen is singularly focused on fighting for everyday Americans\u2014especially during an affordability crisis that is stretching family budgets to the breaking point,\u201d said Joshua Miller, Director of Congress Watch at Public Citizen. \u201cWhen taxpayers help finance stadiums and arenas, working families should not be priced out of attending games or gouged once they walk through the door. This bill is about fairness, transparency, and basic respect for the public.\"\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Goldman led a letter with nine House Democrats to urge the House Appropriations Committee to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate stadium and airport food prices to increase transparency and prevent potential price gouging practices.\n\nThe HOTDOG Act is endorsed by Groundwork Collaborative, Sports Fan Coalition, and Public Citizen.\n\nOriginal cosponsors include Reps. Troy Carter (LA-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Chuy Garc\u00eda (IL-04), and Robert Garcia (CA-42).\n\nThe HOTDOG ACT is the latest effort by Congressman Goldman to address the nation\u2019s affordability crisis.\n\nThis month, Goldman introduced the \u2018Redistribution of Billions by Instituting New High-Income Obligations on Overlooked Debt (ROBINHOOD) Act,\u2019 which would close the billionaire tax loophole by applying a 20% excise tax on loans and lines of credit backed by capital assets. By making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, the bill would generate more than $276 billion to invest in universal pre-K, child care, and working families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-and-democratic-colleagues-condemn-vas-decision-to-reinstate-near-total-abortion-ban/", "Brownley and Democratic Colleagues Condemn VA\u2019s Decision to Reinstate Near-Total Abortion Ban", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Julia Brownley", "B001285", "juliabrownley.house.gov", "juliabrownley", "https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Yesterday, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) used the cover of the holiday season to issue an internal memorandum reinstating a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, ripping away access to healthcare from thousands of veterans. This cruel and dangerous move will harm veterans and damages trust in the very system that is supposed to protect them and serve their healthcare needs. Rather than waiting to finalize a proposed regulation on abortion care, VA took this action after receiving a December 18, 2025, Department of Justice legal opinion. This legally suspect policy decision reverses previous steps taken by VA under the Biden administration to ensure veterans received full access to a range of reproductive healthcare.\n\nIn the wake of the Dobbs decision, VA under the Biden administration immediately took regulatory action to preserve veterans\u2019 access to necessary healthcare, publishing a rule that provided veterans access to abortion care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life or health. VA also lifted a longstanding gag rule\u2014allowing VA providers to discuss abortion with patients who were experiencing unwanted or high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy complications. Because veterans are more likely to experience complicated or high-risk pregnancies due to their service, this regulation was critical to ensuring their health and safety.\n\nHowever, in August of this year, the Trump administration took its first steps to undo this progress, threatening veterans\u2019 reproductive freedom and access to comprehensive healthcare. VA proposed a rule to reinstate a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, with no exceptions in the case of rape, incest, or threat to health. This reversal will mean veterans have less access to abortion care than individuals covered by every other federal healthcare program, all of which at least cover this essential care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life.\n\nDemocratic members of the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs are calling on the Trump administration to reverse this cruel decision and preserve veterans\u2019 access to a full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion and abortion counseling, through the VA.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s dangerous decision to roll back VA\u2019s already limited abortion access is clearly driven by politics, not patient care,\u201d said Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Ranking Member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Health. \u201cDenying women veterans access to essential reproductive care leaves doctors constrained from acting in their patients\u2019 best interests, and patients at risk of preventable and health-threatening complications. Veterans\u2019 access to health care should not shift with each administration, and women veterans should never be treated as collateral damage in political fights. To stop political interference in critical, life-saving medical care, I introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act to safeguard women veterans\u2019 access to reproductive health services. My Democratic colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that the VA delivers consistent, comprehensive care to all veterans \u2014 based on medical need, not political ideology.\u201d\n\nBrownley\u2019s House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs colleagues also voiced their staunch opposition to the final rule.\n\n\u201cAs a country, we made a solemn promise to honor veterans\u2019 service and ensure they receive the healthcare they have earned. Veterans should be able to trust that promise and know they can walk into a VA medical center and receive the care they need,\u201d said Ranking Member Takano. \u201cInstead of trusting veterans to make the healthcare decisions that are best for them, VA is allowing political opinion to supplant its duty to veterans. Instead of allowing veterans to discuss all their healthcare options openly and honestly with their providers, VA has decided that the government should be in charge of making healthcare decisions, even in matters of life and death. And instead of fulfilling its duty to provide needed healthcare to veterans, VA has refused to acknowledge the unique and complex healthcare needs of veterans who are more likely to have complex health conditions that can increase the risks associated with pregnancy. Veterans fought for our rights. Now it\u2019s our responsibility to fight for theirs.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t thank a veteran for putting her body on the line for this country, then turn around and take away her right to control it. There is nothing patriotic about denying our nation\u2019s heroes the care they deserve and the ability to determine their own futures,\u201d said Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03).\n\n\u201cThese actions are appalling. Women veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms \u2013 now the Trump Administration is taking these very freedoms away,\u201d said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-03). \u201cVeterans step up to serve on the promise that we will take care of them when they come home \u2013 and that care should include the full reproductive services that women need to stay healthy. As a member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I will fight back against this dangerous ban.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration is taking away health care from veterans and their families who have served our country. They\u2019re blocking access for veterans without even providing exceptions for rape or incest, interfering in deeply personal medical decisions,\u201d said Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). \u201cVA is the only place some veterans can obtain counseling and reproductive care, so I will continue to do everything I can to fight this ban because extreme politicians should stay out of other people\u2019s health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, our brave women in uniform put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms of every single American, but now the VA is refusing to do the same for them,\u201d said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20). \u201cVA\u2019s new abortion ban is an attack on a woman\u2019s fundamental right to bodily autonomy. But make no mistake \u2013 we will win this fight \u2013 in congress, in the courts, and in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are seeing yet another heartless decision by the Trump administration to rip away healthcare from the American people, and this time from those who have put their lives on the line for our country. Our veterans deserve full access to timely, comprehensive medical care that allows them to live dignified lives. This abortion ban and any rollback of veterans\u2019 healthcare undermines the mission of the VA, and House Democrats will not stand by and let this administration deny our veterans the care and respect they\u2019ve earned through their service,\u201d said Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26).\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is choosing to put veterans\u2019 lives at risk by restricting their access to essential health care. It is dangerous, and it is wrong. This is a betrayal of the promise we make to veterans that we will care for them after they put their lives on the line for us. As an American and as a physician who has cared for patients at the VA, I am outraged. I urge the Trump Administration and VA leadership to immediately reverse this harmful decision and uphold their commitment to veterans,\u201d said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03), an OBGYN for more than 20 years.\n\n\u201cAs a physician, I trained at the VA, where a sign at the entrance read: \u2018The price of freedom is visible here.\u2019 Our veterans sacrificed everything for this country, and in return, we promised them the best care possible. Denying veterans access to abortion is a profound betrayal of that promise. On the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I will fight relentlessly to reverse this ban and ensure veterans receive the full spectrum of reproductive freedom,\u201d said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-announces-winners-2025-9th-congressional-district-congressional", "Kaptur Announces Winners of 2025 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Sandusky, OH \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), announced Kia Preston of Perkins High School in Erie County as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge from Ohio\u2019s 9th Congressional District for his app \u201cLight Teachings.\u201d Congresswoman Kaptur received a total of 16 applications this year from six schools in Ohio\u2019s 9th Congressional District including: Bryan High School, Sandusky High School, Perkins High School, Tinora High School, Sylvania Northview High School and Sylvania Southview High School. Defiance, Erie, Lucas and Williams Counties were each represented. The top 3 finalists included representatives from Perkins High School, Bryan High School, and Sandusky High School.\n\nThis year\u2019s 1st Place winner was Kia Preston of Perkins High School in Erie County, Ohio. Kia submitted the mobile application, \u201cLight Teachings\u201d which is an interactive app that helps users understand the fundamentals of ray tracing, a computer graphics technique that simulates how light interacts with objects to create realistic images. The winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge will be invited to attend a #HouseofCode reception in Washington, DC in the Spring of 2026. Kia\u2019s app will be on display in the US Capitol Building and will be featured on House.gov for one year. In addition to this, his app will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Kia Preston of Perkins High School for winning Ohio\u2019s 9th District 2025 Congressional App Challenge. Mr. Preston\u2019s app, \u2018Light Teachings\u2019 brings 3D imagery to life,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). \u201cThis \u2018app\u2019 adds to the science and innovation achievements demonstrated by the students at Perkins High School. I appreciate all 16 submissions this year. Each year, students\u2019 creativity, ingenuity, and intellectual curiosity continue to astound. Every student demonstrates integral computer science, engineering, and coding skills that will prepare them for the 21st Century workforce. I also want to extend special thanks to the outstanding computer science professionals from Actual Reality Technologies, Engage Studio Architects, and Toledo Lucas County Public Library for judging this year\u2019s competition.\u201d\n\nThis year\u2019s 2nd place winner was Harrison Spitnale of Bryan High School in Williams County with his new calorie counting app, \u201cSnackulator.\u201d Last year Harrison and his brother Luke won with their app \u201cBeekeper.\u201d This year\u2019s 3rd place winner was Ishan Chopra of Sandusky High School in Erie County with his app \u201cTADOO.\u201d Ishan previously won the 2023 9th District app challenge and was runner up in 2024. This year, outstanding submissions were also received from Tinora High School, Sylvania Northview High School and Sylvania Southview High School.\n\nThis year\u2019s panel of judges included computer science, engineering and educational professionals from within the 9th Congressional District including: LeSean Shaw, COO of Actual Reality Technologies, Erin Curley, CEO of Engage Studio Architect, and Lucas Camuso-Stall, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for the Toledo Lucas County Public Library.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a yearly competition open to every Congressional District across the United States. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage students from schools across Congressional Districts to compete by creating and submitting a mobile application that will have the opportunity to be chosen as the winner. This competition is an opportunity for young adults to explore coding and computer sciences as a STEM education field. This student engagement gives them an opportunity to learn and expand new skills that are advantageous to future careers, and educational opportunities.\n\nIn 2013, leaders of the House of Representatives and the Internet Education Foundation sought avenues to acknowledge and celebrate computer science and STEM education. Later that year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Resolution 77 \u2013 Academic Competition Resolution of 2013. This resolution was the architect for designing a computer science, or \u201capp\u201d competition that each House member could compete in. The inaugural Congressional App Challenge was held in 2015. Ohio\u2019s 9th Congressional District has participated in the Congressional App Challenge since 2019. This year, the Congressional App Challenge broke new records with 13,830 students from 394 congressional districts participating. That is a 20% increase from 2024.\n\nMore information on the Congressional App Challenge can be found by clicking here. Information about the 2023 9th District Congressional App Challenge winners and participants can be found by clicking here. Information about the 2024 9th District Congressional App Challenge winners and participants can be found by clicking here. Photos of the 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge 2024 recognition can be found by clicking here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-rep-ro-khannas-statement-latest-epstein-files-released-department", "RELEASE: REP. RO KHANNA\u2019S STATEMENT ON THE LATEST EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ro Khanna", "K000389", "khanna.house.gov", "khanna", "https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, released the following statement on the newly released Epstein files by the Department of Justice:\n\n\u201cThis release was a bombshell. The files include an email referencing \u201810 co-conspirators\u2019 even though Kash Patel previously testified that there was no credible information to indicate Epstein trafficked women to anyone other than himself. The files also revealed that Trump flew on Epstein\u2019s plane at least eight times between 1993-1996 \u2014 \u2018many more times\u2019 than a federal prosecutor had previously known, according to an email from 2020.\n\nAmericans deserve the truth. DOJ\u2019s refusal to follow the law I passed in Congress and release the full files is an obstruction of justice. They also need to release the FBI witness interviews which name other men, so the public can know who was involved. DOJ is spending more time protecting the Epstein class than the survivors, whose names are required by law to be redacted.\n\nThey had months to prepare for the release of the files and Attorney General Bondi ignored our requests to meet with her. That is why Representative Massie and I are bringing inherent contempt against Bondi. The survivors and the public demand transparency and justice.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-demands-answers-after-hhs-cuts-pediatric-health", "Congressman Krishnamoorthi Demands Answers After HHS Cuts Pediatric Health Grants Following Criticism of RFK Jr. by the American Academy of Pediatrics", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing grave concern over the Department\u2019s decision to terminate more than $18 million in federal grants awarded to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), warning that the move threatens critical child health initiatives nationwide and raises serious questions about political retaliation and the integrity of federal public health funding. In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the AAP, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, represents more than 67,000 pediatricians nationwide and has served for nearly a century as a cornerstone of evidence-based pediatric care and public health:\n\nThe terminated grants supported programs aimed at reducing sudden infant death, improving adolescent health outcomes, preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and ensuring early identification of autism. The Department has stated that these initiatives \u201cno longer align with the Department\u2019s mission or priorities,\u201d a justification Congressman Krishnamoorthi sharply questioned.\n\n\u201cI find it profoundly disturbing that preventing infant deaths, protecting adolescent health, and identifying developmental disabilities early are now considered misaligned with the mission of the federal agency charged with safeguarding public health,\u201d Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter. \u201cThe funding cancellations came shortly after the AAP challenged Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u2019s vaccine policies in federal court, raising serious concerns that this action may represent retaliation against a respected medical organization for exercising its legal rights and defending science-based public health policy.\u201d\n\nThe letter raises particular concern about the timing of the cancellations, noting that the funding terminations occurred shortly after the AAP challenged Secretary Kennedy\u2019s vaccine policies in federal court. Emphasizing the responsibilities of HHS and its subagencies, including the CDC and HRSA, the letter underscores that public health funding decisions must be guided by science rather than ideology.\n\nTo better understand how the Department is making grant funding decisions, Congressman Krishnamoorthi requested that HHS provide responses to the following questions by January 20, 2026:\n\nAll documents and communications related to the decision to cancel $18.6 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics.\n\nAn outline of projects and initiatives that will be funded to replace work that AAP was performing in relation to sudden infant deaths, adolescent health, fetal alcohol syndrome prevention, and early autism detection.\n\nHHS, CDC, and HRSA\u2019s banned words and ideologies when considering projects for federal funding.\n\nA list of all HHS, CDC, and HRSA projects that have been cancelled because they \u201cno longer align with the Department\u2019s mission or priorities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-sounds-alarm-over-doj-diverting-fbi", "Congressman Krishnamoorthi Sounds Alarm Over DOJ Diverting FBI Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence Resources to Mass Immigration Raids", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel raising serious concerns that the Department of Justice has diverted FBI counterterrorism and counterintelligence personnel away from their core national security missions and reassigned them to support mass immigration enforcement operations, putting the United States at risk. In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi warned that senior DOJ officials have redirected personnel and assets from the FBI\u2019s core mission despite the Bureau\u2019s own assessment that terrorists and nation-state adversaries pose the most immediate threats to the homeland:\n\n\u201cOver the last year, senior officials have reassigned personnel and assets from the Federal Bureau of Investigation\u2019s (FBI) core national security mission to immigration enforcement, leaving counterterrorism and counterintelligence work compromised and putting our national security at risk.\u201d\n\nThe letter cites reporting that early in 2025, DOJ leadership directed FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces to assist with immigration initiatives, requiring agents responsible for terrorism investigations, espionage detection, and cyber threat monitoring to prioritize immigration enforcement over national security work:\n\n\u201cAgents responsible for espionage detection cyber threat monitoring, and terrorism investigation, therefore, were required to prioritize immigration enforcement, giving less attention to crucial national security threats.\u201d\n\nDespite a rise in alleged terrorist incidents across the United States, the letter notes that a significant share of the Bureau remains diverted:\n\n\u201cNearly a quarter of the FBI\u2019s roughly 13,000 agents nationwide, and up to 40 percent in the largest field offices, remain assigned to immigration enforcement duties.\u201d\n\nCongressman Krishnamoorthi further highlighted reporting that analysts tracking terrorist financing, money laundering, and the illicit trade in looted antiquities, as well as investigations into the Iranian oil black market used to finance terrorism, have been delayed by months:\n\n\u201cInternal sources further indicate that these core national security investigations, including into the black market for Iranian oil sold to finance terrorism, have been delayed by months.\u201d\n\nAccording to additional reporting cited in the letter, the diversion of counterterrorism and counterintelligence personnel has halted critical investigations:\n\n\u201cThe shift of resources from counterterrorism and counterintelligence teams, including many FBI personnel working years-long complex investigations involving classified techniques and sources, have caused several critical investigations to stop.\u201d\n\nThe letter also raises alarm that counterintelligence specialists with deep expertise on China, Russia, and Iran have been reassigned to immigration cases, limiting enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and allowing foreign intelligence operatives greater freedom to operate inside the United States:\n\n\u201cThese shifts have limited investigations into violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and have allowed foreign intelligence operatives greater room to maneuver within the United States.\u201d\n\nEmphasizing the FBI\u2019s statutory mandate, the letter warns:\n\n\u201cIts counterintelligence and counterterrorism components exist to detect and disrupt the activities of hostile foreign actors, not to conduct civil immigration enforcement or unrelated administrative duties.\u201d\n\nIn light of these concerns, Congressman Krishnamoorthi asked the FBI to promptly provide detailed answers to the following questions:\n\nTo what extent have FBI personnel assigned to counterintelligence, counterterrorism, or related national security missions been redirected to assist with immigration enforcement or other non\u2013national security duties?\n\nHow have these reassignments affected FBI\u2019s ability to investigate and disrupt espionage, terrorism, cyber intrusions, and other national security threats?\n\nHave any ongoing national security or counterterrorism investigations\u2014such as the probe into the Iranian oil black market or cases involving foreign influence operations\u2014been delayed, suspended, or deprioritized because of these diversions?\n\nWere formal operational risk assessments or impact analyses conducted prior to redirecting these agents, and if so, what did they conclude?\n\nWhat steps, if any, has the Bureau taken to return these personnel to their original counterintelligence and counterterrorism assignments and to restore full operational readiness in these mission areas?\n\nWhat mechanisms or internal controls will be implemented to prevent future diversions of national security resources for purposes unrelated to the FBI\u2019s statutory counterintelligence and counterterrorism missions?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-urges-education-department-reverse-cuts-illinois", "Congressman Krishnamoorthi Urges Education Department to Reverse Cuts to Illinois Community Schools", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today called on the Department of Education to reverse its decision to cancel Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) grants across Illinois, warning that the move would eliminate critical student supports and undermine years of federal investment. In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Congressman Krishnamoorthi raised concerns about the cancellation of $18.5 million in annual funding and more than $55 million over the remaining grant period for FSCS programs statewide.\n\n\u201cIn Illinois, FSCS grants support 16 school districts and 32 schools across Illinois, serving approximately 19,000 students annually,\u201d Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote in the letter. \u201cThese grant programs serve rural, suburban, and urban students alike, partnering with schools and families to ensure programs are responsive to the unique needs of each community. They provide essential family engagement, nutrition programs, academic enrichment, mental health supports, and workforce-aligned partnerships. FSCS grants are lifelines for the children and families who rely on them, ensuring that our kids remain safe and supported as they learn.\u201d\n\nCongressman Krishnamoorthi warned that the tens of millions of dollars in funding cuts would have immediate and severe consequences. When students return from winter break this January, they will face dramatically reduced support, undoing years of federal investment in future generations. The congressman accused the Trump administration of politicizing children\u2019s programs and education.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/krishnamoorthi-responds-supreme-court-ruling-blocking-trumps-chicago-national", "Krishnamoorthi Responds to Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Trump\u2019s Chicago National Guard Deployment, Urges Passage of His Stop Trump\u2019s Abuse of Power Act", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States declined to allow President Trump to proceed with a National Guard deployment into Chicago:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Supreme Court decision blocking President Trump\u2019s attempt to deploy the National Guard into the Chicago area is an important step forward in stopping a clear abuse of his office\u2014but it applies only to this case. I introduced the Stop Trump\u2019s Abuse of Power Act to clarify and limit a president\u2019s authority to deploy the military or National Guard to any American city and prevent the use of servicemembers as political props. Congress must act to ensure President Trump cannot misuse our servicemembers this way again.\n\nIllinois has stood united in opposing this illegal and political deployment since day one, and I applaud Governor Pritzker\u2019s leadership as we all fight back together. We will continue to stand united no matter what this administration throws our way.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4079", "Larsen Announces New Funding to Save Lives, Improve Local Infrastructure", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, applauded U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s (USDOT) announcement of nearly $1 billion in Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funding for projects aimed at improving road safety for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Everett and Mukilteo will get the resources they need to improve the safety of streets and roads and save lives,\u201d Larsen said. \u201cSS4A funding stops preventable tragedies and supports efforts to keep people safe and the economy moving. I look forward to continued partnerships with local communities to improve transportation safety in Northwest Washington.\u201d\n\nSnohomish County Projects Awarded SS4A Grants\n\nThe SS4A program, which invests $5 billion over five years in regional, local and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries, was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nTwo projects in Washington\u2019s Second Congressional District were awarded grants totaling $1.5 million in this round of grant announcements:\n\n- $1.2 million for the City of Everett to update an Active Transportation Plan, prepare an Evergreen Way corridor safety and operations plan, and pilot Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)\n\n- $300,000 for the City of Mukilteo to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.\n\nWashington state was awarded a total of more than $9.9 million for 15 projects. In Snohomish County, in addition to the Everett and Mukilteo awards, Mill Creek was awarded $1.8 million.\n\nWhat WA-02 Leaders Are Saying\n\n\u201cI want to thank Rep. Larsen for being a champion and tireless advocate for Everett. This funding will advance our Vision Zero Everett work - helping us take meaningful steps toward safer streets and a better connected community. Strong partnerships between local and federal leaders allow us to make lasting, meaningful improvements that make a difference: protecting lives, improving quality of life and driving economic growth,\u201d said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.\n\n\u201cMukilteo is committed to creating a community where residents feel safe traveling throughout the city. This funding allows us to work closely with the community to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that reflects local needs and improves safety for all roadway users. The plan is the first step toward establishing a prioritized list of projects, which will position the City to pursue future grant funding to implement safety improvements,\u201d said Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-commends-supreme-court-decision-blocking-trump-national-guard", "Larson Commends Supreme Court Decision Blocking Trump National Guard Deployment to Chicago", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John B. Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", "larson", "https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cWith less than 48 hours to go before the Christmas holiday, Donald Trump\u2019s wish to make our troops his own personal army just suffered a devastating blow at the Supreme Court,\u201d said Larson. \u201cFor months, he has tried to turn the military against the people, telling top leaders that Americans cities should be used as \u2018training grounds\u2019 and calling on them to handle the \u2018enemy from within.\u2019 Senator Chris Murphy said it best when he said, \u2018The authoritarian takeover isn\u2019t coming. It\u2019s here.\u2019 The Supreme Court saw that clearly today. This deployment was an authoritarian abuse of the President's authority as Commander-in-Chief. President Trump continues to view the Constitution as a suggestion, but the Court recognized that the Constitution is the law of the land \u2013 not Mr. Trump. People should be encouraged that after a year of this reckless administration\u2019s decisions, public pressure and speaking out still work. We cannot afford to relent.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-condemns-trump-administration-near-total-va-abortion-ban", "Larson Condemns Trump Administration Near-Total VA Abortion Ban", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John B. Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", "larson", "https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cIt is an affront to our nation\u2019s veterans \u2013 who courageously served our country with honor \u2013 for the Trump Administration deny them their bodily autonomy, even in cases of rape or incest,\u201d said Larson. \u201cWe have long known about the Republican plan to ban abortion nationwide. For women in the twenty states with abortion bans on the books, VA facilities were often the only place they could seek care. Imposing such a sweeping and extreme ban with the stroke of a pen will endanger the lives of pregnant mothers across the country \u2013 mothers who stepped up to uphold the freedoms we hold dear. It is shameful for this to be what their Commander-in-Chief sees as a reward. We cannot let this stand, and I am proud to fight for our veterans. We will continue to fight tooth and nail to restore reproductive rights for all Americans.\u201d\n\nIn August, Rep. Larson introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act with Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) to guarantee the right to abortion care at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act (EACH Act) to require federal healthcare programs, including the VA and TRICARE, to provide coverage for abortion services and requires federal facilities to provide access to those services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-announces-2025-congressional-app-challenge-winner", "Rep. Mike Levin Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "levin.house.gov", "levin", "https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Icon for Heart Angel, the Winner of Rep. Levin\u2019s Congressional App Challenge\n\nOceanside, CA\u2014 Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) announced Catherine Wang as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for California\u2019s 49th Congressional District. The local high school student created Heart Angel, an innovative CPR training and emergency response app designed to guide users through performing life-saving techniques. Catherine was inspired to create this app by her deeply personal recognition of the impact that proper CPR timing and technique have on saving lives.\n\n\u201cI was blown away by all the App Challenge submissions we received. Our district is home to so many bright and talented students creating the apps of the future,\u201d said Rep. Levin. \u201cCongratulations to Catherine on winning this year\u2019s challenge. Her app goes beyond a traditional CPR learning tool by identifying the nearest AED and alerting first responders and nearby CPR-certified volunteers, helping ensure the public is better prepared to respond during an emergency.\u201d\n\nThe second-place winner is Breez, an app created by Advaith Akella, Kiran Musson, and Revanth Akella. Breez allows users to report beach trash in three simple steps.\n\nThe third-place winner is an app created by Arya Balenga and Tyler Kim called Save & Serve. Save & Serve helps limit food waste by providing users with recipes that utilize their soon-to-expire ingredients.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge was launched in 2015 as an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, and to encourage students to learn coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications. Winning apps are featured on the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 website, the Congressional App Challenge\u2019s website, and are also displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol Building.\n\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-mannion-ny-22-announces-2025-congressional-app-challenge", "Representative Mannion (NY-22) Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winners", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SYRACUSE, NY \u2014 Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to explore computer science by designing and coding original software applications.\n\nThe first-place winner for NY-22 is Mikyal Mobeen, a student at Jamesville-DeWitt High School, for his app \u201cPhosTrack.\u201d The quiz-style app helps dialysis patients identify phosphate levels in common foods, making it easier to manage and maintain healthy diets. It also includes a journal for patients to track symptoms and other resources.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion said, \u201cThe Congressional App Challenge provides hands-on STEM education, giving students the opportunity to address real-world problems through technology. Mikyal\u2019s app is a great example of creativity, skill, and purpose coming together to improve health outcomes for the community. I\u2019m proud of every student who stepped up, expanded their understanding of computer science to help others, and took part in this fun and rewarding program.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition hosted by Members of Congress across the country. Students compete individually or in teams to build an original app using any platform or programming language. The winning app was selected by Representative Mannion from student app submissions from across NY-22.\n\nResults for NY-22:\n\n1st Place:\n\nMikyal Mobeen, Jamesville-DeWitt High School \u2014 \u201cPhosTrack,\u201d a quiz-based app that helps dialysis patients recognize phosphate levels in common foods.\n\n2nd Place:\n\nHenry Glade, Haoyu Wang, Haoxuan Wang, and Noah Kopiasz, Fayetteville-Manlius High School \u2014\u201cTurtle Miner,\u201d an educational video game designed to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of mining.\n\nRepresentative Mannion congratulates all participants and thanks the educators who supported students throughout the challenge.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://matsui.house.gov/media/press-releases/matsui-tokuda-obernolte-hurd-lead-bipartisan-effort-improve-staffing-prevent", "MATSUI, TOKUDA, OBERNOLTE, HURD LEAD BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO IMPROVE STAFFING, PREVENT CUTS AT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Doris O. Matsui", "M001163", "matsui.house.gov", "matsui", "https://matsui.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswomen Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Congressmen Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03) led a group of 28 total lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging him to address insufficient staffing levels and refrain from additional employee reductions at National Parks across the country, citing the impact of staffing shortages on park visitors and the economies of neighboring \u201cgateway\u201d communities.\n\nSince January 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) has fired or lost more than 24 percent of its staff, creating significant challenges at National Parks including decreased capacity for emergency response and disruptions to visitor services, infrastructure maintenance, and conservation work.\n\n\u201c[A]t Yosemite National Park, staffing cuts combined with record-setting visitation from January to July led to a 40% increase in search and rescue efforts compared to the same period last year. At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose, Colorado, the South Rim Fire burned campsites, maintenance vehicles, and other infrastructure, which, when taken along with a one-third reduction in workforce, will impact the local economy as well as park operations such as fire remediation and safety,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cFurthermore, at Joshua Tree National Park, staffing shortages have reduced fee-booth coverage and eliminated evening shifts, limiting visitor safety information, cutting needed fee revenue, and increasing the likelihood of congestion and search-and-rescue incidents. And at Haleakal\u0101 National Park, staffing shortages are delaying critical conservation work and backcountry maintenance, limiting both visitor access and protection of endangered species.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe recognize the importance of efficiency within the federal government. However, reducing National Park Service staff, including positions in supporting offices across DOI, would only intensify the operational challenges parks already face,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cWe respectfully encourage you to work directly with NPS career professionals, including regional directors, associate directors, and Senior Executive Service staff, to identify practical solutions to staffing constraints.\u201d\n\nRecent court filings detail the Interior Department\u2019s plans for further staffing cuts, including reducing an additional 272 positions at NPS in the coming months. The letter also calls on Secretary Burgum to work with Congress to address staffing needs.\n\nThe bipartisan letter is also signed by Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Young Kim (R-CA-40), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS-AL), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), David Valadao (R-CA-21), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Kevin Kiley (R-CA-03), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), James Moylan (R-GU-AL), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found HERE.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-mcclain-delaney-introduces-legislation-overturn-attempted", "Congresswoman McClain Delaney Introduces Legislation to Overturn the Attempted Illegal Renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) introduced two pieces of legislation to overturn the recent attempt to add President Trump\u2019s name onto the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.\n\nThe first bill, the Kennedy Center Protection Act, would:\n\nVoid the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees\u2019 unlawful December 18 vote to rename the Center;\n\nRequire the removal of all signage or other identification including President Trump's name within 1 day of enactment;\n\nClarify existing law to prohibit the Board from taking similar actions in the future; and\n\nRequire a Report to Congress detailing any public or private funds used to implement the attempted name change.\n\nThe second bill, the Federal Property Integrity Act, would prohibit the renaming of any federal building, land, or other asset, in honor of a sitting President.\n\n\"Congress must stop the 'Trump branding' of our national treasures and memorials, particularly an institution which uplifts our national arts and commemorates the late President John F. Kennedy,\" said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \"And if it isn't clear enough, my second bill will ensure that no other federal landmark can ever be named in honor of a sitting President. It's past time that lawmakers drew a firm line to prevent these types of activities.\"\n\nCosponsors include Representatives Grijalva (AZ), Hayes (MA), and Larson (CT).\n\n###\n\nFor updates, follow Rep. McClain Delaney at @RepAprilDelaney.\n\nCongresswoman April McClain Delaney was elected in 2024 to serve Maryland\u2019s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties. In Congress, McClain Delaney is focused on improving US competitiveness and innovation, protecting our natural environment and championing policies that represent the values and priorities of Maryland\u2019s 6th District.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-menendez-clarke-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall", "McIver, Menendez, Clarke Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, N.J. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. She was joined by Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) for the visit.\n\nLast week, McIver learned of the death of a man who had been detained at Delaney Hall. In May, McIver, Menendez and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman conducted a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. The visit, which should have been a routine oversight visit, led to the Trump administration bringing charges against McIver. She now faces up to 17 years in prison for doing her oversight work.\n\nToday\u2019s visit was the first McIver has made to Delaney Hall since being indicted.\n\nThe members released the following statements after the visit:\n\n\u201cI have a responsibility to serve the people and protect the people of the 10th Congressional District, and that is why I had to put aside my experience here and come back to represent them\u2013to see what is happening inside of Delaney Hall. These are the things we\u2019re hearing: people who have not had a court date in months, people who are waiting on loved ones who cannot visit them, and people who are not getting proper medical care. It is awful, and this detention center needs to be shut down. That's why we're here. We're going to continue to show up, continue to have oversight, and continue to do our jobs,\u201d said Rep. McIver. \u201cWhen we left, a detainee told us this is not the America that we dreamed of. They thought they would be able to come here and have a better life.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat we saw inside Delaney Hall is the betrayal of the American Dream,\u201d said Rep. Menendez. \u201cThese are people who believe in the promise of this country and are being ripped from our communities and held there on the American taxpayer\u2019s dime. All while the GEO Group is making an enormous profit and providing substandard care. We will not let this stand and we will continue to work to hold this Administration and those who benefit from tearing communities apart accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the walls of Delaney Hall, today. What our tour made overwhelmingly clear is that Jean Wilson Brutus\u2019 death is a symptom of a larger culture of inhumanity that is inherent to for-profit detention centers like Delaney Hall. Nearly a thousand of our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our loved ones are confined to this facility indefinitely, where they are treated every day as though they are less than human. Across the nation, many thousands more are facing the exact same circumstances,\u201d said Rep. Clarke. \u201cBeing undocumented should not be a life sentence, and under no circumstance should it be a death sentence. Tragically, every passing week under this administration\u2019s control creates more victims like Jean Wilson Brutus. That sin will stain America for all time, and all those who are responsible for it must and will be held accountable.\u201d\n\nThis year has already been the deadliest in decades for people in ICE custody. In September, McIver wrote DHS and GEO Group to specifically highlight the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall. She again reached out to DHS, demanding accountability after this most recent death.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-mciver-and-clarke-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall", "Menendez, McIver, and Clarke Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, NJ \u2013Today, Congressman Rob Menendez conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in Newark operated by GEO Group. He was joined by Reps. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) for the visit.\n\n\u201cWhat we saw inside Delaney Hall is the betrayal of the American Dream,\u201d said Congressman Menendez. \u201cThese are people who believe in the promise of this country and are being ripped from our communities and held there on the American taxpayer\u2019s dime. All while the GEO Group is making an enormous profit and providing substandard care. We will not let this stand and we will continue to work to hold this Administration and those who benefit from tearing communities apart accountable.\"\n\n\u201cI have a responsibility to serve the people and protect the people of the 10th Congressional District, and that is why I had to put aside my experience here and come back to represent them\u2013to see what is happening inside of Delaney Hall. These are the things we\u2019re hearing: people who have not had a court date in months, people who are waiting on loved ones who cannot visit them, and people who are not getting proper medical care. It is awful, and this detention center needs to be shut down. That's why we're here. We're going to continue to show up, continue to have oversight, and continue to do our jobs,\u201d said Congresswoman McIver. \u201cWhen we left, a detainee told us this is not the America that we dreamed of. They thought they would be able to come here and have a better life.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the walls of Delaney Hall, today. What our tour made overwhelmingly clear is that Jean Wilson Brutus\u2019 death is a symptom of a larger culture of inhumanity that is inherent to for-profit detention centers like Delaney Hall. Nearly a thousand of our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our loved ones are confined to this facility indefinitely, where they are treated every day as though they are less than human. Across the nation, many thousands more are facing the exact same circumstances,\u201d said Congresswoman Clarke. \u201cBeing undocumented should not be a life sentence, and under no circumstance should it be a death sentence. Tragically, every passing week under this administration\u2019s control creates more victims like Jean Wilson Brutus. That sin will stain America for all time, and all those who are responsible for it must and will be held accountable.\u201d\n\nLast week, Congressman Menendez learned of the death of a man who had been detained at Delaney Hall. This followed numerous reports of substandard conditions at the facility and a tripling of Delaney Hall\u2019s population in less than a year of operation. In June, Congressman Menendez and Senator Andy Kim met with ICE officials at Delaney Hall after several detained individuals escaped amidst widespread complaints of overcrowding, poor quality food, and other issues that continue to be reported on a regular basis. In May, Menendez, McIver, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) conducted a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. The visit, which should have been a routine oversight visit, led to the Trump administration bringing charges against McIver. McIver now faces up to 17 years in prison for doing her oversight work.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has been a leader in the House of Representatives on oversight of immigrant detention centers. He has worked to ban private immigrant detention centers and led his colleagues in fighting the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal restrictions on oversight of these facilities. Earlier this year, in response to reports that the Trump Administration was planning to?expand immigration detention in New Jersey, Menendez led bicameral members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in opposing this expansion and demanding transparency. Since being sworn into to Congress in 2023, he has repeatedly called for the closure of all immigrant detention centers in New Jersey and has conducted several unannounced visits of Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center. He has long advocated for the humane and dignified treatment of individuals in detention.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-allow-penalty-free-withdrawals-thrift-savings-plan", "Norton Introduces Bill to Allow for Penalty-Free Withdrawals from Thrift Savings Plan Accounts in Certain Emergencies", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Holmes Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", "norton", "https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to expand the circumstances in which a recently separated federal employee can withdraw from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account without being penalized.\n\nThe Thrift Savings Plan Emergency Withdrawal Act of 2025 helps former federal employees pay their bills after leaving the federal workforce by allowing them to make penalty-free withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account to make up the gap between the interim payments a retiree receives during the period the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is calculating the retiree\u2019s final annuity and the estimated final annuity, which is usually 20% to 40% less than the finalized net payment. The bill also allows penalty-free withdrawals if the individual is involuntarily separated from the federal government.\n\n\u201cDuring these troubling times for federal employees, this bill will help those who are separated from the federal government and in need of financial assistance,\u201d Norton said. \u201cThis bill will allow former federal employees avoid financial hardship by allowing them to make penalty-free withdrawals from their TSP account while OPM is calculating their final annuity, or if they are involuntarily separated from federal service.\u201d\n\nNorton\u2019s introductory statement follows.\n\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the\n\nIntroduction of the Thrift Savings Plan Emergency Withdrawal Act of 2025\n\nDecember 23, 2025\n\nToday, I introduce the Thrift Savings Plan Emergency Withdrawal Act of 2025, which would expand the circumstances in which a federal employee recently separated from the federal government can take a penalty-free withdrawal from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account. This bill would help former federal employees pay their bills after separation.\n\nFirst, this bill would allow a penalty-free withdrawal to make up the gap between the interim payments a retiree receives during the period the Office of Personnel Management is calculating the retiree\u2019s final annuity and the estimated final annuity. A retiree\u2019s interim payment is generally only 60% to 80% of the finalized net payment. Second, this bill would allow a penalty-free withdrawal if an individual is involuntarily separated from the federal government. In both cases, the maximum withdrawal would be $100,000. Individuals would be able to make a withdrawal for up to a year after separation and to repay the withdrawn amount within three years to avoid the existing early withdrawal penalty, which is a 10% additional tax.\n\nI urge my colleagues to support this bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-and-colleagues-call-president-trump-fulfill-gaza-peace-plan", "Rep. Panetta and Colleagues Call on President Trump to Fulfill the Gaza Peace Plan", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Panetta", "P000613", "panetta.house.gov", "panetta", "https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and four of his House colleagues are calling on President Trump to take personal action to implement the security and reconstruction pillars of the 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza. Recent reporting indicates that there are serious obstacles to implementing the plan\u2019s security and reconstruction pillars, including militarily-dismantling Hamas and surging humanitarian aid for Palestinians, making the President\u2019s personal and timely engagement urgent.\n\nThe Members wrote, \u201cThe Peace Plan represents the most viable opportunity for necessary security, immediate relief, and long-term stability. The plan rightly recognizes that Hamas must be fully disarmed and play no role in governing Gaza, while calling for a technocratic transitional governing authority. It also prioritizes a surge of humanitarian aid to Palestinians that will be shielded from Hamas; includes a phased withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza based on security conditions; and includes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force.\u201d\n\nThe Members continued to emphasize that the plan\u2019s humanitarian and reconstruction components must be prioritized, stating \u201ca prosperous and rebuilt Gaza would reduce instability, curbing the drivers of extremism, and promoting shared economic growth across the Eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, sustained reconstruction reduces humanitarian dependence on international aid, enabling local governance and private enterprise to take root, demonstrating key pillars of long-term security and regional prosperity.\u201d\n\nThis letter was co-signed by Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and was endorsed by the Democratic Majority for Israel.\n\n\u201cDMFI is proud to support Rep. Panetta\u2019s letter to President Trump urging him to stay relentlessly focused on implementing the 20-point Peace Plan, including the need to completely disarm Hamas and ensure the terrorist organization plays no role in governing Gaza. With the release of the living hostages and the ceasefire in place, we need strong, sustained American leadership to translate this plan into lasting security and stability. We commend Rep. Panetta for his leadership and his clear-eyed commitment to advancing peace and security for Israel and the rest of the region.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and here:\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nWe write to express our appreciation for your work on the 20-point Peace Plan for Gaza and request your continued leadership for its full implementation, with immediate prioritization of its security and reconstructions pillars. With the release of all living hostages from Gaza and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the world has witnessed a moment of profound relief and renewed hope. The United States must take advantage of this moment to implement the plan, ensure Israel\u2019s security, provide relief for innocent Palestinians, and create long-term stability for the region. Accordingly, we urge you to dedicate the full weight of American diplomacy to ensure that Hamas is disarmed and that Gaza is rebuilt as a foundation for implementing the 20-point Peace Plan.\n\nThe Peace Plan represents the most viable opportunity for necessary security, immediate relief, and long-term stability. The plan rightly recognizes that Hamas must be fully disarmed and play no role in governing Gaza, while calling for a technocratic transitional governing authority. It also prioritizes a surge of humanitarian aid to Palestinians that will be shielded from Hamas; includes a phased withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza based on security conditions; and includes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF).\n\nThe core principles that underpin that Peace Plan, including security for Israel, reducing terrorist strongholds in Gaza, and prosperity for the people of Gaza, enjoy widespread international support. As your Administration has noted, key Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, have endorsed the plan. The Palestinian Authority also has indicated its willingness to cooperate. The United States must continue its good work and involvement to preserve and promote this unprecedented alignment of regional actors. The next phase of the Peace Plan will require your continued personal engagement in the region to hold Hamas accountable to its commitments and work closely with the international community, especially the Arab countries, to exert maximum pressure on Hamas to disarm and agree to the full plan.\n\nNow is the time to prioritize both the security and reconstruction pillars of the Peace Plan. On a recent visit to Israel, Vice President JD Vance noted that the International Stabilization Force will take lead on disarming Hamas. The Administration must maintain oversight and leadership in the effort to disarm and dismantle Hamas and should not defer responsibility solely to the ISF, which has yet to be formed. While international cooperation is essential, the United States must remain fully engaged to ensure that the ISF\u2019s operations align with U.S. security objectives, uphold accountability, and prevent any resurgence of extremist elements. This would not only neutralize immediate threats, but also constrain Iran\u2019s ability to project influence through proxy groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.\n\nCentral to the plan\u2019s security provisions includes dismantling Hamas\u2019 capabilities and establishing a multinational stabilization force, both of which would significantly reduce threats from Iran and their regional proxy groups. A comprehensive enforcement framework would bolster Israel\u2019s long-term security and reinforce U.S. coordination with regional partners such as Jordan, Egypt, and the Gulf states. Importantly, fulfilling this engagement could usher regional stability and reduce the influence of Iran and its proxies.\n\nThe plan\u2019s humanitarian and reconstruction components, which include ensuring aid access, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and creating a Gaza Special Economic Zone, would deliver tangible benefits to both Palestinians and the broader region. American participation in these reconstruction efforts could open markets for U.S. companies, expand trade corridors, and strengthen economic interdependence among our regional partners. A prosperous and rebuilt Gaza would reduce instability, curbing the drivers of extremism, and promoting shared economic growth across the Eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, sustained reconstruction reduces humanitarian dependence on international aid, enabling local governance and private enterprise to take root, demonstrating key pillars of long-term security and regional prosperity.\n\nSuccess of the Peace Plan will depend on steady American engagement to translate its points into enforceable steps forward. If this is successful, the plan will provide a pathway to a more stable and prosperous Middle East. We must work together to ensure lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians and establish a region free from terror activities. We thank you, again, for your efforts, urge you to seize this moment, and look forward to working on this Peace Plan together.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-condemns-va-s-decision-to-reinstate-near-total-abortion-ban", "Pappas Condemns VA\u2019s Decision to Reinstate Near-Total Abortion Ban", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Chris Pappas", "P000614", "pappas.house.gov", "pappas", "https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the below statement following the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issuing an internal memorandum reinstating a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, ripping away access to health care from thousands of veterans.\n\n\"The Trump administration is taking away health care from veterans and their families who have served our country. They\u2019re blocking access for veterans without even providing exceptions for rape or incest, interfering in deeply personal medical decisions. VA is the only place some veterans can obtain counseling and reproductive care, so I will continue to do everything I can to fight this ban because extreme politicians should stay out of other people\u2019s health care.\u201d\n\nIn September 2022, following the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization, the VA used its rulemaking authority under the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 to allow VA health care providers to offer abortion counseling and abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and the life and health of the veteran. Prior to that rule, VA enforced the most restrictive abortion ban of any federal health care agency. The Biden-era policy survived legal challenges and was finalized in March 2023.\n\nOn August 4, 2025, the Trump administration issued a proposed rule to repeal the 2022 policy and it was finalized yesterday. Rather than waiting to finalize a proposed regulation on abortion care, VA issued an internal memorandum which only preserves a narrow exception when the life of the mother is at risk, eliminating VA\u2019s ability to provide abortion care in nearly all other cases. This once again makes the VA the only major federal health provider with such an extreme restriction.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn August, Pappas helped introduce the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, which would guarantee that veterans and eligible dependents have the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), without interference from political appointees or partisan agendas and protected by law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-sara-jacobs-celebrates-2025-accomplishments", "Rep. Sara Jacobs Celebrates 2025 Accomplishments", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Sara Jacobs", "J000305", "sarajacobs.house.gov", "sarajacobs", "https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "\u2014 This year, Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) delivered for San Diego by conducting critical oversight of the Trump Administration\u2019s military and immigration policies and working to lower everyday costs.\n\nRep. Sara Jacobs said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a really difficult year for our community and our country. Families are struggling to keep up with rising costs while our own military patrols our streets and our neighbors are being taken without due process. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve pushed back against President Trump\u2019s egregious power grab and overreach \u2013 and demanded answers and adherence to the rule of law. I\u2019ve conducted oversight wherever I could, from Guantanamo Bay to Otay Mesa and our federal building downtown. I\u2019ve also introduced legislation to bring down the costs of child care and IVF so that Americans have the help they need to start and support their families. And I\u2019m incredibly proud that this year, my team helped over 1,400 constituents navigate federal agencies and returned over $1.8 million to their pockets. I know the work is far from over and the challenges ahead are daunting. But I still wake up every day so grateful for the opportunity to deliver for my hometown and amazing community of San Diego, and I will keep working to make you proud next year.\u201d\n\nRep. Sara Jacobs\u2019 Accomplishments in 2025 Include:\n\nHelped over 1,400 San Diegans who needed assistance with federal agencies\n\nReturned over $1.8 million to San Diegans who were entitled to backpay from the VA, IRS tax refunds, Social Security reimbursements, and more\n\nConducted oversight of window safety at Liberty Military Housing after child fatalities and secured window guards and new permanent limiters at the most vulnerable communities in San Diego\n\nNamed by New York Magazine as one of the 25 young Democrats to watch\n\nLed the introduction of the LEGACY Act to bring in more money from the estate tax to create a dedicated funding stream for child care\n\nChampioned parental leave for members of the U.S. House to help ensure that elected officials better reflect the American people\n\nIntroduced a new Insurrection Act to limit President Trump\u2019s authority to deploy the military on American soil\n\nPublicly shared her egg freezing journey with The New York Times, helping reduce the stigma and pave the way for legislation that expands access to fertility services\n\nIntroduced the Delete DOGE Act to defund DOGE and stop Elon Musk from stealing from the American people to fund tax breaks for billionaires like himself\n\nIntroduced the Protect U.S. National Security Act to protect USAID by banning the use of funds to eliminate USAID as an independent agency\n\nQuestioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and successfully got him on the record supporting transgender service members and commending their service\n\nReintroduced the bicameral Stand Up for Sudan Act to help end the devastating war in Sudan by prohibiting U.S. arms sales to the UAE \u2013 the main funder of the RSF\u2019s genocidal war \u2013 until the UAE no longer provides material support to the RSF in Sudan\n\nIntroduced the Block the Bombs Act to withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel and demand Israel\u2019s compliance with U.S. and international law\n\nPushed to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth\u2019s makeup studio at the Pentagon\n\nIntroduced the Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act to prevent discriminatory policies like a transgender military service ban or \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell,\u201d and protect transgender service members\n\nReduced Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth\u2019s travel budget by 25% until the Secretary provides unredacted videos of all strikes that have occurred in Latin America, as well as copies of all classified Execute Orders (EXORDS) issued by the Department of Defense to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees\n\nIntroduced the Disaster Recovery Efficiency Act to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government\u2019s disaster recovery efforts following the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas\n\nQuestioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the Trump family\u2019s corruption, conflicts of interest, and record of business deals with the UAE and the potential impacts on their policy regarding the UAE and Sudan\n\nIntroduced the IVF for Military Families Act, and passed a version of the bill through the House and Senate, to establish TRICARE coverage of assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, for active duty service members and their dependents\n\nLed oversight of the Trump Administration\u2019s dehumanizing and dangerous immigration practices, including by visiting Guantanamo Bay, the U.S.-Mexico border, ICE detention at Otay Mesa, Border Patrol and CBP holding facilities, the federal building in San Diego, and more; as well as having constant communication with local and federal immigration authorities\n\nReintroduced the My Body, My Data Act to create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data\n\nIntroduced the bipartisan No Tricks on Treats Act to require the proper labeling of foods that contain dyes, flavoring, and sweeteners\n\nLed oversight of the Trump Administration\u2019s weaponization of the military \u2013 including domestic deployments and illegal strikes in the Caribbean and East Pacific\n\nIntroduced the bipartisan and bicameral AI Talent Act to improve federal agencies\u2019 abilities to recruit and retain the AI and technical talent needed to better compete in the AI race\n\nDemanded answers from Palantir about their plans to build a searchable, mega-database containing sensitive tax and other data about American citizens, likely in violation of the Privacy Act and tax privacy laws\n\nIntroduced a bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitism in all its forms, including the growing proliferation and amplification of antisemitic content on AI platforms, and urging robust, transparent safeguards for AI systems\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/michigan-congresswomen-hillary-scholten-and-haley-stevens-demand-thorough", "Michigan Congresswomen Hillary Scholten and Haley Stevens Demand Thorough Investigation Following Death of ICE Detainee in Michigan Facility", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI) demanded answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the tragic death of Nenko Gantchev, who died on December 15, 2025, while in custody at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan.\n\nMr. Gantchev\u2019s death comes amid a sharp and alarming rise in deaths in ICE detention nationwide. ICE has reported at least 30 detainee deaths in 2025, the highest number in over 20 years, including four deaths in just over four days in December.\n\n\u201cWe all believe in a secure border, but securing our border does not require abandoning our commitment to the rule of law, and protecting and honoring human dignity. Indeed, DHS and ICE have a statutory mandate, internal policy obligations, and a fundamental duty to ensure the safety and humane treatment of individuals in their custody,\u201d said Michigan Reps. Stevens and Scholten in their letter. \u201cThe death of Mr. Gantchev, along with the deaths of other detainees in 2025 and numerous credible reports of mistreatment, raises serious concerns about detention practices in Michigan and nationwide. To ensure justice for those who have died in custody already, and safety of those currently detained, these concerns demand prompt answers and corrective action.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the two Congresswomen requested that ICE provide preliminary findings of the investigation, specifically addressing:\n\nThe adequacy of medical screening, care, and supervision provided to Mr. Gantchev.\n\nWhether ICE and facility staff followed all required procedures upon discovering Mr. Gantchev was unresponsive.\n\nComplaints lodged by Mr. Gantchev or others regarding his treatment, and actions taken in response.\n\nCurrent conditions and policies in operation at the North Lake facility, and a full report on staffing, the quality and availability of medical care, and previous internal investigations into detainees\u2019 complaints.\n\nReps. Stevens and Scholten emphasized that while the U.S. must maintain secure borders, it is equally essential that federal agencies uphold their statutory and policy obligations to ensure the safety and humane treatment of individuals in custody. They have requested a response by Friday, January 9, 2026.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases/scholten-leads-50-representatives-condemning-trump-administration-plan", "Scholten Leads 50 Representatives In Condemning Trump Administration Plan To Dramatically Reduce Wetland Protection", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Hillary J. Scholten", "S001221", "scholten.house.gov", "scholten", "https://scholten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C - Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03) is leading a group of 50 Representatives in condemning a Trump Administration plan to dramatically reduce Clean Water Act (CWA) protections across the country. A recent proposed rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) would allow the federal government to regulate wetlands only if they meet a two-part test: They would need to contain surface water throughout the \u201cwet season,\u201d and they would need to be abutting and touching a river, stream or other waterbody that also flows throughout the wet season. This definition would drastically limit the waters that can be regulated by the federal government, worsening pollution nationwide.\n\nThe proposed rule\u2019s public comment period closes on January 5, 2025. The members are calling for the comment period to be extended in order to understand the significant harm this rule will have on everything from pollution exposure to water bills to summer vacations.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our deep concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 (USACE) recently proposed rule defining 'Waters of the United States\u2019 (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA),\u201d wrote the members. \u201cIf finalized, this rule will threaten Americans\u2019 public health and stifle economic prosperity. Limiting protections over rivers, streams, and wetlands will increase the possibility of pollution exposure for families. In addition to making our families sicker, the proposal would boost the threat of flooding, further risking lives and damage to communities. The proposal further weakens states\u2019 ability to protect locally important waterbodies or shared drinking water sources from their upstream neighbors who might have competing priorities for the same resources. This rulemaking will have significant impacts on Americans\u2019 everyday lives\u2013from their water bills to their summer vacations\u2013and it is incumbent on the Agencies to provide sufficient time and opportunity for the public to delineate these impacts. We urge an extension of the comment period to 90 days to allow for robust public input.\u201d\n\nThe letter was also signed by Representatives Donald Beyer (VA-08), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Christopher DeLuzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available below:\n\nAdministrator Zeldin and Assistant Secretary Telle:\n\nWe write to express our deep concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 (USACE) recently proposed rule defining \u201cWaters of the United States\u201d (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). While we recognize that the Supreme Court of the United States significantly eroded CWA protections in its 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, this proposal uses the guise of Sackett to further restrict which water bodies are safeguarded from pollution and destruction under the CWA, while failing to provide for \u201cclean water\u201d or a \u201cclear rule\u201d, as the Agencies have suggested. Our economy and families cannot afford heightened attacks on our most precious natural resource: water.\n\nThe EPA and USACE have provided only 45 days for public comment on the proposal. Given the severity of its impact, we request that the comment period for the proposed rule be extended for a period of at least 90 days. This revision of WOTUS would exacerbate the harms of the Sackett decision\u2013which already removed federal protections over millions of acres of wetlands\u2013by excluding unknown, further expanses of wetlands that do not meet the agencies\u2019 new and confusing wetness test. The proposal creates new, vague language that will exclude unquantified numbers of streams, including streams that are influenced by rainfall or snowmelt, as well as invites further limits on federal protections beyond those covered by Sackett\u2014potentially excluding more rivers, streams, and wetlands essential to protect local waterbodies than at any time since the 1972 enactment of the CWA.\n\nWhile the Agencies admit that they do not know the expanse of waters and wetlands that will lose federal protection under this proposal, including waterbodies already designated as impaired (polluted) by states, preliminary estimates suggest that this proposed rule will roll back federal protections from approximately tens of millions of acres of wetlands and millions of stream miles, including streams which provide nearly 55 percent of the water moving through our nation\u2019s river basins and many used in drinking water supplies. The new WOTUS definition in this rule is significant: the sheer scope of the proposed rule merits an extended public comment period to ensure that communities can appropriately provide insight on how it will impact their access to clean, safe, and reliable water.\n\nIf finalized, this rule will threaten Americans\u2019 public health and stifle economic prosperity. Limiting protections over rivers, streams, and wetlands will increase the possibility of pollution exposure for families. In addition to making our families sicker, the proposal would boost the threat of flooding, further risking lives and damage to communities. The proposal further weakens states\u2019 ability to protect locally important waterbodies or shared drinking water sources from their upstream neighbors who might have competing priorities for the same resources.\n\nDespite these impacts, the proposed rule does not account for how increased water pollution will undercut local economies and increase prices for Americans. America\u2019s tourism and outdoor recreation sectors rely on clean water and pristine environments to support local jobs and bolster main streets throughout the nation. Unmitigated pollution in our waterways will increase clean-up costs for local water treatment facilities, which will ultimately be passed down to ratepayers, many of whom are already struggling to pay their utility bills. The EPA and USACE\u2019s proposed rule will have far-reaching implications on our nation\u2019s public health, economy, and environment. We believe this proposal is contrary to the goals and objectives of the Clean Water Act and uses the pretext of Sackett to reward polluters at the expense of a safe, reliable, and affordable clean water for everyday American families.\n\nThis rulemaking will have significant impacts on Americans\u2019 everyday lives\u2013from their water bills to their summer vacations\u2013and it is incumbent on the Agencies to provide sufficient time and opportunity for the public to delineate these impacts. We urge an extension of the comment period to 90 days to allow for robust public input. Thank you for your time and attention to this pressing matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nHillary Scholten", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/2025/12/rep-sewell-accepting-applications-for-spring-2026-internships", "Rep. Sewell Accepting Applications for Spring 2026 Internships", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri A. Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", "sewell", "https://sewell.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2014 The Washington D.C. and district offices of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) are currently accepting applications for spring 2026 interns. College students and recent graduates interested in government and public service are invited to apply for a chance to spend the semester learning about the inner workings of a congressional office. Interns will work closely with Rep. Sewell\u2019s staff on a variety of important legislative, communications, and administrative tasks. Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university (juniors and older) or have recently graduated.\n\n\u201cInterns play a key role in my office,\u201d said Rep. Sewell. \u201cEach semester, our interns work alongside me and my staff to serve the people of Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional District. Through this experience, they build practical skills, gain firsthand insight into public service, and form connections that help prepare them for their careers. If you have an interest in government and public service, I encourage you to apply!\u201d\n\nInterns will have the opportunity to research legislation, draft letters, compile media clips, answer constituent calls, and attend legislative hearings, briefings, and seminars. Candidates should be proactive, professional, dependable, and have an interest in federal policy and the legislative process. Candidates should also possess strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to multitask, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn.\n\nThe Office of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in the hiring process based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factors. BIPOC applicants and individuals in underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.\n\nThe deadline to apply is Monday, January 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST (6:00 p.m. EST). For more information, including how to apply, visit https://sewell.house.gov/internship-opportunities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://stevens.house.gov/media/press-releases/michigan-congresswomen-haley-stevens-and-hillary-scholten-demand-thorough", "Michigan Congresswomen Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten Demand Thorough Investigation Following Death of ICE Detainee in Michigan Facility", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Haley M. Stevens", "S001215", "stevens.house.gov", "stevens", "https://stevens.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI) demanded answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the tragic death of Nenko Gantchev, who died on December 15, 2025, while in custody at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan.\n\nMr. Gantchev\u2019s death comes amid a sharp and alarming rise in deaths in ICE detention nationwide. ICE has reported at least 30 detainee deaths in 2025, the highest number in over 20 years, including four deaths in just over four days in December.\n\n\u201cWe all believe in a secure border, but securing our border does not require abandoning our commitment to the rule of law, and protecting and honoring human dignity. Indeed, DHS and ICE have a statutory mandate, internal policy obligations, and a fundamental duty to ensure the safety and humane treatment of individuals in their custody,\u201d said Michigan Reps. Stevens and Scholten in their letter. \u201cThe death of Mr. Gantchev, along with the deaths of other detainees in 2025 and numerous credible reports of mistreatment, raises serious concerns about detention practices in Michigan and nationwide. To ensure justice for those who have died in custody already, and safety of those currently detained, these concerns demand prompt answers and corrective action.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the two Congresswomen requested that ICE provide preliminary findings of the investigation, specifically addressing:\n\nThe adequacy of medical screening, care, and supervision provided to Mr. Gantchev.\n\nWhether ICE and facility staff followed all required procedures upon discovering Mr. Gantchev was unresponsive.\n\nComplaints lodged by Mr. Gantchev or others regarding his treatment, and actions taken in response.\n\nCurrent conditions and policies in operation at the North Lake facility, and a full report on staffing, the quality and availability of medical care, and previous internal investigations into detainees\u2019 complaints.\n\nReps. Stevens and Scholten emphasized that while the U.S. must maintain secure borders, it is equally essential that federal agencies uphold their statutory and policy obligations to ensure the safety and humane treatment of individuals in custody. They have requested a response by Friday, January 9, 2026.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://underwood.house.gov/media/press-releases/underwood-details-systemic-issues-during-inspections-ice-detention-and", "Underwood Details Systemic Issues During Inspections of ICE Detention and Processing Facilities in Chicago, Lombard, and Bunker Hill, Indiana", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Lauren Underwood", "U000040", "underwood.house.gov", "underwood", "https://underwood.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BUNKER HILL, IN. \u2014 Today, Representative Lauren Underwood of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee conducted an oversight visit with staff to the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana, one of the primary facilities used to hold Illinoisians during Operation Midway Blitz. Yesterday, Underwood and staff conducted oversight visits to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago Field Office, located in downtown Chicago, and the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Field Office, located in Lombard, Illinois. These visits build on her recent inspection of the Broadview Processing Center following widespread community outrage at Operation Midway Blitz\u2019s constitutional violations and ongoing questions about federal immigration enforcement practices across Illinois and the nation.\n\nUnderwood received briefings from leadership of all three facilities and toured the premises, including intake rooms, holding spaces, storage areas, and officer work areas. The visits occurred as dozens of constituents across her community continue to report being detained, confronted, or questioned by federal immigration enforcement personnel. For months, the Illinois delegation received no timely responses from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to basic inquiries regarding the safety or location of constituents impacted by the operation.\n\n\u201cFor months, the Trump Administration has trampled over our Constitution and failed to answer even the most basic questions about how they are conducting immigration enforcement,\u201d said Underwood. \u201cMy visits this week exposed serious breakdowns in how people are tracked, cared for, and treated across ICE facilities. People deserve to know the truth about what is happening in our communities, how federal resources are being used in their name, and how these so-called immigration enforcement operations are being run.\u201d\n\nMiami Correctional Facility (Bunker Hill, IN)\n\nThe Miami Correctional Facility is a state prison for adult male inmates located on the site of the former Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base. In August 2025, DHS announced that it had contracted with the state of Indiana to house up to 1,000 detained migrants at this facility using funding from the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\u201d under the 287(g) program, which authorizes ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement functions to state and local law enforcement entities. Because Illinois state law prohibits ICE detention facilities, ICE houses Illinoisans at out-of-state facilities including Miami.\n\nUnderwood inspected the portions of the facility used for ICE detention, where 550 people are currently detained. During her visit, Underwood spoke with seven detainees. Five of the seven reported problems with ICE\u2019s Online Detainee Locator System that delayed their families\u2019 ability to find them, despite staff\u2019s claim that detainees should show up in the system within a couple of hours. Two reported experiencing delays in accessing medical care even after requesting it. For example, ICE staff claimed that medicine refills are available upon request, while detainees reported that refills can take up to two months. Another detainee reported that ICE told him they had lost all of his belongings, including money and photographs of deceased family. Detainees also reported difficulty accessing basic hygiene needs such as nail clippers.\n\nUnderwood was told that breakfast is served from 4:00 \u2013 6:00 AM, but some detainees have reported sleep disruptions from being served breakfast as early as 3:30 AM. Underwood was told lunch is from 11:00 AM \u2013 1:00 PM and dinner is served after 3:00 PM. Prison staff claimed that detainees get one hour of outside recreation per day, five days a week. Staff informed Underwood that detainees can play soccer or basketball outside and basketball, foosball, or pool inside during adverse weather events. The only shoes provided by the prison are plastic clogs, which are worn indoors, outdoors (even in winter), and in showers. Detainees reported that these shoes often wore out quickly and failed to keep their feet dry. Underwood was told that detainees have the ability to turn the lights in their cells on and off, but they did not function properly when Underwood tested them.\n\nThere are weekly Catholic, general Christian, and Muslim services in English and one weekly Catholic Mass in Spanish. ICE does not permit detainees to lead their own services, so detainees seeking other religious services are dependent on outside volunteers. There is currently a need for Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist volunteers to lead services. Religious literature may be donated to the facility, and staff report high demand for Spanish-language Bibles and other Spanish-language materials.\n\nPrison staff informed Underwood that they contract with Centurion Health for medical care for detainees, which has subcontractors for different types of care. The infirmary is the only part of the Miami complex shared between ICE and the Indiana Department of Corrections. The facility has two dentists, one psychiatrist, one registered nurse, one certified nursing assistant, and sometimes one licensed practical nurse. There are four dental chairs and four infirmary rooms with six hospital beds in each one, plus two isolation rooms for patients with communicable diseases. Underwood was told that detainees should receive a medical, dental, and mental health assessment within their first 14 days. In medical emergencies, detainees are transported to Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru, Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Community Howard Regional Health in Kokomo for cardiac care, or hospitals in Indianapolis if needed.\n\nAttorney consultations are mostly conducted via video call, with some in-person visits. There is a private area available for detainees to meet with attorneys, but attorneys must make an appointment to reserve the room for a virtual meeting. This room is also used for detainees to meet with consulate representatives from their home countries, and for credible fear interviews conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials. There is also a room where detainees are supposed to be able to meet with a counselor or caseworker, but one was not present during Underwood\u2019s visit. There is also a courtroom onsite. Judges are responsible for arranging translation if needed for onsite court proceedings. Deportation flights are conducted three times a week out of Gary, IN, Indianapolis, IN, or Kansas City, MO.\n\nDetainees can file a paper form to request access to a \u201claw library\u201d that does not contain a book collection. Prison staff shared with Underwood that detainees can access LexisNexis on a tablet issued to all detainees; Underwood was told that ICE determines what can be accessed on the tablet. The \u201claw library\u201d has a printer and 11 computers without internet access, which can be used to write letters and fill out forms. Staff claimed that stamps are available for purchase at the commissary, which detainees can use to send mail, and that detainees can ask staff for assistance locating and printing specific forms. However, detainees reported that they were unable to purchase stamps or envelopes, or to print or email legal materials needed to support their cases. Staff onsite were not familiar with the privacy waiver required for Congressional casework, but Underwood secured their commitment to make this form available to detainees in the \u201claw library.\u201d\n\nThe telephone vendor for this facility is Talton Communications. Detainees are assigned a personal identification number (PIN), which is required to call their families or attorneys, and it takes one day to get the PIN. There is a fee for calls which can be paid by cash, card, or money order; funds must be uploaded to a prepaid card through Numi Financial. Detainees can request phone numbers, such as for consulates, and can make international calls. Families who wish to call the facility should dial 866-348-6231.\n\nERO (Enforcement and Removal) Chicago Field Office (Chicago, IL)\n\nThe ERO Chicago Field Office serves as the ICE ERO hub for Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, and Kansas, overseeing immigration enforcement activities across this region. It is intended as an administrative and operational field office rather than a detention center, but there have been reports of overcrowding as it has been used to hold larger numbers of people during Operation Midway Blitz. There are 50-60 ICE ERO officers at this office currently, in addition to support staff. Underwood was told an additional 60 will be starting next week. Security personnel employed by Allied Universal are also contracted to watch camera footage of holding cells onsite and to patrol the entrance of the building (which houses other government agencies as well). Underwood was told that the office will soon expand into the 5th floor of the building to add more cubicles. This increase is part of ICE ERO\u2019s goal of hiring 805 new officers across the six-state region. Underwood was told that new hires at ICE ERO have a failure rate of up to 30% due to academic issues, physical fitness, failed background checks, and injuries, and that ICE Academy abbreviated its training program from 60 days to 40 days earlier this year.\n\nUnderwood inspected holding areas and found inconsistencies in the furnishings and informational resources available in different units. For example, a female unit did not contain an informational poster on how to file a report under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), while a male unit did. Underwood was told by ICE ERO staff that families with children may be held at this location. Staff reported that detainees are not held overnight at this facility. Detainees are typically transferred from this facility to Broadview in the afternoon, around 3-4 PM.\n\nICE ERO staff informed Underwood that in medical emergencies, staff call 911. First responders choose where to transport detainees, often Rush University Medical Center. ICE ERO staff allow prescription medication to be brought to detainees if it is in a prescription bottle labeled with the detainee\u2019s name.\n\nICE ERO staff claimed that detainees are supposed to appear in the agency\u2019s Online Detainee Locator System as soon as they are booked. Underwood examined paperwork instructing detainees to provide the full names of family members accompanying them for appointments; staff alleged that this information is recorded but not used for any purpose. This raised concerns about potential tracking and targeting of mixed status families, contrary to the DHS\u2019s purported focus on targeting violent criminals.\n\nDetainee phone calls are monitored, including calls with attorneys and family. The only stated exceptions are calls to hotlines (such as a sexual assault hotline or pro bono attorney access). Phone calls cost money which can be paid by debit or collect. The telephone vendor for this facility is Talton Communication. Translation services are provided over the phone by Lionbridge.\n\nICE ERO staff reported that the Chicago regional immigration court docket currently has 260,000 cases pending, with 11,000-12,000 people enrolled in Alternatives to Detention (ATD).\n\nICE HSI Chicago Field Office (Lombard, IL)\n\nThe HSI Chicago Field Office oversees ICE HSI operations across Illinois, Indiana, and the southern half of Wisconsin. ICE HSI employs over 400 staff across this tristate area, including 100 new hires this year. ICE HSI officers previously focused on investigating crimes of exploitation, such as child exploitation, sex trafficking, and human trafficking, but under the Trump Administration, their time has been diverted from that mission to an immigration enforcement mission. Funding from the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\u201d has been used to rehire 40 retired ICE HSI agents for the sole purpose of immigration enforcement. Prior to Operation Midway Blitz, about 10% of HSI agents joined ERO officers in the field; during Operation Midway Blitz that proportion has risen to 30%, with about 25 HSI agents in the field each day. HSI investigates cases involving alleged assaults on ERO officers; cases involving alleged assaults on Border Patrol officers are split between HSI and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).\n\nUnderwood inspected holding cells and was informed by ICE HSI staff that families with children may be held at this location. ICE HSI staff informed Underwood that detainees are not held overnight at this location; instead, they are either released, taken to appear before a federal judge at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, or transferred to the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago or the Cook County Department of Corrections. ICE HSI staff informed Underwood that there is no onsite medical care; in medical emergencies, staff call 911.\n\nICE HSI staff reported that people detained at this facility do not appear in ICE\u2019s Online Detainee Locator System. This facility does not have phones for detainees to use. Detainees may make calls from their personal cell phones, which are monitored by an HSI agent. Detainees are only given the opportunity to make a phone call upon request.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://walkinshaw.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=227", "Walkinshaw, Ranking Member Garcia, Members of Congress Demand Answers from OPM as Trump Workforce Purge Triggers Federal Retirement Backlog", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "James R. Walkinshaw", "W000831", "walkinshaw.house.gov", "walkinshaw", "https://walkinshaw.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Representatives Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, pressed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for immediate answers after new reporting highlighted severe delays in federal retirement processing following the Trump Administration\u2019s Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and other workforce reduction policies.\n\nIn a letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor, the lawmakers warned the delays are not an accident, but the predictable result of shrinking the workforce without a plan.\n\n\u201cThis foreseeable and avoidable administrative failure is the clear result of an Administration that has prioritized a purge of the federal civil service over government efficiency, leaving thousands of federal employees in administrative and financial limbo,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe lawmakers warned retirees are now \u201ctrapped in a prolonged cycle of delayed payments and benefits, lost paperwork, limited communication, and financial and administrative uncertainty,\u201d driven by a surge in applications colliding with understaffed HR offices and broken communication channels for separating employees.\n\n\u201cIn November of this year alone, OPM received nearly 23,400 retirement applications\u2026 [and] OPM\u2019s retirement inventory has grown to more than 48,000 pending applications,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\u201cFederal workers earned these benefits through decades of service,\u201d said Rep. Walkinshaw. \u201cThey deserve timely processing and clear answers\u2014not bureaucratic chaos created by reckless workforce policies.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers requested OPM respond by January 29, 2026 with specific steps to restore retiree communication, address stalled cases across agencies and payroll providers, assess the impact of HR staffing losses, and detail which agencies have fully adopted OPM\u2019s Online Retirement Application (ORA).\n\nFull letter text follows and is available here.\n\n###\n\nThe Honorable Scott Kupor\n\nDirector The Office of Personnel Management\n\n1900 E Street, NW, Washington,\n\nD.C Washington, D.C. 20415\n\nDear Director Kupor,\n\nWe write to express concern regarding the substantial delays in federal retirement processing recently reported on by Federal News Network, following the Trump Administration\u2019s implementation of the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and other workforce reduction policies. This foreseeable and avoidable administrative failure is the clear result of an Administration that has prioritized a purge of the federal civil service over government efficiency, leaving thousands of federal employees in administrative and financial limbo.\n\nThat priority was made explicit in a recent blog post in which the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) referred to the forced departure of more than 300,000 federal employees, either through reductions in force (RIFs) or through pressure to leave via the DRP or the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA), as a \u201csuccess.\u201d The tone of this post makes clear that the Administration\u2019s primary objective over the past year has been to gut the federal workforce at any cost. Federal employees, who devoted decades to careers in public service and provided valuable, non-political expertise to federal agencies now find themselves trapped in a prolonged cycle of delayed payments and benefits, lost paperwork, limited communication, and financial and administrative uncertainty. This is a direct result of the Administration\u2019s eagerness to force departures without adequate planning.\n\nAs outlined in the recent reporting, the federal retirement process requires coordinated action across multiple entities. Retirement applications are first prepared and reviewed by an individual\u2019s employing agency human resources office, then processed by payroll providers, and then transmitted to OPM for adjudication, interim annuity determination, and final benefit calculation. The influx of new retirement applications under the DRP, combined with government-wide RIFs and early-out packages have reduced both the capacity and staffing levels of agency human resources offices and supporting organizations. This has put the federal retirement system under enormous strain.\n\nIn November of this year alone, OPM received nearly 23,400 retirement applications. They received 20,300 in October, more than triple the volumes seen during the same period in 2024. In all, OPM\u2019s retirement inventory has grown to more than 48,000 pending applications, nearly four times the number of applications the agency aims to have on hand at once. Breakdowns or delays at any stage of the processing pipeline can stall an entire application. This surge of applications caused by the Administration\u2019s policies has now overwhelmed agency HR offices and payroll providers before many cases even reach OPM, a bottleneck the Administration should have anticipated and planned for if it were serious about efficiency. As Rob Shriver, former Acting Director of OPM during the Biden Administration, observed, \u201cHR was already understaffed\u2014now lots have left, and they have an ever-increasing workload. It\u2019s all going to create backlogs.\u201d Shriver, in the same article, went on to note the \u201cincredible frustration\u201d from DRP employees and others currently trying to separate from government service.\n\nOPM is continuing to prioritize electronic retirement submissions and broader modernization efforts, which, while necessary, are insufficient to address one of the core drivers of current delays. Agencies are facing significant understaffing in their human resources offices at the same time that many employees who departed under the DRP lost access to internal communication systems upon separation and were provided with no points of contact. As a result, retiring employees are often unable to reach already overburdened HR staff to correct errors, confirm receipt of paperwork, or obtain basic status updates. This further compounds delays and administrative failures across the retirement process.\n\nThe scale of current delays was foreseeable given the Administration\u2019s actions to purge the federal workforce. If the Administration cared at all about efficiency, the impact of its policies on agency human resources capacity and retirement processing should have been anticipated and planned for prior to implementation of policies that promoted mass employee departures. Because this did not occur, the federal retirement system has been reduced to chaos and continues to face unprecedented inefficiencies. As a result, our constituents are unable to receive the benefits they have rightly earned after years of service to the American people.\n\nGiven our concerns, we request a response to the following questions by January 29, 2026:\n\n1. What guidance has OPM provided to agencies to ensure that retiring employees who lost access to government email and internal systems can continue to communicate with human resources offices using personal contact information?\n\n2. What steps is OPM taking to address retirement applications that remain stalled at agencies or payroll providers and have not yet been transmitted to OPM for processing?\n\n3. How is OPM assessing the impact of agency human resources staffing reductions on retirement processing delays across the federal government?\n\n4. How does OPM track and account for delays that occur at agencies and payroll providers, rather than solely within OPM\u2019s own retirement processing timelines?\n\n5. OPM has heavily advertised its new digital retirement tool, the Online Retirement Application (ORA), and promoted its role in retirement processing reform. Please provide a list of named agencies (with components when applicable) that have wholly adopted and launched ORA for their entire HR teams and workforce. For agencies that remain in interim status, please provide a list of agencies (by component when applicable) and what the adoption status is, and the estimate for full usage. Please also provide what number and percentage of current cases are and are not using ORA, what the reasons are for non-adoption and usage, and what steps remain to be taken by OPM and employing agencies for full implementation.\n\n6. Please list any step and/or discrete action under the end-to-end retirement processing process that is not captured by ORA.\n\n7. What has been the impact on OPM\u2019s customer service and support for the existing retiree population amidst the growing number of new retirements, and have there been any staffing or work assignment changes within the components that manage this process since December 2024?\n\nRelated News\n\nWalkinshaw Slams Trump Budget for Freezing Federal Pay and Slashing Funding for Key Agencies\n\nApril 3, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWalkinshaw Statement on CISA Employees Reinstated After Being Wrongly Targeted by Trump's DHS\n\nMarch 28, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWalkinshaw Leads Letter Demanding Independent Investigation Into CISA Polygraph Incident\n\nMarch 13, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWalkinshaw Statement on Court Victory for AFGE and VA Employees\n\nMarch 13, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWalkinshaw Demands Accountability in Explosive DOGE Social Security Breach Allegations\n\nMarch 10, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wilson-s-statement-on-the-white-house-threats-to-withhold-smithsonian-funding", "Rep. Wilson\u2019s Statement on the White House Threats to Withhold Smithsonian Funding", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Frederica S. Wilson", "W000808", "wilson.house.gov", "wilson", "https://wilson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson issued a statement regarding the White House\u2019s threats to withhold Smithsonian funding:\n\n\u201cThis White House is advancing a vision of America rooted in white supremacy and exclusion. This administration has shown nothing but contempt for immigrants, diversity, and Black people. And all these threats to withhold funding are just about whitewashing our history. But America was built on the backs of immigrants! Black immigrants were brought here in chains as slaves to build this nation. We can never forget that, and today, we\u2019re an immigrant-rich country. So, as this White House goes after all the museums, we must stand up and protect the truth. All Americans must unite to protect our history and protect the Smithsonian\u2019s independence to ensure unbiased content across its institutions. When we lose our history, we lose our democracy. And we must fight back and stand up for our history and democracy. The soul of our nation is on the line!\u201d", 1, "2026-04-16T05:48:36Z", "2026-04-16T05:50:08Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/23/icymi-bennet-fights-back-against-trumps-targeted-attacks-on-colorado/", "ICYMI: Bennet Fights Back Against Trump\u2019s Targeted Attacks on Colorado", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet slammed President Trump for canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy, dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and denying Colorado\u2019s request for two emergency declarations following extreme flooding and wildfires. Before the Senate adjourned for the year, Bennet blocked the appropriations package from advancing before the holidays to demand funding to protect NCAR.\n\n\u201cAfter more than a week of targeted actions against Colorado, it\u2019s clear President Trump has turned his sights on our state because we refuse to go along with his corrupt demands,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cThis holiday season, hundreds of NCAR employees face uncertainty about their jobs and communities across the state are worried they won\u2019t get the support they need to rebuild their lives after historic flooding and wildfires. Colorado deserves better, and I am doing everything in my power to fight back and protect our state from the President\u2019s vindictive chaos.\u201d\n\nHere\u2019s how Senator Bennet is fighting for Colorado:\n\nKKCO 11: Colorado Senator Bennet accuses Trump of retaliating against Colorado over Tina Peters\n\nSen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., is accusing President Donald Trump of taking punitive actions against Colorado that Bennet describes as political retaliation.\n\nDuring a press call, Bennet criticized several recent decisions tied to the federal government\u2019s relationship with the state \u2014 including the administration\u2019s reported call to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).\n\nBennet also warned of broader consequences beyond Colorado if NCAR were dismantled.\n\n\u201cI think that Colorado deserves much better from our federal government. Our entire country deserves better from our federal government. We will not stand by while President Trump attacks Colorado and puts our communities in danger. We\u2019ll use every tool at our disposal to fight back against this reckless political attack,\u201d he said.\n\nColorado Sun: Colorado\u2019s U.S. senators hold up appropriations package over NCAR\u2019s future\n\nColorado\u2019s U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper\u2026put a hold on the so-called mini-bus package over the Trump administration\u2019s decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country,\u201d Bennet and Hickenlooper said in a joint statement.\n\nIn a social media post, Bennet, who is also running for governor, said \u201cwhen Trump comes after Colorado, we don\u2019t back down, we fight back.\u201d\n\nThe Denver Post: Trump denies disaster declarations for Colorado fires, flooding: \u2018We won\u2019t stop fighting\u2019\n\nSen. Michael Bennet called President Trump\u2019s decision to deny Colorado\u2019s request for federal assistance \u201cunacceptable.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene,\u201d Bennet said. \u201cA disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-stb-doj-to-oppose-railway-merger-threatening-jobs-and-driving-up-costs", "Blumenthal Calls on STB, DOJ to Oppose Railway Merger Threatening Jobs & Driving Up Costs", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs and Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division Gail Slater urging them to oppose the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway\u2014two of the four largest railroads in the country. In today\u2019s letter, Blumenthal raised concerns that the merger would significantly reduce competition in the rail industry, driving up costs for shippers and threatening railroad workers\u2019 job security.\n\n\u201cRailroads are a critical link in the supply chain for everyday consumer goods, including food, fuel, building materials, and household products. When competition in rail transportation is reduced, higher shipping costs are often passed directly on to consumers in the form of higher prices at the checkout counter. With inflation and affordability already top concerns for American families, approving a merger that could further raise the cost of moving goods across the country would worsen financial strain on households nationwide,\u201d wrote Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe proposed merger also threatens job stability for countless employees at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern,\u201d continued Blumenthal. \u201cTogether, the two companies have more than 50,000 employees. While the companies have said they will protect all union jobs during a merger, precedent shows us such promises are little more than hollow words. Instead of trusting these empty promises, you should protect thousands of jobs for hardworking Americans.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Fuchs and Assistant Attorney General Slater,\n\nI write with serious concerns about the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway. A merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern \u2013 two of the four largest railroads in the United States \u2013 would further consolidate the nation\u2019s rail network, resulting in potential job insecurity for workers, higher costs and less competition for shippers, and safety and community harms. At a time when families are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, household goods, and other essentials, further consolidation in the rail industry risks driving up consumer prices even more. As the Surface Transportation Board considers the application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, I urge you to oppose this proposed merger.\n\nRailroads are a critical link in the supply chain for everyday consumer goods, including food, fuel, building materials, and household products. When competition in rail transportation is reduced, higher shipping costs are often passed directly on to consumers in the form of higher prices at the checkout counter. With inflation and affordability already top concerns for American families, approving a merger that could further raise the cost of moving goods across the country would worsen financial strain on households nationwide.\n\nThe proposed merger also threatens job stability for countless employees at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Together, the two companies have more than 50,000 employees.[1] While the companies have said they will protect all union jobs during a merger, precedent shows us such promises are little more than hollow words.[2] For example, after Union Pacific and Southern Pacific merged in 1996, thousands of employees were laid off or relocated despite assurances to protect workers before the merger went through.[3] Instead of trusting these empty promises, you should protect thousands of jobs for hardworking Americans.\n\nIn addition, the consolidated transcontinental railroad system that would result from the proposed merger would undoubtedly increase prices and decrease service for shippers. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern largely serve different markets, and as a result, shippers are able to negotiate with each of them and their competitors for better prices for various portions of their trip. Under the proposed merger, however, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would control a transcontinental rail line, which they could then use to preferentially price their services to direct shippers. Additionally, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern currently have various intermodal partnerships with each other and their competitors to improve access to shipping containers and underserved areas around the country.[4] The proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would jeopardize these partnerships. As shipping costs rise, consumers inevitably pay the price through higher costs for everyday goods, and as prices for consumer goods reach record highs, you should be focused on ensuring that shippers have access to affordable, reliable rail service instead of handicapping competition.\n\nFinally, you must consider the impact of the proposed merger on the safety of communities around the country. In recent years, ambulances and emergency service vehicles have been delayed for extended periods of time as long trains roll through highway-rail grade crossings in towns.[5] Similarly, to get to and from school, kids have been forced to climb under trains stopped at such crossings.[6] In addition, residents of East Palestine, Ohio, remain concerned about long-term health impacts of the hazardous materials they were exposed to in the 2023 derailment of Norfolk Southern train cars in East Palestine, Ohio.[7] Historically, cost-cutting efforts implemented by railroads only exacerbate these issues, and you must evaluate the forthcoming Safety Integration Plan and information on addressing blocked highway-rail grade crossings to determine whether this merger would do the same.[8]\n\nTo protect workers\u2019 jobs, prevent price increases for shippers and consumers, and promote safety for communities surrounding rail lines, I urge you to oppose the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Thank you for your close attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-\n\n[1] Stuart Chirls, \u201cRail merger: Lifetime job is great \u201cuntil you are stuck in it,\u201d FreightWaves, September 24, 2025, https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-merger-lifetime-job-is-great-until-youre-stuck-in-it.\n\n[2] \u201cCreating America\u2019s First Transcontinental Railroad: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern\u2019s STB Merger Application Details Enhancements to Competition and Public Benefits,\u201d Union Pacific, December 29, 2025, https://www.up.com/press-releases/growth/stb-merger-application-enhances-competition-251219; Erik Peinert and Ashley Nowicki, \u201cThe New Railroad Barons: Why the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern Railroad Merger Must Be Blocked,\u201d American Economic Liberties Project, https://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-09-30-AELP-Railroad-Brief.pdf, 11.\n\n[3] Peinert and Nowicki, 11.\n\n[4] \u201cUMAX Domestic Container Program,\u201d Union Pacific, https://www.up.com/shipping/intermodal/umax (last accessed December 15, 2025); \u201cCSX, CPKC Create Faster Freight Solutions with Southeast Mexico Express,\u201d CSX, July 21, 2025, https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/media/press-releases/csx-cpkc-create-faster-freight-solutions-with-southeast-mexico-express/.\n\n[5] Mike Hendricks, \u201c\u2018They just don\u2019t care\u2019: Trains blocking roads can be deadly. It\u2019s only getting worse,\u201d The Kansas City Star, December 13, 2022, https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article268879922.html.\n\n[6] Topher Sanders, Dan Schwartz, and Jove Sterman, \u201cAs Rail Profits Soar, Blocked Crossing Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School,\u201d ProPublica and Gray Television/Investigate TV, April 26, 2023, https://www.propublica.org/article/trains-crossing-blocked-kids-norfolk-southern.\n\n[7] \u201cA year after a train derailment in Ohio spilled hazardous chemicals, health fears persist for East Palestine,\u201d PBS, February 2, 2024, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-year-after-a-train-derailment-in-ohio-spilled-hazardous-chemicals-health-fears-persist-for-east-palestine; Julie Grant, \u201cTwo years after train derailment and chemical disaster in East Palestine, some residents worry about liver cancer,\u201d WHYY, January 30, 2025, http://whyy.org/segments/two-years-after-east-palestine-train-derailment-health-risks/.\n\n[8] Peinert and Nowicki, 9.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-markey-and-warren-demand-amazon-remove-listings-for-used-cars-with-unrepaired-safety-recalls-clearly-display-vehicles-recall-status", "Blumenthal, Markey, & Warren Demand Amazon Remove Listings for Used Cars with Unrepaired Safety Recalls, Clearly Display Vehicle's Recall Status", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on Amazon to remove listings for pre-owned vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls. In a letter to Andrew R. Jassy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amazon, the Senators raised safety concerns about the company\u2019s new Amazon Autos partnership with Hyundai and Ford dealers, which lists pre-owned vehicles that may have unrepaired safety recalls for sale without adequately warning consumers about a vehicle\u2019s recall status.\n\n\u201cWe are extremely troubled by the fact that Amazon is listing vehicles for sale with unrepaired safety recalls. Selling cars with unrepaired safety recalls is extremely dangerous and poses a potentially fatal threat to vehicle drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Amazon\u2019s suggestion to consumers to check a vehicle\u2019s recall status themselves on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s (NHTSA) website is simply insufficient. We call on Amazon to remove all vehicle listings with unrepaired safety recalls and to directly display to prospective vehicle buyers a vehicle\u2019s recall status,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cAmazon does not need to wait for the law to change to prioritize vehicle safety. We call on Amazon to immediately stop listing for sale on Amazon Autos any vehicle with an unrepaired safety recall. In addition, Amazon should make it as easy as possible for people to confirm that the vehicle they are looking at does not have unrepaired recalls. Instead of linking to NHTSA\u2019s website and encouraging people to check the recall status themselves, we urge Amazon to prominently display the status of recalls under the key features it lists for vehicles it is selling.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the Senators\u2019 letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Mr. Jassy,\n\nWe are extremely troubled by the fact that Amazon is listing vehicles for sale with unrepaired safety recalls. Selling cars with unrepaired safety recalls is extremely dangerous and poses a potentially fatal threat to vehicle drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Amazon\u2019s suggestion to consumers to check a vehicle\u2019s recall status themselves on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s (NHTSA) website is simply insufficient. We call on Amazon to remove all vehicle listings with unrepaired safety recalls and to directly display to prospective vehicle buyers a vehicle\u2019s recall status.\n\nOn August 4, 2025, Amazon announced that dealers would be able to sell used and certified pre-owned vehicles through Amazon Autos, which was at the time limited to Hyundai vehicles. On November 17, 2025, Amazon announced that certified pre-owned vehicles sold by Ford dealers, which are not exclusively Ford vehicles, would also be for sale on Amazon Autos. In its announcement with Ford, Amazon touted its transparency in the vehicle selling process by highlighting it provides viewers with the service history and condition reports for vehicles. However, Amazon fails to disclose to prospective vehicle buyers that a vehicle may have unrepaired recalls. In fact, Amazon lists for sale\u2014and appears to have facilitated the sale of\u2014vehicles with unrepaired recalls, including urgent fire risks and a potential engine stall while driving.\n\nWe have long raised concerns about the dangers of allowing used vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls to be sold. Our legislation, S.2956, the Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act, would prevent dealers from selling used cars with unrepaired safety recalls, a prohibition that already applies to new vehicles.\n\nAmazon does not need to wait for the law to change to prioritize vehicle safety. We call on Amazon to immediately stop listing for sale on Amazon Autos any vehicle with an unrepaired safety recall. In addition, Amazon should make it as easy as possible for people to confirm that the vehicle they are looking at does not have unrepaired recalls. Instead of linking to NHTSA\u2019s website and encouraging people to check the recall status themselves, we urge Amazon to prominently display the status of recalls under the key features it lists for vehicles it is selling.\n\nWe look forward to working with Amazon to ensure that the vehicles it lists for sale are safe.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-seeks-data-on-security-grant-program", "Blumenthal Seeks Data on Security Grant Program", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem seeking data about previous applications to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to help inform Congress about how the program should be funded for the upcoming fiscal year.\n\n\u201cAs I travel around Connecticut and hear from community leaders here and around the country, I am struck by the severely heightened anxiety and apprehension about physical threats to places of worship and community centers involving hate-based violence,\u201d Blumenthal wrote.\n\n\u201cRecently, I have called for dramatically increasing funding for NSGP to $1 billion and for increasing funding and resources for other programs to keep pace with the violence we are seeing in our communities. I am disappointed that the proposal released Friday night by Senate Republicans for Fiscal Year 2026 includes only $330 million for NSGP, far short of my request and the program\u2019s clear need, with reports indicating recipients requested approximately $1 billion from FEMA in 2024 alone.\u201d\n\nLast week, Blumenthal wrote the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairs and Ranking Members of its Subcommittees on Homeland Security and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies calling for a dramatic increase in resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention, including by appropriating no less than $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), making significant investments to the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (NO HATE Act), and reestablishing and fully funding the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS).\n\nOn Friday, he joined leaders from the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and the Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut at an event in West Hartford, Connecticut, calling on Congress to robustly fund NSGP and the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act grant program.\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Secretary Noem,\n\nIn recent years we have, unfortunately, seen a rise in antisemitism, extremist ideology, and hate-based violence. As I travel around Connecticut and hear from community leaders here and around the country, I am struck by the severely heightened anxiety and apprehension about physical threats to places of worship and community centers involving hate-based violence. One of the most important tools at our disposal to combat such hate and protect religious institutions and minority communities is the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).\n\nRecently, I have called for dramatically increasing funding for NSGP to $1 billion and for increasing funding and resources for other programs to keep pace with the violence we are seeing in our communities. I am disappointed that the proposal released Friday night by Senate Republicans for Fiscal Year 2026 includes only $330 million for NSGP, far short of my request and the program\u2019s clear need, with reports indicating recipients requested approximately $1 billion from FEMA in 2024 alone.\n\nIt is critical for Congress to have fulsome data about past NSGP applications and awards as we work towards completion of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. Please provide me with the following information for Fiscal Years 2023, 2024, and 2025, disaggregated by fiscal year and FEMA region, by no later than January 6, 2026:\n\nThe number of grant applications submitted to the NSGP;\n\nThe number of awards made under the NSGP;\n\nFor each award where the recipient received less money than requested in their application, the requested funding, received funding, and reason for the difference; and\n\nAny resources or assistance FEMA provides to unsuccessful applicants to improve their application in future years and to ensure safety and security in the meantime.\n\nThank you for your attention to this letter. I look forward to receiving your response.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-slams-secret-trump-administration-memo-ending-life-saving-abortion-care-for-veterans", "Blumenthal Slams Secret Trump Administration Memo Ending Life-Saving Abortion Care for Veterans", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a statement slamming the Trump Administration\u2019s Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) secret implementation of a new policy to stop providing abortion care and counseling to veterans who have been raped or whose pregnancy is threatening their health.\n\n\u201cSecretively and sickeningly, Trump\u2019s VA is depriving women veterans of essential health care. A policy just issued by Secretary Collins stops this reproductive care even for women who are victims of rape or incest, or whose health is at risk. He\u2019s done it by internal memo, not by open rule making, avoiding public attention and scrutiny. My Republican colleagues should be as outraged as I am. The result will be chaos and confusion among health care providers, and anxiety and pain for women veterans. This cruel, misguided action is reckless and reprehensible.\u201d\n\nIn September 2022, VA began to offer abortion counseling to all pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries, and abortion in cases of rape, incest, or life or health endangerment of the veteran or CHAMPVA beneficiary. This was in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization ruling, which created urgent risks to the lives and health of pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries in states that banned or otherwise severely restricted access to abortion.\n\nThe Trump Department of Justice issued a memo banning this abortion care and counseling at VA a few days ago, and the Trump VA just issued its own internal memo yesterday implementing this new policy immediately. This follows the Trump VA\u2019s announcement in August of its intent to issue this change in a proposed rule. However, rather than complete the regular rulemaking process, VA Secretary Doug Collins is implementing this policy without issuing a final rule without notifying veterans or the public.\n\nMore than 462,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care. More than half of these women live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-blocking-deployment-of-national-guard-troops-to-chicago", "Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Deployment of National Guard Troops to Chicago", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[CHICAGO, IL] \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court declined to stay a federal judge\u2019s temporary restraining order that blocked President Trump\u2019s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time for the Trump Administration to back off Chicago. The majority of Americans believe they\u2019ve gone too far, and even the Supreme Court\u2019s conservative supermajority refused to greenlight this blatantly unlawful overreach. Our government is supposed to help our communities\u2014not go to war with them.\n\n\u201cImmigrants make our country better, and we will keep fighting like hell to protect the promise of America.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-blocking-deployment-of-national-guard-troops-to-chicago", "Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Deployment Of National Guard Troops To Chicago", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "CHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court declined to stay a federal judge\u2019s temporary restraining order that blocked President Trump\u2019s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time for the Trump Administration to back off Chicago. The majority of Americans believe they\u2019ve gone too far, and even the Supreme Court\u2019s conservative supermajority refused to greenlight this blatantly unlawful overreach. Our government is supposed to help our communities\u2014not go to war with them.\n\n\u201cImmigrants make our country better, and we will keep fighting like hell to protect the promise of America.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/23/2025/senator-hassan-nominates-new-hampshire-students-for-united-states-service-academies", "Senator Hassan Nominates New Hampshire Students for United States Service Academies", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan announced that she has nominated students from New Hampshire to attend United States Service Academies \u2013 the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.\n\n\u201cIt is a privilege to nominate these outstanding New Hampshire students to our United States Service Academies,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cThe choice to serve our country in uniform reflects the highest form of public service, and I am grateful for these young Granite Staters who are answering that call. I have no doubt that they will make New Hampshire and our country proud.\u201d\n\nFor more information on the nomination process for interested applicants, click here.\n\nSee below for a list of Senator Hassan\u2019s nominees:\n\nUnited States Military Academy\n\nJustin Baldridge \u2013 Salem\n\nRyleigh Bannister \u2013 Derry\n\nWilliam Bellerose \u2013 Chichester\n\nCaidyn Carter \u2013 Northfield\n\nLiam Conway \u2013 Alton\n\nRyan Cowher \u2013 Keene\n\nTroy Hayes \u2013 Windham\n\nJacob Levesque \u2013 Jaffrey\n\nCharlotte Lund \u2013 New London\n\nLeah Lynskey \u2013 Durham\n\nLiam Mahoney \u2013 Hampton\n\nKyle Paolino \u2013 Rindge\n\nWade Plaskiewicz \u2013 Surry\n\nJames Sisco \u2013 Goffstown\n\nJack Williams \u2013 Stratham\n\nUnited States Naval Academy\n\nTalia Batherwich \u2013 Londonderry\n\nAnna Boyer \u2013 Ashland\n\nHayden Brunell \u2013 Meredith\n\nLiam Canty \u2013 Exeter\n\nEamon Griffin \u2013 Amherst\n\nSamuel Kellner \u2013 Hollis\n\nCiara Kerley \u2013 Wilmot\n\nAddison Knoetig \u2013 Goffstown\n\nColin Magnuszewski \u2013 Brookline\n\nSophia Malloy \u2013 Portsmouth\n\nKelly Moriarty \u2013 Rye\n\nRuby Neutra \u2013 Marlborough\n\nReilly O'Brien \u2013 Salem\n\nAnita Parmelee \u2013 Exeter\n\nChristian Salaun \u2013 Greenland\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy\n\nBrandon Adamson \u2013 Londonderry\n\nAndrew Allen \u2013 East Kingston\n\nKevin Benard \u2013 Pembroke\n\nJack Calderwood \u2013 Intervale\n\nJacob Daley \u2013 Nashua\n\nDominic Fazzio \u2013 East Hampstead\n\nNathan Ferreira \u2013 Pembroke\n\nKipling Hedquist \u2013 Hopkinton\n\nAshlie Klawes \u2013 Allenstown\n\nGiana Leonardi \u2013 Dover\n\nCooper Mack \u2013 Holderness\n\nGavin Niemela \u2013 Dublin\n\nVictor Pham \u2013 Tilton\n\nSamuel Sanders \u2013 Hillsborough\n\nMaximilian Williams \u2013 Concord\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\nSamuel Kellner \u2013 Hollis\n\nAddison Knoetig \u2013 Goffstown\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/2025-in-review-hickenlooper-defends-colorado-against-trump-chaos/", "2025 in Review: Hickenlooper Defends Colorado Against Trump Chaos", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 It\u2019s been a hell of a year, Colorado. Here are just a few of the ways Senator Hickenlooper fought this administration\u2019s chaos and stood up for Coloradans in 2025.\n\nDEFENDING SCIENCE\n\nLast week, Senator Hickenlooper blocked a federal appropriations package in the Senate after President Trump announced his plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and cancel millions intransportation grants designated for Colorado. Hickenlooper demanded Republicans add an amendment to the package guaranteeing that all funding for NCAR be fully spent.\n\nAfter blocking the bill on the Senate floor, Hickenlooper joined protesters outside of NCAR in Boulder on Saturday to raise public pressure against cuts to critical environmental research.\n\nPROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS\n\nHickenlooper also led the fight against Senator Mike Lee\u2019s proposal to force the BLM to sell up to 1.2 million acres of public lands in Colorado and 10 other Western states. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm in April, when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans\u2019 tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.\n\nIn May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration\u2019s threats to Colorado\u2019s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.\n\nThe public pressure campaign worked. Following mounting opposition from Western senators and their constituents, Senator Lee stripped the public lands sale provision from the bill in June.\n\nPROTECTING HEALTH CARE\n\nSince the beginning of the year, Hickenlooper has railed against Republicans\u2019 manufactured health care crisis and worked closely with state leaders to protect Coloradans\u2019 care.\n\nIn July, congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations. 15 million Americans \u2013 including 241,000 Coloradans \u2013 are expected to lose their health care because of Republicans\u2019 cuts.\n\nHickenlooper helped mount a political pressure campaign to fight for Americans\u2019 health care. He was one of the first senators to announce he\u2019d oppose the Republican government funding bill unless Republicans worked with Democrats to lower health care costs. Hickenlooper voted against Republicans\u2019 funding bill every time it came to the Senate floor.\n\nDuring the 43-day government shutdown, Hickenlooper organized a press conference with Coloradans facing steep premium increases and cuts to their Medicaid in 2026 to pressure Colorado Republicans and the administration to fix skyrocketing health care costs.\n\nRecently, in a last-ditch effort to save Americans\u2019 health care, Hickenlooper and Senate Democrats proposed a simple extension of the Affordable Care Act\u2019s enhanced premium tax credits for three years, without any changes, to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely. Republicans rejected the proposal.\n\nFIGHTING ICE OBSTRUCTION\n\nThroughout the year, Senator Hickenlooper and his office have worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE, and to advocate for those in detention.\n\nIn August, Hickenlooper visited the ICE detention center in Aurora after ICE repeatedly stonewalled his office\u2019s calls and emails. During the visit, he raised concerns with ICE officials regarding delayed communication with congressional offices, irregular process changes, reports of ICE pressuring detainees to voluntarily depart instead of proceeding through a judicial process, and facility conditions. ICE failed to give satisfactory answers.\n\nIn August, Senator Hickenlooper\u2019s office led the effort to get a mother and her 7-year-old son from Chaffee County released from the family detention center in Dilley, Texas. The mother had no criminal record and an active asylum claim \u2013 she and her son were held for two months before their release.\n\nIn November, Hickenlooper called for the immediate release of a Durango father and his two young children after ICE arrested them while they were on their way to school. Following ICE\u2019s failure to release the family, Senator Hickenlooper spoke directly with DHS Secretary Noem, demanding ICE release them from custody after they reported being physically abused while in ICE detention. Despite having active asylum claims and no criminal record, DHS refused.\n\nIn response, Hickenlooper and Senator Jon Ossoff opened an inquiry into ICE\u2019s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. Just last week, a federal judge blocked a Trump administration policy requiring members of Congress to give prior notice before visiting ICE facilities. On Saturday, Hickenlooper performed a congressional oversight visit to ensure ICE was following the law and to push for two young detainees to be released.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-markey-press-sba-administrator-on-audit-targeting-underserved-businesses", "Hirono, Markey Press SBA Administrator on Audit Targeting Underserved Businesses", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Lawmakers: \u201cRather than using this audit as a pretense to unfairly attack a program with which you have an ideological disagreement, it is our hope that you will refocus on the goals of the 8(a) Program to make sure it continues to support socially and economically disadvantaged businesses\u2014as intended.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sent a letter to U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, expressing their deep concerns regarding the U.S. Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) December 5th announcement of a sweeping, program-wide audit of the 8(a) Business Development Program. SBA\u2019s announcement has left many businesses scrambling to meet the agency\u2019s extensive document request under a short deadline with unclear guidance, while raising concerns about how businesses\u2019 information will be used and secured.\n\nThe 8(a) Business Development Program was created by Congress to provide training, assistance, and federal contracting opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the U.S. and plays an important role in helping to ensure these businesses have the opportunity to work with federal agencies. Recently, however, the 8(a) program has come under attack as Republicans have unfairly targeted many of these small, socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, which often rely on government contracts to stay in business and keep their staff employed.\n\n\u201cWhile we wholeheartedly support meaningful oversight of all programs that fall under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, we disagree with your characterization of the program,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe also emphasize that formal audits should be conducted by the appropriate authorities, such as Inspectors General, who are a part of a comprehensive system that has decades of proven success in preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse.\u201d\n\nThe ambiguous language in the SBA\u2019s audit has led to mass confusion among 8(a) businesses, who have been seeking clarity and guidance regarding the documentation they must provide to remain eligible to participate in the 8(a) program.\n\n\u201cFurthermore, we are concerned about the nature in which you requested the information from businesses in the program\u2014an indiscriminate data call asking 4,300 businesses to complete additional paperwork, with limited guidance to clarify the manner in which they should comply\u2014which raises questions,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cSo too does the short turnaround, initially giving businesses only 31 days to comply with a deadline of January 5, 2026\u2014shortly after the holiday season\u2014before extending the deadline to January 19, 2026.\u201d\n\nTo that end, the lawmakers demand answers to a number of specific questions about the audit by January 2, 2025, including:\n\nHow should a business doing classified and/or sensitive work for the federal government provide the agency with the requested information in a timely and appropriate manner before the requested deadline?\n\nWill extensions be granted for businesses that make a good faith effort to comply with the deadline, especially if there is no feasible way to provide the information before the deadline?\n\nWhat assurances do businesses have that proprietary information shared with the agency will be protected?\n\nWho within the agency will conduct the audit of the program?\n\nWill the agency follow government-approved standards to conduct investigations or audits, such as the Government Accountability Office\u2019s \u201cGenerally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)?\u201d\n\n\u201cSBA\u2019s fundamental mission is to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cRather than using this audit as a pretense to unfairly attack a program with which you have an ideological disagreement, it is our hope that you will refocus on the goals of the 8(a) Program to make sure it continues to support socially and economically disadvantaged businesses\u2014as intended.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Markey, the letter was also signed by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Administrator Loeffler:\n\nWe write today to express our strong concerns about your recent decision to request detailed information from every participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program by January 19, 2026. Specifically, we are concerned about whether and how small businesses will be able to fully comply with the request given the limited guidance and short timeline that was provided. We are also concerned about your agency\u2019s ability to meaningfully review these materials in a timely manner given the deep staff reductions you have directed at the SBA.\n\nCongress created the 8(a) Business Development Program to provide training, technical assistance, and federal contracting opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the United States. Today, the program plays an important role in making sure these companies have the opportunity to do business with federal agencies, which not only supports those businesses and the communities in which they are located\u2014creating jobs, for example\u2014 but also pays dividends for the agencies. Within the Department of Defense, for example, there is evidence to show that these businesses play a role in strengthening the industrial base by diversifying the supply chain. The same can be said for other agencies.\n\nOn December 5, 2025, you announced that every participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program would be receiving a letter asking for detailed information about their companies, citing \u201cwidespread misconduct\u201d in the program and referring to the program as a \u201cvehicle for institutionalized abuse at taxpayer expense.\u201d While we wholeheartedly support meaningful oversight of all programs that fall under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, we disagree with your characterization of the program. We also emphasize that formal audits should be conducted by the appropriate authorities, such as Inspectors General, who are a part of a comprehensive system that has decades of proven success in preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse. Furthermore, we are concerned about the nature in which you requested the information from businesses in the program\u2014an indiscriminate data call asking 4,300 businesses to complete additional paperwork, with limited guidance to clarify the manner in which they should comply\u2014which raises questions. So too does the short turnaround, initially giving businesses only 31 days to comply with a deadline of January 5, 2026\u2014shortly after the holiday season\u2014before extending the deadline to January 19, 2026.\n\nThere are several outstanding questions that are left unanswered by your notices to companies. We respectfully request answers to the following questions by January 2, 2026.\n\nHow should a business doing classified and/or sensitive work for the federal government provide the agency with the requested information in a timely and appropriate manner before the requested deadline?\n\nWill extensions be granted for businesses that make a good faith effort to comply with the deadline, especially if there is no feasible way to provide the information before the deadline?\n\nWhat assurances do businesses have that proprietary information shared with the agency will be protected?\n\nWho within the agency will conduct the audit of the program?\n\nWill the agency follow government-approved standards to conduct investigations or audits, such as the Government Accountability Office\u2019s \u201cGenerally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)?\u201d\n\nSBA\u2019s fundamental mission is to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States. Rather than using this audit as a pretense to unfairly attack a program with which you have an ideological disagreement, it is our hope that you will refocus on the goals of the 8(a) Program to make sure it continues to support socially and economically disadvantaged businesses\u2014as intended.\n\nWe look forward to your timely response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-cornyn-bill-to-enhance-u-s-mexico-counternarcotics-efforts-signed-into-law/", "Kelly, Cornyn Bill to Enhance U.S.-Mexico Counternarcotics Efforts Signed into Law", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Mark Kelly", "K000377", "www.kelly.senate.gov", "markkelly", "https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statements after their Counternarcotics Enhancement Act, which will require elements of the Intelligence Community to review any direct relationships with elements of the Government of Mexico, develop a strategy to enhance counternarcotics efforts, and make recommendations or request resources required to implement the strategy in furtherance of the national interest of the United States, was signed into law as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026:\n\n\u201cTo win the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. and Mexico have to work together against the cartels,\u201d said Sen. Kelly. \u201cThis effort will make our country safer by keeping drugs off our streets through Intelligence Community engagement with the government of Mexico.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne innocent life lost because of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. by way of Mexico is one too many,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cThis law will ensure our Intelligence Community leverages the U.S.-Mexico relationship to most effectively root out these silent killers and keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Counternarcotics Enhancement Act will require elements of the Intelligence Community to submit to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) the following information:\n\nA description and assessment of their relationship, if any, with any element of the government of Mexico;\n\nA strategy to enhance counternarcotics cooperation and appropriate coordination with each element of the government of Mexico they have a direct relationship with;\n\nAnd recommendations and a description of the resources required to efficiently and effectively implement this strategy to further the national interest of the U.S.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2CE5D131-E44C-43C6-9E0D-612C6495AFBC", "Klobuchar Announces Federal Funding for Minnesota Broadband Infrastructure", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee and co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Minnesota\u2019s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal. Minnesota received $652 million in funding to implement its BEAD proposal.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to announce that Minnesota\u2019s broadband funding proposal has been approved, which will bring fast, affordable, reliable internet to families in every corner of our state,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cThis funding is available thanks to my bipartisan legislation that I fought to pass so that Minnesota families\u2014regardless of their ZIP code\u2014have access to high-speed internet.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis BEAD milestone represents a major step forward in our commitment to ensuring every Minnesotan \u2014 regardless of geography \u2014 has access to reliable, high quality broadband,\u201d said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Matt Varilek. \u201cMinnesota extends its sincere appreciation to the many Internet service providers and partners across the state who worked alongside us to shape this proposal. Their dedication, expertise and willingness to engage deeply in this effort have been essential to reaching this point. With this BEAD approval, Minnesota is one step closer to closing the digital divide and building a more connected future for all.\u201d\n\nThis development advances Minnesota\u2019s affordable broadband rollout to unserved and underserved areas of the state.\n\nKlobuchar has long led efforts to expand broadband access, support rural broadband, and bridge the digital divide.\n\nKlobuchar\u2019s Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act was incorporated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has delivered significant federal funding to Minnesota for expanding high-speed internet access statewide.\n\nIn June 2023, Klobuchar announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce had awarded major federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access to every household in Minnesota. The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, Klobuchar\u2019s legislation with then-House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) to expand high-speed internet nationwide, served as the basis for the program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nIn March 2023, Klobuchar and Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand broadband access to rural communities. The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act would strengthen funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services. Currently, the USF is primarily funded through landline fees, disproportionately impacting seniors, who are more likely to use landlines than other Americans.\n\nIn February 2023, Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to strengthen broadband access for rural communities. The Rural Broadband Protection Act would ensure that providers applying for federal funding can reliably deliver broadband to underserved, rural communities.\n\nIn July 2021, Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to expand rural broadband access by streamlining the funding process and removing barriers for broadband connectivity in hard-to-serve rural areas.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 28088, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 28088, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 18066, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 10022, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2025&chamber=Senate", 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