url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-passing-president-jimmy-carter,Statement on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-31,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"As we mourn the loss of President Jimmy Carter, we remember his unparalleled dedication to serving the underserved and championing the cause of equitable housing. During his presidency, he exemplified a profound commitment to the principles of fairness and justice, laying the groundwork for impactful policies that still resonate today.

I had the honor of being appointed during President Jimmy Carter's administration to a task force to review and make recommendations for the future direction of the Public Health Service. I experienced both President Carter and his wife Rosalyn Carter’s leadership in developing community primary health centers and community mental health centers throughout the nation.

His leadership inspired transformative initiatives that uplifted countless families and communities, ensuring that the dream of affordable healthcare and safe and secure housing was within reach for all. President Carter's enduring legacy is a powerful reminder of what compassionate, people-centered governance can achieve.

He leaves behind an extraordinary blueprint for service and humanity, and we are forever grateful for his unwavering advocacy for those most in need.

The world has lost a remarkable leader, and I join countless others in mourning his passing while celebrating a life lived in service to all. May his legacy of justice and humanity inspire us to continue the important work he championed.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-garcia-s-statement-on-the-passing-of-president-jimmy-carter,Congressman García’s Statement on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"CHICAGO — Congressman García issued the following statement on the passing of Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States:

“Today we lost a giant of progressive politics—a farmer, veteran, teacher, and President who fought for a more humane and accountable government even when doing so was politically costly. Though President Carter faced significant challenges during his administration, he steadfastly pursued a bold agenda focused on social and human services for working families. His Administration crafted the first national energy policy, created the Department of Education, and bolstered the Social Security system. He also expanded the National Park Service, protecting 103 million acres of land in Alaska. In 1976, he created the White House Office of Hispanic Affairs to address issues of critical importance to the Latino community, and held town halls across the nation to listen to the community’s concerns. His new Department of Education created a fund for programs to help non-English-speaking students become proficient.

“President Carter’s foreign policy legacy includes unprecedented movement toward peace in the Middle East and taking tangible actions—including the suspension of military aid—against countries that committed human rights abuses. He negotiated the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, which provided for the return of the Panama Canal to Panama in 1999.

“His post-presidency, however, was perhaps the most productive era of President Carter’s life. His efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to unwaveringly advance human rights and alleviate human suffering, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize decades after leaving the White House. His steadfast pursuit of truth and peace leaves a powerful legacy to uphold.

“My thoughts are with the Carter family, their friends, and with all those who worked with President Carter through the decades.""

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/declaracion-del-congresista-garcia-sobre-el-fallecimiento-del-presidente-jimmy-carter,Declaración del Congresista García sobre el Fallecimiento del Presidente Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"CHICAGO — El Congresista García emitió la siguiente declaración sobre el fallecimiento de Jimmy Carter, el 39.º Presidente de los Estados Unidos:

“Hoy perdimos a un gigante de la política progresista: un granjero, veterano, maestro y presidente que luchó por un gobierno más humano y responsable, incluso cuando hacerlo era políticamente costoso. Aunque el presidente Carter enfrentó desafíos significativos durante su administración, persiguió firmemente una agenda centrada en los servicios sociales y humanos para las familias trabajadoras. Su administración elaboró ​​la primera política energética nacional, creó el Departamento de Educación y reforzó el sistema de Seguridad Social. También amplió el Servicio de Parques Nacionales, protegiendo 103 millones de acres de tierra en Alaska. En 1976, creó la Oficina de Asuntos Hispanos de la Casa Blanca para abordar cuestiones de importancia crítica para la comunidad latina, y celebró juntas comunitarias abiertas en todo el país para escuchar las preocupaciones de la comunidad. Su nuevo Departamento de Educación creó un fondo para programas para ayudar a los estudiantes que no hablan inglés a dominarlo.

“El legado de política exterior del presidente Carter incluye un movimiento sin precedentes hacia la paz en el Medio Oriente y la adopción de medidas tangibles, incluida la suspensión de la ayuda militar, contra los países que cometieran abusos contra los derechos humanos. Negoció los Tratados Torrijos-Carter, que establecieron la devolución del Canal de Panamá a Panamá en 1999.

“Sin embargo, su etapa posterior a la presidencia fue quizás la más productiva de la vida del Presidente Carter. Sus esfuerzos por encontrar soluciones pacíficas a los conflictos internacionales, por promover inquebrantablemente los derechos humanos y aliviar el sufrimiento humano le valieron el Premio Nobel de la Paz décadas después de dejar la Casa Blanca. Su firme búsqueda de la verdad y la paz deja un poderoso legado que defender.

“Mis pensamientos están con la familia Carter, sus amigos y con todos aquellos que trabajaron con el presidente Carter a lo largo de las décadas”.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jonathan-l-jackson-passing-former-president-jimmy-carter,Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson on the passing of Former President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Jonathan L. Jackson,J000309,jonathanjackson.house.gov,jonathanjackson,https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Statement from Congressman Jonathan Jackson on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter

Today, we grieve the passing of Former President Jimmy Carter, a leader of unparalleled integrity and compassion who devoted his life to the pursuit of justice, equality, and peace. At 100 years old, he leaves behind a legacy that profoundly shaped our nation and the world.

President Carter’s dedication to civil rights was evident in his actions both before and during his presidency. As Governor of Georgia, he called for an end to segregation and publicly declared that the time for racial discrimination had passed. His bold leadership in the South during a time of immense tension sent a powerful message of inclusion and progress.

As president, Jimmy Carter demonstrated a deep commitment to addressing systemic inequalities affecting Black communities. His administration significantly increased federal appointments of African Americans to high-ranking positions, creating opportunities for representation in spaces of power. He also expanded funding for historically Black colleges and universities, understanding that education is a cornerstone of opportunity.

President Carter worked closely with my father, Reverend Jesse Jackson, to empower marginalized communities and advance the cause of economic justice. Their collaboration helped secure greater access to federal resources for minority-owned businesses, particularly through the Minority Business Development Agency, which Carter strengthened during his presidency. Together, they emphasized the importance of uplifting underserved communities through economic inclusion, employment opportunities, and community investment.

Beyond his presidency, President Carter continued to work alongside civil rights leaders like my father. He joined efforts to mediate racial and economic disparities, offering his wisdom and influence to bring people together in pursuit of equality. His efforts through the Carter Center tackled issues like voter suppression, housing insecurity, and global poverty, which disproportionately affect communities of color. His hands-on involvement with Habitat for Humanity built not just homes, but hope, for families striving for a better future.

President Carter’s moral leadership and tangible actions remind us that true progress requires not just words but deeds. He transformed the presidency into a platform for service and ensured that the fight for civil rights remained central to the American story.

On behalf of the constituents of Illinois’ 1st District, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Carter family and to all those mourning this extraordinary man. May we honor his legacy by continuing his work to build a world where justice, dignity, and opportunity are within reach for all.

Rest in peace, President Carter. Your life’s work will forever inspire us.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-passing-president-jimmy-carter,Quigley Statement on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,quigley,https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter:

“Jimmy Carter was a good president but, more importantly, a good man. During his time in office, he championed environmental justice and helped orchestrate the Camp David Accords, brokering a peace between Israel and Egypt that endures to his day and helping ensure the survival of the state of Israel.

“Yet his greatest accomplishments came after his presidency. While his electoral defeat may have crushed a lesser man, President Carter only redoubled his efforts to serve the public, becoming in the process the greatest former president our nation has ever known. His work, alongside former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at the Carter Center, with Habitat for Humanity, and his successful two-decade-long effort to eradicate the guinea worm made him the epitome of a public servant. Those of us in elected office should look to President Carter’s example as a model for what we aspire to after leaving office.

“My deepest condolences are with President Carter’s family and with those around the world who are mourning the loss of this great man.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-on-release-of-gaetz-report,Casten Statement on Release of Gaetz Report,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has issued the following statement regarding the release of the Gaetz Report:

“The release of the Gaetz Report is welcome news for all who care about integrity, accountability, and transparency in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said U.S. Congressman Sean Casten.

Earlier this month, Rep. Casten introduced a privileged resolution to force a vote by the full House of Representatives requiring the House Ethics Committee to release the Gaetz Report. House Republican leadership then passed a motion to kill the resolution.

Last month, Rep. Casten led 97 House Democrats in a letter to the House Ethics Committee requesting the immediate release of its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-davis-and-raskin-champion-bill-protect-foster-youth-assets-and-benefits,Reps. Davis and Raskin Champion Bill to Protect Foster Youth Assets and Benefits,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) introduced the Protecting Foster Youth Resources Act to protect the benefits and assets of foster youth by stopping states from making disabled and orphaned foster youth pay for their own care.

When child welfare entities serve as Social Security Representative Payees for foster youth, they are supposed to act as fiduciaries and use funds in the best interests of the youth. Alarmingly, most states take the assets and benefits of disabled and orphaned foster youth to reimburse state costs of care rather than using the benefits to meet the current or future unmet needs of the youth. Even though foster youth have many academic and developmental needs due to the trauma and instability experienced from entering and surviving the child welfare system, this practice deprives already vulnerable foster youth of the opportunity to achieve financial stability or build assets that could support their unique needs and improve their long-term outcomes. Further, states typically seize these funds without any notice to the youth, their parents, or their attorneys or guardians ad litem.

Importantly, states can stop this practice without any action by the federal government, and many are working to do so. Four states and jurisdictions (Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia) have enacted comprehensive reform, and an additional six states or jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York City) have adopted substantial reforms to protect some of the assets and benefits of orphaned and disabled foster youth. Unfortunately, the majority of states still choose to bolster their own financial security rather than help the orphaned and disabled youth.

The Protecting Foster Youth Resources Act would protect the benefits of foster youth to improve their well-being by stopping child welfare entities from taking foster youths’ assets to pay for their costs of care while also helping cover states’ costs of applying for benefits and protecting funds. This bill will help foster youth thrive by helping to secure and protecting these vital assets for eligible children to meet their unmet current and future needs. Specifically, the bill would prohibit agencies from taking a foster youth’s assets or benefits for foster care costs, require agencies to screen foster youth for eligibility of benefits, apply for and manage any benefits, and work with the youth and concerned adults to meet the youths’ unmet individual needs.

The bill is supported by 20 organizations focused on child well-being: CARES, a Center for the Study of Social Policy Initiative; Center for the Rights of Abused Children; Center for the Study of Social Policy; Children's Advocacy Institute; Children's Defense Fund; Children's Law Center of California; Defender Association of Philadelphia; Foster Care Alumni of America, Illinois Chapter; Foster Forward; iFoster; National Association of Counsel for Children; National Center for Housing & Child Welfare; National Disability Institute; National Foster Care Alumni of America; Nebraska Appleseed; New Mexico Child First Network; Office of the Cook County Public Guardian (Chicago); Partners for Our Children, Washington State; Support Center for Child Advocates; University of Baltimore School of Law Civil Advocacy Clinic; and Voices for Children Coalition.

“When child welfare entities take the benefits and assets of disabled and orphaned foster youth to cover a state’s legally-mandated responsibility of care, states deprive already vulnerable foster youth of the opportunity for greater financial stability and services that could improve their well-being,” said Rep. Davis. “My home state of Illinois is a national leader in this area, and I proudly advance this federal bill with my colleague, Rep. Jamie Raskin, to protect foster youths’ resources across the nation by requiring states to conserve or use these assets for the youths’ unmet current or future needs while also helping cover states’ costs of doing the right thing.”

“States across the country are clamoring for Congress to guide and support their efforts to do better by disabled foster youth and those who have lost one or both parents. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have acknowledged the changing landscape and called for change on this issue. With introduction of this Act, Congress has an opportunity to preserve vital assets for eligible youth, ensure appropriate use of taxpayer dollars, and help states continue their charge to promote justice and opportunity for foster youth beneficiaries.” Amy C. Harfeld, JD, National Policy Director, Children's Advocacy Institute

“Child welfare agencies have long been violating their fiduciary role by taking Social Security benefits from foster children who are disabled or have deceased parents, leaving the children penniless. I applaud Representative Davis for championing the congressional effort to stop this harmful and unethical practice, including this crucially needed legislation to better protect foster youth’s resources for their struggle against the odds as they leave foster care.” Daniel Hatcher, Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore and author of The Poverty Industry

“Listen to courageous foster youth like Marissa Pike, Katrina White, Ian Marks, Justin Kasieta, and Anthony Jackson. The Center for the Rights of Abused Children is committed to protecting children’s rights through comprehensive, child-centric reform, including stopping states from taking foster youth’s federal benefits. We appreciate federal policymakers engaging on this issue, and we encourage governorsand state legislators to take action today.” J. Kendall Seal, Vice President of Policy, Center for the Rights of Abused Children.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Hager, E., & Shapiro, J. (May 17, 2021). Foster Care Agencies Take Thousands of Dollars Owed to Kids. Most Children Have No Idea. Joint investigation The Marshall Project and National Public Radio. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/22/foster-care-agencies-take-thousands-of-dollars-owed-to-kids-most-children-have-no-idea

Rosinsky, K., Williams, S. C. (January 16, 2024) Special Savings Accounts Can Help Child Welfare Agencies Conserve Social Security Benefits. Blog. Child Trends. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/savings-accounts-child-welfare-agencies-social-security

Corkery, Michael. “May 26, 2024) Foster Children Fight to Stop States From Taking Federal Benefits: A longstanding practice of using a child’s federal survivor and disability benefits to defray the cost of foster care is under scrutiny in Congress and statehouses. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/26/business/foster-children-federal-benefits.html?unlocked_article_code=1.iU4.ltOK.12kaUvHAUWrZ&smid=url-share

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/next-congress-house-democrats-will-continue-put-people-over-politics,"Next Congress, House Democrats Will Continue to Put People Over Politics",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after Congress successfully passed a spending bill to avert a government shutdown:

""House Democrats continue to fulfill our promise of putting people over politics. We remained steadfast on our purpose to fund the government -- despite best efforts from President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk to drive us into a shutdown. Not only did every House Democrat vote for the end-of-year spending bill, we also passed the promised disaster relief for families and farmers who experienced horrific natural disasters. For Illinois, that includes over $2.5 million to help alleviate troubles from drought, tornadoes, and storms. My colleagues in the Senate also unanimously passed funding to research children's cancer. Next Congress, I will continue to focus on the Second District's needs.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-merkley-question-robinhood-over-election-betting,"Casten, Merkley Question Robinhood Over Election Betting",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) sent a letter to Robinhood questioning their recent decision to allow customers to bet on the results of the presidential election.

“It appears that Robinhood has capitalized on election betting to expand its profits, which could come at the expense of protecting investors,” the lawmakers wrote. “It should give lawmakers, regulators, and investors immediate pause that Robinhood allows users to bet on elections with minimal requirements. Robinhood’s expansion into political gambling normalizes risky and speculative betting on critical events.”

Robinhood users can bet on the election outcome by buying and selling political event contracts, which are generally structured as binary options that look more like online gambling than a traditional investment. These contracts are risky, speculative, and volatile financial instruments with an all-or-nothing payoff. They can be addictive, leading investors to accumulate significant losses over time.

Robinhood has a history of enabling inexperienced investors to trade similarly addictive options. In 2020, 20-year-old college student Alex Kearns of Naperville, Illinois took his own life after Robinhood approved him for options trading and allowed him to take on $730,000 in positions and exposure that he did not have the liquidity to cover.

More broadly, election betting markets are relatively small and can be easily manipulated by large bettors. These markets are also susceptible to bias and skew towards certain user demographics. For example, Robinhood’s average customer is younger and male, which does not accurately represent the electorate.

“We are concerned by Mr. Tenev’s misguided comments suggesting that election betting markets are the ‘fastest way to get information about what’s happening’ and address the ‘shortcomings’ of traditional news media…Comments like these, including Elon Musk’s claims that these markets are ‘more accurate than polls,’ are dangerous and can fuel distrust in the election process,” the lawmakers continued.

A copy of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. Tenev and Mr. Mackenzie:

We write to seek clarity about Robinhood’s recent decision to allow its customers to gamble on the results of the U.S. presidential election. Just two weeks before election day, on October 28, 2024, Robinhood launched political event contracts. These contracts enabled Robinhood customers to buy and sell ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ contracts for each candidate, the price of which varied based on the market’s prediction for each candidate’s odds of winning the election. Customers who own contracts with the correct outcome would receive $1.00 per contract, while those who bet on the losing candidate would walk away with nothing. It appears that Robinhood has capitalized on election betting to expand its profits, which could come at the expense of protecting investors.

Robinhood has characterized this latest offering as “unlocking a new asset class that democratizes access to events as they unfold.” This marketing raises concerns, especially given Robinhood’s history of exploiting inexperienced traders. Earlier this year, Robinhood settled charges with a state securities regulator for treating trading as a game, employing addictive in-app features like confetti, lottery ticket scratch-offs for free stock rewards, and push notifications to lure young, inexperienced investors into placing risky trades. In 2021, Robinhood was fined a record-setting $70 million for harming millions of its customers, including approving thousands to buy options, which are complex and risky financial instruments. For years, Robinhood relied on automated systems to authorize customers to place these trades, which resulted in rubber-stamp approval for customers who did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria for options trading.

The widespread harm inflicted by Robinhood on its customers cannot be undone. In 2020, 20-year-old college student Alex Kearns tragically took his own life after Robinhood approved him for options trading, allowed him to take on $730,000 in positions and exposure that he did not have the liquidity to cover, displayed false and misleading information about margin trading, and failed to provide him with the necessary customer support and investment guidance. It should give lawmakers, regulators, and investors immediate pause that Robinhood allows users to bet on elections with minimal requirements. To engage in such trading, Robinhood only requires that customers have margin investing enabled or Level 2 or 3 approval for options trading. In 2021, Robinhood claimed it had “revised experience requirements” for customers seeking approval for riskier option trades; however, a CBS investigation later revealed just how easy it still was to obtain approval to trade options.

When asked about investing experience, choosing “none” rejects users from trading options. However, the app then prompted the user to update their experience level and changing the response to “not much” results in approval. Currently, Robinhood’s website vaguely states that they evaluate information about a customer’s “trading experience, investment objectives, and financial situation” for options approval, while emphasizing that each brokerage retains the discretion to set the specific parameters.

Political event contracts are high-risk, speculative, and volatile products designed to attract retail traders and keep them trading. The nature of political polls shifting rapidly ahead of a high-profile election exacerbates incentives built into Robinhood’s platform. Robinhood has a reason to motivate retail investors to trade more frequently so that Robinhood can make money on the back end by routing orders to market makers through a practice called payment for order flow (PFOF). Political betting is attractive because these trades are fully collateralized from the start, where losses are capped at what has been put up as collateral. However, this could encourage risky behavior and lead traders to take larger or more frequent positions and accumulate losses over time. Moreover, political event contracts are structured as binary options that settle depending on whether an event occurs or not—there’s an all-or-nothing payout, where traders stand to and often lose the entirety of their investment. For instance, an Australian Securities and Investments Commission study found that 80% of retail customers lost money trading binary options. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has identified several other risks associated with speculative binary options products, including conflicts of interest, where the firm benefits when customers lose.

Furthermore, these markets can be easily manipulated by large bettors. For example, one French trader skewed the odds on Polymarket, an offshore betting platform, by putting nearly $30 million on Donald Trump. This is notable because options are sensitive to the volatility of the underlying asset—or in this case, the underlying event being the presidential election—and unexpected price swings can magnify potential losses.

Lastly, we are concerned by Mr. Tenev’s misguided comments suggesting that election betting markets are the “fastest way to get information about what’s happening” and address the “shortcomings” of traditional news media, citing that they delivered clear results hours before news networks called the election.

However, the New York Times election needle and other forecasting tools were similarly quick to indicate President-elect Donald Trump’s advantage as results came in. It is likely that the prediction markets were responding to the same publicly available vote counts and analyses that informed the media’s forecasting tools, as opposed to providing unique insights. Comments like these, including Elon Musk’s claims that these markets are “more accurate than polls,” are dangerous and can fuel distrust in the election process.

In reality, election betting markets are relatively small and far from the scale of U.S. debt and equities markets, which involve a diverse range of participants and convey messages that are taken seriously. Additionally, election betting markets have limited historical data available for accuracy, and tend to attract specific user demographics, mainly younger individuals and males. For instance, the average Robinhood customer is 31 years old and the majority of its users are men, which does not accurately represent the broader electorate.

Robinhood’s expansion into political gambling normalizes risky and speculative betting on critical events, which could cause significant harm to investors. To that end, we request answers to the following questions in writing by January 2, 2025.

Please detail the specific user information that Robinhood evaluates for Level 2 and 3 options trading approval.

What steps did Robinhood take during the 2024 election cycle to protect less sophisticated bettors from high-risk political gambles?

What safeguards are in place to prevent market manipulation in Robinhood’s political event contracts?

Why are users only allowed to trade political event contracts in-app and not on Robinhood’s website?

How does Robinhood differentiate between responsible investing opportunities and speculative gambling in its marketing and user experience?

How does Robinhood address concerns that political betting markets could undermine trust in democratic institutions and contribute to misinformation?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-on-continuing-resolution-until-march-2025,Casten Statement on Continuing Resolution Until March 2025,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has released the following statement regarding the continuing resolution passed by the House to keep the government open:

“Keeping our government open is one of the most basic responsibilities of Congress. Government funding should have been sorted out before the start of the 2025 fiscal year, but unfortunately, Speaker Mike Johnson proved incapable of doing this.

“When it became clear a full government funding package was not within reach, Democratic and Republican leadership engaged in negotiations and reached a strong, bipartisan agreement to keep our government open. Unfortunately, Elon Musk killed this deal, and President-elect Donald Trump followed his lead.

“Shutting the government down would have devastating consequences for Illinois. American troops, single mothers and their children, veterans, travelers, and more would have felt the impact. We have kicked the can down the road to avoid this, passing a continuing resolution to keep our government open until mid-March.

“I’m proud that House Democrats have once again stepped up and provided the necessary votes to keep the government open even when our Republican counterparts refused to do the same. The House must continue working to pass a full government funding package for FY2025 that addresses the needs of the American people.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-garcia-votes-to-avert-elon-musk-s-government-shutdown,Congressman García Votes to Avert Elon Musk’s Government Shutdown,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) released the following statement after voting for H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act, a continuing resolution (CR) that extends government funding, passes critical disaster assistance, and reauthorizes farm and nutrition programs:

“After Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on earth and Trump’s apparent puppeteer, destroyed a carefully negotiated bipartisan spending deal, he sent the House of Representatives spinning toward a holiday government shutdown. Today, I joined my fellow Democrats in supporting a bill that prevents the shutdown, keeping government services open and federal workers and service members paid.

“The bill we passed to be the adults in the room is not perfect. For example, it was missing prescription drug reforms to stop abusive pricing practices, a ban on junk fees related to hotels and live events, and funding for safe drinking water—all of which had been included in the bipartisan deal that Musk ruined. But by presenting a unified front, House Democrats successfully funded the government and strengthened their leverage to challenge Trump when he tries to extend his tax cuts for billionaires next year.

“Despite the chaos this week, I will continue standing for working families and against oligarchic power grabs.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-statement-vote-avoid-government-shutdown,Foster Statement on Vote to Avoid Government Shutdown,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the House passed the end-of-year continuing resolution:

“I’m relieved that a bipartisan majority came together to keep the government open and working for the American people. But let’s be clear: This was not the bipartisan agreement that was negotiated in good faith. Though disaster was avoided this time, it’s disturbing that so many Republicans seem more interested in following orders from an unelected billionaire rather than doing what’s in the best interest of their constituents. Not a good sign for the new Congress.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for final passage.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://lahood.house.gov/2024/12/lahood-announces-winner-of-the-2024-congressional-app-challenge,LaHood Announces Winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Darin LaHood,L000585,lahood.house.gov,lahood,https://lahood.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Representative Darin LaHood (IL-16) announced today that a team of four students - Saaketh Bhojanam, Sohum Mehta, Abhilash Polu, and Sonit Sahoo - from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy have won this year’s Congressional App Challenge (CAC) in Illinois’ 16th Congressional District. The team developed an application called “BiteSense,” using Python as their programming language. BiteSense photographs insect bites and uses AI to identify and provide treatment advice for the bite.

“My office has been proud to host the Congressional App Challenge for the past 9 years to encourage students in the 16th Congressional District to pursue their passion in STEM fields,” said Rep. LaHood. “Each year, I have been amazed by the talent of our students and the creativity of the applications they put together to solve real-world problems. Congratulations to Saaketh, Sohum, Abhilash, and Sonit, and thank you to all the students who participated this year!”

The winning group will receive an invitation to demonstrate their application in Washington, D.C., have their application featured on the House of Representatives website, www.house.gov, and receive a copyright fee waiver provided through the Arts Act. A video link to the winning group’s application can be found here.

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers in STEM fields. Since its inception in 2015, the Challenge has grown to become the largest student computer science competition in the United States, with the 2024 Congressional App Challenge setting multiple records. This year’s CAC included the participation of 12,682 students and a total of 3,881 original applications submitted from districts across the United States.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-statement-continuing-resolution,Schakowsky Statement on Continuing Resolution,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement on the continuing resolution to keep government programs and services functioning until March 14, 2025:

“Today, I voted in favor of a continuing resolution to keep our government open and funded. Republicans, under the leadership of President Musk and his puppet Donald Trump, had us on a collision course towards a government shutdown right before the holidays which would have forced our troops to work without pay, harmed small businesses, risked air travel disruptions, endangered access to food assistance for millions of mothers and their children, and so much more. Not only would a shutdown have hurt working families, but it would also have damaged our economy and endangered our national security.

“Earlier this week, Democrats and Republicans reached a deal on a bipartisan package to further enhance Americans’ health care and protect consumers, but Republicans broke their promise. While today’s continuing resolution did not include everything I wanted, we could not let the government shut down. By refusing to raise the debt ceiling, for now, we have blocked Donald Trump’s ability to give handouts to the wealthiest Americans and big corporations. Make no mistake about it, this vote is not only a victory for the Democrats, who worked diligently to avert a shutdown, but most importantly for the American people.

“Republicans should stop holding the American economy hostage and start governing responsibly. They should stop their fruitless and mean-spirited crusade to snatch much needed benefits from millions of Americans. Their willingness to shut down the government to get their way is the height of irresponsibility. As we prepare to enter the 119th Congress, House Democrats will continue to oppose their cruel efforts and will keep fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ health care, food assistance programs, and other vital programs.

“I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this continuing resolution to keep our government open.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/los-representantes-garcia-y-grijalva-exigen-respuestas-del-dhs-sobre-uso-de-inteligencia-artificial-en-toma-de-decisiones-sobre-inmigracion,Los Representantes García y Grijalva Exigen Respuestas del DHS sobre Uso de Inteligencia Artificial en Toma de Decisiones sobre Inmigración,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hoy, los Representantes Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) y Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) enviaron una carta al secretario de Seguridad Nacional, Alejandro Mayorkas, al director de información, Eric Hysen, y a la directora de la Oficina de Administración y Presupuesto (OMB), Shalanda Young, sobre la falta de transparencia en el uso de tecnologías de inteligencia artificial (IA) por parte del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) y sus subagencias.

Según un informe reciente de Futures Law y Mijente, el DHS ha estado utilizando tecnologías de IA para informar decisiones críticas, como a quien deportar, detener y a qué familias separar, a quien otorgar la ciudadanía y a quien proteger de la persecución, sin una regulación o notificación adecuada a las personas afectadas. En octubre de 2023, el presidente Biden emitió la Orden Ejecutiva 14110, que estableció nuevos estándares para la seguridad de la IA para las agencias federales. De manera similar, la OMB emitió un memorando en marzo de 2024

“Avanzando en la gobernancia, la innovación y la gestión de riesgos para el uso de inteligencia artificial por parte de las agencias”, que ordena a las agencias federales que promuevan la gobernancia y la innovación de la IA al tiempo que gestionan los riesgos para los derechos y la seguridad del público. Desde entonces, la OMB ha declarado que las agencias deben alinear sus herramientas de IA con las pautas antes del 1 de diciembre, y que cualquier extensión o exención de ese plazo se divulgará públicamente este mes.

La carta, firmada por los Representantes y 11 de sus colegas de la Cámara de Representantes, solicita respuestas sobre cómo el DHS y las agencias de inmigración están garantizando que los migrantes reciban una revisión justa e imparcial de sus solicitudes y qué salvaguardas existen para evitar negaciones injustificadas.

“Si bien reconozco que la inteligencia artificial tiene aplicaciones prometedoras para algunos usos gubernamentales, el ritmo agresivo al que el DHS está implementando su uso representa una amenaza grave para los derechos de los inmigrantes”, dijo el Representante García. “Debemos asegurarnos de que ningún algoritmo socave sus derechos o introduzca sesgos en decisiones que alteran la vida. El uso de inteligencia artificial por parte del DHS debe ser transparente y responsable para garantizar que no perpetúe los sesgos o la injusticia”.

“Existe un equilibrio realmente delicado entre impulsar la innovación y la eficiencia y automatizar las decisiones de vida o muerte, especialmente cuando se trata de la aplicación y la adjudicación de la ley de inmigración. Integrar aún más la IA en nuestro sistema de inmigración sin las barandillas adecuadas plantea un gran riesgo para las libertades civiles de las personas”, dijo el Representante Grijalva. “El DHS, sus subagencias y la OMB deben brindar respuestas sobre cómo están garantizando que las personas reciban una revisión justa e imparcial de sus solicitudes y qué salvaguardas existen para evitar negaciones injustificadas. Ante los planes de la administración entrante de deportaciones masivas y separación de familias, es fundamental que hagamos estas preguntas ahora”.

La carta completa se puede encontrar aquí.

La carta está firmada por los Representantes Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Greg Casar (TX-35), y Valeria P. Foushee (NC-04).

La carta cuenta con el respaldo de: Futures Law, Mijente, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Latino Policy Forum, HANA Center.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-garcia-and-grijalva-demand-answers-from-dhs-on-use-of-ai-in-immigration-decision-making,Reps. García and Grijalva Demand Answers from DHS on Use of AI in Immigration Decision-Making,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Chief Information Officer Eric Hysen, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young regarding the lack of transparency in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its subagencies.

According to a recent report by Futures Law and Mijente, DHS has been using AI technologies to inform critical decisions including whether to deport, detain and separate families, grant citizenship, and whether to protect someone from persecution, without proper regulation or notification of the impacted individuals.

In October of 2023, President Biden issuedExecutive Order 14110, which established new standards for AI safety and security for federal agencies. Similarly, OMB issued a March 2024 memo “Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence,” which directs federal agencies to advance AI governance and innovation while managing risks to the rights and safety of the public. OMB has since declared that agencies must align their AI tools with the guidelines by December 1, and that any extensions or waivers of that deadline will be publicly disclosed this month.

The letter requests answers on how DHS and immigration agencies are ensuring migrants receive a fair and non-biased review of their applications and what safeguards are in place to prevent unjustified denials.

“While I recognize that artificial intelligence has promising applications for some government uses, the aggressive pace at which DHS is implementing its use is posing a serious threat to immigrants’ rights,” said Rep. García. “We must ensure that no algorithm undermines their rights or introduces bias into life-altering decisions. The use of artificial intelligence by DHS must be transparent and accountable to ensure it does not perpetuate bias or injustice.”

“There’s a really delicate balance between pushing for innovation and efficiency and automating life-or-death decisions, especially when it comes to immigration enforcement and adjudication. Further integrating AI into our immigration system without the proper guardrails poses a great risk to people’s civil liberties,” said Rep. Grijalva. “DHS, its subagencies and OMB must provide answers on how they are ensuring individuals receive a fair and non-biased review of their applications and what safeguards are in place to prevent unjustified denials. In light of the incoming administration’s plans of mass deportations and separation of families, it is critical that we ask these questions now.”

The full letter can be found here.

Co-signers of the letter include: Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Sylvia R. García (TX-29), Greg Casar (TX-35), Valeria P. Foushee (NC-04).

This letter is endorsed by: Futures Law, Mijente, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Latino Policy Forum and HANA Center.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-danny-k-davis-urges-passage-continuing-resolution-prevent-illinois,Congressman Danny K. Davis Urges Passage of Continuing Resolution to Prevent Illinois from Losing $2.6 Billion in Federal Funds,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL-7) is sounding the alarm over the catastrophic impact on Illinois if the Continuing Resolution fails to pass. The state stands to lose $2.647 billion in vital federal funding for disaster relief, infrastructure projects, and economic development, jeopardizing recovery efforts and community well-being across the region.

“The failure to pass the Continuing Resolution is not just a procedural issue—it is a direct threat to the livelihoods of millions of Illinois residents,” said Congressman Davis. “These funds are critical for disaster recovery, rebuilding infrastructure, and fostering economic stability. Without them, Illinois will suffer devastating consequences.”

Key Impacts on Illinois:

Disaster Recovery: Illinois would lose essential funding for rebuilding homes, restoring communities, and supporting local economies impacted by natural disasters.

Agricultural Relief: Over $1.448 billion earmarked for agricultural disaster payments and economic assistance to Illinois farmers is at risk. This funding is critical to addressing crop losses and supporting rural communities.

Community Development: More than $856 million designated for housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery projects under the Community Development Block Grant program would be eliminated, leaving vulnerable families and communities in limbo.

Transportation and Infrastructure: Illinois would miss out on funds needed to repair critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges essential for public safety and economic growth.

“Every day that Congress delays action increases the suffering of hardworking Americans. It is our moral obligation to pass this resolution and ensure that communities in Illinois and across the country receive the support they desperately need,” Congressman Davis added.

Congressman Davis continues to advocate tirelessly for bipartisan cooperation to address this pressing issue. He is urging his colleagues in Congress to prioritize the needs of their constituents and act swiftly to prevent Illinois and other states from enduring unnecessary financial harm.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-durbin-duckworth-celebrate-passage-resolution-name-fermilab-research,"Foster, Durbin, Duckworth Celebrate Passage of Resolution to Name Fermilab Research Center After Renowned Physicist Dr. Helen Edwards",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded the House and Senate passage of their bicameral resolution, included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, to rename Fermilab’s Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) after the late Dr. Helen Edwards, who worked at Fermilab as a particle physicist for 40 years. The IERC is home to new office and lab space that hosts an intersection of scientific disciplines.

“Over its history, Fermilab's success has been built by the hard work of committed scientists. Helen Edwards was a scientific and technical leader of Fermilab from its earliest days, and she was a dear friend. Helen was also deeply committed to the accelerator research and engineering that will be carried out in the Integrated Engineering Research Center, and it is altogether fitting that it bears her name. I’m thrilled that my colleagues and I were able to get this legislation across the finish line to honor her memory,” said Foster.

“An extraordinary scientist, Dr. Helen Edwards dedicated 40 years of her life to deepening our understanding of particle physics. Her pioneering work in the design, construction, and operation of the Tevatron earned her well-deserved national recognition and provided the foundation for the advanced particle physics research conducted by Fermilab scientists today,” said Durbin. “I look forward to seeing Dr. Edwards’ name on Fermilab’s new IERC, honoring her decades of historic work.”

“Illinois’s own Fermilab is a crown jewel of American innovation at the forefront of cutting-edge science,” Duckworth said. “For years, hundreds of scientists and engineers at Fermilab have dedicated their expertise to scientific discovery and answering some of the world’s most complicated questions, including the late and brilliant Dr. Helen Edwards. I’m proud that our resolution to rename the Integrated Engineering Research Center after Dr. Edwards is heading to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law—it’s well-deserved, and it tells generations of girls interested in science that they belong at the table.”

“Helen Edwards was an extraordinary scientific leader and the architect and builder of Fermilab’s Tevatron. Her visionary leadership and foresight shaped Fermilab’s directions for many decades and will continue to far into the future. She has been an inspiration to me since my early days as a graduate student at Fermilab, for her strong and passionate leadership and dedication to our lab,” said Lia Merminga, Director of Fermilab. “I am thrilled to have one of the landmarks on our site named after her. The Helen Edwards Engineering Center will join the ranks of other named places on site that celebrate visionary science and leadership: Wilson Hall, Ramsey Auditorium, Feynman Computing Center, Lederman Science Center and the Tollestrup Auditorium, all located at the national laboratory that is named after Enrico Fermi.

The resolution was also cosponsored by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL).

Dr. Edwards was a particle physicist best known for overseeing the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of the Tevatron, a machine which for 25 years served as the most powerful particle collider in the world. The Tevatron was used to find two of three fundamental particles discovered at Fermilab – the top quark in 1995 and the tau neutrino in 2000.

Dr. Edwards’ work on the Tevatron earned her a MacArthur Genius Grant in 1988 and the National Medal of Technology in 1989. The Tevatron remained in use until 2011 when Fermilab moved to new accelerator projects like the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, which relies heavily on the foundations built by Dr. Edwards. Dr. Edwards passed away in 2016.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-raja-krishnamoorthi-opposes-partisan-continuing-resolution,Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Opposes Partisan Continuing Resolution,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following statement on the partisan continuing resolution put forth tonight:

“I oppose the new continuing resolution (CR) because it trades a clean CR for a dirty one. The dirty CR throws away the bipartisan compromises agreed to on the previous legislation while increasing the debt limit for another Trump tax giveaway to special interests at the expense of working families. This dirty CR cherry-picks winners and losers by embracing the priorities of special interests and abandoning key elements they oppose. It removes bipartisan provisions to reduce prescription drug prices by cracking down on the abuses of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and it slashes critical funding for opioid abuse prevention and treatment, the anti-hunger efforts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), brain injury prevention initiatives, and childhood cancer research.

The dirty CR also fails to prepare our nation to meet the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as it removes previously included restrictions on American outbound investment into the People’s Republic of China – including the COINS Act which was based on my bipartisan work on the Select Committee on the CCP. The new partisan plan also glaringly omits other measures to address the economic, national security, and human rights challenges we face from the CCP. I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-raja-krishnamoorthi-responds-census-bureau-data-showing-illinois,Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Responds To Census Bureau Data Showing Illinois' Population Is Growing,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to a new Census Bureau data release which showed Illinois’ population is growing:

“I am pleased to see that the latest data released by the U.S. Census Bureau reflects a growing Illinois population. Census officials continue to work with municipalities in my district and throughout Illinois to address modifications to past undercounts. I look forward to seeing progress made to rectify previous undercounts that adversely affected Illinois’ share of federal funding.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-musk-trump-republicans-pushing-national,"Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Musk, Trump, Republicans Pushing for a National Shutdown",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement:

“Multibillionaire Elon Musk wants to shut down the government and destroy the foundations of our working-class families. Again, people who will not feel the painful impact of their choices are playing with our lives and livelihoods. Musk, Trump, and Speaker Johnson want to rob our constituents of the services, the pay, and the emergency resources they need and depend on, at the holidays, no less. Make no mistake: Musk, Trump, and Johnson will be just fine if they force a national shutdown.

Let’s all remember the impacts of a shutdown on our families and communities: active duty and reserve armed forces personnel and federal employees will go without pay, TSA lines will be long, and seniors, veterans, and working families may see delays in their benefits. Without a disaster relief supplemental, Illinois stands to lose $2.6 billion that could help families and businesses rebuild and recover.

We have to ask ourselves what is important: we must deliver the bipartisan negotiated continuing resolution to the American people so that the services people depend on and the public servants that are the backbone of our communities have security and stability through the holidays. Greedy billionaires and Republican leadership are putting veterans, seniors, families, and everyday Americans in danger. We deserve better.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-republicans-offering-their-billionaire-bosses,Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Republicans Offering to Their Billionaire Bosses,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement after voting NO on H.R. 10515, the so-called American Relief Act, 2025.

“We had an agreement. A bipartisan negotiated continuing resolution. But then the Republicans’ billionaire bosses - Trump and Musk - got involved, and Republicans showed us *exactly* who they work for. In the last 48 hours, the Republicans have shown, AGAIN, that their agenda is the corporate billionaire, big money in politics agenda.

In order to meet their bosses’ expectations, they offer up vulnerable Americans as an offering, sacrificing working people’s healthcare, children’s research, elderly people’s affordable prescription drugs, and much, much more. And they are laying the groundwork to make the rich richer through tax cuts for the ultrawealthy in the 119th Congress.

If the Republicans want to make the rich richer, the poor poorer, and the sick sicker, they will have to pass this continuing resolution without me. I work for everyday Americans. I am not beholden to billionaires. I voted NO.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-robin-kelly-house-republicans-reckless-behavior-hurts-hardworking,Rep. Robin Kelly: House Republicans’ Reckless Behavior Hurts Hardworking Americans,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican’s failed spending bill that would hurt hardworking Americans:

“House Republicans are trying to shove through a debt-limit increase at the eleventh hour to avoid a government shutdown of their own making. They set fire to our bipartisan plan that would have funded the government and helped hardworking Americans, all at the behest of an unelected billionaire. They are currently risking a government shutdown that will hurt millions of Americans, including 9,054 federal workers in the Second District who will be forced to work without pay. This is reckless behavior.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-on-the-impending-release-of-the-gaetz-report,Casten Statement on the Impending Release of the Gaetz Report,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten has issued the following statement regarding reports that the House Ethics Committee plans to release its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Representative Matt Gaetz before the end of the 118th Congress:

“As someone who cares deeply about upholding the integrity of the House of Representatives and ensuring that there is full transparency to the American people, I welcome the news that the Gaetz Report is expected to be released before the end of this Congress,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “The House Ethics Committee has, on multiple occasions, released its report on Members who resigned while under investigation. This is the precedent House Republican leadership attempted to overturn when they voted earlier this month to hide the Gaetz Report.

“I’m glad to see reports that the House Ethics Committee will rise above this partisanship and release the Gaetz Report. Resigning from Congress should not allow you to avoid accountability for allegations of serious misconduct.”

Earlier this month, Rep. Casten introduced a privileged resolution to force a vote by the full House of Representatives requiring the House Ethics Committee to release the Gaetz Report. House Republican leadership then passed a motion to kill the resolution.

Last month, Rep. Casten led 97 House Democrats in a letter to the House Ethics Committee requesting the immediate release of its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://lahood.house.gov/2024/12/lahood-introduces-bill-to-modernize-tax-system-for-americans-living-overseas,LaHood Introduces Bill to Modernize Tax System for  Americans Living Overseas,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Darin LaHood,L000585,lahood.house.gov,lahood,https://lahood.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL), a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act, a bill that would implement a residence-based taxation system for U.S. citizens currently living overseas.

Today, the United States is the only major country that uses citizenship-based taxation, a system that levies taxes on individuals regardless of where they live or whether they earn income in the United States. This bill would permit Americans living overseas to elect to be treated as a non-resident American, allowing them to be subject to U.S. tax only on U.S.-sourced income and gains.

According to recent estimates, more than 5 million U.S. citizens are currently living abroad. This group includes both Americans that were born and raised in the United States but have since moved abroad indefinitely, as well as “accidental Americans,” or individuals who hold dual citizenship in the United States and a foreign country but are unaware of their status as U.S. citizens.

This issue has received more attention in recent years and was a priority for President-elect Trump during the campaign trail earlier this fall. In an exclusive with The Wall Street Journal in October, President Trump stated, “I support ending the double taxation of overseas Americans.”

“This is a non-partisan issue that impacts U.S. citizens with roots in districts across the country. In today’s world, Americans choose to live and work abroad for a host of reasons, and that does not mean that they should be subject to more onerous tax and compliance burdens,” said Rep. LaHood. “I look forward to working with President-elect Trump and my House colleagues on both sides of the aisle to modernize our tax code to ensure Americans are not punished for living and working abroad.”

“For the first time in our lifetimes, Americans abroad can see the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel that has cost them huge amounts in accounting fees, ruined relationships, and made it impossible for them to live normal lives,” said Brandon Mitchener, Executive Director of Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad. ""We thank Mr. LaHood for his leadership and look forward to working with him to collect feedback on this non-partisan approach and to help advance the bill to the president’s desk next year.”

Rep. LaHood has worked closely with Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad (TFFAA) in the drafting of this bill. TFFAA is a U.S. non-profit organization whose Board members have deep personal experience navigating the pitfalls of U.S. tax and financial services laws that affect Americans abroad. The organization’s sole mission is to advocate for a U.S. tax system for Americans abroad that is based on residence and source, not citizenship.

Today’s introduction provides an opportunity for stakeholders and Americans currently living abroad to provide feedback ahead of reintroduction in the 119th Congress. Rep. LaHood is hopeful the bill can be considered in a reconciliation package next year. Text for the bill can be found here.

Key Features of the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act:

The bill establishes an elective process for a U.S. citizen living abroad to be treated as a non-resident without having to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship.

Under this new tax regime, an electing taxpayer would be subject to U.S. tax only on U.S.-sourced income and gains (such as income from ownership in a U.S. business), distributions from U.S. retirement and deferred compensation plans, income from assets physically located in the U.S. (such as rent from real-estate investments), and other U.S.-sourced income or gains.

The electing individual would be treated for tax purposes like a foreign individual residing outside the United States with U.S.-sourced income.

An electing individual must certify compliance with U.S. tax obligations for the five years prior to the election date, with exceptions for certain existing, long-term Americans abroad.

Once the election is made, it would be effective for the current and all future taxable years until terminated (either by the non-resident American self-withdrawing the election or if the individual again becomes a U.S. resident for tax purposes).

Since the election is intended for Americans living abroad over the long term, the bill requires the non-resident American to live abroad for at least three years from the election date or the election would be reversed entirely.

For purposes of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) only, a non-resident American would be able to apply to the IRS for a certificate of non-residency to use with foreign financial institutions.

By allowing the non-resident American to establish that he or she is not a “specific United States person,” foreign financial institutions would not be required to undertake burdensome reporting requirements under FATCA, which frequently discourage them from offering banking services to Americans living and working abroad.

Similarly, the non-resident American would be exempt from certain reporting requirements (and substantial associated penalties) with respect to foreign assets and transactions, including Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Reports (FBAR).

To help ensure fiscal balance and prevent abuse, the electing individual must also pay a departure tax on deferred income, with certain exceptions.

An election would require the individual to pay a departure tax based on deferred income, treating all property as if sold for fair market value on the day before the election with the gains and losses taken into account for purposes of determining the departure tax.

Once the departure tax is paid, the individual’s basis in each asset subject to tax would be the fair market value (stepped up basis).

The bill provides three exceptions to the departure tax, for an individual who:

Has a net worth (i.e., fair market value of all assets over liabilities) of less than the applicable estate tax exemption amount ($13.61 million for 2024, $13.99 million for 2025); or

Is a tax resident of a foreign country where the individual has regularly, normally, or customarily lived for three of the past five years, and such individual certifies that he or she has been in compliance with U.S. tax requirements for the three years prior to the bill’s introduction; or

Has not been a U.S. resident at any time since turning 25 years old or after March 28, 2010 (date that FATCA was adopted) through the date of enactment of the bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-ramirez-castro-senators-blumenthal-merkley-hirono-markey-introduce-bill,"Reps Ramirez, Castro & Senators Blumenthal, Merkley, Hirono, Markey Introduce Bill to Reunite Separated Families & Prevent Future Separation",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC– Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, along with Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT-D), Jeff Merkley (OR-D), Mazie Hirono (HI-D), and Edward Markey (MA-D)introduced the bicameral Family Reunification Task Force Act. The legislation authorizes the Family Reunification Task Force to continue its work to reunite the thousands of families torn apart by Trump’s Zero Tolerance policy that inhumanely separated children from their parents.

Established by President Biden’s Executive Order in 2021, the task force is at risk of getting disbanded despite more than 1,300 children still needing to be reunited with family.

“Trump’s cruel zero tolerance policy of ripping families apart intentionally inflicted irreparable trauma on immigrant parents, children, and communities. It's a practice we will never – and should never – forget or repeat,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “While we can never fully right those wrongs, the Family Reunification Task Force Act is a critical means to address the harm inflicted on the families separated at our border. Our legislation aims to urgently reunite families, and to affirm that families should never be separated by our government at our borders.”

Senator Blumenthal stated, “The first Trump Administration’s family separation policy was a catastrophic failing, and still, six years later, hundreds of children remain apart from their parents. The Family Reunification Task Force has done important work to identify and reunite families traumatized by this cruel policy and that work is not yet done. This bill is a necessary step to continue to right the wrongs of family separation, no matter who is in office.”

“President Trump’s family separation policy was one of the worst episodes of moral failure in our country’s history. I was glad to see the Biden-Harris administration create the Family Reunification Task Force to help identify and reunify families impacted by this horrific abuse of human rights,” said Congressman Castro. “As the next Trump administration approaches, this bill will protect the Task Force and ensure that the United States remains committed to reuniting more than a thousand children who are still separated from their parents. Continuing the work of this Task Force is the bare minimum we owe to these families.”

The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Al Green (TX-09), André Carson (IN-07), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), James McGovern (MA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13).

Endorsers include Kids in Need of Defense, National Immigration Law Center, Human Rights First, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Human Rights Watch, Justice in Motion, Prevention Institute, Women's Refugee Commission, Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, Amnesty International USA, American Civil Liberties Union, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Save the Children, Acacia Center for Justice, National Immigrant Justice Center, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (""ImmDef""), National Center for Youth Law, National Immigration Project, Latin America Working Group, Tahirih Justice Center, Refugees International, ASISTA Immigration Assistance, and American Immigration Council.

“My family and I thank the Members of Congress who support the Family Reunification Task Force so that children that are still separated from their families can be reunited at last,” said Kseniia M., an asylum seeker from Russia and member of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. “The months we were separated from our then three-year-old daughter were incredibly painful, and as a family, we will live with the repercussions of that separation for the rest of our lives. We urge the U.S. government to continue to prioritize reunification and justice for all families affected by family separation policies.”

“KIND has witnessed firsthand the lasting harm of family separation on our child clients. In partnership with the Family Reunification Task Force, our organization has been part of the ongoing work to identify parents and children who are still separated and to bring them back together. Through its leadership of this effort, the Task Force has proved essential to reunifying families and ensuring the enduring impacts of separation are addressed. But the work is not finished,” Jennifer Podkul, Chief of Global Policy and Advocacy for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), stated. “KIND is proud to support the Family Reunification Task Force Act and commends Representative Ramirez, Representative Castro, and Senator Blumenthal for this vital measure to ensure that the Task Force can continue its critical mission to make families whole and prevent future unwarranted separations.”

“We commend the leaders and participants in this vital effort to ensure the work of the Family Reunification Task Force continues. The Task Force’s unwavering efforts have successfully reunited thousands of families, but more than 1,300 children are still separated from loved ones due to policies implemented during the first Trump administration. The Task Force is a collaborative project bringing federal government, non-governmental organizations, and attorneys together to reunite families, working to close this reprehensible chapter of our nation’s history,” said Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Cathleen Caron, Founder and Executive Director of Justice in Motion, noted, “As an organization deeply involved in the critical work of reuniting families separated at the border, we have witnessed firsthand the profound devastation the separations cause. The impact of reuniting children with their families is immeasurable. It is crucial that Congress take swift and decisive action to ensure every family impact is made whole and that mass family separation never happens again.”

""Over 1,300 children remain separated from their parents because of the harmful zero tolerance policy enacted under President Trump’s first term. No child should ever be forcibly separated from their family, period. President Trump’s zero tolerance policy separated thousands of children seeking safety with their parents as a cruel deterrence policy,” said Amy Fischer, Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International USA. “At the beginning of his presidency, President Biden created a task force to find impacted families and children to reunite them, but because these separations were intentionally done without appropriate record keeping or coordination, over 1,000 children still remain separated today. Amnesty International USA proudly endorses Rep. Ramirez, Rep. Castro, and Senator Blumenthal’s Family Reunification Task Force Act to ensure the work of reunification continues regardless of the administration. The United States has an obligation to reunite and provide redress to impacted families, and this important legislation ensures that this work continues.""

“The family separation policy was one of the darkest chapters of the previous Trump administration, with babies and toddlers taken from their parents’ arms, and thousands of families ripped apart. For too many families, still awaiting reunification, this disastrous nightmare continues. We need legislation like the Family Reunification Task Force Act so that these children are not forgotten and can finally return to their loved ones,” said Sarah Mehta, Senior Border Policy Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.

“The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is grateful for champions in Congress showing they will fight for our communities and stand up to defend the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers,” said Jesse Franzblau, Senior Policy Analyst with NIJC. “As an organization that has represented separated children and their parents, we have witnessed first-hand the long-lasting traumatic impact of this inhumane policy. Measures such as the Family Reunification Task Force Act are imperative to reunite families and defend against a repeat of the worst human rights abuse of the first Trump administration.”

“Family unity is essential to a humane immigration system that honors the rights and dignity of all people. Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) is proud to endorse the Family Reunification Task Force Act and thanks Representatives Ramirez and Castro and Senator Blumenthal for standing with immigrant families. As first-hand witnesses to the trauma caused by the zero-tolerance policy, we implore Congress to prevent the tragedy of family separation by passing this important legislation,” Marion (""Mickey"") Donovan-Kaloust, Director of Legal Services at ImmDef said. “No child should ever have to pay the price of our broken immigration system. Separating families undermines the moral values that define the United States. By passing the Family Reunification Task Force Act, Congress will reaffirm our fundamental values of compassion and justice for all.”

Kelly Albinak Kribs, Attorney and Co-Director of the Technical Assistance Program at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights stated, “Separated children and families deserve support and a path toward justice. Young Center child advocates have over the years worked with and accompanied hundreds of children torn unnecessarily from their parents, bearing witness to their fear, trauma, and uncertainty about the future. The Family Reunification Task Force is one tool in the kit to help families with reunification. We are grateful to Rep. Ramirez, Rep. Castro, and Senator Blumenthal for highlighting families navigating reunification, and we urge Congress to stand up for family unity and reject any future family separation policies.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-barbara-lee-announces-rep-robin-kelly-will-lead-fight-reauthorize,Rep. Barbara Lee Announces Rep. Robin Kelly will Lead Fight to Reauthorize PEPFAR Next Congress,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, today reintroduced legislation to extend the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. Rep. Lee also announced that Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) will lead the fight to reauthorize PEPFAR in the 119th Congress.

“I am honored to carry Congresswoman Lee’s legacy into next Congress and save lives from HIV and AIDS. She laid out a roadmap in PEPFAR to combat this epidemic in countries worldwide, and we must continue to fund this critical program,” said Rep. Kelly. “Congresswoman Lee, a mentor to many legislators, has proven that great progress can be achieved in the fight to reduce the prevalence of HIV and AIDS. As the US further engages in the global effort against HIV and AIDS, I look forward to working with advocates to reauthorize one of the world's most successful health programs.""

“Under the leadership of Representative Robin Kelly, I am confident that we will achieve the robust federal funding and the substantial investments that we need to end the HIV and AIDS pandemic for everyone, everywhere,” said Rep. Lee.

Lee worked with President George W. Bush and a broad community of activists, community leaders and clinicians to establish PEPFAR in 2003. Since its inception, PEPFAR has been critical in the fight against HIV and AIDS and has been credited with saving over 25 million lives.

“Thanks to PEPFAR, millions of lives have been saved through HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and education. But Congress must recommit to this fight,” said Rep. Lee. “For over 20 years, PEPFAR has been a testament to the bipartisan cooperation on U.S. leadership in global public health. We are so close to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic; we can’t stop until we defeat AIDS for everyone, everywhere. As many around the world still do not have the resources and care they need, Congress must do the important work to protect and reauthorize PEPFAR. I am optimistic that the 119th Congress will again find the bipartisan will to extend PEPFAR’s lifesaving work. We have an obligation not only to millions of AIDS patients across the globe, but to the activists, advocates, clinicians, and implementers who have worked tirelessly to create and sustain this program and keep it fully funded.”

“PEPFAR represents the very best of American leadership,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “As a result of over 20 years of bipartisan commitment, 25 million lives have been saved, and an AIDS-free generation is within our reach. Reauthorizing PEPFAR for another five years demonstrates the American people’s generosity and our commitment to global health and ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”

This clean reauthorization would extend the PEPFAR program for five years. Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has invested over $110 billion in countries all over the world to prevent infections, strengthen global health security, combat stigma, and achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2030.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kelly-introduces-bill-protect-hospitals-cyberattacks,Rep. Kelly Introduces Bill to Protect Hospitals from Cyberattacks,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced legislation that would improve cybersecurity standards for hospitals. The Healthcare Cybersecurity Improvement Act (H.R. 10455) was introduced in the wake of increased ransomware attacks on hospitals.

“When patients put their health in the hands of doctors and healthcare providers, they’re also entrusting their most private data to hospitals’ cybersecurity systems – and the truth is that these systems are not up to par,” said Rep. Kelly. “It has become woefully obvious that hospitals need better standards and investments to help ward off cyberattacks, especially smaller hospitals that need larger capacity and expertise. Americans going into surgery or rushing to the hospital for an emergency should not have to worry whether their doctor’s medical equipment has been hacked or care has to be delayed because of a ransomware attack.”

A total of 258 hospitals experienced ransomware attacks in 2023, a 128% increase compared to the year prior. This caused delayed medical procedures, disrupted patient care, rescheduled medical appointments, and strained acute care provisioning and capacity.

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Improvement Act is supported by the cybersecurity organization, I Am the Cavalry.

“While the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has focused the industry on the confidentiality of data, we have seen worse harms manifest in the form of cyber-disruption, and the attackers show no signs that they will let up,” said Joshua Corman, co-founder of I Am The Cavalry. “These attacks cause degraded patient care with quantifiable increases in worsened outcomes and even losses of life. Congresswoman Robin Kelly has consistently engaged with ethical hackers through I Am The Cavalry on filling these gaps toward more resilience in small, medium, and rural healthcare facilities, so any American can count on timely access to emergency care.”

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Improvement Act proposes four changes to help protect patients’ healthcare data:

Places in statute the Healthcare Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) so the office can continue its important work.

Creates an initial grant program with $100 million to boost the cybersecurity efforts of small- and medium-sized hospitals.

Requires the HHS to create basic cybersecurity standards to then be included as a Condition of Participation for hospitals receiving Medicare funding.

Creates liability protection so larger healthcare systems can provide smaller health centers access to cyber resources without fear of liability.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kelly-senators-durbin-duckworth-chicago-delegation-announce-19,"Rep. Kelly, Senators Durbin, Duckworth, Chicago Delegation Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement with FTA to Support Chicago’s Red Line Extension Project",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually obligate $1.9 billion in federal funding to the project, solidifying the federal government’s commitment to the project.

“South Side residents have been waiting a long time for the Red Line Extension, and my colleagues and I have long fought for this project,” said Kelly. “Today’s announcement of $1.9 billion in federal funding is a huge and encouraging step toward the very first CTA train station in the Second District, connecting people to the greater Chicago area. This investment in public transportation will provide direct transportation options downtown for South Side residents and create economic growth at home.”

“The announcement of a $1.9 billion full funding grant agreement is a significant milestone for the City of Chicago as it moves forward with the Red Line Extension Project,” said Durbin. “Thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago have been waiting for this project to become a reality. This extension will improve transit access for Chicagoans while creating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. I’m heartened to see this firm commitment, with significant buy-in, from the federal government, which my Chicago-area delegation colleagues and I have long-advocated for.”

“No matter their zip code, all Chicagoans deserve reliable and accessible public transit to get to school, get to work and more easily move throughout Chicagoland,” Duckworth said. “After my efforts alongside Senator Durbin and our Chicagoland House colleagues to push for this, I’m grateful to help announce this nearly $2 billion funding commitment from Biden Administration for the Red Line Extension Project, which will make a real difference in the lives of so many on Chicago’s South Side, not just by improving transit options for residents but also with the thousands of jobs this project will create and the economic benefits it will bring. I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to make our public transportation more efficient, safe and accessible for all of Chicago.”

“Extending the Red Line to Chicago’s South Side is not just an investment in transit infrastructure—it’s an investment in connecting our communities and in economic equity for neighborhoods that have been historically neglected,” said Ramirez. “This $1.9 billion in federal funding brings us closer to a future where every resident, regardless of zip code, has access to reliable transportation, good-paying jobs, and economic opportunity. I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in the Illinois delegation to deliver for Chicago.”

“For too long, residents of the Far South Side have faced lengthy commute times to get where they need to go,” said García. “This $1.9 billion investment improves their access to schools, jobs, and other daily necessities. I am also happy to see that the project will prioritize bus, bike, and pedestrian connections to ensure a safe and seamless experience when transferring onto the system. As a senior member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I’m proud to have helped secure the federal funding to finish this project and I thank my Chicago-area colleagues for moving this project forward.”

“Chicago’s South Side communities have long lacked adequate access to public transit. The extension of the CTA red line will better connect these communities to the rest of our city and increase economic, educational, and countless other opportunities for tens of thousands of Chicagoans,” said Quigley. “I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues in the congressional delegation and the federal government to secure this historic funding for Chicago and look forward to seeing this project move forward.”

“Today's announcement of $1.9 billion in federal funding for the Red Line Extension Project is a monumental step toward improving equity and accessibility in public transportation for Chicago’s South Side communities. This historic investment will connect neighborhoods that have been underserved for far too long, ensuring that residents have better access to jobs, education, and essential services. I am proud to join my colleagues in advocating for this transformative project, which underscores our collective commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable transportation system for all Chicagoans,” said Davis.

“This $1.9 billion funding grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the Red Line Extension Project invests in the fundamental infrastructure that keeps our communities connected,” said Schakowsky. “Public transit is an essential service and this extension project will provide access to transit for tens of thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago. I look forward to continuing our work to improve our public transit and make it safe and efficient for all. All aboard a new and improved CTA!”

“Today, we fulfill a promise to the Far South Side of Chicago to extend the Red Line to the city's edge, bringing transit equity and enhancing the quality of life for residents,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “I thank the Illinois Congressional delegation, the Biden administration and countless others who made this moment possible. For more than 50 years, this day was a dream deferred, but now, it is finally a reality.”

This announcement follows a letter Durbin, Duckworth, and members of the Chicago-area delegation sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Office of Management and Budget in February 2023 requesting the maximum federal share for which the project was eligible due to its equity components to improve movement and livelihood for Chicago’s South Side.

In September 2023, FTA and the members announced that the project entered the engineering phase with a 50 percent federal funding share of $1.9 billion. In July 2024, the members also announced that the project would receive a first-year federal funding total of $746 million, an additional $396 million over the $350 million originally planned.

The 5.6 mile extension of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line to Chicago’s southern border is the first rail transit extension in Chicago in 30 years. It will serve roughly 100,000 people, most of whom are from low-income households on Chicago’s South Side, and will benefit tens of thousands of working families and individuals in surrounding suburbs and communities. The project will also provide an economic boost, making an estimated 25,000 additional jobs accessible to South Side residents within a 45-minute commute in the coming years, and generating $4.4 billion in economic activity in the County during the construction phase. The City of Chicago also has targeted areas near future RLE stations for significant local investment.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Durbin, Duckworth, and members of the Chicago-area delegation supported, designated $89.9 billion in transit funding, and Illinois will receive the fourth-highest amount in direct transit funding at $4.1 billion.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-on-doe-lng-study,Casten Statement on DOE LNG Study,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the Department of Energy’s assessment of U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) exports:

“Today’s report from the Department of Energy proves what we already knew – when we export liquified natural gas, energy costs rise, emissions increase, and fossil fuel companies rake in profits at Americans’ expense,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “It is not in the national interest to raise prices on American consumers, undermine global markets for clean energy, increase global warming, and damage the health of communities along the way. The question before us now is whether the incoming Trump Administration will uphold the national interest and prioritize American energy consumers or cave to the interests of energy producers.”

In November 2023, Rep. Casten joined Rep. Jared Huffman in urging the Biden Administration to pause the approval of new LNG export terminals until it updated the process for determining whether new LNG licenses are in the public interest. President Biden announced this pause in January 2024, and DOE began to update its process immediately, with the result being today’s study.

In September 2024, Rep. Casten introduced the Exported Carbon Emissions Report Act, legislation to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regularly publish a summary of the total emissions of carbon dioxide and methane related to United States fossil fuel exports. The bill is intended to give Americans a complete picture of the U.S. global carbon footprint, now that a large part of that footprint is the result of U.S. fossil fuel exports.

In November 2024, Rep. Casten introduced the LNG Public Interest Determination Act of 2024, legislation to require the Department of Energy to examine impacts on climate stability, consumer energy costs, and environmental justice when considering permits for new LNG export terminals – the same questions examined by today’s DOE study.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresista-garcia-envia-mensaje-a-la-comunidad-inmigrante,Congresista García Envía Mensaje a la Comunidad Inmigrante,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"CHICAGO一El Congresista Jesús “Chuy” García publicó un mensaje para la comunidad inmigrante de su distrito a través de sus plataformas sociales. El mensaje puede ser visto en Facebook aquí; en “X” aquí; y en Instagram aquí.

La transcripción del mensaje está a continuación:

“Soy el Congresista Jesús “Chuy” García, soy el primer inmigrante del medio oeste elegido al Congreso. Como usted y su familia, mi familia también llegó a los Estados Unidos buscando una vida mejor.

“En el 4o. Distrito de Illinois, al que yo represento en el Congreso, una de cada tres personas es inmigrante.

“Tenemos inmigrantes de todo el mundo - Latinoamérica, Alemania, Polonia, Italia, China, y muchos otros países. Yo sé que las comunidades inmigrantes han fortalecido a nuestro distrito, pero no todos piensan igual.

“Yo sé que en estos momentos hay mucha incertidumbre sobre lo que pueda suceder a nuestras comunidades inmigrantes cuando empiece la administración de Trump pero hay muchos que están con usted.

“Chicago es una ciudad santuario e Illinois es un estado inclusivo para inmigrantes. Yo seguiré trabajando con otros líderes electos, locales, estatales y con el gobernador para mantener nuestras comunidades y nuestro estado un lugar donde los inmigrantes son bienvenidos y respetados. No nos intimidarán ni bajaremos la guardia.

“Ya sea que usted haya llegado hace una semana, o hace una década, usted tiene derechos. Mi equipo y yo estamos aquí para ayudarlo. Si necesita ayuda, llame a mi oficina a los teléfonos que ve en la pantalla.”

Para comunicarse con la oficina del Congresista Jesús “Chuy” García en los Suburbios del Oeste, llame al (773) 342- 0774 o a la oficina del suroeste de Chicago al (773) 475-0833.

La Oficina del Congresista García no proporciona servicios legales ni asistencia legal, pero puede proporcionar una lista de organizaciones comunitarias que brindan asistencia legal para asuntos de inmigración y que se especializan en leyes de inmigración.

Nuestra oficina solo puede brindar asistencia con casos de inmigración a los electores que tienen casos de inmigración abiertos. Específicamente, nuestra oficina puede enviar consultas a agencias federales para hacer un seguimiento de las siguientes solicitudes y casos:

Solicitudes de visa de inmigrante

Solicitudes de visa de no inmigrante

Casos de asilo

Autorización de empleo

Casos de DACA y TPS

Ciudadanía, naturalización y ceremonia de juramento

Antes de enviar una consulta de caso a la oficina del Congresista García sobre solicitudes pendientes, verifique el estado de su caso y verifique los tiempos de procesamiento de la oficina de USCIS. Si su caso está fuera de los tiempos de procesamiento normales, podemos enviar una consulta a su nombre y preguntar sobre su caso.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-garcia-sends-message-to-immigrant-community,Congressman García Sends Message to Immigrant Community,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(La versión en español de este comunicado puede encontrarse aquí)

CHICAGO一 Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García posted a message to the immigrant community in his district today via his social media platforms. The message can be viewed on Facebook here; on “X” here; and on Instagram here.

The message can be seen on Facebook here; on “X” here; and on Instagram here.

A translation of his message can be found below:

“I am Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, the first immigrant from the Midwest elected to Congress. Like you and your family, my family also came to the United States seeking a better life.

“In the 4th District of Illinois, which I represent in Congress, one in three people is an immigrant.

“We have immigrants from all over the world – Latin America, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, China, and many other countries. I know that immigrant communities have strengthened our district, but not everyone thinks the same.

“I know that there is a lot of uncertainty right now about what may happen to our immigrant communities when the Trump administration begins, but many people are with you.

“Chicago is a sanctuary city and Illinois is an inclusive state for immigrants. I will continue to work with other elected leaders, local, state and the governor to keep our communities and our state a place where immigrants are welcome and respected. We will not be intimidated or let down our guard.

“Whether you arrived a week ago, or a decade ago, you have rights. My team and I are here to help you. If you need help, please call my office at the numbers you see on the screen.”

To contact Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s office in the Western Suburbs, call (773) 342-0774 or his Southwest Chicago office at (773) 475-0833.

IMPORTANT: The Office of Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García does not provide legal services or legal assistance.

As an option, the office can provide you with a list of community based organizations that provide legal immigration assistance who specialize in immigration law.

Our office is generally only able to provide immigration casework assistance to constituents who have open immigration cases. Specifically, our office can submit inquiries to federal agencies to follow up on the following applications and cases:

Immigrant Visa Applications

Non-Immigrant Visa Applications

Asylum Cases

Employment Authorization

DACA and TPS Cases

Citizenship, naturalization and oath ceremony

Detention and deportations

Before submitting a congressional casework inquiry about pending applications, please check the status of your case and check the USCISoffice processing times. If your case is outside of normal processing times, we can submit an inquiry on your behalf and ask about your case. To learn more about the type of immigration support we provide, visit here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-statement-bipartisan-house-task-force-report-artificial-intelligence,Foster Statement on Bipartisan House Task Force Report on Artificial Intelligence,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster issued the following statement after the release of the Bipartisan House Task Force Report on Artificial Intelligence:

“As a PhD physicist and chip designer who first programmed neural networks at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the 1990s, I’ve been tracking the exponential growth of AI capabilities for decades, and I’m pleased Congress is beginning to take action on this issue.

“I’m proud of the bipartisan work we did on the Task Force under the leadership of Chairman Jay Obernolte and Co-Chair Ted Lieu. I’m especially pleased that the report included findings on the importance of a secure digital identity infrastructure, which is an essential element for protecting people against harmful deepfake impersonations. I’m also glad that the report recommended maintaining support for the research and innovation driving this technology, especially at our national laboratories.

“While this report is an important first step, there is a great deal of work that lies before us. I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle in the new Congress to turn the report’s findings into meaningful AI legislation, ensuring our nation is able to both harness the potential of AI and protect against the national security and societal dangers this technology poses.”

A copy of the report can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-applauds-ftc-illinois-ag-action-protect-diners-workers-and-small,"Schakowsky Applauds FTC, Illinois AG Action to Protect Diners, Workers, and Small Businesses",2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement applauding the FTC and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul for taking action against Grubhub for harming diners, workers, and small businesses:

“Consumers, workers, and small businesses alike are tired of being deceived. Food delivery apps promised more choice for consumers, flexibility and good pay for drivers, and access to customers for restaurants. Instead, they are being deceived and defrauded by middlemen in the name of growth and profit. Today, the Federal Trade Commission, under Chair Lina Khan, and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul took action to reign in these unfair practices. Grubhub will now have to return nearly $25 million to those they harmed, sending a clear message that these deceptive practices must end in Illinois and across the country.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-statement-abundant-life-christian-school-shooting-madison-wisconsin,"Sorensen Statement on the Abundant Life Christian School Shooting in Madison, Wisconsin",2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) released the following statement on the Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin.

“I am horrified at yet another senseless mass shooting, this time at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin. I am thankful that law enforcement provided immediate response and care to those wounded, but sadly there were fatalities.” said Sorensen. “This, on the last week before Christmas break. Hug your kids. Pray for a solution to this American gun violence epidemic. And may peace find those who are hurting today.”

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://lahood.house.gov/2024/12/bill-commemorating-the-fifa-world-cup-2026-signed-into-law,Bill Commemorating the FIFA World Cup 2026 Signed into Law,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Darin LaHood,L000585,lahood.house.gov,lahood,https://lahood.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act led by U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), was signed into law. Under this legislation, the Department of the Treasury will now mint coins in commemoration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at no cost to taxpayers. All proceeds from this process will support soccer programs in the United States, specifically aiding youth programs and programs for underserved communities.

""I was thrilled to see the FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act signed into law,” said Rep. LaHood. ""This legislation will commemorate the largest comprehensive sporting event in our nation’s history, while also supporting youth engagement and elevating soccer – which remains the fastest growing sport - throughout the United States. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the bipartisan Soccer Caucus to ensure the success of the 2026 World Cup.”

“Soccer brings people together, and in 2026, the U.S., Canada and Mexico will host the world’s largest sporting event - the FIFA World Cup,” said Rep. Castor. “I’m thrilled that the bipartisan Soccer Caucus is marking this momentous occasion while raising money to support youth soccer initiatives. We also are ramping up our work with host communities to ensure a safe and memorable 2026 World Cup.”

""I am happy to see H.R.7438, FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act was signed into law by President Biden,"" said Rep. Bacon. ""As co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, I look forward to the United States hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in 11 cities and its impact on soccer in communities across our nation and our nation's youth.""

“The FIFA Men’s World Cup is coming to Puget Sound and Seattle in 2026, and a commemorative coin is a great way to celebrate the beautiful game in the Pacific Northwest while supporting youth soccer and underserved communities,"" said Rep. Larsen. ""I look forward to sharing with the world all that makes the Evergreen State special!”

Representatives LaHood, Castor, Bacon, and Larsen are Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Soccer Caucus. In 2018, the caucus led a resolution that passed the House to support the United States' bid to host the 2026 World Cup for the first time in 32 years. This event brings a generational opportunity to support the growth of soccer in the United States and provide substantial economic benefits to communities across the country. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 16, 2026, with 104 matches in 16 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Soccer Caucus will continue their work to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to be the largest sporting event in our country’s history.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-robin-kelly-introduces-bicameral-bill-increase-transparency-federal,Rep. Robin Kelly Introduces Bicameral Bill to Increase Transparency in Federal Spending,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced the Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act (H.R. 10394) to include holistic demographic data of federal loans and grants recipients. Currently, data tracking of federal awards such as grants, loans, and contracts does not include the recipients’ ethnicity, race, or sex. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) also introduced his companion bill.

“When Congress and federal agencies are informed with the most holistic data, we can determine whether business owners of color, veterans, and women are able to properly compete for federal dollars,” said Congresswoman Kelly. “I will always strive for transparency when it comes to federal spending. My bill is a first step to tracking federal contracts and loans to identify whether they’re going to historically underinvested communities.”

“Federal contracting is a major economic driver for our country, and for too long veterans, women, and people of color have not benefited from procurement dollars,"" said Senator Booker. “Having access to expanded demographic data will close an important gap in Congress’s understanding of how federal dollars are being spent, and what steps we need to take to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used to create opportunities for every American. This legislation will bring greater transparency over government spending, and help us build a more inclusive economy.”

The bill amends the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act to include race, ethnicity, veteran status, and sex of the highest-paid executive officers and private business owners in the data collected and reported by the Office of Management and Budget. This reporting applies to any entity that receives a federal award, contract, subcontract, grant, subgrant, loan, and other forms of federal financial assistance exceeding $30,000.

The Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act has been endorsed by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), Ariel Investments, and the National Association of Securities Professionals.

Enhancing reporting transparency in government spending is vital to ensuring accountability to the American people. Tracking federal dollars currently faces significant data gaps. As it stands, it is difficult to track whether taxpayer dollars are reaching intended communities and reinvesting back to the American public,"" said Janice Luong, Policy Associate at POGO. ""The Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act is a commonsense proposal to equip the government with data to better identify the impacts of its spending and address inequities. POGO is grateful for Congresswoman Robin Kelly's committed leadership to holding the government fiscally accountable, with a deliberate emphasis on addressing the needs of underrepresented communities.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-introduces-bills-support-veterans-through-job-training-and,SCHNEIDER INTRODUCES BILLS TO SUPPORT VETERANS THROUGH JOB TRAINING AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bradley Scott Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,schneider,https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chair-Elect of the New Democrat Coalition and a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means Committees, introduced two bills that aim to support U.S. veterans, the GI Internship Program Act and the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund Act. Together, these initiatives reflect Schneider’s commitment to addressing critical challenges faced by veterans as they transition to civilian life.

The GI Internship Program Act seeks to expand the employment options available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill by allowing veterans to use their benefits as a stipend to participate in career transition internships with qualifying employers. The program would focus on industries facing significant skills gaps, such as manufacturing and small business, and is designed to provide on-the-job training that complements classroom learning.

“Since 1944, we’ve offered educational opportunities to returning veterans, but some skills are best learned hands-on,” said Schneider. “The GI Internship Program Act connects veterans with employers, enabling them to gain valuable experience while bridging the skills gap in our economy.”

The program includes strict reporting requirements to ensure its effectiveness and requires veterans to work at least 35 hours per week for six months to a year. Participating businesses must provide meaningful training and demonstrate a reasonable expectation of hiring the veteran after successful completion of the internship.

Schneider also reintroduced the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund Act to address the alarming issue of veteran homelessness. This legislation would create a convenient “check-off box” on annual tax returns, allowing taxpayers to voluntarily donate a portion of their refunds to support programs aimed at preventing and ending homelessness among veterans.

“It is unacceptable that on any given night in American more than 33,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in America,” said Schneider. “This bill offers a simple way for Americans to give back to those who sacrificed so much for our country and ensures that no veteran is left without a place to call home.”

The contributions raised would be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development, to support homeless veteran programs and innovative strategies to prevent homelessness. The bill mandates rigorous oversight, requiring detailed reports to Congress on fund usage and planned expenditures.

These efforts build on Schneider’s broader legislative agenda to support veterans. He helped pass the THRIVE Act, which facilitates higher education and career transitions for veterans, and the Honoring Our PACT Act, enhancing healthcare access for those exposed to toxic chemicals during service. Schneider also championed the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, codifying the Boots to Business program to help veterans launch and grow small businesses.

Bill text for the GI Internship Program Act can be found here and text for the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund Act can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-statement-ndaa,SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON NDAA,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bradley Scott Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,schneider,https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chair-Elect of the New Democrat Coalition and a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means Committees, released the following statement regarding his vote against the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act:

“Our troops deserve the pay raise, quality housing, better health care, and other provisions that are part of the FY25 NDAA, and I expected to vote in favor of the bill originally negotiated in good faith by Republicans and Democrats on the Armed Services Committee. However, the final text of the bill included a provision maliciously targeting military families with a dependent under the age of 18 diagnosed with gender dysphoria. By prohibiting any military family from full access to necessary medical care, we break our promise to all service members to support them and their loved ones as they lay their lives on the line in defense of our country.

“Protecting our nation’s ability to defend itself is one of the most important responsibilities of Congress. It’s why for more than six decades the NDAA has been a consistently bipartisan bill, negotiated in good faith by both sides of the aisle so that our troops can get paid and our military can be at the ready to defend our nation. Unfortunately, instead of prioritizing our troops and national security, Speaker Johnson decided to play petty politics and turn his back on the bipartisan work that again defined this year’s NDAA process—even going around his own chairman who negotiated a good, fair bill. Not only is Speaker Johnson showing his willingness to play political games with the basic administration of our national security, he is also setting a concerning precedent for the way critical, must-pass legislation will be approached in the coming year–demonstrating once again that despite good faith, bipartisan negotiations, he will unilaterally upend the process with partisan riders.

“I will always do my best to negotiate agreements that reflect the values and priorities of my district, and I will always do so in good faith. I expect nothing more or less from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. We all, Democrats and Republicans, must be good to our word if we are going to successfully tackle the many challenges facing our country. Sadly, that was not the case today and therefore I voted no on the NDAA as brought to the floor. I am glad our troops will get the pay raise they deserve and I will continue to work to make sure we provide the resources and services necessary to support our service members and veterans, as well as their families.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-williams-call-for-disaster-supplemental-updated-fema-flood-maps-flood-mitigation-reform,"Casten, Williams Call for Disaster Supplemental, Updated FEMA Flood Maps, Flood Mitigation Reform",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 25 colleagues in a letter to House and Senate Appropriators urging them to include a disaster supplemental in the upcoming appropriations package that prioritizes updating the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) flood maps, expediting federally-funded floodplain buyouts, and implementing the White House’s proposal to create a National Catastrophe (CAT) modeling platform.

“Inaccurate maps leave homeowners unaware of potential flood risks to their property and whether they may need flood insurance to mitigate these risks, which results in greater losses due to uninsured and unmitigated damages,” the lawmakers wrote. “...It is important that FEMA has the data and resources necessary to consider rapidly changing weather patterns and conditions when mapping flood-prone areas.”

Beyond mapping, federally-funded voluntary floodplain buyouts can be a beneficial strategy for flood mitigation. Federal disaster recovery programs help state and local communities purchase flood-prone properties in order to convert the land into open space. However, the current buyout processes can take more than five years. Robust funding for FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant programs, coupled with policy improvements to reasonably speed up buyout timelines, could help make flood buyouts more accessible, equitable, and efficient. Further funding and simple policy fixes can help cut through the red tape to reduce long-term flood risk.

Earlier this year, Reps. Casten and Earl Blumenauer introduced the Protecting Families and the Solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program Act of 2024, which would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide additional mitigation assistance to families affected by flooding and address the problems of delays in buyouts for communities facing repetitive losses.

In addition to Reps. Casten and Williams, the letter was signed by Reps. Bush, Cleaver, Costa, DeSaulnier, Jesús García, Sylvia Garcia, Goldman, Huffman, Lee Carter, Summer Lee, Levin, Moskowitz, Mullin, Ocasio-Cortez, Ramirez, Schakowsky, Bobby Scott, Thanedar, Bennie Thompson, Tlaib, Velázquez, Waters, and Watson Coleman.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Chair Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, Chair Murray, and Ranking Member Collins,

We write to request that in the upcoming appropriations bill, you include a disaster supplemental that includes funding and policy changes necessary to update the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) flood maps, expedite federal processes for floodplain buyouts, and create a National Catastrophe (CAT) modeling platform. Congress must swiftly pass this package so communities devastated by the recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, can begin to respond, recover, and rebuild.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have underscored the importance of ensuring that FEMA’s flood maps are accurate, up-to-date, and better account for future heavy rainfall. FEMA’s flood maps identify Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) that have at least a 1% chance of flooding each year, or put differently, a one-in-four chance of flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage. Banks, credit unions, and other lenders are required to ensure borrowers have flood insurance coverage for any mortgage on a property located in an SFHA. However, FEMA’s flood maps are notoriously incomplete and outdated. For example, a 2020 report estimated that FEMA has produced flood hazard maps that account for only one-third of the nation’s streams and less than half of its shoreline. Furthermore, a 2023 study found that one-quarter of all maps were 15 years old, and over half were more than five years old. As a result, FEMA’s maps do not account for areas that are currently experiencing or are expected to experience major flooding due to record rainfalls. Inaccurate maps leave homeowners unaware of potential flood risks to their property and whether they may need flood insurance to mitigate these risks, which results in greater losses due to uninsured and unmitigated damages.

Hurricane Helene served as a prime example of the negative effects of outdated and impartial flood mapping. For example, within the counties that were declared federal disaster areas affected by Hurricane Helene, just 2% of affected households were estimated to have had flood insurance coverage through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This means the majority of households will not receive insurance payouts for flood damage. This is true in many mountainous areas whose flood risk goes under-mapped by FEMA. Climate change will continue to expand the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, putting more areas at risk of flooding, including those currently under-designated as high-risk flood zones. For example, record-hot water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico made Hurricane Helene’s rainfall 10% heavier, causing up to $30 billion in estimated uninsured flood losses. It is important that FEMA has the data and resources necessary to consider rapidly changing weather patterns and conditions when mapping flood-prone areas.

In addition to mapping, flood mitigation efforts are critical. For example, voluntary floodplain buyouts can help reduce long-term flood risk. Through several federal disaster recovery programs, FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide funding for state and local governments to purchase flood- prone properties and convert the land to open space that will help to absorb water during future rainfall and reduce flood risk. However, the current buyout processes can be unduly lengthy, with some studies showing that the average buyout project takes more than five years, which is exacerbated when funding for federal buyout programs is insufficient to cover buyouts for all requested properties. Furthermore, buyouts can entail lengthy processes that may lead to less participation among lower-income households where residents are more likely to lack savings or access to other housing alternatives that may incentivize them to instead rebuild or sell their home before a buyout is completed. Robust funding for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs and other relevant programs like HUD’s Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Relief Program (CDBG-DR), coupled with policy improvements to reasonably speed up buyout timelines, could help make flood buyouts more accessible, equitable, and efficient. For example, FEMA could be empowered to pre- approve buyouts for certain high-priority properties, such as severe repetitive loss properties under the NFIP. In addition, it would be prudent to ensure that any additional assistance to address recurrent flooding, including buyout offers, is not limited to communities located in FEMA-designated SFHAs given the aforementioned flaws in FEMA’s flood maps.

Lastly, the rising costs from climate disasters have disrupted insurance markets, including the cost of reinsurance, prompting large insurance companies to withdraw from flood- and fire-prone areas. This in turn has hampered the affordability and availability of homeowners insurance nationwide. The use of black box algorithms to assess potential losses due to catastrophic events and set rate request increases from state insurance regulators is further exacerbating the issue of rising home insurance premiums. In response, the White House proposed last year to “create a National Catastrophic Modeling platform able to quantify extreme weather risks, integrating the effects of climate change, and provide recommendations on agencies suitable to host such a platform.” Such a platform would serve as a reliable, public source of models, methodologies, and related data for federal, state, and local governments to help determine where it would be most effective to prioritize climate resilience and risk reduction resources.

In addition, a public platform would increase transparency, accountability, and comparability for insurers’ use of black box methods, which often includes proprietary data, to set premium prices. For example, California recently announced a proposal to create a public catastrophe model for wildfires, which will provide a public benchmark to “keep insurance rates fair and accurate.” We believe the federal government should work to deliver these same benefits to insurance policyholders and researchers by creating a public catastrophe model platform capable of analyzing a comprehensive range of climate-related perils and to help reduce the cost burden of losses on the federal government. To ensure our communities are well-equipped to respond to future climate crises, we respectfully ask that the upcoming appropriations bill include a disaster supplemental that prioritizes funding for flood mitigation measures and a national CAT modeling platform.

We stand ready to ensure the federal government and disaster prone and affected communities have what they need to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as future climate disasters.

Sincerely,

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://lahood.house.gov/2024/12/lahood-statement-on-president-biden-s-commutation-of-former-dixon-il-comptroller-rita-crundwell,"LaHood Statement on President Biden’s Commutation of former Dixon, IL Comptroller Rita Crundwell",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Darin LaHood,L000585,lahood.house.gov,lahood,https://lahood.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) released the following statement after President Biden commuted the 20-year sentence of former Dixon, IL Comptroller, Rita Crundwell:

""President Biden’s latest decision to issue sweeping commutations shows his continued disregard for our justice system and rule of law. Included in this reckless act, President Biden commuted the sentence of Rita Crundwell, the disgraced and corrupt former Dixon Comptroller, who stole $54 million of taxpayer money from the city. While many families in Dixon were living paycheck to paycheck, she took advantage of their trust in government and used her access to live an unearned life of luxury, in what the FBI still believes to be the largest theft of public funds in U.S. history. Commuting her 20-year sentence is a slap in the face to all the hardworking police officers, firefighters, city workers, and residents of Dixon.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://lahood.house.gov/2024/12/representative-lahood-votes-in-support-of-the-water-resources-development-act-of-2024,Representative LaHood Votes in Support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024,2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Darin LaHood,L000585,lahood.house.gov,lahood,https://lahood.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) voted in favor of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which provides critical support for flood protection, locks, dams, and waterways in Illinois. Multiple provisions submitted by Congressman LaHood to strengthen Illinois’ waterway infrastructure, boost economic opportunity, and mitigate flood risks were included in the final version of the legislation, which has now passed both chambers and will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“In Illinois’ 16th District, our communities rely on water infrastructure resources for economic development, trade facilitation, and protection from natural disasters,” said Congressman LaHood. “I was proud to support this legislation, which will work to limit the damage caused by flooding and help impacted communities recover. This year’s version of the WRDA bill is also critical to ensuring our farmers and businesses have updated transportation infrastructure, providing easier and more efficient access to markets across the globe.”

Provisions submitted by Congressman LaHood include:

Authorizing the Upper Mississippi River System Flood Risk and Resiliency Study, which allows the planning authority to develop strategic and durable approaches to preparation and response for flood risk in the Upper Mississippi River System floodplain.

Adjusting the cost share requirement from 65/35 percent to 75/25 percent for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, which would assist in expediting the completion of authorized navigation projects on inland waterways and strengthen America’s supply chain.

Other sections of WRDA benefit Illinois by allocating funds to improve existing water and wastewater infrastructure and increasing support for restoration projects, including the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program, which Congressman LaHood has championed in previous federal funding cycles.

Additionally, the bill:

Extends the authorization of the Illinois River Basin Restoration program, which helps to maintain ecological integrity, improve flood planning, reduce sediment delivery, and improve water quality in the Illinois River.

Modifies the cost of several projects and reauthorizes several projects, including $4 million for water and wastewater infrastructure for Rockford, IL, and $9.5 million for water and wastewater infrastructure for several locations in McHenry County.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-on-ndaa-for-fy2025,Casten Statement on NDAA for FY2025,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has released the following statement regarding the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025:

“In the six years I’ve been in Congress, the National Defense Authorization Act has been one of the last bastions of bipartisanship,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “For decades, Republicans and Democrats alike have treated the NDAA as sacrosanct, putting our nation’s national defense above politics. I have proudly voted for its final version each and every year.

“Sadly, Speaker Johnson has bucked this tradition by including a partisan poison pill to restrict access to medically necessary health care for transgender children of service members, forcing thousands of servicemembers to make the difficult choice between their child’s health care or continuing their service to our nation.

“Our service members and their families – who sacrifice so much so we can enjoy our freedom – deserve better than the bill brought to the floor today. Therefore, I voted No on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.""

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-opposition-ndaa,Quigley Statement on Opposition to NDAA,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,quigley,https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on his decision to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act:

“I have always believed that some legislation should be above partisan politics regardless of who holds the majority. This includes the National Defense Authorization Act, which I have consistently supported throughout my time in Congress. Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson decided at the last minute to use this legislation as an opportunity to attack children. Rather than prioritizing the American people, Republicans are denying families the ability to make their own private health care decisions.

“I sincerely hope that in the new year, when Republicans assume control of the levers of power, they remember who it is we are meant to serve. If they do not, I stand ready to defend our most vulnerable communities from their attacks.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-statement-voting-against-fy25-ndaa,Schakowsky Statement on Voting Against FY25 NDAA,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement after voting against final passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA):

“Today, I refused to support House Republicans' National Defense Authorization Act. Not only does this harmful bill exacerbate an already over-bloated Pentagon budget, authorizing nearly $900 billion in additional spending for the Department of Defense, but it also attacks some of the most vulnerable among us.

“The FY25 NDAA would enshrine into law Republicans' ongoing baseless discrimination against the transgender community and ban gender-affirming care for service members and their families, putting the lives of children at risk and potentially forcing thousands of service members to make the choice between continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can access the health care they need. It is cruel to ask our service members to defend us and our country and then in return trample all over their rights and access to healthcare. This provision is hateful, shortsighted, and will weaken our military readiness and retention rates.

“Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflects that. We must instead make the investments in health care, education, housing, diplomacy, public transit, and the environment that Americans deserve.

“Although I am opposed to the FY25 NDAA, there were a few bright spots. I am supportive of the 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and 4.5% pay raise for all other service members. Further, I was glad to see that my bipartisan, bicameral Railroad Employee Equality and Fairness (REEF) Act was included in the legislation. This bill would restore equity to the railroad unemployment insurance program. For too long, railroaders and their families have been singled out and prevented from receiving full and fair unemployment benefits. My common-sense bill permanently protects their benefits from the impact of budget sequestration.

“Despite these important provisions, this legislation does not reflect the best interests of our nation and does not provide the protection that our service members need, and that is why I ultimately could not support the FY25 NDAA’s passage.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-secures-investments-german-valley-and-rockford-water-infrastructure,Sorensen Secures Investments for German Valley and Rockford in Water Infrastructure Bill,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) applauded passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which includes investments he secured for clean drinking water infrastructure in German Valley and Rockford. WRDA authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out major water infrastructure upgrades across the country.

“Our hometowns are a special place, filled with families that are working hard to build good livelihoods for their loved ones. And it is our job to make sure they can thrive in healthy communities,” said Sorensen. “I am proud to have secured these projects to deliver clean drinking water for our families. No parent should turn on their faucet to pour their kid a glass of water and worry about the water that is coming out of it. I look forward to the president signing this important legislation so we can help our communities update their aging water infrastructure.”

In German Valley, Sorensen secured a project to rebuild the Village’s wastewater treatment system. In Rockford, Sorensen secured a project to replace an aging sewer pipe.

WRDA is a comprehensive water infrastructure package that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure. Now that both the House and Senate have passed the bill, it will be sent to the president for his signature.

Earlier this year, Sorensen testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to advocate for these investments to be included in WRDA. You can watch Sorensen’s full remarks to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee here.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-secures-investments-sherrard-and-savanna-water-infrastructure-bill,Sorensen Secures Investments for Sherrard and Savanna in Water Infrastructure Bill,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) applauded passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which includes investments he secured for clean drinking water infrastructure in Sherrard and Savanna. WRDA authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out major water infrastructure upgrades across the country.

“Our small hometowns are a special place, filled with families that are working hard to build good livelihoods for their loved ones. And it is our job to make sure they can thrive in healthy communities,” said Sorensen. “I am proud to have secured these projects to deliver clean drinking water for our families. No parent should turn on their faucet to pour their kid a glass of water and worry about the water that is coming out of it. I look forward to the president signing this important legislation so we can help our communities update their aging water infrastructure.”

In Sherrard, Sorensen secured a project to construct a new water tower and replace a filter in the Village’s wastewater lagoon to improve water quality. In Savanna, Sorensen secured a project to construct a new drinking water pipe to maintain the City’s access to clean drinking water.

WRDA is a comprehensive water infrastructure package that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure. Now that both the House and Senate have passed the bill, it will be sent to the president for his signature.

Earlier this year, Sorensen testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to advocate for these investments to be included in WRDA. You can watch Sorensen’s full remarks to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee here.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://bost.house.gov/2024/12/bost-demands-transparency-on-little-grassy-lake-closure,BOST DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY ON LITTLE GRASSY LAKE CLOSURE,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Mike Bost,B001295,bost.house.gov,bost,https://bost.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) demanded answers today from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding its decision to fully drain and shut down recreational access to Little Grassy Lake in Williamson and Jackson counties. In a letter to FWS Director Martha Williams, Bost challenged the agency’s lack of transparency and backtracking on previous pledges to maintain public access to the lake during structural repairs.

""People are furious at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and they have every right to be,” said Bost. “We were promised continued access to Little Grassy Lake for recreational activities – even as water levels were reduced for structural repairs – and that nothing would change without constructive communication with the public. As far as I’m concerned, those promises were broken. Like many Southern Illinoisans, I grew up on this lake; it’s been a vital part of our community for generations. I’ll fight to get the answers we deserve and make clear to the D.C. bureaucrats how much this lake means to the people of Southern Illinois.""

Little Grassy Lake, located in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, has been a hub for recreation, outdoor education, and economic activity for 77 years. After previously indicating that repairs to the lake’s dam could be made without completely draining it, FWS reversed course in a press release posted to its website last week, a decision that will shut down public access for up to seven years.

Bost will be meeting with Director Williams in his Washington, D.C., office on Thursday to share his concerns directly.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-raja-krishnamoorthi-grills-postmaster-general-dejoy-raising-prices,Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Grills Postmaster General DeJoy on Raising Prices While Diminishing Service at the USPS,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) questioned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy during a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on the state of the United States Postal Service (USPS). Under the tenure of Postmaster General DeJoy and his Delivering for America plan, the USPS has seen diminished service and increased costs for millions, especially for those from rural communities, small businesses, and seniors, who conduct business, personal correspondence, and critical services such as paying bills and receiving health care through the USPS. The USPS is responsible for delivering 421 million pieces of mail and 23 million packages every single day.

""Since 2021, the cost of a first-class Forever stamp has risen six times under Postmaster General DeJoy, jumping from 55 cents to 73 cents,"" Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. ""Meanwhile, service standards at USPS post offices across the country are dropping, including in my district in Des Plaines and Palatine, Illinois, where critical mail is being lost. Undelivered mail reports and images directly from USPS employees show hundreds of pieces of mail and packages backed up waiting to be delivered. Under Postmaster General DeJoy’s Delivering for America plan, Americans are paying more for slower, less reliable service, all while Postmaster General DeJoy sees his salary increase. The state of the USPS is unacceptable, and I am committed to holding Postmaster General DeJoy accountable and making sure service levels are dependable.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of the USPS during his time in Congress, repeatedly denouncing efforts to increase prices and reduce service. In May, Congressman Krishnamoorthi joined with Ranking Members Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) in calling on the Postal Regulatory Commission to reject the latest of the rate hikes to first-class Forever stamps. Congressman Krishnamoorthi also joined with Ranking Member Raskin in leading 80 other Democratic House members in calling on the Biden Administration to fill the open vacancies on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://bost.house.gov/2024/12/bost-to-serve-another-two-year-term-as-veterans-committee-chairman,BOST TO SERVE ANOTHER TWO-YEAR TERM AS VETERANS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,IL,Mike Bost,B001295,bost.house.gov,bost,https://bost.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced he has been confirmed by the House Republican Conference to serve another two-year term as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

""It is a deep honor to have the trust of my colleagues to continue leading the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,"" said Bost. ""House Republicans have made great progress for veterans and their families over the last two years; and I look forward to working closely with the incoming Trump administration to build on those successes. We’re going to restore our veterans’ trust in the VA while continuing our work to bring the agency into the 21st Century. As a Marine, the father of a Marine, and the grandfather of a Marine, this mission is deeply personal to me. I won’t let our veterans down.""

Bost’s new term as chairman will begin when he’s sworn in for the 119th Congress on January 3rd. It will be his second two-year term as chairman following one term as ranking member of the committee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-end-assad-regime-syria,Quigley Statement on End of Assad Regime in Syria,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,quigley,https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement on the capture of Damascus by rebels and Bashar al-Assad’s departure from Syria:

“The people of Syria are celebrating the end of Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year brutal dictatorship and 50 years of autocracy. Propped up by Russia and Iran for decades, Assad jailed, tortured, and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of his own people. Assad was enabled by Vladimir Putin - who has wreaked havoc in Ukraine, across Eastern Europe, and in the Middle East. Now, Putin has offered his fellow ruthless autocrat safe harbor in Moscow. Over the course of a 13-year civil war, 14 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes and over 7 million remain refugees. While the road to a united, peaceful Syria is just beginning, I join the Syrian people in celebrating the end of the Assad regime. We must recognize the challenges that lie ahead in Syria and ensure that minorities and vulnerable populations are protected.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-trumps-plan-end-constitutional-birthright,Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Trump’s Plan to End Constitutional Birthright Citizenship,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC— Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee and proud daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, released the following statement after incoming president Donald Trump doubled down on his unconstitutional plan to end birthright citizenship:

“‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ It is important to remember who we are, where many of us came from, and why many of our families traveled here to be greeted by the Mother of Exiles, the Statue of Liberty. The story of our nation wouldn't be complete without the sweat, tears, joy, dreams, and hopes of so many children of immigrants who are citizens by birthright and pride themselves on being AMERICANS. It is the story of so many IL-03 communities, strengthened by the immigration of people from Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Mexico, and Guatemala, among others. It is the story of many members of Congress who can point to the citizenship of their forebears and ancestors because of immigration and birthright.

Let’s be clear: Trump is posing the question of who gets to be an American to our nation. And given that today’s migrants are from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin and Central America, it is clear he is questioning who are the “right” people to benefit from birthright citizenship. Questioning birthright citizenship is anti-American, and eliminating it through executive action is unconstitutional. Donald Trump knows that. But emboldened by a Supreme Court that would use its power to uphold white supremacy rather than the constitution of our nation, Trump is on a mission to weaken the very soul of our nation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-robin-kelly-named-co-chair-steering-policy-committee,Rep. Robin Kelly Named Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) as co-chair of the Steering & Policy Committee for the 119th Congress. Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44) will also serve as co-chairs.

“I am honored to be named co-chair of the Steering & Policy Committee alongside my colleagues Congresswomen Wasserman Schultz and Barragán,"" said Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02). ""Under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, I am ready to carry out the goals of the House Democratic Caucus and deliver For The People. Together, House Democrats will continue to put people over politics, stand resolute against extremism, and demonstrate that the government can improve people’s lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-dean-mcbath-urge-increased-funding-for-atf-in-fy2025-government-funding-package,"Casten, Dean, McBath Urge Increased Funding for ATF in FY2025 Government Funding Package",2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Lucy McBath (GA-07) led 55 colleagues in a letter to Congressional Appropriations Committee Leadership urging them to increase funding for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the FY2025 government funding package.

“As you work to finalize the FY25 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations package, we respectfully request that you include an increase of funding to $2 billion, or to the greatest amount executable, for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ),” the lawmakers wrote. “Such an increase would support the Agency’s critical work in preventing and responding to gun crime and ensuring the safe manufacture, importation, and sale of firearms.”

ATF is the principal federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over firearms. ATF plays an essential role in safeguarding communities from gun violence, but it has limited resources to carry out its mission and is in dire need of additional funding.

“The ATF’s work is critical to protecting Americans from the scourge of gun violence and the influx of unsafe guns into our communities,” the lawmakers continued.

In addition to Reps. Casten, Dean, and McBath, the letter was signed by Reps. Mike Thompson, Sylvia Garcia, Hank Johnson, Barragan, Cherfilus-McCormick, Holmes Norton, Amo, Goldman, Robin Kelly, Moulton, Lynch, Mullin, Brown, Porter, Frederica Wilson, Swalwell, Lieu, Dingell, Gottheimer, Sherrill, Bonamici, Raskin, Pettersen, Spanberger, Gwen Moore, Salinas, Nikema Williams, McClellan, Auchincloss, Torres, DeGette, Schakowsky, Crockett, Beyer, Danny Davis, Ivey, Vargas, Stevens, Sherman, McGarvey, Brownley, Chu, Horsford, Jacobs, Napolitano, Kildee, Tokuda, Ross, Scanlon, McGovern, Evans, Tonko, Magaziner, Deluzio, and Kennedy.

The letter has been endorsed by Brady and GIFFORDS.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Chairman Cole, Chairwoman Murray, Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Collins,

As you work to finalize the FY25 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations package, we respectfully request that you include an increase of funding to $2 billion, or to the greatest amount executable, for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ). Such an increase would support the Agency’s critical work in preventing and responding to gun crime and ensuring the safe manufacture, importation, and sale of firearms.

Gun violence is a scourge that impacts American families every day, and is exacerbated by the illegal trafficking of firearms. In 2022, over 48 thousand Americans died from gun violence, including over 2500 children and teens. That year, gun deaths accounted for 30% of all deaths among youth aged 15-17. Provisional data for 2023 indicates that there are nearly 75 suicides by firearm per day. Firearm deaths are preventable, and one significant way to prevent gun deaths is to invest in the work of ATF to trace crime guns. Between 2017 and 2021, ATF reports, more than 68 thousand firearms were trafficked by unlicensed dealers within the United States.

The ATF’s work is critical to protecting Americans from the scourge of gun violence and the influx of unsafe guns into our communities. In particular, we recommend robust funding to address the following initiatives.

Illegal Firearms Trafficking

We urge you to provide robust funding for efforts to prevent the illegal trafficking of firearms. To target illegal trafficking, we recommend full funding for Firearms Trafficking Strike Forces, which aid collaboration between the ATF and state and local police where guns are illegally traded and used for crime, and Industry Operations Investigators (IOIs), who ensure that Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers are following applicable federal law and regulation. The robust enforcement of gun sales laws is critical to ensuring that firearms do not fall into illegal trafficking and become crime guns. Despite playing a critical role in ensuring safer gun sales, the IOI workforce has remained relatively constant over the last fifty years. In 1973, the ATF employed 826 IOIs, while in 2022, it employed 862. The Biden Administration has requested funding to hire 249 additional IOIs. We ask that you fulfill this request.

Ghost Guns and Other Emerging Threats

We recommend providing robust funding to address the emerging threat of untraceable and privately manufactured firearms and machine gun conversion devices. Ghost guns are firearms sold in the form of weapons parts kits or as separate pieces that are put together by the end user. These guns are sold this way because they do not have a serial number, making them untraceable and more easily used in crime. Between 2016 and 2021, law enforcement reported over 45 thousand reports of suspected privately made firearms to the ATF, including 692 in association with homicide or attempted homicides. Machine gun conversion devices take a variety of structures, but fundamentally shift the use of a legal firearm by making it function like a machine gun. While new machine guns are illegal for civilian use under the Firearm Owners Protections Act of 1986, these conversion devices may be 3D printed and thus untraceable. The ATF needs additional resources to meet the emerging threat of privately created guns and machine gun conversation devices.

Gun Tracing

Tracking guns across jurisdictions is critical to finding and retrieving crime guns. The ATF is responsible for this work through the National Tracing Center (NTC), which provides tracing information to federal, state, and local law enforcement nationwide. In recent years, the NTC has seen an increase in the number of tracing requests. In FY 2024, the NTC received over 680 thousand tracing requests, which will represent a 5.4% increase as compared to FY 2023. In this year’s appropriations bill, we recommend providing additional funding to the modernization efforts of the NTC to support eTrace, a web portal that allows all levels of law enforcement to track guns in their communities.

An Updated Analysis of Trafficking Investigations

In April 2024, ATF published the third volume of a four-volume report on gun trafficking and the diversion of guns into illegal markets over the period between CY 2017 and 2021. This report is the first of its kind in the last 20 years. While this is an important step towards filling the longstanding gaps in data collection on and understanding of gun trafficking, more funding is needed to ensure this study is not a one-off and is followed by others in the future. We urge you to include specific funding for the promulgation of additional reports on trafficking moving forward.

National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)

The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) is a database of ballistic imaging ATF runs which can be used by law enforcement to match cartridge casings found at crime scenes and test fire recovered guns, helping to identify perpetrators of violent crime. This database currently stores 6.5 million pieces of evidence and generated over 221 thousand leads for law enforcement in FY 2023. We urge you to provide robust funding for the NIBIN and other intelligence capabilities within ATF.

Thank you for your consideration of this request for full funding for the ATF. We look forward to working with you to reduce gun violence across the country.

Sincerely,

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-statement-amnesty-international-report,SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT,2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bradley Scott Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,schneider,https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, released the following statement on a report recently issued by Amnesty International:

“The recently released Amnesty International report accusing Israel of genocidal intent in Gaza is deeply flawed, speculative and misleading. Its conclusions hinge on inferences rather than direct evidence and rely on ambiguous concepts such as ‘dual intent’ to fill gaps in the absence of proof, as the report itself admits.

Genocide is one of the gravest crimes under international law, requiring clear evidence of specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. By the report's own acknowledgment, no such evidence exists. Instead, the report prejudicially interprets Israel’s military operations as genocidal, despite their clearly legal and legitimate purpose.

The gruesome attack on October 7, 2023 was an evil act of terror. Hamas barbarically murdered more than 1,200 people, including citizens of more than 30 nations, 46 Americans among them. More than 200 hostages were taken, including many U.S. citizens.

In the aftermath of Hamas’s atrocities and continued threats against Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has sought to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and supporting infrastructure, virtually all of which Hamas intentionally—and illegally—embeds within civilian populations. Suggesting genocidal intent in this context fundamentally misrepresents the realities of asymmetric warfare and utterly disregards Hamas’s direct and indirect responsibility for the suffering within Gaza.

Amnesty International’s report selectively quotes statements by Israeli officials, distorting their intent while disregarding the broader context. Notably, Amnesty International’s own Israel branch was excluded from the report’s preparation and has strongly rejected its conclusions. This glaring omission underscores the broader credibility issues surrounding Amnesty’s findings.

Despite its stated mission to uphold human rights, Amnesty International has repeatedly demonstrated a troubling pattern of applying double standards to the world’s only Jewish state, disproportionately scrutinizing Israel while routinely ignoring egregious abuses by others. Past reports have distorted international law, mischaracterized Israel’s democratic institutions, and misused or distorted terms like ‘apartheid’ to demonize the country. Such actions erode Amnesty’s credibility as a global human rights advocate and distract from its important mission.

We can all agree that protecting and providing humanitarian relief for civilians caught in the middle of the fighting between Hamas and Israel is of paramount importance. Israel has made substantial efforts to protect civilians throughout its military operations, including issuing evacuation notices, facilitating humanitarian corridors and ensuring aid delivery even amidst the dangers posed by Hamas’s actions. In Congress, I have worked tirelessly to support the humanitarian needs of Palestinians while safeguarding Israel’s security. Within days of Hamas’s attack and Israel’s subsequent entry into Gaza, I led a letter joined by 107 of my colleagues to Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States urging swift opening of the Rafah border crossing to ensure the delivery of life-saving aid to Gaza. In recent months, through the bipartisan Gaza Working Group, I have advocated for expanding humanitarian corridors to provide critical supplies to those in need.

We must not allow the inflammatory and biased Amnesty International report to deter us from our shared goal: seeking a peaceful, secure future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. I call on my colleagues and the international community to reject these unsubstantiated allegations and focus on sincere, practical steps to address the conflict’s tragic humanitarian toll. Together, we must strive to end the conflict in Gaza, to ensure sufficient and sustained humanitarian aid is delivered to civilians whose lives have been upended by the fighting and to help chart a path to recovery and renewal for all people of the region. We must also continuously counter the persistent threat of terrorism from the enemies of peace. By addressing these issues with clarity and shared purpose, we can lay the groundwork for a lasting peace that respects the rights and security of all.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-on-gaetz-report-resolution-vote,Casten Statement on Gaetz Report Resolution Vote,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives vote on his resolution to require the House Ethics Committee to release its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

“Today, the majority of the House of Representatives took the easy way out,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “They could have ensured a vote on whether or not former Members should be held accountable when they face serious and credible allegations of sexual misconduct, including having sex with minors. Instead, the House voted to sweep these allegations under the rug and set an unfortunate precedent that, if you are ever facing scrutiny, resigning from Congress can make your problems go away.

“I retain options to continue to pursue the release of the Gaetz Report.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresista-garcia-elegido-coordinador-de-votacion-del-caucus-progresista-del-congreso,Congresista García Elegido Coordinador de Votación del Caucus Progresista del Congreso,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Hoy, el Congresista Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) fue elegido por sus colegas como Coordinador de Votación del Caucus Progresista del Congreso (CPC), que está compuesto por 97 miembros del Congreso que abogan por políticas que ponen a las familias trabajadoras por sobre los intereses corporativos, luchan contra las desigualdades económicas y sociales y promueven las libertades civiles.

El Congresista García emitió la siguiente declaración después de la elección:

“Es un honor ser elegido por mis colegas como el próximo líder del Caucus Progresista del Congreso. Estoy orgulloso de unirme al presidente entrante Rep. Grep Casar, a la vicepresidente Rep. Ilhan Omar y a todos los miembros de la Junta Ejecutiva recientemente elegida conforme nos preparamos para el 119.º Congreso.

“En Chicago, tenemos una larga historia de activismo y organización. Mi primer contacto con el movimiento por los derechos civiles y la Convención Demócrata del 68 se convirtió en una lucha interseccional contra la renovación urbana destructiva, por un trato digno a las comunidades inmigrantes y, algo muy importante en Chicago, por una distribución equitativa de las inversiones en nuestras comunidades y por dar voz política a las comunidades subrepresentadas.

“Estos problemas y la urgente necesidad de dar voz a las comunidades sin voz inspiraron la creación de la primera Organización Política Independiente (IPO, por sus siglas en inglés) de Chicago, la IPO del Distrito 22, que ha sostenido nuestro movimiento multirracial, intergeneracional y progresista durante 41 años. Nuestra diversa coalición de progresistas ahora representa a los vecindarios en los que crecieron al mismo tiempo que promueven agendas progresistas a nivel federal, estatal y local.

“En el 119.º Congreso, tendremos la gran responsabilidad de defender a nuestras comunidades de la peligrosa agenda de Trump. Creo que el papel que desempeñará el CPC será más crítico que nunca. Somos un grupo de congresistas que da plataforma a ideas profundamente populares en todo el espectro político y que construye coaliciones diversas para lograr resultados.

“En los próximos días y años, mientras enfrentamos las horribles iniciativas de la próxima administración, nos mantendremos firmes y con una sola voz en defensa de nuestras propias comunidades más vulnerables y de las de los demás.

“Así que, mientras enfrentamos las promesas vacías de MAGA a los trabajadores y sus amenazas a los inmigrantes y otras comunidades vulnerables, el CPC tiene que aprovechar la oportunidad para luchar contra el falso populismo con plataformas reales, populares y centradas en las personas que nuestro Caucus apoya.

“Espero trabajar con mis colegas en el Congreso y organizaciones en mi distrito y en todo el país que creen en políticas centradas en las personas, basadas en la equidad y la justicia para todos”.

“Es un gran honor para mí pasarle la antorcha a la próxima generación de líderes electos del Caucus Progresista: mis queridos amigos y colegas de confianza, los representantes Greg Casar, Ilhan Omar y Chuy García”, dijo la presidenta saliente del CPC Pramila Jayapal. “Me sentí orgullosa de establecer límites de mandato cuando asumí la presidencia en 2018, y tengo plena confianza en las capacidades de nuestra nueva generación para liderar este Caucus en la lucha contra lo peor de la próxima administración de Trump, mientras reconstruimos nuestro partido con un enfoque en la justicia económica para los trabajadores. Estaré animando a estos tres nuevos líderes y a nuestros nuevos vicepresidentes en todo momento, cuando yo sea la presidenta emérita el próximo año, y mi corazón está muy lleno de saber que los tendremos al mando del CPC”.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-garcia-elected-as-whip-of-congressional-progressive-caucus,Congressman García Elected as Whip of Congressional Progressive Caucus,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,"Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García",G000586,chuygarcia.house.gov,chuygarcia,https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) was elected by his peers as Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is comprised of 97 Members of Congress who advocate for policies that prioritize working families over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequalities, and advance civil liberties.

VIDEO of the press conference here.

PICTURES of the press conference here.

Congressman García issued the following statement after the election:

“It’s an honor to be elected by my colleagues as the next Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. I am proud to join incoming Chair Casar, Deputy Chair Omar, and all members of the newly elected Executive Board as we prepare for the 119th Congress.

“In Chicago, we have a deep history of activism and organizing. My first exposure to the Civil Rights movement and the ‘68 Democratic Convention grew into an intersectional fight against destructive urban renewal, for dignified treatment of immigrant communities, and—very important in Chicago—equitable distributions of investments in our neighborhoods, and to give underrepresented communities a political voice.

“These issues, and the urgent need to give unheard communities a voice inspired the creation of Chicago’s first Independent Political Organization (IPO), the 22nd Ward IPO, which has sustained our multiracial, cross-generational, progressive movement for 41 years. Our diverse coalition of progressives are now representing the neighborhoods they grew up in while advancing progressive agendas at the federal, state, and local levels.

“In the 119th Congress, we will have the heavy charge of defending our communities from Trump’s dangerous agenda. I believe the role the CPC plays will be more critical than ever. We are a Caucus that gives platform to ideas deeply popular across the political spectrum, and a Caucus that builds diverse coalitions to get things done.

“In the coming days and years, as we confront the horrible initiatives of the next administration, we will stand strong and speak as one in defense of our own, and each other’s, most vulnerable communities.

“So as we confront MAGA’s empty promises to working people, and its threats to immigrants and other vulnerable communities, the CPC has to take the opportunity to fight fake populism with real, popular, and people-centered platforms our Caucus supports.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and partners in my district and across the country who believe in people-centered policies rooted in equity and justice for all.”

“It is my great honor to pass the torch to the next class of elected leadership of the Progressive Caucus: my dear friends and trusted colleagues Reps. Greg Casar, Ilhan Omar, and Chuy García,” said Chair Pramila Jayapal. “I was proud to establish term limits when I became Chair in 2018, and have full confidence in the abilities of our new class to lead this Caucus in the fight against the worst of the incoming Trump administration while rebuilding our party with a focus on economic justice for working people. I will be cheering these three new leaders and our new vice chairs at every turn as Chair Emerita come next year, and my heart is very full knowing we will have them at the helm of the CPC.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-introduces-legislation-empower-franchise-owners-0,Schakowsky Introduces Legislation to Empower Franchise Owners,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Full Text of Bill (PDF)

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, reintroduced the Franchisee Freedom Act. This legislation ensures that small business owners who enter into franchise agreements with big corporations will be afforded the opportunity to address claims against the franchisor, putting them on a level playing field.

""Franchisors can be a lifeline for those looking to create their own American dream. Unfortunately, due to a weak rule and even weaker enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule, that dream can turn into a nightmare, one in which they are under the thumb of a predatory corporation,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “That is why it is imperative for franchisees that we pass this legislation, which provides small business owners harmed by violations of the Franchise Rule with the means to recover from the harm done.""

""I appreciate Rep. Schakowsky for introducing the Franchisee Freedom Act. Full and proper disclosure is foundational to the success of franchising. This legislation would hold franchisors responsible for violations of the FTC Franchise Rule by allowing harmed franchisees their fundamental right to court access to mitigate their claims,"" said Keith R. Miller, Principal, Franchisee Advocacy Consulting.

The Franchise Rule gives prospective purchasers of franchises the material information they need to weigh the risks and benefits of such an investment.

This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Hank Johnson (GA-04).

This legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD), Barkley Franchisee Association (Central Bark), Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA), Domino’s Franchisee Association, Dunkin Donuts Independent Franchise Owners, Envy Owners’ Association (Massage Envy), Fair Franchising Initiative, Griswold Homecare® Franchisee Association, Independent Association of BNI Franchisees, Independent Association of Clean Juice® Franchisees, Independent Association of Cleaning Authority® Franchisees, Independent Association of Fantastic Sams® Franchisees, Independent Association of Fetch! Pet Care Franchisees, Independent Association of Goddard School® Franchisees, Independent Association of Grand Welcome® Franchisees, Independent Association of Home Instead Franchisees, Independent Association of I Heart Mac & Cheese Franchisees, International Association of Kumon Franchisees, Independent Association of The Little Gym Franchisees, Independent Association of Music Go Round® Franchisees, Independent Association of PJ’s Coffee Franchisees, Independent Association of Woodhouse Spas® Franchisees, Maine Franchise Owners Association, National Franchisee Association (Burger King), National Jack in the Box Franchisee Association, North American Association of Subway® Franchisees, National TUPSSO Franchise Owners Association (UPS Stores), Pearle Vision® Franchisee Association, Pit Owners Association (Dickey’s BBQ), Reform Lodging, and Taco Time Franchisee Association.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-announces-36-new-steam-scholars,SCHNEIDER ANNOUNCES 36 NEW STEAM SCHOLARS,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bradley Scott Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,schneider,https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ABBOTT PARK, IL – Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) proudly welcomed 36 local high school students as STEAM Scholars for the 2024-2025 school year. The 36 students represent 14 different high schools across the 10th congressional district. To kick off the STEAM Scholar Program, the students joined Rep. Schneider at Abbott Laboratories for a wide-ranging conversation with several of the company’s scientists and a tour of a virology lab.

Rep. Schneider speaks to new STEAM Scholars during a visit to Abbott Laboratories.

“I’m thrilled to announce 36 new STEAM Scholars who, over the next few months, will have a valuable opportunity to meet with some of Lake, Cook and McHenry counties’ technology leaders to explore different professional paths they might want to pursue after high school,” said Schneider. “The 10th district is home to many world class industries and institutions that offer exceptional career opportunities. Our first stop at Abbott Laboratories gave students a chance to see scientists working in the virology lab researching infectious diseases and hear how they are working to prevent the next pandemic.”

Rep. Schneider welcomes 36 new STEAM Scholars from 14 IL-10 high schools.

Launched in 2018, Rep. Schneider’s STEAM Scholar Program is an educational opportunity for high school students in IL-10. The program aims to connect highly motivated students interested in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) careers with hands-on learning experiences throughout the district.

STEAM Scholars tour Abbott’s virology lab and meet with scientists.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, students will visit four STEAM-related businesses and facilities where they will participate in discussions with local employees, business leaders and educators, and learn more about the STEAM career opportunities.

The 2024-2025 class of STEAM Scholars includes:

1. Amritha Praveen Adlai E. Stevenson High School

2. Samarth Donapati Adlai E. Stevenson High School

3. Rhubyn Letuchy Adlai E. Stevenson High School

4. Shivaani Sivaraman Adlai E. Stevenson High School

5. Jack Johnson Antioch Community High School

6. Samantha Pickard Antioch Community High School

7. Katherine Anen Carmel Catholic High School

8. Charlie Marks Deerfield High School

9. Jesse Feldman Deerfield High School

10. Ella Gil Deerfield High School

11. Sarah Holzman Deerfield High School

12. Jake Semmelhack Glenbrook North High School

13. Liora Kalinovskiy Glenbrook North High School

14. Paul Sever Glenbrook North High School

15. Luke Davidson Glenbrook North High School

16. Nicole Sak Grant Community High School

17. Vani Patel Grant Community High School

18. Sophie Lelchuk Grant Community High School

19. Izabela Podgorski Grant Community High School

20. Evelyn White Grayslake Central High School

21. Joshua Kaunas Johnsburg High School

22. Katherine McCann Lake Forest High School

23. Jimena Garcia De Leaniz Hernandez Lake Forest High School

24. Emerson Brown Lake Forest High School

25. Aurelia Carraro Lakes Community High School

26. Daniel Garcia Lakes Community High School

27. Cooper Cohen New Trier High School

28. Kate Kang New Trier High School

29. Jack Fisher New Trier High School

30. Connall Gill New Trier High School

31. Kyle Kim Vernon Hills High School

32. Ryan Stukel Vernon Hills High School

33. Laasya Manikonda Vernon Hills High School

34. Jiya Shah Warren Township High School

35. Julian Amador Round Lake High School

36. Briseia Ortega Round Lake High School",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://underwood.house.gov/media/press-releases/senators-shaheen-and-wyden-representatives-underwood-and-neal-leaders-schumer,"Senators Shaheen and Wyden, Representatives Underwood and Neal, Leaders Schumer and Jeffries Release CBO Findings Detailing Impact on Americans’ Health Insurance Should Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire in 2025",2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Lauren Underwood,U000040,underwood.house.gov,underwood,https://underwood.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, with U.S. Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) as well as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries secured new data from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) detailing the impact on Americans’ health insurance should the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) expire at the end of 2025. If Congress does not extend these tax credits, premiums will increase by 7.9 percent and 3.8 million Americans will go uninsured altogether. The full text of the lawmakers’ CBO request can be found here. CBO’s findings released today can be found here.

“New data from CBO confirms what we feared: if Congress fails to extend these tax credits, health care costs will skyrocket for millions of families and 3.8 million Americans will lose coverage entirely,” said Shaheen. “At a time when Americans are already facing higher prices, we should do everything we can to lower costs when and where we can. It’s time we pass my Health Care Affordability Act to permanently extend the tax credits so many families rely on.”

“This is a stark preview of health care under Donald Trump: higher insurance premiums for families who buy health coverage on their own, and more uninsured Americans who can’t afford health insurance at all,” Wyden said. “Republicans have an opportunity to end their ideological crusade against the Affordable Care Act and work in a bipartisan manner to make health care more affordable for working families, but instead they seem poised to hand another big tax break to corporations and the wealthy.”

“These vital tax credits are at risk of expiring – unless we act. Democrats made massive progress in making heath care more affordable for millions of Americans. Congress should work in a bipartisan manner to extend these middle class tax cuts rather than give another tax break to corporations and the ultra-wealthy,” said Leader Schumer.

“The Affordable Care Act transformed our health care system, and already this year, Open Enrollment is breaking records with nearly 1 million new consumers selecting coverage for 2025,” said Ranking Member Neal. “Today’s analysis shows that abandoning this life-saving credit is a sure-fire way for President Trump and Republicans to throttle the American people with a sicker, more expensive way of life. Unless they want to raise taxes on workers and families and leave millions uninsured, passing an extension is not negotiable.”

“Because of the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act, Congressional Democrats were successful in lowering the cost of health care for millions of hardworking taxpayers. The Congressional Budget Office’s report today illustrates the critical need to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits with the fierce urgency of now. We are calling on House and Senate Republicans to partner with us to lower health care costs for American families,"" said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

“Our Health Care Affordability Act provides quality, affordable health care coverage for millions of American families—many of them for the very first time. These savings are a lifeline, but if we don’t act now, Americans will see higher health care costs when these popular tax credits expire in 2025,” Underwood said. “This legislation works and we are running out of time. Congress must act immediately to pass our legislation and make these lower health care costs permanent.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-raja-krishnamoorthi-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-press-conference,"Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Press Conference Calling for Urgent PBM Reform Legislation to be Taken Up Before End of Year",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) urged Congress today to prioritize Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform legislation before the year's end, joining a bipartisan coalition of House and Senate members for a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol. During his remarks, the congressman criticized the three largest PBMs for positioning themselves as middlemen between drug companies and patients, thereby creating a rebate system that favors large chain pharmacies, drives up prescription drug prices, and squeezes out small and independent pharmacies. In Illinois, this practice has increased medication costs and left 73 percent of counties in pharmacy deserts. Nationwide in 2024, over 2,000 local pharmacies have closed due to PBM pressures.

“Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are driving up prices of prescription drugs for consumers and killing competition by forcing independent and local pharmacies to close,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 39 state attorneys general, and members from both parties in Washington agree: the way PBMs operate is unsustainable and unacceptable. The bipartisan consensus is evident, the need for reform is evident, and the desire for Congress to act is evident. Now is the time for Congress to end the stranglehold PBMs have on our health care system by moving to protect pharmacy competition and lower prescription drug costs for everyone.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a leader in calling for PBM reform during his time in Congress, authoring several pieces of legislation that would increase transparency within the industry, better protect local and independent pharmacies, and lower the costs of prescription drugs for consumers, including introducing the bipartisan Pharmacy Audit and Compensation Transparency (PhACT) Act in October that would direct the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to investigate how PBMs audit pharmacists. In December, Congressman Krishnamoorthi also joined with Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Cliff Bentz (R-OR) in calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the role PBMs may have played in worsening the opioid crisis.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-co-chairs-haiti-caucus-host-briefing-haiti-business-accelerator,"Schakowsky, Co-Chairs of Haiti Caucus Host Briefing on the Haiti Business Accelerator",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and the Co-Chairs of the Haiti Caucus, Reps. Sheila Cherilus-McCormick (FL-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), briefed over 100 advocates, business leaders, and Congressional staffers on plans to create jobs, grow the economy, and promote stability in Haiti.

The briefing, held on Monday, featured the founders and board of the Haiti Business Accelerator (HBA). The HBA is a collaborative new initiative led by Haitians and launched by the Greater Northern Chamber of Commerce in Haiti. The HBA's goal is to support the growth and development of new, existing and startup businesses in Haiti that have the potential to advance regional job creation, economic growth, and stability in regions outside of Port-au-Prince.

“Between the political turmoil, a food supply shortage, devastating earthquakes, and persistent security concerns, Haitians are facing an unprecedented crisis. The United States and our business community must thoughtfully and meaningfully help our close Caribbean neighbor,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I’m proud to support the HBA to further empower the Haitian people and democratically chosen Haitian leaders. I vow to continue my efforts with Haitian American leaders, including some from Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, to help grow the Haitian economy.

""Haiti stands at a critical juncture. Now is the time for us to help nurture Haiti’s potential and create long-term opportunities for its people,"" said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus. ""The Haitian Business Alliance serves as a reminder that real, lasting change must empower the people of Haiti. This initiative is spearheaded by Haitians, with most of the funding contributed by the Haitian diaspora, showcasing their dedication to improving Haiti’s well-being.""

""The Haitian people have confronted far too much for us to turn a blind eye to the generational devastation facing their nation today. In this moment of crisis, the United States cannot fail to uphold its deeply held obligation to support our cherished Caribbean neighbor through its ongoing hardships. Fulfilling that immense responsibility starts with using every tool at our disposal to foster a stable and sustainable economic environment in Haiti. I am proud to stand alongside the dedicated advocates of the Haitian Business Alliance in support of Haitian-led solutions that will deliver meaningful progress to Haiti and, at long last, position our ally on the path toward prosperity,"" said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus.

“The Haitian people have long endured political and economic instability. Now more than ever, the United States must provide support to help foster sustainable growth and create opportunities for Haitians,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus. “The Haiti Business Accelerator is a solution led by Haitians for Haitians to promote economic growth and create jobs, and I am proud to support this crucial initiative. This isn’t just about economic development—it’s about human dignity.”

“The business community must be part of charting a new path for our nation. I feel that the HBA is an important step in that direction, and the support of the Haiti Caucus is a tremendous help as we get underway,” said Steve Mathieu, President of the Greater Northern Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and Co-founder of the Haiti Business Accelerator.

The HBA is intentionally designed to follow the successful model put forward by many U.S.-based business accelerators, and the programs of the HBA will be implemented through a partnership with one of the leading business accelerators in the U.S., which currently operates in more than a dozen other countries. Programming will then be fully transferred to the HBA Foundation once it is operational, and the programs are up and running.

As the political situation continues to look uncertain, it is more important than ever that the millions of Haitians who simply want to live happy, stable, successful lives have sources of hope and promises of something more. By growing stable enterprises, promoting local entrepreneurship and markets, and creating jobs, the HBA has a critical role to play in this struggle.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-introduces-bill-rename-post-office-after-letter-carrier-jay-larson,Sorensen Introduces Bill to Rename Post Office After Letter Carrier Jay Larson,2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHIGNTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17), along with Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16), introduced a bipartisan bill to rename the United States Postal Service (USPS) building located at 5225 Harrison Avenue in Rockford after letter carrier Jay Larson. Larson, who was a 25-year veteran of the USPS, was killed on March 27, 2024, in the Rockford stabbing spree while delivering mail to his neighbors.

“Jay Larson was the perfect example of what it meant to be a good neighbor,” said Sorensen.“Throughout his 25 years in the United States Postal Service, Jay always made sure his neighbors got their mail, never taking a sick day. And when his fellow letter carriers needed help finishing their routes, Jay worked overtime to lend a hand to those who needed it. As we continue to mourn his passing, it is my honor to introduce bipartisan legislation to rename the Post Office on Harrison Avenue after Jay Larson, to make sure that future generations of Rockfordians remember him and how he made our neighborhoods a better place.”

“Jay Larson was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about the Rockford community,” said Congressman LaHood. “He embodied the best of our Midwestern values through his strong work ethic and compassion for others during his 25 years as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. I am proud to support this legislation with Representative Sorensen, which would dedicate the Harrison Avenue Post Office in Jay’s honor, preserving his legacy and serving as a reminder of the positive impact one person can have on an entire community.”

Congress maintains the ability to pass legislation to name or rename USPS buildings and post offices in honor of those who have served their communities. To read more about this legislation, click here.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-introduces-new-privileged-resolution-to-force-house-vote-on-gaetz-report,Casten Introduces New Privileged Resolution To Force House Vote On Gaetz Report,2024-12-03,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced a new privileged resolution to force a vote by the full House of Representatives within two legislative days to require the House Ethics Committee to release its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

“The Committee on Ethics has, on many occasions, released its reports on former members,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “Resigning from Congress should not allow Members to avoid accountability for allegations as serious as those faced by Matt Gaetz. Withholding this report from the American people would impede the dignity and integrity of the legislative proceedings of the House.”

Speaker Johnson allowed Rep. Casten’s previous resolution to expire during last week’s recess.

An updated copy of the resolution can be found HERE. A video of Rep. Casten noticing his resolution today can be found HERE.

The House Committee on Ethics has a history of releasing reports and continuing investigations into allegations of serious misconduct for former Members who resigned:

In 1987, the Committee released a report on its investigation into allegations of the misuse of campaign funds, improper gifts, the failure to reveal business interests on his financial disclosure, and the acceptance of a bribe by former Representative Bill Boner (D-TN) following his resignation from Congress.

In 1990, the Committee released a report on its investigations of sexual misconduct allegations, which included having sexual intercourse with a minor and making sexual advances towards a congressional employee, against former Representative Don Lukens (R-OH) following his resignation from Congress.

In 2006, the Committee released a report on its investigation of sexual misconduct allegations, which included sending sexually explicit messages to at least one minor, against former Representative Mark Foley (R-FL) following his resignation from Congress.

In 2011, the Committee continued its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against former Representative Eric Massa (D-NY) following his resignation from Congress.

Last month, Rep. Casten led 97 House Democrats in a letter to the House Ethics Committee requesting the immediate release of its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/krishnamoorthi-carter-ross-bentz-author-letter-calling-doj-investigate-pbms,"Krishnamoorthi, Carter, Ross, Bentz Author Letter Calling on DOJ to Investigate PBMs’ Role in Opioid Crisis",2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Cliff Bentz (R-OR) sent a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate what role pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) played in exacerbating the opioid crisis. In the letter, the members cite investigative reports from Barron’s that found PBMs increased rebates if a health care plan covered higher amounts of OxyContin, leading to an increase in opioid sales that furthered the epidemic. Purdue Pharma, for example, reportedly gave CVS Caremark double the number of rebates for authorizing four or more opioid pills per day instead of just two.

“Recent reports, including confidential files and information from CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx, suggests the three largest PBMs colluded and conspired to steer patients towards Oxycontin in exchange for $400 million… [and] at the expense of innocent American lives.” The members wrote in the letter. “The lack of transparency surrounding PBM’s rebate agreements and formulary decisions has allowed them to operate with little to no oversight, posing a significant threat to America’s public health. That is why we strongly urge the Department of Justice to investigate the role PBMs may have played in the opioid crisis and hold them accountable.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a congressional leader on the issue, calling for PBM reform and championing several pieces of legislation that would increase transparency within the industry. In October, Congressman Krishnamoorthi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on how PBMs raise prices of prescription drugs for their own profits at the expense of Americans in desperate need of medication. The congressman also cited findings that PBMs are squeezing local and independent pharmacies, forcing more business to come to pharmacies operated by the three largest PBMs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-raja-krishnamoorthi-announces-new-inquiry-illicit-vapes-urges,"Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi Announces New Inquiry into Illicit Vapes, Urges Greater Action to Combat Youth Vaping Crisis",2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"CHICAGO – Today, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) joined with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and other local officials at Lurie Children’s Hospital to address new efforts to combat youth vaping, including announcing a new investigation into Chinese illicit vape manufacturers. Around 95 percent of vaping products used globally are manufactured in the People's Republic of China (PRC), and hundreds of products, including the popular Elf Bar, are sold nationwide despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only authorizing 34 tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products.

""Hundreds of illegal vaping and e-cigarette products, often marketed with bright packaging and ads targeting young people, are still readily available on the market despite lacking approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),"" Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi said. ""This blatant and unlawful effort to addict our children to nicotine and tobacco products is unacceptable, which is why my committee has launched an investigation into illicit vapes from the People's Republic of China. The FDA must heed my request and take action to remove all illegal vaping products from shelves in Cook County, across Illinois, and throughout the U.S. Youth vaping continues to be a serious public health crisis in America, and I am dedicated to working with local officials like Sheriff Dart, as well as my colleagues in Congress and on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, to send a clear message to illegal vape manufacturers: Our kids are not for sale.""

“No matter how many laws are passed, or how much outreach our officers do to educate children on the dangers of vaping, is impossible for my office or any other local law enforcement agency to stem the flow of these dangerous chemicals into our communities,” Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said. “Like the opioid crisis, the unrelenting flood of toxic vaping devices, flavored like candy and marketed to appeal to youth, is a public health crisis that demands federal resources and solutions.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-biden-pardon-decision,Quigley Statement on Biden Pardon Decision,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,quigley,https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement on President Biden’s decision to issue a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden:

“I would not approve of this use of presidential power by Donald Trump and I will not withhold my criticism just because Joe Biden is a member of my own party. For years, I have reminded the public that no one is above the law. Not presidents, not former presidents, and not the children of presidents. I understand President Biden’s concern that the prosecution of his son on rarely pursued charges was politically motivated. Nonetheless, Hunter Biden is guilty of criminal acts and should be held accountable for his actions. As a father, I can understand the President’s motivations but feeling justified and being right are not the same.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-appointment-tom-homan-border-czar-0,Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on the Appointment of Tom Homan as “Border Czar”,2024-11-11,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Chicago, IL— Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee and Founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration, released the following statement:

“Today’s announcement that former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Thomas Homan will serve as “Border Czar” should make it clear to everyone that the Trump Administration will make good on their promises of mass deportation. We know *exactly* who Tom Homan is. He is the architect of the “zero tolerance” policy that separated thousands of migrant children from their parents with no plan for reunification. He demonstrates cold disregard for the U.S. citizenship of the at least 4 million children with an undocumented parent, suggesting to keep families together, they should be deported together.

The Trump Administration’s goal is to inflict maximum damage on diverse American families, our children, and our communities. To that end, it is no surprise Trump wants Tom Homan at the helm. But let it be known, I will fight like hell to keep our families together, and our communities are ready to be an obstacle at every turn as he tries to implement his cruel, vile, gruesome plan.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-calling-expedited-return-deported-veterans,Congresswoman Ramirez Statement Calling for the Expedited Return of Deported Veterans,2024-11-11,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Chicago, IL— Today, in commemoration of Veterans Day, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement calling for expedited action to return 5 deported veterans home to Illinois and others throughout the nation.

“Over the years, servicemembers –independently of their migration status– have served in the United States Armed Forces. Despite their service and sacrifice, too many undocumented veterans have faced deportation due to a failed immigration system that does not honor who we say we are as a nation. As we celebrate our veterans, we must remember those who today find themselves living in exile, separated from their families, and often struggling to access the benefits and support they earned through their service. It is time to return these veterans home and deliver justice and support. Today, I call on Governor Pritzker, President Biden, and every elected official to use the full power of local and federal government to reunite families and honor every veteran with actions. For Sergio Andrade, Jiji Thomas Kurian, Elsworth Alexander Smith, Mark Osmond Isaacs, Gerardo Emiterio Lopez Flores: the time to act is today!”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Today, Congresswoman Ramirez also joined local veterans and veteran-serving organizations for a roundtable and a press conference to announce a new piece of legislation she will be introducing to address the crisis of unhoused veterans. After the recent election results, Ramirez and the local veterans also discussed the importance of legislation to protect education benefits, address student loan debt, and expand health care benefits that must be championed in a bipartisan spirit.

For the recording of the press conference, CLICK HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-commemorates-veterans-day-0,Schakowsky Commemorates Veterans Day,2024-11-11,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"EVANSTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:

“On Veterans Day, we honor and express our deepest gratitude to all the American veterans who stepped forward to defend our country and our democracy. The men and women who have served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard were bravely willing to risk their lives to serve the needs of our nation. Not only do veterans deserve our respect and recognition, but they also deserve to know that we have their backs.

“For a number of veterans, the aftermath of their service entails an ongoing struggle with post-traumatic stress and the daily pain of injuries sustained during their service. Tragically, each year, we lose thousands of veterans to suicide, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and enduring support upon their return to civilian life. We must double down and ensure that we are providing our veterans with high-quality services and resources.

“Last Congress, under Democratic leadership, we passed the largest veterans benefits expansion in more than a generation with the Honoring our PACT Act, and we have remained committed to providing the resources VA needs to serve more veterans than ever. Since the Honoring our PACT Act became law, nearly 2 million PACT Act-related claims have been submitted, more than 5.7 million veterans have received new toxic exposure screenings, and more than 740,000 new veterans have enrolled in VA healthcare. This investment has had a tremendous impact on our ability to help care for our veterans.

""I am deeply committed to fighting for our veterans and ensuring that they are not forgotten. I hope everyone takes a moment today to share their appreciation for those who have risked their lives to serve the needs of our nation. If you are a veteran in need of assistance or know a veteran who may need assistance, please do not hesitate to call my office at (773) 506-7100. We will do whatever we can to assist you.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-texas-court-judge-declaring-keep-families,Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Texas Court Judge Declaring Keep Families Together Program Illegal,2024-11-09,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Chicago, IL— Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement after Trump-appointed Judge J. Campbell Barker of Texas struck down the Biden Administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program.

“For years, Trump’s extremely unpopular agenda to persecute immigrants and terrorize families has been loyally carried out by his appointees and followers. Judge Barker’s cruel decision shows us just what a Trump presidency will mean for diverse American families. While the decision to rob families of a pathway to remain together is predictable and enraging, now is not the moment for us in Congress or the Administration to retreat or give up,” said Ramirez. “Families have waited years for a sigh of relief. 76% of Americans agree that we should provide citizenship pathways for immigrants. In the last few days of Biden’s presidency, our mandate from the American people is clear: let’s be bold; let’s be proactive; let’s deliver broad protection and relief. We must make it as hard as possible for Trump and his loyalists to rip our families apart.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-meets-us-state-department-regarding-protection,Congressman Krishnamoorthi Meets With U.S. State Department Regarding Protection Of Hindus and Other Religious Minorities In Bangladesh,2024-11-04,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement:

“Today, I was briefed by the State Department on their efforts to protect religious minority rights, especially those of Hindus, in Bangladesh. The State Department emphasized that the protection of Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh is a top priority that they discuss in practically every high-level diplomatic meeting with the government of Bangladesh. In addition, the State Department is actively working to bolster Bangladesh’s civilian security force with training specifically related to safeguarding religious minority rights. I continued to urge the State Department to provide more public information related to their efforts in Bangladesh and statistics regarding the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh as we work to eliminate religious violence, discrimination, and bigotry. I appreciate the State Department’s attention to this important issue and will follow up again in the coming weeks.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-davis-bacon-and-raskin-join-national-child-advocates-thanking-social,"Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin Join National Child Advocates in Thanking the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for Taking an Important Step to Protecting the Federal Benefits of Foster Youth",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"Washington, DC: November 1, 2024 - Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) welcome the opportunity provided by the joint Request for Information (RFI) on the use and conservation of federal benefits for foster youth, as well as other ways federal agencies may play an appropriate role supporting broader Federal, State, and local efforts to improve the outcomes of foster youth who receive federal benefits, published today by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Children’s Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In December 2022, Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin urged the Biden Administration to use its executive branch authority to limit the state practice of using the assets and benefits of foster youth to reimburse state costs of care until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. Although Congress will need to act to permanently stop this practice all together, SSA and HHS have statutory and regulatory authority to stop or at least limit this practice now.

In August 2023, the Biden Administration encouraged reform efforts and reminded states and tribal child welfare agencies of their responsibility to foster youth when serving as a Social Security Representative Payee for foster youth via a joint letter issued by SSA and ACF. Further, SSA has taken multiple additional steps to educate its staff and child welfare agencies about the responsibilities of an agency Representative Payee, and ACF has hosted webinars focused on state and local efforts to conserve the federal benefits of foster youth.

Importantly, states can stop this practice without any action by the federal government, and many are working to do so. Four states and jurisdictions (Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia) have enacted comprehensive reform, and an additional six states or jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York City) have adopted substantial reforms to protect some of the assets and benefits of orphaned and disabled foster youth. Nine more (Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Washington) have adopted more limited reform ranging from legislation, executive order, resolution, agency policy, state trust, or litigation. Unfortunately, the majority of states still choose to bolster their own financial security rather than help the orphaned and disabled youth, often without the youth, their attorneys, or other caring adults knowing.

Today, SSA and the Children’s Bureau took a critical step to better protect foster youth. The Request for Information from youth, families, and stakeholders on how the use and conservation of federal benefits could improve outcomes for foster youth will serve as the foundation for agency reform - giving the agencies important perspectives on what actions are possible and how to implement those actions to best improve child well-being.

“I thank Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley and Administration on Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston for taking the important step of collecting information from youth, families, and stakeholders about how Federal, State, and local governments can use and conserve the federal benefits of foster youth to improve their well-being,” said Rep. Davis. “I proudly lead legislation to protect the benefits and assets of foster youth by stopping states from taking the youths’ funds. This new request for information serves as a foundation for future agency action. I am proud to have partnered with Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to urge executive branch action to help states stop this practice until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. My home state of Illinois is a national leader in this area, and I greatly appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration’s multiple steps to encourage states to protect foster youth.”

“Foster youth should be able to keep their social security benefits and not be stolen from them by their state,” said Rep. Bacon. “In 2020, Nebraska received over $2.6 million in social security benefits from youth in care. That is their money and being a foster youth is hard enough without the expectation that they pay for the care they received when they were placed into the care of the state due to no fault of their own. The Executive Branch must take action to address this problem.”

“States have a duty to care for vulnerable foster children, yet many smash their piggy banks and seize their Social Security benefits to reimburse the costs of their care,” said Rep. Raskin. “I am grateful to Commissioner O’Malley, the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for heeding our calls and taking a closer look to ensure federal benefits are best serving all children and young people in foster care. I have been working to solve this problem since my time in the Maryland State Senate, and today I’m proud to stand with Rep. Danny Davis and Rep. Don Bacon to applaud this further step by the Biden-Harris administration to protect foster kids across America.”

“Foster youth deserve a fair chance to benefit from their benefits. Now that a majority of states have initiated or taken action to protect foster youth assets, this RFI paves the way for meaningful rules that will help beneficiaries in care thrive. We are grateful for the leadership of SSA and Commissioner O’Malley and look forward to collaborating with SSA and ACF on behalf of impacted youth.” Amy C. Harfeld, JD, National Policy Director, Children's Advocacy Institute

“Child welfare agencies have long been taking Social Security benefits from foster children who are disabled or have deceased parents, leaving the children penniless. I applaud the leadership of the Social Security Administration—and the efforts of Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin—in this important step towards better protecting foster youth’s resources for their struggle against the odds as they leave foster care.” Daniel Hatcher, Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore and author of The Poverty Industry

“Listen to courageous foster youth like Marissa Pike, Katrina White, Ian Marks, Justin Kasieta, and Anthony Jackson. The Center for the Rights of Abused Children remains focused on stopping states from taking foster youth’s federal benefits and delivering comprehensive reform in a child-centric way. We appreciate federal policymakers engaging on this issue, and we encourage governors and state legislators to take action today.” J. Kendall Seal, Vice President of Policy, Center for the Rights of Abused Children.

A copy of the letter by Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin is available here.

Hager, E., & Shapiro, J. (May 17, 2021). Foster Care Agencies Take Thousands of Dollars Owed to Kids. Most Children Have No Idea. Joint investigation The Marshall Project and National Public Radio. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/22/foster-care-agencies-take-thousands-of-dollars-owed-to-kids-most-children-have-no-idea

Rosinsky, K., Williams, S. C. (January 16, 2024) Special Savings Accounts Can Help Child Welfare Agencies Conserve Social Security Benefits. Blog. Child Trends. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/savings-accounts-child-welfare-agencies-social-security",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-davis-bacon-and-raskin-join-national-child-advocates-thanking-social-0,"Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin Join National Child Advocates in Thanking the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for Taking an Important Step to Protecting the Federal Benefits of Foster Youth",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"Washington, DC: November 1, 2024 - Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) welcome the opportunity provided by the joint Request for Information (RFI) on the use and conservation of federal benefits for foster youth, as well as other ways federal agencies may play an appropriate role supporting broader Federal, State and local efforts to improve the outcomes of foster youth who receive federal benefits, published today by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Children’s Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In December 2022, Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin urged the Biden Administration to use its executive branch authority to limit the state practice of using the assets and benefits of foster youth to reimburse state costs of care until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. Although Congress will need to act to permanently stop this practice all together, SSA and HHS have statutory and regulatory authority to stop or at least limit this practice now.

In August 2023, the Biden Administration encouraged reform efforts and reminded states and tribal child welfare agencies of their responsibility to foster youth when serving as a Social Security Representative Payee for foster youth via a joint letter issued by SSA and ACF. Further, SSA has taken multiple additional steps to educate its staff and child welfare agencies about the responsibilities of an agency Representative Payee, and ACF has hosted webinars focused on state and local efforts to conserve the federal benefits of foster youth.

Importantly, states can stop this practice without any action by the federal government, and many are working to do so. Four states and jurisdictions (Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia) have enacted comprehensive reform, and an additional six states or jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York City) have adopted substantial reforms to protect some of the assets and benefits of orphaned and disabled foster youth. Nine more (Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Washington) have adopted more limited reform ranging from legislation, executive order, resolution, agency policy, state trust, or litigation. Unfortunately, the majority of states still choose to bolster their own financial security rather than help the orphaned and disabled youth, often without the youth, their attorneys, or other caring adults knowing.

Today, SSA and the Children’s Bureau took a critical step to better protect foster youth. The Request for Information from youth, families, and stakeholders on how the use and conservation of federal benefits could improve outcomes for foster youth will serve as the foundation for agency reform - giving the agencies important perspectives on what actions are possible and how to implement those actions to best improve child well-being.

“I thank Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley and Administration on Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston for taking the important step of collecting information from youth, families, and stakeholders about how Federal, State, and local governments can use and conserve the federal benefits of foster youth to improve their well-being,” said Rep. Davis. “I proudly lead legislation to protect the benefits and assets of foster youth by stopping states from taking the youths’ funds. This new request for information serves as a foundation for future agency action. I am proud to have partnered with Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to urge executive branch action to help states stop this practice until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. My home state of Illinois is a national leader in this area, and I greatly appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration’s multiple steps to encourage states to protect foster youth.”

“Foster youth should be able to keep their social security benefits and not be stolen from them by their state,” said Rep. Bacon. “In 2020, Nebraska received over $2.6 million in social security benefits from youth in care. That is their money and being a foster youth is hard enough without the expectation that they pay for the care they received when they were placed into the care of the state due to no fault of their own. The Executive Branch must take action to address this problem.”

“States have a duty to care for vulnerable foster children, yet many smash their piggy banks and seize their Social Security benefits to reimburse the costs of their care,” said Rep. Raskin. “I am grateful to Commissioner O’Malley, the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for heeding our calls and taking a closer look to ensure federal benefits are best serving all children and young people in foster care. I have been working to solve this problem since my time in the Maryland State Senate, and today I’m proud to stand with Rep. Danny Davis and Rep. Don Bacon to applaud this further step by the Biden-Harris administration to protect foster kids across America.”

“Foster youth deserve a fair chance to benefit from their benefits. Now that a majority of states have initiated or taken action to protect foster youth assets, this RFI paves the way for meaningful rules that will help beneficiaries in care thrive. We are grateful for the leadership of SSA and Commissioner O’Malley and look forward to collaborating with SSA and ACF on behalf of impacted youth.” Amy C. Harfeld, JD, National Policy Director, Children's Advocacy Institute

“Child welfare agencies have long been taking Social Security benefits from foster children who are disabled or have deceased parents, leaving the children penniless. I applaud the leadership of the Social Security Administration—and the efforts of Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin—in this important step towards better protecting foster youth’s resources for their struggle against the odds as they leave foster care.” Daniel Hatcher, Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore and author of The Poverty Industry

“Listen to courageous foster youth like Marissa Pike, Katrina White, Ian Marks, Justin Kasieta, and Anthony Jackson. The Center for the Rights of Abused Children remains focused on stopping states from taking foster youth’s federal benefits and delivering comprehensive reform in a child-centric way. We appreciate federal policymakers engaging on this issue, and we encourage governors and state legislators to take action today.” J. Kendall Seal, Vice President of Policy, Center for the Rights of Abused Children.

A copy of the letter by Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin is available here.

Multiple press stories and reports have documented state practices of taking benefits and assets of foster youth to reimburse themselves the cost of care, including:

Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law and First Star (2011). The Fleecing of Foster Children: How We Confiscate Their Assets and Undermine Their Financial Security. Children’s Advocacy Institute of the University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA. http://www.caichildlaw.org/Misc/Fleecing_Report_Final_HR.pdf

Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law and First Star (2024). Foster Care or Foster Con? Preserving the Federal Benefits of America’s Most Vulnerable Children: An Evaluation of All 50 States and the District of Columbia. Children’s Advocacy Institute of the University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA. https://catcher.sandiego.edu/items/usdlaw/Foster_Care_or_Foster_Con_Report_FINAL.pdf

Hager, E., & Shapiro, J. (May 17, 2021). Foster Care Agencies Take Thousands of Dollars Owed to Kids. Most Children Have No Idea. Joint investigation The Marshall Project and National Public Radio. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/22/foster-care-agencies-take-thousands-of-dollars-owed-to-kids-most-children-have-no-idea

Hager, E., & Shapiro, J. (April 22, 2021). State Foster Care Agencies Take Millions of Dollars Owed to Children in Their Care. Joint investigation National Public Radio and the Marshall Project. https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/988806806/state-foster-care-agencies-take-millions-of-dollars-owed-to-children-in-their-ca

Hatcher, D.L. (2006). Foster Children Paying for Foster Care. Cardozo Law Review, Vol. 27, pp. 1797-1852. https://ssrn.com/abstract=942007

Hatcher, D.L. (2016). The Poverty Industry: The Exploitation of America’s Most Vulnerable Citizens. NYU Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt18040th

Moriarty, E. (April 7, 2024). How a Loophole Deprives Foster Children of Benefits. CBS News Sunday Morning. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-a-loophole-deprives-foster-children-of-benefits/

Rosinsky, K., Williams, S. C. (January 16, 2024) Special Savings Accounts Can Help Child Welfare Agencies Conserve Social Security Benefits. Blog. Child Trends. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/savings-accounts-child-welfare-agencies-social-security",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-statement-rise-hateful-rhetoric-and-violent-crimes,Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Rise of Hateful Rhetoric and Violent Crimes in Illinois,2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Chicago, IL — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement:

“Words have meaning and consequences. For more than a year, we have seen a rise in bigotry and hateful rhetoric in the media, from elected officials, and on the campaign trail by politicians. Dehumanization fuels violence and makes us all less safe.

From the hate crime against an Orthodox Jewish man in the West Ridge neighborhood to despicable comments about Puerto Rico, antisemitic words from school board appointees, and an Islamophobic post amplified and celebrated by a sitting Illinois legislator, our families are grappling with the painful impacts that hateful statements and actions have on our communities.

I have said repeatedly that our collective safety and security are interconnected. It’s why I introduced the Wadee Resolution that calls out Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry and hate. It’s also why I believe those of us in public service must lead by example, affirm our shared humanity and be held accountable. I am committed to building an Illinois where all our neighbors can live and worship as their full, authentic selves and where we appreciate that our multiracial, multi-faith communities only make us stronger.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-wilson-letter-calling-stop-russia-sanctions-evasion-followed-tough,"SCHNEIDER, WILSON LETTER CALLING FOR STOP TO RUSSIA SANCTIONS EVASION FOLLOWED BY TOUGH NEW SANCTIONS",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Bradley Scott Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,schneider,https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Following the receipt of a bipartisan letter from Reps. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Joe Wilson (SC-02) that called for the strengthening of sanctions enforcement on China-Russia tech transfers, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new sanctions on 398 firms across Russia, China, and more than a dozen other nations accused of enabling Russia’s war effort.

“In recent weeks and months, we’ve seen evidence of China’s and others continued role in sustaining Russia’s war effort against Ukraine,” said Rep. Brad Schneider. “Russia is finding avenues to circumvent sanctions by accessing technologies with help from China that are crucial for producing military equipment. I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for sanctioning those countries who are assisting the Kremlin as it continues its unlawful attack on Ukraine.”

The bipartisan letter sent by Rep. Schneider, Rep. Wilson, and 21 other Members of Congress on October 16 called on the Biden-Harris Administration to urgently prioritize efforts to prevent sanctions circumvention by Russia as a part of the U.S.’s efforts to both support Ukraine and also counter China’s influence.

“As dictators continue working together to destroy democracy, the Chinese Communist Party continues actively fueling war criminal Putin’s mass murder of Ukrainian families by helping Putin get his hands on western technology,” said Rep. Joe Wilson. “Congress will not allow tyrants and thieves to weaponize the ingenuity and innovation of free people in their deranged war against those who share our values. I am grateful to have joined colleagues in calling on the administration to utilize every tool at our disposal and will continue to do so.”

The full text of the letter is below.

The Honorable Jake Sullivan

National Security Advisor

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

CC: The Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State; The Honorable Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce; The Honorable Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury

Dear Mr. Sullivan:

We write to acknowledge the Administration’s efforts to weaken the Kremlin’s military capabilities through sanctions that have disrupted Russia’s access to critical technologies. These measures have reinforced the United States' leadership in supporting Ukraine during this challenging time.

Recent developments, however, have raised significant concerns about the continued role of China in sustaining Russia’s military-industrial base. It has become increasingly clear that Russia is circumventing the current sanctions regime by accessing advanced industrial equipment through complex procurement networks, many of which involve Chinese entities.

As highlighted in recent analyses, Chinese manufacturers are filling the gap left by Western companies, supplying Russia with crucial CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and related technologies. These machines are vital for producing military equipment, including precision-guided munitions, armored vehicles, and UAVs. The continued flow of these critical tools to Russia undermines the effectiveness of our sanctions and prolongs the conflict in Ukraine.

China plays three critical roles in supporting Russia's war machine with CNC machines. First, China serves as a re-export and circumvention hub for CNC machines manufactured in the United States and allied Western countries. Second, CNC products made by Western manufacturers in their Chinese facilities are still entering the Russian market. Finally, China has become the primary supplier of CNC machines to the Russian military-industrial complex, with the Chinese CNC sector being heavily reliant on components and technologies originating from the United States and allied countries. In all these dimensions, Western manufacturers, technologies, and components remain actively present.

We are particularly concerned that Chinese CNC machines, incorporating Western technologies, are increasingly relied upon by Russian military-industrial enterprises to produce advanced weaponry. This shift not only poses a significant threat to Ukraine but also presents a broader

strategic challenge given China's role in supporting an adversary of the United States and our allies.

Given these strategic implications, we believe it is imperative to prioritize this issue as part of our broader competition with China. Ensuring that Russia is denied access to these advanced tools and technologies is essential to supporting Ukraine and aligns with our efforts to counter China's influence. We respectfully urge the administration to take further steps to address this critical vulnerability. Strengthening export and supply chain control enforcement, expanding multilateral cooperation, and targeting key Chinese and other entities involved in these transfers should be central to this effort. By doing so, we can ensure that our sanctions are comprehensive and effective, denying Russia the resources it needs to continue its aggression.

We stand ready to support these efforts and share the goal of upholding international security and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-announces-more-860000-improve-mental-health-and-fight-substance-abuse,"Sorensen Announces More Than $860,000 to Improve Mental Health and Fight Substance Abuse",2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) announced more than $860,000 to improve mental health services and fight substance abuse for his neighbors in Central Illinois.

$759,758 will go to Chestnut Health Systems in Bloomington to enhance care and reduce burnout for peer recovery support specialists (PRSSs) who work with clients in recovery. $100,876 will go to Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) in Bloomington to develop mental health and suicide prevention strategies.

“Central Illinoisians care about their neighbors, and they want to check in and make sure they are doing okay,” saidSorensen. “We are responsible for providing them with the tools to do just that. This important grant funding coming to Chestnut Health Systems and Illinois Wesleyan University will connect those who need it with resources and services to remain healthy. I am grateful for the work these organizations do to make our communities a better place to live and raise a family in.”

“We’re excited to further research in peer recovery support,” said Micheal Dennis, Ph.D., Director of Chestnut’s Lighthouse Institute. “This grant enables us to contribute meaningful knowledge to recovery efforts worldwide.”

“Today's college students face significant mental health challenges that impact their academic success,” said Karla Carney-Hall, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Illinois Wesleyan University. “This generous Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant allows us to support student success by expanding direct service, training faculty and staff, and educating students about mental health and suicide prevention strategies, especially for our most at-risk populations.”

Chestnut Health Systems’ Lighthouse Institute was awarded a six-year research grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) National Institute of Drug Abuse Office to test the innovative PATH (Peer Advanced Training in Harm Reduction) program. Led by Principal Investigator Dennis Watson, Ph.D., senior research scientist at Lighthouse Institute, this project focuses on a virtual training program designed for PRSSs. The goal is to enhance care, reduce burnout, and ultimately improve outcomes for both PRSS workers and the clients they serve. This project reflects Chestnut’s ongoing commitment to advancing integrated health and recovery through innovative solutions and leadership in research.

IWU was awarded the SAMHSA grant from HHS’s Center for Mental Health Services Office which leads federal efforts to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery supports for Americans with mental health conditions.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-robin-kelly-introduce-bill-prevent-high-risk-people-buying-guns,Rep. Robin Kelly to Introduce Bill to Prevent High-Risk People from Buying Guns,2024-10-31,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Robin L. Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,robinkelly,https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) will introduce a bill tomorrow to prevent people with violent misdemeanors from owning or buying a firearm. The Keeping Guns from High-Risk Individuals Act prevents guns from falling into the hands of people with high-risk behaviors such as stalking, violent hate crimes, and domestic violence.

“I’ve introduced the Keeping Guns from High-Risk Individuals Act every Congress because dangerous individuals shouldn’t be able to easily access firearms,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. “If someone has a history of violent behaviors, it’s simply common sense to prevent that person from buying or owning a gun. Whenever a gun is present in a high-risk situation – whether that be a domestic violence emergency or hate crime – it instantly escalates the chances of injury or death. We should prevent a gun from entering the situation in the first place.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, states with similar laws have seen an 18% reduction in all homicides.

The Keeping Guns from High-Risk Individuals Act implements the following:

Prohibits people convicted of a violent misdemeanor offense from purchasing or possessing firearms for a period of five years from the date of conviction.

Juveniles convicted of violent crimes are prohibited from purchasing a firearm until they reach the age of 25.

Individuals specifically convicted of stalking are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.

The Keeping Guns from High-Risk Individuals Act has been endorsed by several nationwide gun violence prevention organizations: Brady, Community Justice, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, March for Our Lives, and 97Percent.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-introduces-legislation-to-remove-barriers-to-voting-for-overseas-service-members,Casten Introduces Legislation to Remove Barriers to Voting for Overseas Service Members,2024-10-30,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Military Voter Overseas Technical Enhancement (VOTE) Act, legislation to improve access to the ballot for military voters stationed overseas.

“Our service members – who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms — currently face far too many unnecessary barriers that limit their ability to consistently vote,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “It’s past time we make sure the Department of Defense takes reasonable steps to ensure that members of the Armed Forces have reliable ballot access.”

Since 1986, military members on active duty stationed away from their voting residence have been covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which requires that states allow these military members, their eligible families, and overseas citizens to vote absentee in federal elections.

However, members of the Armed Forces often face barriers to full participation as voters, particularly as they move between duty sites domestically and around the world. In 2020, 49% of military voters participated in the election, as compared to 66% of all voting-eligible Americans, with many reporting that they either didn’t receive their ballot in time, or the ballot never arrived.

To remedy this issue, the Military VOTE Act takes the following steps:

Makes voter registration affirmatively available upon enlistment – service members will be asked if they are eligible to register to vote, and, if so, be provided registration materials. The DOD will then accept the form and transmit it to the appropriate state election official.

Promotes the timely and accurate delivery of absentee ballots by requiring that UOCAVA (military and related overseas voters) voters be provided ballots electronically, unless another preference is specified, or the required information to transmit the ballot electronically is not made available.

Requires that the DOD take steps to ensure that the appropriate state election official has timely and accurate contact information for uniformed service voters and notify the appropriate state when the voter is no longer a uniformed service member.

Requires that states provide absentee ballots for all elections moving forward if service members requests, until the voter is no longer a uniformed service member.

Prohibits states from rejecting absentee ballot applications on the grounds of early submission

Requires that no later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the bill, a report be provided to Congress and the President on the efficacy of the information provided on registration in the change of base packet military voters receive upon transfer to a new duty station.

The Military VOTE Act has been endorsed by FairVote.

Text of the legislation can be found here.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-raja-krishnamoorthi-presents-veterans-vietnam-war-lapel-pins,Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Presents Veterans of the Vietnam War with Lapel Pins Honoring their Service as 50-Year Anniversary of War’s End Approaches,2024-10-30,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"St. Charles, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) presented veterans from the U.S. military with lapel pins honoring the upcoming 50-year anniversary of the end of American military involvement during the Vietnam War. The ceremony, which took place at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5036 in St. Charles, was attended by veterans of several branches of the military and American Legion Post 342 Commander Joe Morgan. Earlier this year, Congressman Krishnamoorthi championed the passage of bipartisan legislation that renamed the town’s post office to the Veterans of the Vietnam War Memorial Post Office to honor those who served the country in Vietnam.

“The debt of gratitude our country owes to those who have risked so much for our nation in uniform is immeasurable,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “As the 50-year anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end approaches, now is a special time to honor the millions of Americans who served our country in uniform during the conflict. It was a privilege to meet and speak to so many of these heroes this morning, and an honor to recognize their service as we show them that our grateful nation will never forget their courage, commitment, and sacrifice.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-statement-west-rogers-park-shooting,Schakowsky Statement on West Rogers Park Shooting,2024-10-30,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"EVANSTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement on Saturday’s shooting in the West Rogers Park neighborhood:

""The news that an Orthodox Jewish man was shot on the way to his synagogue for Shabbat morning prayers is deeply alarming and unacceptable.

“I'm relieved to hear that the victim has been released from the hospital and is back at home. I’m sending him and his family strength and support during this extremely difficult time.

""I support all efforts by law enforcement to get to the bottom of this senseless shooting. It is imperative that we know the motive of the shooter to determine whether hate crime charges are applicable.

“I have heard from several of my Jewish constituents who are scared to walk to school or synagogue, go to the grocery store, or wear anything that could convey their Jewish identity. This cannot become the norm. With antisemitism on the rise in America, we must recommit ourselves to rooting it out. All Americans deserve to feel safe in this country, and I will not rest until this ancient hatred is cast aside once and for all.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-statement-regarding-israel-attack-iran,Schneider Statement Regarding Israel Attack on Iran,2024-10-30,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Bradley Scott Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,schneider,https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Rep. Schneider, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, released the following statement regarding reports of an attack on Iran by Israel:

“America stands with Israel as it exercises its right, and responsibility, to defend its citizens and protect its borders.

Israel is now targeting military sites in Iran in direct response to Iran’s massive attack involving approximately 200 ballistic missiles fired at Israel earlier this month.

I’m proud of the U.S. troops throughout the CENTCOM region who are bravely working to help defend Israel at this critical moment. Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have ceaselessly attacked the people of Israel virtually every day since last year’s barbaric October 7 attack by Hamas. Over the past year, Hamas and Hezbollah have launched more than 25,000 rockets into Israel.

In two separate attacks from Iranian territory, Iran has launched 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and more than 320 ballistic missiles towards Israel.

Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have targeted global shipping through the Red Sea, as well as fired missiles and drones and Israel. And Iranian-backed militia in Syria and Iraq have targeted both Israel civilian populations and U.S. troops and interests in the region.

I am monitoring the situation closely. I pray Israel’s operation is successful and the Iranian regime will at last understand it will not be allowed to continue to sponsor terror and threaten Israel or the broader region without severe consequence. My thoughts are with our troops in the region and their continued safety and success. I hope today’s actions will, in time, help move the region forward in a constructive direction.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-nadler-schakowsky-introduce-legislation-to-help-ensure-safe-access-to-reproductive-health-clinics,"Casten, Nadler, Schakowsky Introduce Legislation to Help Ensure Safe Access to Reproductive Health Clinics",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) introduced the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Study (FACES) Act of 2024, legislation to study barriers to enforcement of existing protections for access to reproductive health clinics.

“Individuals seeking reproductive health care, and the workers responsible for delivering this care, should not face violence or intimidation when entering health clinics,” said Congressman Sean Casten. “While there are theoretically protections in place to ensure this does not happen, enforcement is infrequent and inconsistent. The FACES Act helps us to get to the bottom of why this happens and what Congress can do to ensure safe access to reproductive health centers.”

“Under the FACE Act, patients are protected under the law from intimidation and violence when they are seeking reproductive healthcare,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “Despite these protections, enforcement of the law is inconsistent, contributing to an alarming rise in violence outside of abortion clinics. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the FACES Act to better understand and overcome the barriers to enforcement so Americans across the country can freely access the care they need.”

“Since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, we have seen an alarming increase in violence and threats directed toward patients and abortion providers. Federal law prohibits this type of intimidation, yet the problem persists. We need answers,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe, legal, and accessible abortion, is a human right. That is why I’m joining Reps. Casten and Nadler in introducing the FACES Act to determine what further steps must be taken to best protect individuals seeking reproductive care, and the workers who provide the care. For me, the fight to protect reproductive freedom is more than just policy and politics; it’s about human dignity and justice.”

In the early 1990s, Congress enacted the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act to protect the rights of patients to safely access reproductive health services in response to violence at abortion clinics and against abortion providers. The FACE Act prohibits violence, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with an individual’s ability to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services. However, the law is sporadically and inconsistently enforced.

The FACES Act, introduced by Reps. Casten, Nadler, and Schakowsky would study the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) criteria for enforcing the FACE Act, barriers to enforcement, data about variations in enforcement across the country, plans to overcome variations and barriers to enforcement, steps the DOJ can take to communicate best practices to state and local police, and legislative options available to Congress to ensure more fulsome enforcement of the FACE Act.

The National Abortion Federation reported a significant increase in violence and disruptions against abortion providers in 2022 compared to 2021. The findings showed a 229% increase in stalking, a 231% increase in burglary, and a 25% increase in invasions targeting abortion clinic staff, patients, and providers. In the past decade, abortion clinics experienced a 100% rise in anthrax and bioterrorism threats. Furthermore, the number of clinic blockades more than doubled in recent years, and incidents of picketing at facilities have been growing exponentially for years.

In July, Reps. Casten, Nadler, and Schakowsky led 51 colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Justice to fully enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and protect safe access to reproductive health care facilities.

The FACES Act has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Text of the FACES Act can be found here.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-condemns-racist-remarks-about-puerto-ricans,Congressman condemns racist remarks about Puerto Ricans,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Jonathan L. Jackson,J000309,jonathanjackson.house.gov,jonathanjackson,https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN JONATHAN L. JACKSON CONDEMNS RACIST ATTACKS AGAINST PUERTO RICANS

Chicago, IL – 10/29/2024 – Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson today issued a strong condemnation of the recent racist comments made against Puerto Ricans. In a statement, Congressman Jackson emphasized the importance of unity, respect, and the celebration of diversity within our nation.

""These comments are not only deeply offensive but also completely unacceptable,"" said the Congressman. ""Puerto Ricans are an integral part of our American family, contributing to our society in countless ways. Racism and discrimination have no place in our country, and we must stand together to denounce such hateful rhetoric.""

""It is very sad that Former President Trump did not condemn this, and other racist, bigoted, and divisive statements made during his rally. At his Madison Square Garden campaign rally, speakers referred to Puerto Rico as a 'floating pile of garbage,' said that African Americans 'carved watermelons,' referred to V.P. Kamala Harris as having a 'pimp,' described Democrats as 'the enemy within,' and repeated the 1939 Nazi chant 'America for Americans.' This rally follows previous statements where the former President claimed that Haitian migrants in Springfield, OH have been 'eating the dogs, eating the cats.' He has also referred to Mexicans as rapists and said that there were 'very fine people on both sides' during a Neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, VA.

For Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance to also dismiss these hate speeches is absolutely beneath the dignity of anyone inspiring for any office of leadership in the U.S. Vance has embraced that “Great Replacement Theory” which promotes the idea that “White People” are being replaced in America by minorities and thus we must have a stricter immigration policy as well as policies to force White women to produce more children.

Congressman Jackson called for immediate action to address the issue and urged his colleagues in Congress to join him in condemning these remarks. ""We must work tirelessly to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, are treated with dignity and respect,"" he added. ""Our diversity is our strength, and we must protect it.""

The Congressman also highlighted the need for continued education and awareness to combat racism and promote inclusivity. ""We have a responsibility to educate ourselves and others about the harmful effects of racism and to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and respected,"" he said.

Puerto Ricans have consistently demonstrated their dedication and bravery, serving in all U.S. wars since World War I and contributing significantly to the nation's military efforts. Over 1,900 U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America's freedom. Puerto Ricans have been influential in American politics. Nydia Velázquez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and currently Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) join her in representing the Puerto Rican community.

Puerto Ricans have consistently shown their dedication and bravery, serving in all U.S. wars since World War I and making significant contributions to the nation's military efforts. Over 1,900 U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America's freedom. In American politics, Puerto Ricans have also been influential. Nydia Velázquez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and currently, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) join her in representing the Puerto Rican community.

Congressman Jackson remains committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of all communities and will continue to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society. He calls on all of the better angels of America to come together and denounce hate in all forms.

###

Contact:

Robert Hillard Patillo II

Office of the Director of Communications

Office of Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01)

1641 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515

Robert.Patillo@mail.house.gov",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-testifies-senate-judiciary-committee-role-pbms-play,Congressman Krishnamoorthi Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee on the Role PBMs Play in Driving Prescription Drug Costs and Independent Pharmacy Closings,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"CHICAGO – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary during a field hearing in Chicago on lowering prescription drug costs for Americans. Chaired by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), the hearing included several members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation along with state and local leaders discussing how stronger industry oversight, fairer market competition, and increased cooperation between the government and health care sector can make prescription drugs more affordable for patients. During his testimony, Congressman Krishnamoorthi highlighted how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) act as middlemen between patients and drug companies, driving up prices and squeezing out local and independent pharmacies.

""Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are raising drug costs for Americans and shutting down countless independent pharmacies,"" Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. ""The egregious business practices of PBMs harm patients and make it more difficult for our constituents to access the medications they need. I will continue to do everything in my power to pass much-needed PBM reform legislation. I want to thank Senator Durbin for his leadership in holding today’s hearing and all my colleagues who participated for their shared commitment to lowering prescription drug costs for all Americans.""

In recent years, PBMs have tightened their grip on the prescription drug market, positioning themselves as middlemen between drug companies and patients. This position allows them to negotiate drug prices that maximize their profits and drive up medication costs for Americans. PBMs also undermine local and independent pharmacies by imposing clawbacks and direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees, specifically targeting the roughly 20 percent of pharmacies not owned by a PBM. These practices have left 73 percent of Illinois counties in a pharmacy desert, forcing patients to travel farther for essential medication. In 2024 alone, over 2,000 local and independent pharmacies across the U.S. have closed due to these pressures.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a leader in fighting against PBMs during his time in Congress, including introducing the bipartisan Pharmacist Audit and Compensation Transparency (PhACT) Act this month that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to investigate PBMs and make recommendations to increase transparency and fairness that benefit patients. Congressman Krishnamoorthi has also introduced several other bipartisan pieces of legislation aimed at reigning in the power of PBMs, such as the PBM Sunshine and Accountability Act and the Neighborhood Options for Patients Buying Medicines (NO PBMs) Act. Both of these bills would establish new public reporting requirements and increase transparency into how PBMs set prices.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-casten-nadler-introduce-legislation-help-ensure-safe-access,"Schakowsky, Casten, Nadler Introduce Legislation to Help Ensure Safe Access to Reproductive Health Clinics",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Full Text of Bill (PDF)

EVANSTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) introduced the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Study (FACES) Act of 2024, legislation to study barriers to enforcement of existing protections for access to reproductive health clinics.

“Since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, we have seen an alarming increase in violence and threats directed toward patients and abortion providers. Federal law prohibits this type of intimidation, yet the problem persists. We need answers,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe, legal, and accessible abortion, is a human right. That is why I’m joining Reps. Casten and Nadler in introducing the FACES Act to determine what further steps must be taken to best protect individuals seeking reproductive care, and the workers who provide the care. For me, the fight to protect reproductive freedom is more than just policy and politics; it’s about human dignity and justice.”

“Individuals seeking reproductive health care, and the workers responsible for delivering this care, should not face violence or intimidation when entering health clinics,” said Congressman Sean Casten. “While there are theoretically protections in place to ensure this does not happen, enforcement is infrequent and inconsistent. The FACES Act helps us to get to the bottom of why this happens and what Congress can do to ensure safe access to reproductive health centers.”

“Under the FACE Act, patients are protected under the law from intimidation and violence when they are seeking reproductive healthcare,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “Despite these protections, enforcement of the law is inconsistent, contributing to an alarming rise in violence outside of abortion clinics. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the FACES Act to better understand and overcome the barriers to enforcement so Americans across the country can freely access the care they need.”

In the early 1990s, Congress enacted the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act to protect the rights of patients to safely access reproductive health services in response to violence at abortion clinics and against abortion providers. The FACE Act prohibits violence, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with an individual’s ability to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services. However, the law is sporadically and inconsistently enforced.

The FACES Act, introduced by Reps. Casten, and Nadler would study the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) criteria for enforcing the FACE Act, barriers to enforcement, data about variations in enforcement across the country, plans to overcome variations and barriers to enforcement, steps the DOJ can take to communicate best practices to state and local police, and legislative options available to Congress to ensure more fulsome enforcement of the FACE Act.

The National Abortion Federation reported a significant increase in violence and disruptions against abortion providers in 2022 compared to 2021. The findings showed a 229% increase in stalking, a 231% increase in burglary, and a 25% increase in invasions targeting abortion clinic staff, patients, and providers. In the past decade, abortion clinics experienced a 100% rise in anthrax and bioterrorism threats. Furthermore, the number of clinic blockades more than doubled in recent years, and incidents of picketing at facilities have been growing exponentially for years.

In July, Reps. Schakowsky, Casten, and Nadler led 51 colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Justice to fully enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and protect safe access to reproductive health care facilities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-investigate-how-pbms,Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Investigate How PBMs Unfairly Audit Pharmacies,2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) partnered with Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) to introduce the Pharmacy Audit and Compensation Transparency (PhACT) Act directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to thoroughly investigate how Pharmacy Benefit Managers audit pharmacists and make recommendations for more transparency and fairness.

“Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have been taking advantage of independent pharmacies for years through opaque business practices, including their unfair audits of independent pharmacies,"" said Rep. Krishnamoorthi. ""This behavior has forced the closure of thousands of community pharmacies and denied necessary prescription drug coverage to millions of Americans. I am proud to join Congresswoman Maloy in shedding light on PBM audit practices to ultimately benefit independent pharmacists in Illinois and across the country.""

“Independent pharmacies are essential to Main Streets in Utah and across the country. But many have been forced to close their doors thanks to unfair PBM audits that lack clear metrics,” said Rep. Maloy. “My bill will increase transparency and help us find policy solutions, so pharmacists don’t have to worry about being able to provide for their patients or make a living.”

“As a pharmacist, I know firsthand how PBMs often use aggressive audit practices as a weapon to harass independent small pharmacies and claw back reimbursements for their own financial gain,” said Rep. Harshbarger. “I also hear from constituents about how PBMs use trivial findings from endless audits to justify kicking a patient's preferred local pharmacy from their insurance coverage. For community pharmacists, it’s like playing a high-stakes game without knowing the rules—or worse, with no rules at all! That’s why I’m proud to help introduce the Pharmacist Audit and Compensation Transparency Act, which will require a comprehensive study of PBM audit practices and recommend fair, transparent, and accountable guidelines.”

“Audits of pharmacies are often used as an additional revenue source for PBMs, a bullying tactic that targets community pharmacies and recoups vast sums of money for what are often nothing more than harmless clerical errors. Unfortunately, audits are becoming broader, more frequent and increasingly aggressive. NCPA is thankful to Representatives Maloy, Krishnamoorthi, and Harshbarger for introducing this legislation, pushing for transparency into this exploitative PBM practice, and working to lessen the burden on pharmacies,” said Anne Cassity, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Community Pharmacists Association.

Background:

When pharmacists sell medicines to insured customers the insurance companies reimburse Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who in turn reimburse pharmacists. PBMs – the middlemen of drug pricing – often audit pharmacists when issuing these reimbursements. These audits lack clear metrics and often include requirements without clear medical rationale. Pharmacists widely report these audits are a pretense for withholding additional reimbursement funds.

PBMs have been reimbursing independent and other retail community pharmacists at lower rates each year for nearly a decade. In some cases, these reimbursements have fallen to lower than the cost of the medicines. Many pharmacists report failing PBM audits as the primary reason they cannot stay in business. More than 2,000 pharmacies closed in 2024, and one in three independent pharmacists are considering closing their doors for good.

The PhACT Act will ensure that Congress crafts the right policy to make these audits fair and more transparent for independent pharmacists across the country.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-announces-400000-prevent-domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault,"Sorensen Announces $400,000 to Prevent Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault",2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ROCK ISLAND, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) announced a $400,000 grant to Augustana College to support efforts to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.

“No student should ever feel unsafe on campus,” saidSorensen. “It is our responsibility to provide our colleges and universities with the tools they need to create a safe environment where our future leaders can learn. This important funding will allow Augustana College to access even more resources to develop peer education and bystander intervention trainings to keep every student safe from domestic violence and sexual assault. I look forward to working with our schools to deliver federal investments in the future that will ensure our campus communities can thrive.”

“We’re truly grateful to receive this continuation grant from the Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program,” said Farrah Roberts, Assistant Dean and Director of Student Well-Being at Augustana College. “This support helps us build on what we’ve already achieved, allowing us to enhance our trauma-informed education and support services. We’re dedicated to fostering a safer, more inclusive campus environment, and with this funding, we can continue to work together as a community to tackle these important issues and support our students. Our Peer Educators program, which is funded by the grant, has been incredibly successful by empowering a diverse group of students to lead Bystander Intervention education, each year, they reach hundreds of their peers, fostering a culture of awareness and support on our campus. Peers are given the opportunity, in a safe space, to brainstorm ways that they would intervene in various situations to create safety for one another.”

The $400,000 in grant funding comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women’s Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program.

The Campus Program helps develop campus-based coordinated responses among campus survivor services, campus law enforcement, health care providers, housing officials, administrators, student leaders, faith-based organizations, student organizations, and disciplinary boards to enhance survivor safety, assistance, and hold offenders accountable.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-announces-more-350000-prevent-domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault,"Sorensen Announces More Than $350,000 to Prevent Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Against Children",2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) announced a $359,034 grant to the Young Women’s Christian Association of McLean County (YWCA) to support families impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, free from any form of violence,” saidSorensen. “But when a child does go through such a deeply traumatic experience, we need to step up as a community and make sure that child has our support. This important funding coming to the YWCA of McLean County will ensure that local organizations, that already do so much to help our neighbors, have the resources they need to prevent and respond to crimes against our kids. I look forward to working with local leaders to deliver federal investments in the future that will keep our communities safe.”

“Being awarded this grant truly shows our dedication to building a safer community,” said Jennifer Golliday, Director of YWCA Stepping Stones. “With this additional support, we will be able to expand our reach and provide sexual violence prevention lessons to youth throughout McLean County. Our goal is to empower them with the knowledge and resources needed to recognize, prevent, and respond to instances of sexual violence, strengthening the community as a whole.”

The $359,034 in grant funding comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women’s Grants to Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking Against Children and Youth Program. With this funding, YWCA will expand current prevention education services and direct services for children and youth ages 11 to 24 who have been impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or sex trafficking.

In collaboration with Project Oz, a non-profit in Bloomington, the YWCA will:

Hire two prevention coordinators to provide sexual violence prevention education lessons and trainings to schools, community organizations, and businesses.

Partner with Project Oz to offer services to their children and youth clients who are high at-risk youth.

Provide stipends for after-hour, on call personnel at the hotline and hospital.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-announces-more-630000-prevent-veteran-suicide,"Sorensen Announces More Than $630,000 to Prevent Veteran Suicide",2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ROCKFORD, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) announced a $634,022 grant to Veterans Path to Hope, an organization that supports veterans across Northern Illinois, including in Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, to support suicide prevention programs for veterans and their families.

“Our nation’s veterans, who have sacrificed so much to keep our country safe, need our help,” saidSorensen. “Over 8,000 veterans each year die by suicide. That is simply unacceptable. This funding coming to Veterans Path to Hope, a local organization that already does so much to help our veteran community, will make sure that veterans across Northern Illinois have access to the resources and mental health support they need to survive. One of my most important responsibilities is to take care of those who have served our country in uniform. I will continue to fight for federal investments that make sure our veterans and their families can thrive.”

“Veterans may hit unexpected speed bumps at any point after leaving military service, and having support from a team of veterans who have made it through their own challenges can be life-changing,” said Laura Franz, Executive Director of Veterans Path to Hope. “The SSG Fox SPGP team serves alongside VPH programs and community partners who make it their daily mission to help veterans re-establish a sense of hope and purpose. VPH offers a wide variety of services at no charge to veterans and their families, and this grant helps to expand its reach and impact on behalf of the veteran community.”

The $634,033 in grant funding comes from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which provides resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans and their families through outreach, suicide prevention services, and connection to VA and community resources.

In Congress, Sorensen has been a strong advocate for veterans across Northern, Central, and Western Illinois by:

Introducing the Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act, which will help disabled veterans make accessibility improvements to their homes.

Returning more than $3.2 million to his neighbors through federal casework services, which includes helping veterans access their benefits.

Working with veterans and their families to secure medals for service that they never received from the military.

Hosting mobile office hours and veterans' roundtables throughout the district to hear from and assist veterans in need of help with federal agencies.

Inviting a local veteran as his guest for the President’s State of the Union Address to Congress in March of 2024.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-responds-arrest-fugitive-john-panaligan-mexico,Congressman Krishnamoorthi Responds To Arrest Of Fugitive John Panaligan In Mexico For The Murder Of Chicago-Area Attorney Victor Jigar Patel,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,krishnamoorthi,https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SCHAUMBURG, IL – Earlier this week, the U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrest of John Panaligan, who was wanted for allegedly murdering attorney Victor Jigar Patel, in Patel’s Northbrook, Illinois, office on December 7, 2016. At the time of his death, Patel, 36, was representing plaintiffs suing Panaligan in civil court. Panaligan’s arrest in Tepic, Mexico, and extradition ends a more than seven-year manhunt that led to Panaligan’s placement on the U.S. Marshals Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2020.

“Nearly seven years ago, Mrs. Patel contacted my office for help in pursuing justice for her husband. Since then, I have continually advocated for her family in that effort,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “I want to express my appreciation for the Northbrook Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the other agencies involved for securing the arrest of the fugitive John Panaligan for the first-degree murder of Jigar Patel. It is my sincere hope that this arrest and the upcoming trial will help bring them the closure they deserve.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-speaks-rock-island-high-school-students-about-importance-voting,Sorensen Speaks to Rock Island High School Students About Importance of Voting,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ROCK ISLAND, IL – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined students at Rock Island High School for a discussion on the importance of voting and getting involved in the democratic process.

“One of the greatest honors I have as a representative is talking with young people about making their voices heard,” said Sorensen. “Speaking with Rock Island students today shows just how important it is to invest in their futures now so they can help make our communities safer and healthier for decades to come.”

Speaking to Mr. Isaiah Tubbs’ government class, Sorensen discussed the impact young people can have by voting and shared his own journey from meteorologist to member of Congress. Sorensen also fielded questions from students about how Congress tackles key issues, his day-to-day responsibilities as a representative, and ways they can get involved in their community now.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-ramirez-local-leaders-call-end-tax-evasion-driving-puerto-ricos,"Congresswoman Ramirez, Local Leaders Call for an End to the Tax Evasion Driving Puerto Rico’s Crisis of Displacement",2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Delia C. Ramirez,R000617,ramirez.house.gov,ramirez,https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Chicago, IL — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), joined by local leaders of the Puerto Rican community, announced the introduction of United with Puerto Ricans Opposed to Act 22 Risks (UPROAR) Act. The UPROAR Act, co-led by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-7) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), urges the Puerto Rican and federal governments to address Act 22 and stop the exploitation of federal tax loopholes that result in millions in lost revenues for local communities.

Created to incentivize investment in the Puerto Rican economy, Act 22, now part of Act 60, has created a tax haven for American millionaires and billionaires, allowing them to avoid federal and local taxes. According to reports, Act 22 beneficiaries are raising housing costs and displacing Puerto Ricans, endangering important nature reserves and historical sites, destabilizing the island's already weak electrical grid, and influencing local elections through unprecedented donations.

“As Congress prepares to debate the funds available for safety net programs, we must urgently address Act 22 in Puerto Rico and the exploitation of federal tax loopholes that allow wealthy Americans to avoid their responsibility to pay local and federal taxes. I am proud to join a community of organizers in my district and Puerto Rico to introduce a resolution that puts tax evaders on notice. Enough is enough,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “From Puerto Rico to IL-03, Our communities deserve accessible housing, access to their lands, and an economy and democracy that works for them.”

“Act 22 has caused unprecedented damage in Puerto Rico, fueling displacement, rising prices, and reckless development across the island. At the same time, the law has led to tax avoidance on the mainland, depriving the federal government of billions of dollars of critical revenue. From the IRS to Congress, we need a whole of government approach to examine how this law is hurting Puerto Ricans and take action to mitigate its damage. I was proud to work with Representatives Ramirez and Ocasio-Cortez to elevate this issue and urge the federal government to increase oversight and transparency around this predatory law,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez.

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Cori Bush (MO), Ro Khanna (CA), Raul Grijalva (AZ), Dan Goldman (NY), Adriano Espaillat (NY), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Jim McGovern (MA-02).

“I proudly join in solidarity with my colleagues and the advocates and community members from across the Puerto Rican diasporas who are speaking out against the Act 22 tax loophole,” said Congresswoman Bush. “This policy is a handout to wealthy tax evaders moving to Puerto Rico and could cost the island an estimated $4.5 billion in tax revenues from 2020 to 2026. The loophole has exacerbated the housing crisis and increased displacement of Puerto Rican residents. This Resolution is a crucial step toward protecting the future of Puerto Rico and its communities. It's time for Congress to demand accountability for the tax evasion created by Act 22 while supporting the self-determination of the Puerto Rican people.”

“Wealthy Americans moving to Puerto Rico are driving up the cost of living while not having to pay their fair share due to federal tax loopholes. I’m proud to join Congresswoman Ramirez to close these loopholes that are depriving Puerto Rico’s schools and infrastructure of critical funding,” said Congressman Ro Khanna.

Ramirez announced the resolution during a press conference with the support of State Representatives Lilian Jiménez and Will Guzzardi and Alderpersons Jessie Fuentes, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa.

The UPROAR resolution is endorsed by local, national, and Puerto Rican organizations like Alianza for Progress, Power 4 Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican Agenda, Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Losing Puerto Rico, El Otro Puerto Rico, the National Puerto Rican Agenda, Esperanza, Popular Democracy, Construyamos Otro Acuerdo, Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, Sembrando Sentido, Coalición PR No Se Vende, Vamos PR, Sindicato Puertorriqueño de Trabajadores (SPT), Mi Patria, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR), New York Communities for Change (NYCC), Vocal New York, Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH), and Hedge Clippers.

For a link to the press conference, CLICK HERE.

For photos of the press conference,CLICK HERE.

For the resolution, CLICK HERE.

BACKGROUND:

Recently, the IRS revealed to Congress that 647 Americans who received the benefits of Act 22 paid $557,978,112 in federal taxes during the five years before moving to Puerto Rico, representing million-dollar losses for the federal government and the social programs that are supported by them. Likewise, the government of Puerto Rico estimates that the island will lose around $4.5 billion in income between 2020 and 2026 due to Act 22.

Illinois 3rd Congressional District includes the neighborhood of Humboldt Park, which is home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the Midwest. In December, Congresswoman Ramirez took to the House floor to draw attention to the federal tax loopholes that allow wealthy American citizens to evade taxes through Act 22.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-returns-over-32-million-illinois-neighbors,Sorensen Returns Over $3.2 Million to Illinois Neighbors,2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ROCK ISLAND, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing that his office has returned more than $3.2 million to his neighbors through federal casework services since he was sworn into Congress.

“My number one job as the representative for Central and Northwestern Illinois in Congress is to make sure the federal government is working on behalf of my neighbors,” said Sorensen. “I know how stressful it can be when you need help from the government and all you get is the runaround. That is where I can step in to get you the help you need. I am proud of the work we have done to put more than $3.2 million of my neighbor’s hard-earned cash back in their pockets. If you need any help dealing with a federal agency, know that I have your back.”

The more than $3,263,230 secured for his neighbors across Central and Northwestern Illinois comes as a result of Sorensen and his staff’s work to help constituents get the refunds and benefits they are owed from federal agencies, which include overdue tax returns and delayed Social Security, veterans, and worker’s compensation benefits.

Residents of Illinois’ 17th Congressional District who need help with a federal agency are encouraged to contact Sorensen’s office at (309) 786-3406 or fill out a casework request form on Sorensen’s official website. All submissions are reviewed by a member of Sorensen’s staff.

The following stories are from constituents that Sorensen’s office has helped:

Daniel from Peoria Heights reached out to get help with VA benefits: “I was having trouble having my VA benefits reinstated after they were mistakenly revoked after contacting Representative Sorensen's office Hillary handle my case and my benefits were reinstated, and I had a check within 30 days.”

Holly from Morrison needed help getting issues resolved between her and the IRS: “I reached out in hopes to get help with repeated problems I have been having with the IRS. They were able to reach out on my behalf and figure the issue out. Within a very short timeframe my issues were all resolved.”

Deb from Freeport needed to get her families passports renewed quickly and called Sorensen’s office for help: “Staff helped us with the issue we were having trying to renew our passports. If she would not have kept pushing for a resolution, we would not have received them, as the only response we could get was the passport processing center lost them. We are so thankful for their continued excellent fast assistance to our needs.”

Katie from Monmouth lost her job and needed help getting her past wages: “Ever since I lost my job at WCCS Head Start, I have had help with gaining information on how to get my past wages that are due. Eric Sorensen’s office has helped me gain information about my situation and ways to improve the outcome.”

Bob from Peoria needed help getting Medicare Part B coverage: “I was having difficulty trying to get my Medicare Part B to begin on September 1st, 2023, with our local office of the Social Security Administration. After many failed attempts to get a certain individual to return my calls, as well as several conversations with the Chicago and Maryland offices with no results, I contacted your office. I spoke with staff in your office about my difficulties with this matter on August 31st, 2023, and within three days, our local office received a letter or document from your office, and they got me signed up for Part B on September 15th, 2023, to be effective on September 1st, 2023. Staff were caring and showed extraordinary expedience in helping me get this issue resolved.”

Melissa from Rock Island reached out to get help with a refugee family: “Staff assisted me in the process of rescheduling USCIS appointments for a refugee family in Moline. Her assistance has allowed a constituent and her family the opportunity to continue the immigration process more easily. Staff has been friendly, supportive, and knowledgeable every step of the process. We are so grateful for her help.”

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jonathan-l-jackson-condemns-attack-cta-bus-driver,Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Condemns Attack on CTA Bus Driver,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Jonathan L. Jackson,J000309,jonathanjackson.house.gov,jonathanjackson,https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Calls for Enhanced Transit Worker Safety

Chicago, IL – Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson today expressed deep concern and outrage following the recent attack on a CTA bus driver in Chatham, Chicago. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, highlights the urgent need for increased safety measures to protect transit workers.

""I am appalled by the senseless act of violence against a dedicated CTA employee,"" said Congressman [Name]. ""Our transit workers are essential to the functioning of our city, and they deserve to perform their duties without fear for their safety. This attack is a stark reminder that we must do more to ensure their protection.""

The Congressman emphasized the importance of implementing comprehensive safety protocols and providing adequate resources to prevent such incidents in the future. He called on local authorities and the CTA to take immediate action to enhance security measures and support for transit workers.

""We must prioritize the safety and well-being of our transit workers,"" Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson continued. ""I urge the CTA and local law enforcement to work together to develop and enforce stronger safety protocols. We owe it to our transit workers to create a safe and secure environment for them to serve our community.""

Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson also expressed his support for the injured bus driver and their family, wishing them a swift recovery. He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for the rights and safety of all transit workers in Chicago.

####

Contact:

Office of the Director of Communications

Office of Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01)

1641 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-sorensen-durbin-duckworth-announce-335-million-federal-funding,"QUIGLEY, SORENSEN, DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, ANNOUNCE $33.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PEORIA AND CHICAGO AIRPORTS",2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,quigley,https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced $33,510,000 in federal funding from the Department of Transportation’s Airport Terminal Program.

With today’s announced funding, General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport will receive $13,510,000 for the replacement of their air traffic control tower, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport will receive $20,000,000 for an expansion to Terminal 5.

“Throughout my career, I have worked tirelessly to ensure that travelers receive the best and most efficient service possible at O’Hare. Today’s funding announcement will build on the progress we have already made. This expansion will benefit not only our constituents but also travelers across the country, while boosting our economy. When I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I did so knowing it would bring vital investments like these and create lasting benefits across our state. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future and a stronger transportation network for everyone,” said Quigley.

“By improving and modernizing airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced federal funding for upgrading our airports across Illinois will enhance the travel experience for passengers and promote economic growth. I will continue working with Senator Duckworth and our Congressional colleagues to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep passengers safe and connected.”

“Illinois’s airports are critical economic engines for our state,” Duckworth said. “This funding will help improve and modernize O’Hare and Downing International Airports and, after years of neglecting our nation’s infrastructure, I’m proud every day to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work rebuilding infrastructure all across our country. I will continue to work alongside Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to make traveling safer and more reliable for all passengers while ensuring that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“This important funding coming to Peoria International Airport is about connecting my neighbors in Central Illinois to the world. The new air traffic control tower will allow controllers to see the end points of both runways and all taxiways, making it safer for travelers and airport staff. I am grateful to Senators Durbin and Duckworth for their support of this project as we continue our work to keep air travel safe and open Peoria to new destinations,” said Sorensen.

Durbin and Duckworth previously worked to secure a provision in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to make Peoria’s airport-owned air traffic control tower (ATCT) eligible for federal funding. Following the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the ATCT has received $29 million in federal funding across two previous grants.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-statement-passing-hon-delores-holmes,Schakowsky Statement on Passing of Hon. Delores Holmes,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Janice D. Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,schakowsky,https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"EVANSTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement mourning the death of Hon. Delores Holmes:

“The Evanston community has lost a kind and gracious leader, a fierce advocate, and a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to many. Delores Holmes was a pillar in our community for well over half a century.

“Not only was Delores an active member of the Foster Senior Club and the cherished Alderwoman from the 5th ward for 12 years, but she also worked alongside Bernice Weissbourd as the Director of Family Focus, a social service agency designed to assist children and families in our community, for roughly 27 years.

“Delores was truly a treasured friend of mine. My heart breaks for her family and all those who loved her. She will be deeply missed by all corners of the Evanston community and beyond. Her impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases/sorensen-calls-better-surveillance-southern-border,Sorensen Calls for Better Surveillance of the Southern Border,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Eric Sorensen,S001225,sorensen.house.gov,sorensen,https://sorensen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) along with seven of his colleagues called on the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas to make sure that surveillance cameras along the U.S.-Mexico border are working properly. A recent report from NBC stated that nearly 30 percent of surveillance cameras along the border are broken.

“Surveillance technologies allow DHS to enforce the law and protect the homeland effectively and efficiently,” Sorensen and the Members wrote. “As Members of Congress, we have consistently and robustly funded programs for smart border technologies for DHS, and as a result, unauthorized border crossings have dropped significantly to the lowest levels in years. The reports of failing technology have left us concerned about the effectiveness of our border security operations.”

Sorensen has been a strong advocate for securing our southern border by proposing legislation to increase the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at legal points of entry, introducing the bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act to provide CBP with the funding and technology they need to combat the growing fentanyl crisis, and helping launch the Democrats for Border Security Task Force.

Read the full letter here and below.

Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Acting Commissioner Miller,

We write to you expressing concern over reports that 30 percent of surveillance cameras along the border are non-functioning. Surveillance technology systems, particularly those that use autonomous and artificial technologies, play a critical role in keeping our border secure. It is unacceptable that such a high percentage of our border technology is inoperable.

Surveillance technologies allow DHS to enforce the law and protect the homeland effectively and efficiently. At a time when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has struggled to meet recruitment and retention targets, the need to maximize valuable manpower resources is critical, and smart surveillance technologies have been a game-changer. As Members of Congress, we have consistently and robustly funded programs for smart border technologies for DHS, and as a result, unauthorized border crossings have dropped significantly to the lowest levels in years.

However, these recent reports have outlined that 150 of the 500 Border Patrol surveillance towers along the southwest U.S.-Mexico border are not operational. This number is staggering and unacceptable. We are gravely concerned that this lapse in functioning surveillance technology will compromise border security operations. In order to keep our nation’s border secure, we request the following information:

What is the average length of time each camera has been inoperable?

How many miles of the southwest border are affected by these outages

How much manpower has been diverted to address this issue?

What is the cost estimate to get all surveillance towers back online?

What steps are being taken to remediate this issue and prevent future mechanical failures?

As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to ensure that appropriated funds are being used effectively and that all necessary measures are being taken by CBP to improve border security operations. The reports of failing technology have left us concerned about the effectiveness of our border security operations. We thank you for your attention to our concerns.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-beatty-introduce-legislation-to-financially-empower-women-in-abusive-situations,"Casten, Beatty Introduce Legislation to Financially Empower Women in Abusive Situations",2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Democrat,House,IL,Sean Casten,C001117,casten.house.gov,casten,https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Joyce Beatty (OH-03) introduced the Financial Empowerment and Protection Act, legislation aimed at removing barriers to the financial insights often necessary for people to safely leave abusive relationships.

“Far too often, we hear stories of victims of abuse who feel trapped in their situation due to limited or no insight into their household finances,” said Congressman Casten. “This legislation, which came out of one such story from a constituent who called in, aims to take away that lever of control from an abuser, empowering women to make their own financial decisions.”

""Financial control is often used to trap women in abusive relationships by limiting their economic and physical independence,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “This bill provides crucial protection by ensuring equal access to and control over shared household finances, empowering women to make decisions for their wellbeing and future. I’m proud to join Congressman Casten in introducing this bill to help protect and support women, especially those in crisis, in building secure, independent lives.""

""For too long, financial abuse has been used by abusers to hold on to power and control over women—with laws on the books that allow them to withhold financial information women need to leave abusive relationships and build security of their own,” said Christian F. Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women. “Rep. Casten’s bill will finally correct this dangerous gap in our laws, and unlock doors to financial freedom women urgently need.""

“Survivors of domestic violence deserve safeguards that sustain their financial stability and security. Maintaining survivors’ access to shared accounts, such as cell phone, utility and mortgage accounts, is one of many policy solutions needed to better preserve their economic well-being,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The Financial Empowerment and Protection Act would give power back to survivors by providing them with the tools to regain or retain their independence. We are grateful to Representatives Casten and Beatty for their tremendous efforts to support survivors and their families.”

“This legislation is important for sexual violence survivors in their efforts to regain independence from their abusers,” said Carrie Ward, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. “Far too frequently, survivors are manipulated and coerced by abusers due to financial factors. If approved, this legislation would demonstrate that our society does not tolerate such manipulation and instead provides every opportunity for survivors to regain their independence. Illinois rape crisis centers support Rep. Casten as he introduces this legislation and believe it is another step forward in supporting survivors.”

Under the Financial Empowerment and Protection Act, mortgage lenders, landlords, utility providers, and childcare providers would be required to offer joint accounts for cohabitating or co-parenting couples. Oftentimes, abusive partners use financial limitations as a method of control to prevent a victim from leaving the situation. This means that people leaving abusive relationships may have limited access to pay their own bills; and may lose access to housing and childcare. Domestic violence shelters report that information about these accounts is commonly withheld during the dissolution of abusive relationships. This legislation aims to circumvent this, allowing victims equal insight into their household finances.

This bill has endorsements from the National Partnership for Women & Families, National Organization for Women (NOW), the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Text of the legislation can be found here.

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