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://ruiz.house.gov/latino-latina-physician-day-2026,REP. RUIZ INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION DESIGNATING OCTOBER 1st AS NATIONAL LATINO AND LATINA PHYSICIAN DAY,2026-10-01,2026,2026-10,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On September 28, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), joined by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), introduced a bipartisan resolution designating October 1st as National Latino and Latina Physician Day.

Latinos make up nearly one in five Americans, yet only 6.7 percent of U.S. physicians are Latino or Latina, and just 2.8 percent are Latina. By 2050, Latinos are projected to represent more than one in four people in the United States and one in three children. At the same time, the nation faces a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.

Research shows that when patients share the language and culture of their doctors, care and outcomes improve. Growing the Latino and Latina physician workforce means better health for our communities and for the nation.

""Growing up in a farmworker family taught me what it means to go without care, so I became an Emergency Physician to serve under resourced communities,"" said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz. ""Today, too many Latino families still can't find a doctor who speaks their language or understands their cultures. This resolution recognizes the Latino and Latina physicians working to close that gap, and it challenges us to open more doors for the next generation.""

""Trust in medical care is essential. Physicians that understand their community and are a reflection of it are critical when building and establishing that trust,"" said Rep. Salazar. ""As our nation faces a healthcare workforce shortage, I am proud to co-lead this resolution that supports Latino and Latina physicians, who are helping to close gaps in care and serve as a trustworthy pillar of their community.""

The resolution supports increasing the number of Latino and Latina physicians and expanding diversity in the medical field. It has earned the support of leading national medical organizations.

""The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) is proud support National Latino and Latina Physicians Day and thank Rep. Ruiz and Rep. Salazar for their bipartisan work in highlighting the work of physicians critical to improving the health of patients and communities nationwide. As the nation faces a persistent physician shortage, we must support policies that increase to access to careers in medicine for future Latino and Latina physicians, and everyone in the next generation of doctors,"" said Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, chief public policy officer, AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)

""The National Hispanic Medical Association supports H.Res. 1589, introduced by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., recognizing October 1 as National Latino and Latina Physician Day. We need more Latino physicians serving our communities. This day not only highlights the significant underrepresentation of Latinos in the physician workforce but also recognizes the tremendous work Latino physicians do every day to care for patients and communities across our nation. We are proud to support this resolution and its recognition of the Latino physicians who serve our country,"" said Gilbert Burgos, M.D., MPH, President of the National Hispanic Medical Association.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-sustained-push-reps-chu-sherman-sens-schiff-padilla-fema,"Following Sustained Push from Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, Padilla, FEMA Releases $6.6 Million for Wildfire Survivor Case Management",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Lawmakers had repeatedly pressed FEMA to release already-approved funding as critical recovery program faced funding cliff

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, following weeks of sustained pressure from Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $6.6 million in previously approved funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) serving survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires.

The funding represents the second and third installments of FEMA’s original DCMP award and comes on September 30, the same day the program had been facing a major funding cliff. A fourth installment of already approved funding remains pending. The DCMP helps survivors navigate critical recovery resources, including temporary housing, FEMA and SBA loans, insurance claims, and long-term rebuilding plans. Without this funding, the DCMP would have expired a year early today, September 30, 2026, leaving thousands of Californians without their case managers in the middle of their recovery, and over a hundred case managers without a job.

Last week, the State of California also announced an amended agreement with case management providers allowing the program to extend until October 31st. However, additional federal funding is still needed for reimbursement and to ensure the program’s approved 24-month time frame is completed.

Rep. Chu, who has led congressional efforts to secure federal disaster assistance, tax relief, and long-term recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors, repeatedly pressed FEMA to release the outstanding DCMP funding, including through direct calls to the agency.

September 3, 2026: It is announced that DCMP would be forced to terminate on September 30, 2026, over a year early, due to lack of FEMA funding.

September 10, 2026: Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, and Padilla sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton demanding the agency immediately release the pre-approved DCMP funding.

September 24, 2026: After FEMA failed to respond to the lawmakers’ first letter and separately denied California’s request for supplemental DCMP funding, Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, and Padilla sent a follow-up letter again demanding FEMA release the outstanding installments to stop the DCMP from shutting down.

September 30, 2026: FEMA obligated $6.6 million in previously approved funding, representing the second and third installments of the original DCMP award.

Throughout this period, the lawmakers also personally called FEMA officials to press for the release of the outstanding funding and prevent an interruption in services.

""I'm relieved FEMA finally released this funding at the eleventh hour. This is a real win for the thousands of wildfire survivors in Southern California who depend on these case managers to navigate the red tape standing between them and rebuilding, and it is exactly what my fellow California colleagues and I have been demanding for weeks,” said Rep. Chu. “FEMA approved this funding because survivors needed it, yet millions of dollars sat unreleased while critical services hung in the balance. We pushed FEMA again and again to act, and today, $6.6 million is finally moving to California. But our work is not finished. Another approximately $3.3 million installment remains outstanding, and FEMA has still not acted on California’s appeal for the additional funding needed to sustain this program. I will keep pressing FEMA for every dollar our survivors need, and I will keep fighting until our families can rebuild and come home.”

“Pleased to see that FEMA is paying California the money it owes to the state for providing caseworkers for fire victims through September 30. It is now time for FEMA to approve and fund keeping this program open at least through May of next year,” said Rep. Sherman. “Losing one’s home in a horrendous fire is extremely difficult on families. Working through the morass of governmental and insurance issues without a caseworker would be horrendous for many families.”

""Californians are still rebuilding and recovering after the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. I'm glad FEMA has finally heeded to our calls to release urgently needed financial assistance through the Disaster Case Management Program,” said Sen. Schiff. “These families, who have already lost so much in these fires, deserve to have the resources and aid they need to rebuild and recover stronger than before.”

“Californians recovering from devastating wildfires and other natural disasters deserve meaningful support to rebuild their lives and communities,” said Sen. Padilla. “That’s why I fought to secure this federal funding for disaster case management services across California, including communities in Los Angeles County. But this is just one step toward recovery. The work doesn’t stop here, and I’ll keep fighting for the federal resources California needs to recover, rebuild, and prepare for the next disaster.”

Long-Term Federal Disaster Recovery Funding Still Outstanding

While today’s release of previously approved DCMP funding is an important step, it does not resolve the broader federal funding shortfall facing communities devastated by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. California has repeatedly requested long-term federal disaster recovery funding to rebuild homes, schools, small businesses, and critical infrastructure. That funding remains outstanding.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/correa-56-colleagues-demand-answers-about-the-quality-of-representation-for-children-facing-deportation-alone,"CORREA, 56 COLLEAGUES DEMAND ANSWERS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN FACING DEPORTATION ALONE",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) today led 56 colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration guarantee quality legal services and humane treatment for unaccompanied immigrant children in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The letter follows reports of children as young as two years old showing up in immigration courts nationwide for fast-tracked hearings, many without an attorney. This change has been part of the Trump Administration’s cruel efforts to target immigrant children for removal and deny them legal immigration pathways.

“We write to demand answers regarding the fairness of the legal process and the quality of representation being provided to unaccompanied children under the new legal services contracts for Our Rescue and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). Congress has shown clear intent through bipartisan passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization that children deserve representation in legal proceedings. However, we have received reports that unaccompanied children are being provided with inadequate representation and that their cases are being moved into expedited judicial proceedings meant to limit the strength of their legal defense and increase deportations. We urge you to follow the law and give children the fair day in court they deserve by ensuring legal service providers do not just collect a paycheck, but vigorously represent those they are paid taxpayer dollars to serve, and that courts give adequate consideration to each child’s case,” the lawmakers write.

“Unaccompanied immigrant children are receiving substandard legal services at a time when the Trump Administration is already trying to prevent a fair hearing of their cases. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has reportedly directed immigration judges to limit the length of continuances from months to three weeks, reducing the time children have to find an attorney and prepare for their case. In some jurisdictions, children are given only days of notice to appear in immigration court, which directly violates EOIR policy,” the lawmakers continued. “Judges who attempt to give more time in proceedings are reportedly at risk of being punished. While children are being given less time to prepare for proceedings, the Administration is training immigration judges to deny asylum claims, further stacking the odds against these kids, some of whom have been abused or abandoned and are survivors of violent crime.”

“Reports of inadequate representation and EOIR’s efforts to prevent children from having their case fully considered are unacceptable. We urge you to end the prolonged detention of children, give them adequate time to prepare their cases, stop pressuring judges to deny claims, and conduct oversight to ensure new legal services providers effectively represent their clients in exchange for our tax dollars,” the lawmakers concluded.

Specifically, the lawmakers requested answers to the following questions:

Has the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or DOJ conducted oversight into the legal services that USCRI is providing for unaccompanied children? If so, has HHS or DOJ found any instances where legal representatives represented children virtually with cameras off or failed to speak during proceedings?

For each month of 2026, how many times have unaccompanied children appeared in immigration court without legal counsel?

Do Our Rescue and the USCRI have sufficient lawyers on staff who are barred in all states and can make filings for all unaccompanied children to whom they will be responsible for providing legal services?

In 2026, how many times has EOIR summoned a child to immigration court without giving the 10 days of notice required for immigration court appearances?

Have immigration judges been given any guidance since January 20, 2025, directing them to deny or change the way they review any type of petition, application, motion, or other filing or request for unaccompanied children? If so, please provide a record of this instruction.

Is there any policy, formal or informal, requiring or encouraging the conclusion of unaccompanied children's immigration proceedings by a certain date or timeframe? If so, please provide a copy of said policy.

In 2026, have any judges within EOIR been reprimanded, warned, or faced a consequence or warning of consequences for allotting children additional time in their legal proceedings?

This letter was signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Suzanne Bonamici, Janelle Bynum, André Carson, Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Jim Costa, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Veronica Escobar, Lizzie Fletcher, Maxwell Frost, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Adelita Grijalva, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Henry Johnson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, George Latimer, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Jennifer McClellan, Gwen Moore, Jerrold Nadler, Joe Neguse, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brittany Pettersen, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Greg Stanton, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Norma Torres, Juan Vargas, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Frederica Wilson.

View the full text of the letter here.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-joins-three-congressional-caucuses-focused-campus-antisemitism-us-japan,"Costa Joins Three Congressional Caucuses Focused on Campus Antisemitism, U.S.-Japan Ties, and Transatlantic Partnership",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced he has joined three congressional caucuses: the Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus, as a founding member; the U.S.-Japan Congressional Caucus; and the Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus.

The bipartisan Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus coordinates congressional oversight of how colleges and universities respond to antisemitism, pushes institutions to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and champions efforts to identify and implement effective solutions.

“Since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, too many Jewish students have been harassed, threatened, or made to feel unwelcome on their own campuses,” said Rep. Costa. “Every student deserves to learn in a safe environment, free from hate. As a founding member of this caucus, I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to hold institutions accountable for enforcing their own policies and to make sure our colleges protect all of their students.”

The U.S.-Japan Congressional Caucus fosters bilateral collaboration between the United States and Japan on trade, investment, regional stability, military cooperation, energy, technology, and the environment.

“Japan is one of America’s closest allies and one of California’s most important trading partners, buying more than $11 billion in California goods last year, including food grown in the Valley,” said Rep. Costa. “California is also home to the largest Japanese American community in the nation. Strengthening this partnership means more opportunities for our farmers and businesses, and a more stable Indo-Pacific.”

The Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus works to deepen the cultural, social, economic, and political ties between the United States and Denmark.

“Denmark is a steadfast NATO ally and a valued partner on everything from agriculture to defense,” said Rep. Costa. “At a time when our transatlantic alliances are being threatened by President Trump, we must reaffirm our commitment to those partnerships with Denmark and Greenland with respect for their sovereignty.”

Rep. Costa serves as Ranking Member of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue and is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://gray.house.gov/media/press-releases/gray-issues-statement-federal-permitting-reform-agreement,GRAY ISSUES STATEMENT ON FEDERAL PERMITTING REFORM AGREEMENT,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Adam Gray,G000605,gray.house.gov,gray,https://gray.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) issued the following statement after Senate leaders announced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026:

“Reaching an agreement on permitting reform is an important and long-overdue first step toward fixing a broken process that has held back our ability to build things again in the Central Valley and across the country. I hear from folks in my district about the need for reforms to environmental laws like NEPA, CWA, and ESA, and this package delivers on all three.

In my district, we’ve seen firsthand how important projects can take years to get built because they are held up by duplicative environmental permits, litigation, and other procedural delays. The Los Banos Creek Detention Dam Project - which expands an existing reservoir to allow for storage, groundwater recharge, and conveyance - was first proposed in 2012 but construction didn’t begin until the end of 2025. I attended the ribbon cutting at the beginning of this year. No project that takes six months to build should take over a decade to permit.

It's not just water projects that are being held up. Streamlining regulations and cutting through red tape allows America to remain competitive in infrastructure and energy reliability on the global scale.

Getting a bipartisan deal across the finish line will take continued work, but these types of projects can't wait. Congress needs to take this up immediately upon its return to Washington.”

BACKGROUND:",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/liccardos-push-federal-approval-helps-santa-clara-valley-healthcare-open-new,Liccardo’s Push for Federal Approval Helps Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Open New Clinic,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sam T. Liccardo,L000607,liccardo.house.gov,liccardo,https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SAN JOSÉ, CA — Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) celebrated the opening of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare’s new San José-Campbell clinic after his office pressed federal officials to act on a long-pending approval.

“Federal red tape shouldn’t delay a new health center or put access to affordable medications and health coverage payments at risk,” Liccardo said. “Our team is proud to have helped move this process forward so Santa Clara Valley Healthcare could open its doors and start serving patients across our community.”

The new 10-story facility at 1410 South Bascom Avenue is the largest health center in Santa Clara County’s public health system, with 200 exam rooms. The services include primary care, urgent care, OB/GYN, maternal fetal medicine, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory services together at one location.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare submitted its Change in Scope application to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in October 2025. After months without approval, Santa Clara County asked Liccardo’s office for assistance in July. His team repeatedly contacted HRSA as the clinic’s planned opening approached, and HRSA approved the new site for the County’s federal grant scope on September 22.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-secures-over-1-million-san-miguel-emergency-operations-center,Rep. Panetta Secures Over $1 Million for San Miguel  Emergency Operations Center,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Rep. Panetta highlights critical federal funding to

coordinate emergency response and keep San Miguel residents safe.

To watch his remarks, click HERE or on the above photo.

For additional photos and b-roll, click HERE.

San Miguel, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that he secured $1,034,487 in federal funding for the San Miguel Fire Department to construct an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Community Project Funding, provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center Grant Program, will fund the EOC portion of a new multiuse public-safety facility adjacent to the existing fire station. The facility will provide emergency services and law enforcement agencies with the dedicated space, technology, and resources needed to coordinate responses to large-scale emergencies.

Rep. Panetta was joined at the press conference by San Miguel Fire Chief Scott Young, Assemblymember Dawn Addis, and local law enforcement representatives.

“When disasters strike, it’s an all-hands-on-deck reaction by our firefighters and law enforcement officers at every level. That’s why coordination, communication, and integration are important for the success of that type of unified response,” said Rep. Panetta. “Emergency Operations Centers can act as a central nervous system for our community during major disasters. That’s why I’m proud to have secured more than $1 million in federal funding for an Emergency Operations Center to be located at a new firehouse in San Miguel. This investment will give local first responders the dedicated space and resources they need to better react, communicate, and keep our community safe.”

“With San Miguel’s continued growth comes the responsibility of enhancing our emergency response services, facilities, and equipment. The proposed fire station expansion is a critical step in preparing San Miguel for the future. The San Miguel community is truly grateful for this support and for the recognition of the need to invest in emergency services, public safety, and community resilience. This funding will help place San Miguel Fire on the path forward, allowing us to better serve the needs of our community, our county, and our state with reliable emergency services well into the foreseeable future,” said Fire Chief Young.

“As wildfires continue to increase in intensity and winter storms become more aggressive across the Central Coast, a local Emergency Operations Center will give the San Miguel Fire Department the tools and coordination capacity it needs to respond to complex emergencies, from fires and flooding to severe storms and earthquakes. I am proud to support this project and thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta for the critical investment in the resilience of our San Miguel neighbors,” said Assemblymember Addis.

Located in northern San Luis Obispo County, San Miguel currently lacks a dedicated facility for coordinating a large-scale emergency response. The new multiuse building will strengthen the community’s ability to prepare for and respond to natural or human-caused disasters. When the EOC is not activated, it will provide shared space for emergency services and law enforcement agencies serving the region.

During an emergency, the EOC will serve as a central hub for deploying resources, securing additional personnel and equipment, sharing information among responding agencies, and communicating with the media and public.

While local agencies can manage most incidents within their own jurisdictions, larger and more complex emergencies often require a multi-jurisdictional response. A dedicated EOC will allow San Miguel’s first responders to work more effectively with North County law enforcement, CAL FIRE, the California Highway Patrol, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, and other county, regional, state, and federal partners.

Primarily staffed by dedicated volunteers, the San Miguel Fire Department serves a population of just over 3,000 residents. This investment will help ensure that the department’s emergency-response capabilities continue to grow alongside the community.

This funding adds to the millions of dollars Rep. Panetta has secured for emergency services across California’s 19th Congressional District, including $500,000 for the design and construction of a fire and emergency services training facility in Paso Robles, $1 million for a new fire engine and equipment for the Templeton Fire Department, and $935,000 for a new fire engine for the Cambria Fire Department.

For additional photos and b-roll, click HERE.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://rivas.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswomen-luz-rivas-veronica-escobar-lead-45-colleagues-demanding-ice,"Congresswomen Luz Rivas, Veronica Escobar Lead 45 Colleagues in Demanding ICE Restore Transparency in Detainee Locator System",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Luz M. Rivas,R000620,rivas.house.gov,rivas,https://rivas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"LOS ANGELES – Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led 45 of their colleagues in urging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella to restore detainee details to the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). The Members’ letter comes after a disturbing report from the Associated Press revealed that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS. ODLS allows family members, legal representatives, and members of the public to locate individuals detained by ICE.

“This is a wholly unprecedented move by the United States government to impede both access and legal representation for people in federal custody,” the Members wrote. “We urge ICE to restore ODLS location information for all individuals with final removal orders who remain in ICE custody and to provide Congress with the justification underlying this change. The federal government should not be denying any individual access to legal counsel or shielding their whereabouts from loved ones.”

ICE has not publicly announced this change in policy and has not communicated to detainees’ families or legal representation where detainees are currently held who have disappeared from ODLS.

The Members continued: “The consequences of this change extend beyond public transparency. Immigration attorneys have reported losing track of clients after they disappeared from ODLS, while family members are uncertain whether their loved ones were transferred to another facility or removed from the United States completely. We urge ICE to rescind this policy immediately and restore ODLS location information for all individuals with final orders of removal who remain in ICE custody. ICE should ensure that detainees remain locatable to their families and legal representatives instead of trying to hide these individuals’ whereabouts.”

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

The Members’ letter is signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Luis Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Lois Frankel (Fl-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry Johnson (GA-04), William Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-At Large), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), Gabe Vasquez (NM-2), Veasy Marc (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-15), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

Background:

On September 21, 2026, the Associated Press reported that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS on September 15, 2026. This change in policy was not publicly announced, and was not communicated to detainees’ families or legal representation. The Washington Post also reported that ICE’s new policy bars immigration officials from sharing information with their attorneys or relatives by phone.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/jacobs-castro-dean-beyer-casar-escobar-to-introduce-sanctions-on-drivers-of-settlement-expansion,"Jacobs, Castro, Dean, Beyer, Casar, Escobar to Introduce Sanctions on Drivers of Settlement Expansion",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), Greg Casar (TX-35), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced legislation to impose sanctions on individuals and entities building or expanding settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The Stop the Settlements Act would stop the construction of new settlements or expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza through the use of sanctions and a prohibition on the importation of goods made in these settlements and outposts. Stopping the construction of new settlements or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza would protect Palestinians from dispossession of their land and help create a pathway to peace, where both Israelis and Palestinians are able to fully exercise their right to self-determination.

“Pushing Palestinians out of their homes and off their land in Gaza and the West Bank is one of the greatest obstacles to a lasting pathway to peace,” said Congresswoman Jacobs. “As long as the U.S. stands idly by, we’re knowingly supporting Israel’s coordinated strategy to consolidate Israeli control and prevent Palestinian statehood. We have another choice: use our tools and leverage to help make peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and everyone in the region a reality. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Stop the Settlements Act, which would require the President to sanction individuals and entities that build or expand settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. This is a reasonable and necessary step to uphold international law, protect civilians, de-escalate violence, and preserve the possibility of lasting peace, security, and stability.”

“Under Netanyahu’s government, settlers are engaged in a violent land grab that’s ripping Palestinians from their land,” said Congressman Castro. “The record expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continues to be one of the greatest impediments to peace. Democrats must face this with urgency—act now or watch the prospect of Palestinian self-determination slip away forever. Congress should and can be using every tool we have available, including sanctions. The Stop the Settlements Act gives any person or company looking to take Palestinian land in the West Bank or Gaza a choice: pursue settlements or do business with the United States. The American people have seen the reality on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, and expect their elected officials to take action. In the coming months and in the next Congress, I will push for the conditions under which security and a lasting peace is possible.”

“The continued construction of Israeli settlements and staking of new outposts in the West Bank and Gaza is a violation of international law. They’re also part of a deliberate, expressed strategy by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies to geographically isolate Palestinian communities, block the possibility of a contiguous state, and prevent the Palestinian people from being able to exercise their rights to self-determination,” said Rep. Dean. “Settler organizations and people who illegally push onto Palestinian land, harassing — and even killing legal residents — are actively undermining the peace process and prolonging the current violence. These settlers fund their activities in part through the sale of goods abroad, which this legislation would prohibit, while also authorizing sanctions on some of the worst offenders of international law. It is time that the United States joined our allies — such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada — in taking action to help preserve dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people, which is essential for progress toward peace.”

“The continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illustrates the contempt Israel’s government has for international law and longstanding U.S. policy,” said Rep. Beyer. “By accelerating this campaign of violence and theft, particularly in the E1 corridor bordering East Jerusalem, the Israeli government is making clear its intent to fatally undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. The U.S. cannot and should not accept this explicit effort of illegal territorial expansion, which would make a negotiated resolution to this intractable conflict forever out of reach. This legislation puts teeth on what has been clear U.S. policy for decades and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the illegal settlement movement any longer.”

“Settlement expansion displaces Palestinians, violates international law, and prevents peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” said Congressman Casar. “The Stop the Settlements Act would prohibit the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Congress must work toward lasting peace in the region by ending the occupation and genocide.”

BACKGROUND:

Since December 2022, the Israeli government has approved over 100 new settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli settlers have established almost 200 additional outposts. In comparison, only six settlements were approved in the previous three decades. In recent years, senior Israeli officials have openly called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza.

These settlements, built on Palestinian land, are one of the biggest impediments to peace and to Palestinian self-determination.

The Stop the Settlements Act would address the unprecedented growth of settlements by sanctioning any foreign entity or individual that engages with activity for the establishment of new Israeli settlements or outposts in the West Bank or Gaza, including developing infrastructure, construction the settlement area known as E1, or facilitating Israeli civilians onto settlements. The bill would also put a ban on imports of settlements goods. This would mirror and complement efforts currently being taken by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain.

If enacted, the legislation would lead to essentially a defacto settlement freeze with no new settlement construction in the West Bank, while also giving the President the authority to begin going after some of the most problematic and destabilizing settlements and outposts in the West Bank.

The Stop the Settlements Act has gained support from stakeholders with the shared goal of stopping settlement expansion and ensuring Palestinian self-determination and security for Israel:

Jeremy Ben-Ami, President, J Street: “After more than 50 years of Israel disregarding American and other international warnings to stop expanding settlements, it is time for action. We are grateful to Congressman Castro and the other cosponsors for sending a clear signal that Israeli efforts to prevent a Palestinian state will be met with material consequences.”

Margaret DeReus, Executive Director of IMEU Policy Project: “The US government has enabled Israeli settlement expansion for too long without any meaningful repercussions to the detriment of Palestinian lives, including Palestinian Americans that live in Palestine. One of the first things the Trump administration did was reverse previous sanctions, and while they continue to turn a blind eye, this bill would impose real consequences on those who support or engage in settlement expansion, in line with international law and our closest allies. This would include banning anyone from importing any goods produced in any Israeli settlement or outpost. We thank Congressman Castro for being a leader in the fight to protect basic Palestinian rights.”

Hadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative: “This bill fills a crucial void. The Trump administration has failed to take action that would stop the Israeli government from executing its reckless agenda of land grabs and annexation. Now Congress has the opportunity to step up and close that gap. This is what real American leadership looks like.”

This bill is also endorsed by American Committee for Middle East Rights; A New Policy; Center for International Policy; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Refugees International; Win Without War.

Co-sponsors of the bill include: Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03).

Read the full bill text and one-pager here and here.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/peters-applauds-senate-permitting-package-touts-his-priorities-to-speed-up-clean-energy-and-lower-costs,"Peters Applauds Senate Permitting Package, Touts His Priorities to Speed Up Clean Energy and Lower Costs",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Scott H. Peters,P000608,scottpeters.house.gov,scottpeters,https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement after the Senate unveiled its bipartisan permitting package, which includes the language of several bills Rep. Peters has championed over multiple sessions of Congress:

“The bipartisan Senate package released today is a great step toward fixing our broken permitting system. We can't meet our surging energy demand, lower greenhouse gas emissions, or outcompete countries like China if it takes decades to build what we need. A permitting reform agreement with this much support from Republicans and Democrats should pass this Congress.

“I'm glad the text from the Senate is finally public so everyone can dig into the details and tell us what adjustments or clarifications are needed. Profound change is never easy, but today’s problems require it. We have a broad coalition that needs this agreement to be enacted into law. American builders, investors, labor groups, climate activists, and taxpayers want Congress to act, and fixing our old and slow permitting system will require all of us to speak up and pitch in.

“I'm especially encouraged to see so many of my priorities included. I've spent years calling for America to build critical infrastructure faster. My bills that are included in the package will increase energy supply, build more transmission, and make sure the backlog of clean energy projects get built with no more delays.”

Included in the package was language from several major bipartisan bills led by Rep. Peters, including:

The SPEED and Reliability Act, which significantly streamlines the siting and permitting of critical national-interest electric transmission lines. Faster approvals to build more lines would lower costs for consumers and prevent blackouts.

The CERTAIN Act, which accelerates energy and infrastructure projects by enforcing strict application timelines and stops administrations from canceling permits that were already legally approved. The bill has been supported by nearly 40 organizations representing the people who build, power, and maintain America's infrastructure.

The CLEAR Act, which speeds the review process for large energy infrastructure projects and establishes clear rules for stalled transmission projects, giving developers and local stakeholders the certainty to plan and giving ratepayers relief from rising costs.

The BIG WIRES Act, which directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to better coordinate construction of an interregional transmission system, minimizing haphazard, patchwork grid upgrades.

The ePermit Act, which digitizes the U.S. permitting process, reducing processing times for all federal permits, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Peters has led some of the largest bipartisan efforts in Congress to streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects. Last week, he urged the Senate to finalize a package this month and to push forward with bipartisan language.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sherman-statement-fema-funding-los-angeles-wildfire-disaster-aid,Sherman Statement on FEMA Funding for Los Angeles Wildfire Disaster Aid Program,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Brad Sherman,S000344,sherman.house.gov,sherman,https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"PALISADES, CA — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) issued the following statement after FEMA announced funding to continue California’s Disaster Case Management Program for survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires:

“Pleased to see that FEMA is paying California the money it owes to the state for providing caseworkers for fire victims through September 30. It is now time for FEMA to approve and fund keeping this program open at least through May of next year. Losing one’s home in a horrendous fire is extremely difficult on families. Working through the morass of governmental and insurance issues without a caseworker would be horrendous for many families.”

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-simon-announced-new-co-chair-congressional-caucus-black-women,Congresswoman Simon Announced as New Co-Chair of The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Lateefah Simon,S001231,simon.house.gov,simon,https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) recently announced that Congresswomen Lateefah Simon (CA-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Shontel Brown (OH-11) will take up the mantle as the new Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls (CCBWG) in the 120th Congress.

Despite more than 430 registered Congressional caucuses and Member organizations in 2016, until the creation of the CCBWG, no group on Capitol Hill had sought to make Black women and girls a priority in policy debates. Inspired by the #SheWoke Committee, a collective of seven women leaders with a shared vision of advocacy, equity, and sisterhood; Reps. Clarke, Kelly, and Watson Coleman created the Caucus to advance policies that eliminate barriers and disparities experienced by Black women.

With Congresswomen Kelly and Watson Coleman departing at the conclusion of the 119th Congress, Congresswomen Simon, McIver, and Brown will take their place alongside Rep. Clarke.

""I am deeply honored to join the Caucus on Black Women and Girls as a Co-Chair next Congress and pick up the mantle from Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Yvette Clarke, and Robin Kelly,"" said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. ""I started my career working with young girls who were impacted by the criminal justice system, and I know intimately that in every aspect of life from school to the workplace — Black women and girls face unique opportunities and challenges. Congress can and should do more to ensure that our federal policies see and serve Black women and girls equally, and I look forward to working with my Co-Chairs on this caucus to advance these efforts. Thank you to Congresswomen Watson Coleman, Clarke, and Kelly for the pioneering work you have done to advocate for our girls in Congress — the fight continues.”

“I’m incredibly appreciative of the work Congresswomen Clarke and Kelly and I have accomplished over the last decade,” said Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman. “It has truly been an honor and a privilege having them as partners as we did our best to help further cultivate a sisterhood here in Congress. Forming this caucus was already critical at the time, but its work and impact is exponentially more important today. And while we’ve made great strides in representation over the years, there is much more to do in order to make our voices heard in every facet of our society and to ensure policies don’t have an unintended negative impact on our communities. It feels like the last ten years have flown by, but it is indeed time. I am proud to pass the baton to Congresswomen LaMonica McIver, Lateefah Simon, and Shontel Brown – three outstanding women who have already demonstrated leadership by fighting for the right things and making sure Black women’s voices are heard. I’ll miss the Caucus, but I’m fully confident that we’re leaving it in great hands and that they will take it to the next level. America is primed for a better future when everyone has a seat at the table. Instead of waiting for a spot to open up, my sisters have brought their own chair.”

""Over the last ten years, my co-chairs and I, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Yvette Clarke, have put our hearts into building this Caucus from the ground up to highlight both the extraordinary successes and the ongoing plight of Black women across America, ensuring our voices are heard and represented in Congress,"" said Representative Robin Kelly. ""It has been a true honor to lead alongside them. While leaving this leadership legacy is bittersweet, I am thrilled to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new co-chairs, alongside Representative Yvette Clarke. They each bring their own powerful vision, passion, and lived experiences to this work, and I know that the mantle we built together is in wonderful hands as they lead our Caucus into its next decade of progress.""

""Words cannot fully express my gratitude to my fellow Black Women & Girls Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robin Kelly, for their years of hard work, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to bringing greater attention to the systemic challenges facing Black women and girls and ensuring their voices are heard and represented in Congress,"" said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. ""While I am saddened to see my sisters depart, I am excited to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new Co-Chairs. I look forward to working alongside them as we pick up the mantle and continue fighting for the equity, opportunity, and justice our Black women and girls deserve, especially as this administration continues to target Black women in the workplace, threaten equitable access to healthcare, and undermine the support systems our communities rely on. The work continues, and I look forward to advancing this important mission with our new Co-Chairs.""

""Black women and girls play a vital role in shaping politics and policy, bringing invaluable perspectives and experience to the table,” said Representative Lamonica McIver. “Too often, that contribution is undervalued and overlooked. We face barriers to entry, and barriers to success. Under the leadership of Reps. Watson Coleman, Kelly, and Clarke, this caucus has done the important work of amplifying our voices and confronting the systemic inequalities that silence us. I am humbled and excited to carry that legacy forward, and deeply grateful to the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls for what they have built. I am also grateful beyond words to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has been a light to me personally; my co-chairs and I will do all we can to carry on what she has built.""

“I am honored to become the new Co-Chair of the Black Women and Girls Caucus,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “As a Black woman and a Black lawmaker, it is incredibly frustrating to watch the current administration weaponize policies designed to help the very communities they have locked out of the conversation.”

“This Caucus has been critical in countering those efforts by shining a national spotlight on the issues that disproportionately impact our community. But our work has to be about more than defense. We have an opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda that expands opportunity, protects the rights of Black women and girls, and makes sure they have a real voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. I am so grateful for the leadership of Reps. Clarke, Kelly and Watson Coleman in this Caucus, which has led to the advancement of long overdue legislation that supports Black women. From the Crown Act to the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, the Members have shown that they are fighters for meaningful change for our women and girls. The legacy that they leave behind is one that I am proud to carry forward.""

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases/dan-bieu-derek-tran-dong-bao-tro-du-luat-bao-ve-thu-nhap-tu-tien-tip-ho-tro,"Dân Biểu Derek Trần đồng bảo trợ dự luật bảo vệ thu nhập từ tiền tip, hỗ trợ người lao động ngành dịch vụ",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Derek Tran,T000491,tran.house.gov,tran,https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Dân Biểu Derek Trần đồng bảo trợ dự luật bảo vệ thu nhập từ tiền tip, hỗ trợ người lao động ngành dịch vụ
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC
– Dân Biểu Liên Bang Derek Trần (CA-45) đồng bảo trợ
H.R.1314
, Dự Luật Bảo Vệ và Hỗ Trợ Thu Nhập Từ Tiền Tip (TIPS Act), cho phép người lao động trong ngành dịch vụ được khấu trừ tiền tip khi khai thuế. Dự luật sẽ nâng mức thu nhập gộp điều chỉnh tối đa để người lao động ngành dịch vụ đủ điều kiện hưởng khoản khấu trừ này từ $25,000 lên $112,500, đồng thời áp dụng thay đổi này lâu dài cho người lao động ngành dịch vụ khắp toàn quốc.
“Trong lúc giá cả tăng vọt do cuộc chiến thiếu thận trọng của Tổng Thống Trump tại Iran và các chính sách thuế quan thiếu trách nhiệm, các gia đình lao động đang phải chịu áp lực rất lớn khi chật vật trang trải cuộc sống. Đối với người lao động ngành dịch vụ, tiền tip là nguồn thu nhập thiết yếu để lo bữa ăn, chi trả các khoản sinh hoạt hằng ngày và chăm lo cho gia đình. Tôi tự hào đồng bảo trợ Dự Luật TIPS vì sẽ mang lại lợi ích kinh tế thiết thực cho người lao động ngành dịch vụ và gia đình họ tại Nam California – giúp họ giữ lại nhiều tiền hơn và giúp họ ổn định tài chính lâu dài,” Dân Biểu Derek Trần cho biết.
Dự Luật TIPS áp dụng cho người lao động trong các ngành thẩm mỹ, khách sạn, ăn uống, dịch vụ đậu xe và vệ sinh, qua đó mang lại lợi ích cho gần 70,000 người lao động ngành dịch vụ tại Địa Hạt 45 của California. Dự luật được Dân Biểu Steven Horsford (NV-04) giới thiệu tại Quốc Hội khóa 119. Khác với điều khoản trong H.R. 1 – còn được gọi là “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – dự luật này sẽ duy trì lâu dài mức khấu trừ thuế cao hơn dành cho người lao động ngành dịch vụ, thay vì để chính sách hết hiệu lực vào cuối năm 2028.
Dân Biểu Derek Trần tiếp tục tập trung giải quyết cuộc khủng hoảng chi phí sinh hoạt và không ngừng ủng hộ các dự luật nhằm giảm chi phí cho các gia đình lao động:
Vào Tháng Năm, 2026, Dân Biểu Derek cùng các thành viên của Lowering Costs Caucus
gửi thư kêu gọi chính quyền Tổng Thống Trump
có biện pháp giải quyết tình trạng giá năng lượng tăng vọt.
Vào Tháng Bảy, 2025, Dân Biểu Derek giới thiệu
Dự Luật Giảm Thuế Thực Phẩm Trẻ Em
, nhằm miễn thuế quan đối với các sản phẩm thiết yếu phục vụ việc nuôi trẻ nhỏ, như sữa công thức, ghế ăn cho trẻ em và bình sữa, qua đó giúp giảm chi phí cho các bậc phụ huynh lao động.
Dân Biểu Derek cũng đồng bảo trợ
Dự Luật Cải Thiện Tín Dụng Nhà Ở Giá Phải Chăng
, nhằm hỗ trợ tài chính cho việc xây dựng thêm nhà ở nhiều căn, và
Dự Luật Tín Dụng Thuế Cho Người Mua Nhà Lần Đầu
, thiết lập khoản tín dụng thuế có thể hoàn lại dành cho người mua nhà lần đầu.
###
Issues
:
Economy & Small Business
Washington DC Office
1127 Longworth House Office Building
Washington,
DC
20515
Phone:
(202) 225-2415
Cypress District Office
6803 International Ave., Suite 100
Cypress,
CA
90630
Phone:
(714) 960-6483",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-derek-tran-lawmakers-urge-california-accept-10-million-federal,"Representative Derek Tran, Lawmakers Urge California to Accept  $10 Million in Federal Funding for Orange County Veterans Cemetery",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Derek Tran,T000491,tran.house.gov,tran,https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) joined Rep. Lou Correa and a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week to send a letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) accepts $10 million in federal funding offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon. Representatives Lou Correa, Ken Calvert, Young Kim, Mike Levin, and Dave Min, alongside State Senator Thomas J. Umberg and Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Avelino Valencia, joined Tran in signing the letter.

“After more than a decade of work, we are closer than ever to fulfilling our promise to Orange County’s veterans and their families,” said the lawmakers. “We should not allow $10 million in federal funding secured for this purpose to be left on the table.”

Read the full letter HERE.

On July 27, 2021, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved $20 million for site development for a veterans’ cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, designating more than 200 acres of county-owned land near the 91 Freeway and 241 Toll Road for a public cemetery and a separate veterans’ cemetery. Combined state and local funding for the veterans’ cemetery construction now totals $50 million, including $25 million from prior state budgets and an additional $5 million allocated in the 2024 State Budget Act. The funding allocated has yet to be accepted by the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

An Army veteran and a member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, Representative Tran is dedicated to expanding protections and benefits for veterans:

In July 2025, Representative Tran led a letter with Representative Correa to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), urging federal support for the construction of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon.

Rep. Tran’s first piece of legislation, the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, supports the livelihoods of veterans who were wrongfully removed from their civil service positions and allows them to continue serving their country as part of the federal workforce.

Representative Tran introduced the bipartisan Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act to allow veterans the option to receive G.I. Bill information and benefits through electronic messages, reducing unnecessary paperwork and increasing accessibility.

Representative Tran also introduced the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Actto protect veterans’ disability benefits from a change at the Department of Veterans Affairs that would have cut benefits for veterans who rely on medication to manage their disabilities.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-leads-final-pre-midterm-effort-to-defeat-anti-voter-save-act-condemns-trump-corruption/,"Padilla Leads Final Pre-Midterm Effort to Defeat Anti-Voter SAVE Act, Condemns Trump Corruption",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, took to the Senate floor in opposition to Republicans’ so-called Stop Insider Trading Act, which would allow members of Congress who already own stocks to keep trading and does nothing to prevent the President and Vice President from trading stocks, and includes a voter identification provision from the SAVE Act that would require eligible voters to include photo identification in their mail and absentee ballots, among other provisions. If enacted, this requirement would have been stricter than all 50 states. Once again, Padilla led his Senate colleagues in defeating this anti-voter provision and underscored the importance of holding President Trump accountable for his ongoing corruption, this time, just over a month before Election Day.

The Senate failed to advance the bill by a party-line vote of 53-47, with 60 votes required to pass the bill.

“Here we are, 34 days before Election Day, or, as I like to suggest, 34 days before the final day to vote because we’re encouraging people to cast their ballot early if they can, or vote by mail if and where they can,” said Senator Padilla. “But instead of talking about the issues that are most on the minds of American families, Republicans are here again trying to distract from those issues and to, frankly, create confusion amongst voters in order to protect the President and the party from your failed policies.”

While Republicans claim to express concern over insider stock trading, Padilla exposed Trump’s own corruption and highlighted his previous efforts to prevent it, including the fact that President Trump traded more than 21,000 times in his first year in office, more than every member of Congress combined, increasing his net worth by $4-5 billion. Padilla also called out Trump’s Truth Social service, which sells early inside access to presidential announcements to hedge funds and Wall Street firms. He further detailed the impacts of attaching the voter ID provision to the bill and emphasized MAGA Republicans’ efforts to provoke election chaos.

“The American people deserve to have confidence that their elected representatives are making decisions in the best interest of the American people, and not in your bank account or in your stock investments. But that’s not what this bill will do,” continued Senator Padilla. “This bill does not ban members of Congress from holding stocks or trading stocks, and it exempts the most powerful elected official of all – the President of the United States – from a stock trading ban.”

“Today is not a serious attempt to address the kind of corruption here in Washington that the American people may care about,” said Senator Padilla. “And to add further proof to that point, this isn’t just a sham attempt to ban members of Congress from trading stocks, because it includes a voter ID poison pill in it. This so-called ‘Voter ID’ bill would impose a far stricter and more burdensome federal standard than all 50 states.”

Padilla sounded the alarm on Republicans’ baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, emphasizing their efforts to distract from their failed leadership and policies that are raising costs on American families. Padilla raised concerns about issues that Trump and MAGA Republicans should focus on instead of spreading election and voter disinformation.

“When families are struggling with rising inflation, the rising costs of health care and housing, groceries, mortgages, gas prices, an unauthorized war in Iran. Instead of actually addressing those issues with the real proposals, they’re seeking to distract and confuse. The American people deserve better than this,” Senator Padilla concluded.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, which has oversight over federal elections, Padilla has led the charge opposing Trump’s overreaching anti-voter SAVE Act. Last month, Padilla led his Senate colleagues in once again defeating MAGA Republicans’ efforts to advance Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio)’s voter ID bill, a provision of the SAVE Act. In July, Padilla tried twice to call up a bipartisan bill that would ban members of Congress and their family members, as well as the President and Vice President, from trading stocks – but Republicans blocked it both times. In June, Padilla led his Senate Democratic colleagues in defeating Republicans’ efforts to include the SAVE Act in their anti-immigrant reconciliation bill twice in one night. During the failed March 2026 “talking filibuster” attempt, Padilla took to the Senate floor four times as a leader in the Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act. Padilla has also led legislation to prohibit the president from monetizing his office by selling inside early access to official announcements to investors.

Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.

Transcript of Padilla’s remarks is available below:

Mr. President, here we are, 34 days before Election Day, or, as I like to suggest, 34 days before the final day to vote because we’re encouraging people to cast their ballot early, if they can, or vote by mail if and where they can.

But instead of talking about the issues that are most on the minds of American families, Republicans are here again trying to distract from those issues and to, frankly, create confusion amongst voters in order to protect the president and the party from your failed policies.

Now, Senate Democrats, Senate Democrats agree that something real needs to happen to rein in the ability of elected officials, especially members of Congress, from making decisions that impact the companies in their stock portfolios.

That is true. The American people deserve to have confidence that their elected representatives are making decisions in the best interest of the American people, and not in your bank account or in your stock investments.

But that’s not what this bill will do.

This bill does not ban members of Congress from holding stocks or trading stocks, and it exempts the most powerful elected official of all – the president of the United States – from a stock trading ban.

Now let’s be clear, colleagues, because we’ve seen this time and again. When the president makes announcements or posts on Truth Social, he has the potential to move markets, shift the economy. And that’s truly an awesome power, one that nobody should be able to exploit for their own profit.

But that’s exactly what Donald Trump has done and has done over and over again.

That’s why, since returning to office last year, his net worth has grown some 4 to 5 billion dollars, billion with a B, Mr. President.

Now, ABC News showed us that just last year, he made over 21,000 stock trades across 8 accounts – in a matter of 80 – with the average of about 85 trades per day. 85 trades per day!

Does that sound like someone who is singularly focused on improving the quality of life for the American people?

I don’t think so.

Bloomberg News found that President Trump has traded stocks more than every member of Congress combined.

Think about that for a minute.

One person, Donald Trump, the president of the United States, the trader-in-chief, made more stock trades in one year than all 535 members of Congress.

Now, NBC News found that 327 of these were made exactly one day before he rolled back his, quote, “Liberation Day,” tariffs. Was that a coincidence? I think not.

How much grift from his own decision-making? The American people deserve to know.

But the president’s corruption goes even further.

His social media company is literally selling access to hedge funds and Wall Street brokers, early access to his major market-shaping announcements.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Trump has been making more stock trades than all of Congress combined while backing a ban that excludes him.

That’s what the bill before us does. Is it any surprise that the president supports a bill that does nothing to rein him in?

How can we possibly go home and tell the American people with a straight face that we’re stopping the corruption in Washington when the biggest exploiter is the president and he is immune from these – from this bill?

The authors of this bill refuse to put any restrictions or guardrails on the biggest, most corrupt federal stock trader of all.

Now, don’t take that to mean that Democrats don’t want to do anything in this space. We do.

In fact, the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee last year put out a bipartisan bill that would actually address this issue.

But folks watching at home should recognize that that bipartisan bill, with teeth, is not what Republicans have chosen to put on the floor today, 34 days before Election Day.

Instead, it’s this sham bill that doesn’t have the teeth and doesn’t rein in the trader-in-chief.

I’ve tried to bring up that bill, by the way, repeatedly in this Senate, and Senate Republicans have blocked it on multiple occasions.

So, today is not a serious attempt to address the kind of corruption here in Washington that the American people may care about.

And to add further proof to that point, this isn’t just an a – a sham attempt to ban members of Congress from trading stocks because it includes a voter ID poison pill in it.

This so-called “Voter ID” bill would impose a far stricter and more burdensome federal standard than all 50 states.

You know, some states have voter ID, some states don’t. Those that do have laws at the state level that require an ID, but it allows tribal IDs or student IDs, if issued by the state government or a state entity, to count.

But the federal provisions in this bill do not.

And it goes even worse for the one-third of American voters that prefer to vote by mail and they have that option in their state.

And 80% of Californians, by the way.

This requirement that you have to have a copy of your ID in the envelope with your ballot for it to count eviscerates the secret ballot that we value so much.

Here’s what the Republican lieutenant governor of Utah had to say – in Utah, the lieutenant governor is also the state election official – when it was included in the SAVE Act, and now it’s in the measure before us:

Quote, “The SAVE America Act requires a vote to include a photo copy of their ID, violating our constitutional right to a secret ballot.”

So, don’t just take my word for it. Republican governor of Utah.

And she’s not the only Republican opposed to this kind of legislation.

The Republican governor of Ohio vetoed a similar state bill, saying, quote, “The measure would not discourage fraud, would not add any real security, and would create additional and significant burden for Ohioans who vote by mail.”

All for what? For the, uh, in pursuit of the Big Lie?

The president’s been claiming for, what, a decade now about massive voter fraud, while every expert, every study has found the same thing. Despite the conspiracy theories – voter fraud is already illegal – let’s establish that, it’s already on the books as illegal. But it’s also extremely, extremely rare.

So what is this bill truly about, anyway? It’s not cracking down, as Republicans claim it is.

It’s not going to, you know, address the massive voter fraud that does not exist. Again, it’s misdirection. It’s a distraction. And it threatens to suppress the vote. 34 days before the election.

And, all of a sudden, Republicans realize that the only thing they have to show for their control of government for the last two years, right — you’re the majority in the Senate, you’re the majority in the House. Your party occupies the White House.

When families are struggling with rising inflation, the rising costs of health care and housing, groceries, mortgages, gas prices, an unauthorized war in Iran.

Instead of actually addressing those issues with the real proposals, they’re seeking to distract and confuse.

The American people deserve better than this.

And I urge all my colleagues to vote no on this cynical measure. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-durbin-duckworth-introduce-legislation-to-protect-regional-national-archives-facilities-from-closure/,"Padilla, Schiff, Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Protect Regional National Archives Facilities from Closure",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The Senators introduced the legislation following the announced closure of Regional National Archives and Federal Records Centers in San Bruno, California and Chicago, Illinois

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), introduced the National Archives Protection Act, legislation that would require congressional approval before the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) can close or significantly restrict access to existing regional facilities.

In June 2026, NARA announced plans to close its regional archive facilities and co-located Federal Records Centers (FRC) in San Bruno, California and Chicago, Illinois, as well as relocate all temporary records from its Seattle facility. The decision raised concerns from archivists, researchers, and constituents about access to public records, many of which are not digitized and can only be accessed in person.

“Our National Archives are home to the immigration journeys, military service, and family histories of people across the West and the Pacific,” said Senator Padilla. “Closing Federal Records Centers would cut researchers and communities off from our own past. I’m proud to work with Senator Durbin to maintain the public’s access to our nation’s historic documents.”

“The administration is threatening access to historical and irreplaceable records, including closing down one facility in California that is home to countless photos and family heirlooms. Congress must exercise its oversight power to save decades of regional and national history,” said Senator Schiff.

“Regional National Archives facilities, including Chicago’s Federal Record Center, ensure that Americans can access public and personal records without having to travel across the country. Closing these facilities without the oversight of Congress risks putting those records further out of reach for our communities,” said Senator Durbin. “The National Archives Protection Act would ensure that these records, and the history they preserve, remain an accessible resource.”

“Our National Archives make it possible for families, researchers and communities across the Midwest to access records that tell the story of who we are and where we come from,” said Senator Duckworth. “This Administration has already shown how willing it is to erase American stories, and closing regional facilities like Chicago’s Federal Records Center would put even more of our history out of reach. Congress must have a say to protect the public’s access to these critical records and ensure our history is not lost.”

The San Bruno facility specifically holds immigration, naval, geological, and tribal records from as far back as the 1850s that are integral to researchers in California, Nevada, Hawai’i, Guam, American Samoa, Navy bases in the Pacific, and the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Records within the holdings increase understanding of immigration history through Angel Island and the impacts of enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The original case file of United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed birthright citizenship as outlined in the 14th Amendment, is also one of the irreplaceable historical records in the records at San Bruno.

U.S. Representatives Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), and Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-committee-advances-bipartisan-padilla-bill-to-support-desalination-and-safe-drinking-water/,Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Padilla Bill to Support Desalination and Safe Drinking Water,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) bipartisan bill to reauthorize desalination projects and research. Padilla’s Desalination Reauthorization Act cleared committee by voice vote, along with a bipartisan amendment that was also adopted by voice vote.

“Access to safe and clean drinking water is a human right, and investments in desalination projects provide promising pathways to meet our water needs,” said Senator Padilla. “The bill will help strengthen investments into desalination research and development so that every American can access safe, clean water. This is a critical step in addressing California’s water crisis and building new pathways for water security across the country.”

The legislation would extend the programmatic approval of the Bureau of Reclamation to fund desalination projects, which would otherwise expire this year. If the programmatic approval expired, Congress would need to pass a separate bill in order to authorize each new desalination project, which could substantially delay desalination projects and increase their costs. These projects, including the Doheny desalination plant in Orange County, help the Southwest counter drought by providing a drought-proof contribution to our water supply.

In addition, the legislation would authorize Reclamation to support advanced pilots to test new desalination technologies like OceanWell, which uses the ocean pressure at depths of approximately 1,400 feet to reduce the energy costs of desalination, and can also minimize desalination’s effects on marine life. OceanWell is working with Las Virgenes Water District in Ventura County to test its technology off the Southern California coast.

Specifically, this bill would:

Reauthorize the Bureau of Reclamation’s authority to provide grants for desalination projects, which is on track expire this year;

Amend the programmatic approval to extend to public/private partnerships to build desalination projects;

Direct that Reclamation cannot administratively impose a maximum funding amount that each desalination project can receive, which would allow large desalination plants to receive the full 25% federal cost-share; and

Amend the desalination and water purification research program to advance pilot projects, which cover the gap in developing new technologies known as the “Valley of Death” between small-scale pilots that test a laboratory concept and commercially viable projects.

The bipartisan amendment that the committee adopted would increase the maximum level of federal grants for desalination research to institutions of higher education like the University of California from $1 million to $2.5 million.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is cosponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).

Padilla has long been a strong advocate for ensuring access to safe, reliable water throughout California and across the country. Earlier this year, as severe droughts, warming temperatures, limitations on groundwater pumping, and outdated infrastructure compound California’s water scarcity issues, Padilla introduced a pair of bills to help address growing water supply challenges in California and the American West. His MORE WATER Act advanced out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by voice vote and now heads to the Senate for a full vote.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schiff-colleagues-fight-department-of-educations-new-rule-weaponizing-higher-education-accreditation-process/,"NEWS: Schiff, Colleagues Fight Department of Education’s New Rule Weaponizing Higher Education Accreditation Process",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"“These changes set a dangerous precedent by forcing accreditors and, in turn, institutions, to answer to the political whims of the executive branch.”

Washington, D.C. — After the Department of Education’s new regulations enabling new accreditors to enter the market more quickly, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led his colleagues in a comment letter to urge the Department to rescind the rule – warning of the implications to academic freedom and upholding the quality of higher education.

“We urge you to ensure any reforms to the accreditation system prioritize what is best for students and taxpayers not partisan, political actors… The provisions outlined in the Department’s proposed rule threaten this system by inserting undue influence from the executive branch into the higher education accreditation process. Such changes place the academic freedom and intellectual diversity of our nation’s higher-education institutions in jeopardy,” the Senators wrote in a new comment letter to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent.

The Senators warn that the provisions go against Congressional intent and will threaten academic freedom, invite inexperienced accreditors to enter the market quickly potentially leaving students vulnerable to fraud, impose ideological requirements on accreditors, and reduce guardrails around educational institution’s ability to switch accreditors – enabling those who have defrauded students.

“Such a politicization of faculty hiring and tenure gives the executive branch undue political influence over who institutions hire and what research their faculties produce. These provisions will narrow the scope of future research and dissuade faculty from producing findings that might be unpopular with the corporate or political forces which can influence hiring and firing decisions at institutions. This rule will have a negative downstream effect on the pipeline of future innovation that drives economic growth and improves the lives of all Americans,” the Senators wrote.

“As the Department joins its counterparts across the executive branch of this administration in taking drastic steps to exert its influence within higher education, the proposed rule contains several policies which go against the statutory intent meant to give institutions and accreditors independence in setting and enforcing standards and protection against undue political influence… In light of these concerns, we urge you to rescind the elements of the proposed rule which increase executive-branch involvement and influence in higher-education accreditation and invite lower-quality, inexperienced, and potentially unscrupulous actors to the market of millions in taxpayer dollars,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Schiff, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Background: Senator Schiff has prioritized holding the administration accountable for its weaponization of higher education. Most recently, Schiff and U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39) introduced new legislation, the Higher Education Accreditation Accountability Act, to prevent the administration from using accreditation as a “secret weapon” against higher education.

Earlier this year, Schiff and 43 other California Democrats demanded the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescind its proposed regulation that would politicize federal grants. In April, Schiff led several Senate Democrats in urging the Department of Education to reverse its efforts to weaponize the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), the bipartisan and independent committee that advises the Secretary of Education on the accreditation process.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary McMahon and Under Secretary Kent:

We write to provide our comments on the Department of Education’s (Department) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on August 20, 2026, that would overhaul accreditation and higher education. We urge you to ensure any reforms to the accreditation system prioritize what is best for students and taxpayers not partisan, political actors.

Accreditation from a Department-recognized agency assures students and taxpayers of an institution or program’s quality and enables students to participate in financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA), like Pell grants and Direct Loans. To preserve academic and institutional independence, federal law prohibits the Department from establishing specific accreditation standards, including those relating to curricula, faculty, admissions, and student support. Instead, the Department’s primary role within the accreditation system is to recognize individual agencies and ensure that they are applying rigorous standards consistently, affirm those standards promote program quality, and provide robust due process procedures in the recognition process.

The provisions outlined in the Department’s proposed rule threaten this system by inserting undue influence from the executive branch into the higher education accreditation process. Such changes place the academic freedom and intellectual diversity of our nation’s higher-education institutions in jeopardy. Additionally, elements of the proposal meant to loosen regulations around the accreditation process will lower the standards for new accreditors and enable institutions to escape accountability and sanctions more easily. These provisions will make accreditation a race to the bottom, leaving students and taxpayers vulnerable to fraud and misrepresentation.

Several components of the NPRM take positive steps to support program quality such as efforts to streamline transfer of credit policies, strengthen conflict of interest controls and student achievement standards. However, we urge the Department to consider the consequences other elements of this proposal will have on accreditors’ ability to assess institutional quality objectively and safeguard students and taxpayers from waste, fraud, and abuse on the part of predatory or unscrupulous institutions.

Below, we provide more detailed input on the regulations proposed by the Department.

Academic Freedom, Intellectual Diversity, and Institutional Policies

The Department is proposing that accreditors must, among other requirements, “establish a policy that is designed to support, promote, and appropriately prioritize intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas amongst faculty….” By mandating that accreditors create standards for the “intellectual diversity” of faculties—a term which the rule never defines—the Department can dictate who institutions can hire and continue to employ under the guise of correcting any perceived ideological imbalance amongst faculty at our nation’s institutions.

Additionally, the Department is proposing that accreditors require institutions to have policies which ensure “sufficient flexibility in instructional staffing policies to respond to persistent material changes in student demand, program viability, or financial conditions.” This language could enable accreditors to force institutions to reduce faculty tenure protections. Tenure is a crucial safeguard for academic freedom, allowing faculty to conduct research, publish findings, and exercise freedom of speech without the threat of losing their position due to outside pressure.

Such a politicization of faculty hiring and tenure gives the executive branch undue political influence over who institutions hire and what research their faculties produce. These provisions will narrow the scope of future research and dissuade faculty from producing findings that might be unpopular with the corporate or political forces which can influence hiring and firing decisions at institutions. This rule will have a negative downstream effect on the pipeline of future innovation that drives economic growth and improves the lives of all Americans.

The proposal includes a requirement for accreditors to assess whether institutions allow “a range of academic perspectives” to be expressed “without adverse action based on lawful viewpoints unrelated to professional or academic competence….” This language could be easily weaponized to suppress free speech or discourse on campus based on what the executive branch interprets to be a “lawful” viewpoint. Similarly, the Department is proposing that accreditors assess whether institutions adequately protect First Amendment rights and refrain from allowing institutions to “violate any Federal or State law,” including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. Institutions are, of course, already required to follow these laws and are subject to legal action if they are accused of violating them. The Department’s rule will mandate that accreditors, which do not have the expertise of federal civil rights or First Amendment law, arbitrate on these matters.

The provision which includes Title VI and Title IX rights concludes that such a mandate means that “agencies must not have policies that require institutions or programs to provide unlawful preferences to students, faculty, staff, contractors, or any employees based upon their race, color, national origin, or sex, including in admissions, hiring, and the selection of contracts.” Such language parallels the Department’s attempts to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and protections for transgender students from college campuses based on the current administration’s interpretation of civil rights law, whether through conducting politically charged civil rights investigations or, within the accreditation space, threatening accreditors’ recognition by pressuring them to drop their DEI policies.

Beyond forcing accreditors to adhere to this administration’s interpretation of civil rights law and protections, the Department’s proposals around institutional policies and academic freedom exceed the authority exceed the Department’s authority under the HEA and the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979. The HEA grants accreditors the authority to set their own standards on assessing an institution’s faculty, curriculum, and admissions practices independent of the Department’s regulations, while limiting the Department from prescribing accreditor standards. The Department of Education Organization Act prohibits the Department from exercising “any direction, supervision, or control” over the “curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel” of any institution or accrediting agency.1Such prescriptions on accreditors’ policies, which in turn affect the policies of their constituent institutions, trample the Congressionally mandated independence of accreditors from the executive branch, jeopardizing accreditors’ role as a safeguard for taxpayer dollars and setting a dangerous precedent accelerating this administration’s politicization of higher education.

New Accrediting Agencies

The HEA requires that accreditors seeking Department recognition “demonstrate the ability and the experience to operate as an accrediting agency or association…,” have a pool of voluntary members, consistently apply and enforce standards, and carry out regular accrediting activities like on-site inspections. The Department’s proposal to “streamline” the process for new accreditors to earn recognition, however, subverts the HEA by striking the regulations governing how much experience a prospective accrediting agency must demonstrate, instead, requiring no experience accrediting at all. The Department proposes that an agency can apply for recognition when it demonstrates that it can legally operate in the relevant jurisdiction, has adopted accreditation standards, operating procedures, and institutional applications consistent with federal regulations, and has at least one institution or program which has applied for accreditation.

The current regulation builds out the HEA’s requirements by having prospective accreditors accredit at least one institution or program and carry out other typical accreditor duties for at least two years before seeking recognition from the Department. This waiting period enables the Department to examine whether a prospective accreditor is consistently and rigorously applying quality standards before it receives the ability to gatekeep federal funds for new institutions.

By striking the two-year requirement and allowing application and review without ever having accredited an institution, the Department’s proposal will enable unproven and inexperienced accreditors to enter the market. Loosening these standards risks institutions actively seeking out accreditors who do not have the expertise necessary to hold them accountable to high standards, while creating perverse incentives for longstanding accreditors to scale back their own oversight efforts to remain competitive. A cost estimate produced by the Congressional Budget Office, when considering legislation that would open the accreditation marketplace, made assumptions that federal spending would increase as a result because new institutions would become accredited and existing accrediting agencies would be less likely to remove accreditation from existing institutions in a competitive market. The Department has not considered these potential outcomes in its reasoning or cost estimates. The accreditation landscape this provision creates could give unscrupulous institutions a clear path to defrauding students and increasing costs for taxpayers. In fact, officials from the defunct accreditors of predatory for-profit institutions, which shuttered after investigations and left thousands of students in debt and with worthless degrees, are primed to establish new accrediting agencies under these new regulations.

Changing Accreditors

The Department’s proposal strikes the requirement that institutions be in good standing with their accreditors for the 24 months prior to changing accrediting agencies. As written, the Department’s proposal would direct the Secretary to automatically approve a change in accreditor, unless the Secretary determines that the institution is seeking the change to evade federal law, avoid enforcement from its current accreditor, or obtain Title IV eligibility through some other form of misrepresentation.

Current regulation forbids colleges from changing accreditors if their accreditation has been withdrawn, revoked, terminated, or placed on probation in the two years prior to the switch. Under the Department’s proposal, the Secretary would have to uncover evidence that the institution’s intent in changing accreditors was to evade accountability. This shift in a discretionary approach will lead to institutions switching accreditors or maintaining multiple accreditors to escape oversight or sanctions from an accrediting agency, especially in light of the personnel cuts at the Department. We are concerned that the Department will not have adequate staffing to properly review and evaluate institutions’ applications to switch accreditors.

This laxing of standards around accreditation switching is compounded by the provision directing the Secretary to “not determine the cause of having multiple accrediting agencies to be unreasonable due to a withdrawal, revocation, other termination of accreditation, probation or equivalent, show cause order, or suspension order.”2 This means that the Secretary will not consider an institution seeking multiple accreditation while sanctioned by its current accreditor to be evading accountability. Such a provision incentivizes institutions to pursue or maintain multiple accreditation to protect against a loss of accreditation and eligibility for federal funds. This provision therefore puts students and taxpayer dollars at risk by allowing colleges who have rightfully been sanctioned for not meeting quality standards to continue receiving federal funding.

We urge the Department to reinstate the current regulations to maintain critical guardrails for students and to remain good stewards of taxpayer funds. The current regulation remains in line with Congressional intent and will ensure that the Department gives proper scrutiny to institutions attempting to evade accountability or sanctions by switching accreditors.

Conclusion

As the Department joins its counterparts across the executive branch of this administration in taking drastic steps to exert its influence within higher education, the proposed rule contains several policies which go against the statutory intent meant to give institutions and accreditors independence in setting and enforcing standards and protection against undue political influence. These changes set a dangerous precedent by forcing accreditors and, in turn, institutions, to answer to the political whims of the executive branch. Simultaneously, the provisions around new accrediting agencies and institutions’ switching of accreditors will dilute higher education with inexperienced or hyper-ideological accreditors, incentivizing established accreditors to relax their standards and grant more opportunities for low-quality institutions and programs to escape accountability. Ultimately, taxpayer dollars will continue to flow to institutions which saddle students with extreme debt and worthless degrees.

In light of these concerns, we urge you to rescind the elements of the proposed rule which increase executive-branch involvement and influence in higher-education accreditation and invite lower-quality, inexperienced, and potentially unscrupulous actors to the market of millions in taxpayer dollars.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-sens-schiff-ricketts-unveil-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-endangered-species-recover-faster/,"NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Ricketts Unveil Bipartisan Legislation to Help Endangered Species Recover Faster",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Chairman of the Senate EPW Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, are unveiling bipartisan legislation to improve and modernize the implementation of the Endangered Species Act’s (ESA) species recovery efforts – aiming to make conservation efforts more efficient and standardized, encourage conservation efforts by private landowners, and help endangered species reach recovery.

“Protecting the thousands of endangered species and strengthening recovery efforts must be a bipartisan cause – it is a shared responsibility that takes all of us. My new legislation with Senator Ricketts updates the Endangered Species Act to ensure policies that will help species on the verge of extinction survive and recover are implemented efficiently, based on science, and in partnership with private landowners and states. We must all do our part to leave the world a better place than we found it,” said Senator Schiff.

“Fifty-three years ago, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to recover threatened and endangered species. Instead, it has created regulatory barriers that make recovery efforts more difficult. The Improving Species Recovery Act would cut burdensome red tape and modernize the recovery process. It would empower local experts with the resources and certainty they need to de-list species. As Governor, I led boots-on-the-ground efforts to protect our wildlife in Nebraska. This bill would ensure states and private landowners can continue that work more efficiently and effectively,” said Senator Ricketts.

The Improving Species Recovery Act modernizes and enhances the recovery framework under the ESA through voluntary partnerships and relationships with private landowners, conservation milestones, clear and standardized demographic metrics, automating its processes with digital technology, and promoting greater collaboration with the states. A centerpiece of the bill is the establishment of conservation milestones to track the progress of species and ensure the government is properly collaborating with private landowners and taking their conservation actions into account.

This legislation came about after the Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee’s hearing, “Challenges and Opportunities with Implementing the Endangered Species Act,” where the Senators discussed opportunities to strengthen efforts in promoting species’ recovery. All three hearing witnesses, including both Majority and Minority witnesses, have endorsed the bill, including Defenders of Wildlife, Property and Environment Research Center, and Riley Consulting LLC.

The Improving Species Recovery Act would:

Incentivize Voluntary Conservation: Encourages private landowners and states to protect species early by establishing clear standards for pre-listing conservation and defining how voluntary efforts influence listing and delisting decisions.

Reward Progress with Regulatory Relief: Introduces measurable “conservation milestones” that, once achieved, grant landowners and agencies greater regulatory flexibility and priority access to conservation funding.

Improve Data and Transparency: Mandates establishing a clear “baseline status” for species at the time of listing to reduce the risk of painful litigation and requires public reporting every three years to track recovery progress, species trends, and data gaps.

Modernize Permitting Approvals: Directs FWS to expand digital tools (like IPaC) and explore AI technology to automate and fast-track interagency consultation and review processes while remaining in compliance with the law.

“The Improving Species Recovery Act represents a major step forward for bipartisan improvements to the Endangered Species Act to boost species recovery. Setting clear recovery benchmarks and rewarding progress with gradual regulatory relief is a practical solution to make the ESA work better for wildlife, states, and private landowners. We’re grateful to Senators Schiff and Ricketts for working across the aisle to advance meaningful reforms to recover more species,” said Jonathan Wood, Vice President of Law and Policy, Property and Environment Research Center (PERC).

“We applaud Senators Schiff and Ricketts’ effort to pass a thoughtful, bipartisan bill to strengthen the implementation of theEndangered Species Act — our nation’s most effective conservation law responsible for recovering 99% of the species under its protection since its inception,” said Andrew Bowman, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. “This legislation is another step forward for endangered species conservation and a model for cross-party collaboration. We hope to see this trend continue.”

Background: Schiff continues to work with his colleagues to push for greater resources for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to protect and recover threatened and endangered species and address recent staffing challenges.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

A section-by-section for the legislation is available here.

A one-pager for the legislation is available here.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/city-san-jose-and-monterey-county-advance-protections-preventing-ice-facility,City of San José and Monterey County Advance Protections Preventing ICE Facility Construction,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sam T. Liccardo,L000607,liccardo.house.gov,liccardo,https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"San José, CA – Today, several members of Congress representing our region– U.S. Representatives Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Jimmy Panetta(CA-19)– congratulated the City of San José and Monterey County for adopting interim ordinances that temporarily restrict the development of ICE detention facilities within their jurisdiction.

“Local communities cannot control ICE rogue agents, but federal courts have upheld the authority of cities and towns to determine how and where DHS can build the infrastructure that enables this cruelty and chaos, namely ICE detention centers and processing facilities,” said Liccardo. “With a federal judge blocking a potential ICE facility at Gilroy, we expect the Department of Homeland Security will accelerate its search for new sites. By advancing these ordinances, the City of San José and Monterey County will make it far more difficult for DHS to convert large industrial and commercial sites for ICE detention centers, supporting our communities’ safety and public health. Thank you to Mayor Matt Mahan and the San José City Council in San José, along with Supervisor Luis Alejo, Board Chair Wendy Root Askew, and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for leading by example, and for expanding this regional effort to protect our communities.”

Liccardo, who represents portions of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, released a toolkit in August to help local governments use zoning laws and building regulations to mitigate the expansion of ICE detention facilities and safeguard community health and safety. San Mateo County, and Napa County have already advanced such ordinances. Several other city councils have now directed their staff to begin this process, and several more ordinance changes are in the pipeline.

“The Administration’s overreaching mass deportation policy has led to chaos in many communities and pain in our local economies,” said Rep. Panetta. “Detention centers are an extension of that cruel policy, and I applaud Monterey County and the City of San José for their leadership in moving to temporarily block this Administration from establishing these types of facilities. We must continue to work together at every level of government to take these types of bold actions to restore accountability, ensure our economic vitality, and keep our communities safe.”

""Earlier this year, I introduced amendments that would block funding for the construction of new ICE detention facilities, but Republicans voted no and wrote a blank check. I’m thankful that our local leaders in San José and Monterey County have stepped up and implemented these temporary moratoriums on new detention centers,” said Rep. Lofgren. “I'm also thankful for Sam Liccardo's leadership on this issue, which he understands well as a former Mayor. We need to continue overseeing conditions at the existing facilities, and we need to keep fighting against this Administration’s mass deportation agenda, which is wreaking havoc on our communities.""

“We’re grabbing the bull by its horns,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “These facilities don’t exist in our region – and we’re not going to wait until after they are built to understand the impacts. I want to thank my Council colleagues for joining me in pushing this moratorium forward and Congressmember Liccardo for leaning in and helping unite each city in the pursuit of public safety and health.”

“An ICE detention center in our region would intimidate immigrant workers and their families, spreading fear and anxiety far beyond its walls. It would threaten the dignity of our communities and the values we share across the Central Coast and Bay Area. Our immigrant neighbors are our family members, coworkers, and friends. We will stand up for them,” said Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo. ""On May 19, Monterey County became the first county government to vote unanimously to join the County of Santa Clara in opposing the proposed ICE detention facility in Gilroy. We knew then that the fear it would spread would not stop at the county line. We later led an effort to file an amicus brief in that federal litigation with 25 other local governments.”

Because county ordinances only govern unincorporated land, Liccardo encourages cities and towns throughout the region to adopt their own protections. Local leaders interested in introducing protections can utilize Liccardo’s ordinance toolkit call his office at 408-245-2339 with questions.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-passing-leona-bridges,Pelosi Statement on the Passing of Leona Bridges,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the passing of San Francisco public servant Leona Bridges.

""Leona Bridges was a devoted public servant and dear friend whose life was a blessing to San Francisco. From her work serving the public on San Francisco’s retirement board to supporting students at San Francisco State, Leona leaves an historic legacy of service that lives on in the countless lives she enriched.

""I was proud to recommend Leona to President Biden for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and appoint her to the California Democratic Party Central Committee. Wherever there was a need, Leona and her beloved Deltas were there.

""May it be a comfort to her family that so many mourn with them and are praying for them at this sad time.”",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/peters-demands-answers-for-afghan-allies-and-military-families-stranded-abroad,Peters Demands Answers for Afghan Allies and Military Families Stranded Abroad,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Scott H. Peters,P000608,scottpeters.house.gov,scottpeters,https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) led 19 Members of the House and Senate on a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging the Administration to reunite the families of U.S. service members with their loved ones stranded overseas, and to reconnect Afghans with immediate family already lawfully in the United States. This comes days after two Afghan nationals arrived safely in the United States on September 22nd through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program under an exception to current policy.

“This decision shows that the process to exempt certain migrants from both entry restrictions on foreign nationals as well as refugee resettlement works when leaders choose to use it,” the Members wrote. They highlighted that nearly 3,000 immediate family members of U.S. service members and veterans, including spouses, children, and parents of Americans who have worn this country's uniform, remain stranded overseas. Roughly 150 of them are at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, alongside more than 1,000 Afghan allies and family members who were vetted by the U.S. government and flown there on U.S. government aircraft.

""No service member should have to choose between serving this country and being reunited with their family,"" the Members wrote.

The Members called on the Departments to prioritize immediate family members of U.S. service members and veterans for exemption determinations and refugee processing, beginning with those at Camp As Sayliyah. The Members also urged the Administration to prioritize family reunification cases, including Afghans whose spouses, parents, or children are lawfully in the United States, and to name them as refugees so these families no longer depend on one-off exceptions.

""This week, your Departments showed what is possible,” the Members wrote. “The families of the men and women who serve this nation, and the Afghans who stood beside them, deserve the same decision.”

The letter was also signed by Reps André Carson (IN-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), J. Correa (CA-46), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Mike Levin (CA-49), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Norma Torres (CA-35), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), as well as by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

Read the full letter here.

Background:

San Diego has served as a primary hub for incoming Afghan refugees, with nearly 5,000 resettling in the region. Rep. Peters has been a staunch advocate for the safe relocation, protection, and legal adjustment of Afghan wartime allies who served alongside U.S. forces. He is a cosponsor of the Enduring Welcome Act to codify and permanently authorize the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) within the State Department. He also previously led the Afghan Adjustment Act, which aids in resettling Afghans and their families who supported U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan.

In February, Rep. Peters attended a shadow hearing where he highlighted the consequences of the Trump administration's decisions to freeze the U.S. refugee admissions program, eliminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans. In July, led a congressional delegation in a virtual town hall with Afghan allies stranded at the Camp As Sayliyah facility in Doha.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/joint-statement-congressman-brad-sherman-and-congresswoman-judy-chu-0,Joint statement from Congressman Brad Sherman and Congresswoman Judy Chu on Talks with North Korea,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Brad Sherman,S000344,sherman.house.gov,sherman,https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 29th, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) issued the following statement:

“We welcome President Trump’s recent efforts to restart talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and – despite North Korea’s rebuff – believe that serious dialogue and diplomacy are our most effective tools for protecting US national security interests in the region, addressing nuclear proliferation concerns, and achieving a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula.

We sincerely hope that President Trump will direct the State Department to take steps to lay a foundation for successful, meaningful discussions with North Korea. Those steps could include revisiting the ban on U.S. citizen travel to North Korea; pursuing a formal treaty, legally ending the Korean War; and starting negotiations with North Korea to establish liaison offices in each country.

These actions would lay the groundwork for a productive and successful summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un and advancement of US interests.”

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-torres-calls-for-immediate-action-after-california-is-left-out-of-federal-manufacturing-funding-for-second-year-in-a-row,Congresswoman Torres Calls for Immediate Action After California is Left Out of Federal Manufacturing Funding for Second Year in a Row,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"The Manufacturing Extension and Partnership program helps small and medium-sized manufacturers strengthen supply chains, expand domestic production, and train workers for high-skilled, good-paying jobs

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and longtime advocate for manufacturing jobs in the Inland Empire, called on the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to immediately restore California’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center after the state was left without federal MEP funding for the second year in a row.

MEP centers play a critical role in helping manufacturers secure their supply chains, expand connections with domestic suppliers, and develop their workforces by creating good-paying, high skill jobs. California has not had an active MEP Center since fall 2025. NIST’s choice to leave out California yet again, despite numerous applicants, means that the largest manufacturing state in the nation and the world’s 4th largest economy will now go more than two years without the expertise, support, and guidance that MEP centers and their networks provide.

On September 15, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded more than $30 million to support MEP centers in 11 states and Puerto Rico as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 MEP Center State Competition. At that time, California and Alaska were the only eligible states where no selection was made. NIST’s July funding opportunity anticipated up to $15.6 million annually for a California MEP Center. Now, more than a year later, California’s manufacturers are again being ignored by the Trump Administration.

“California manufacturers should not have to wait another year for resources that businesses across the country are already receiving,” said Congresswoman Torres. “I have repeatedly called for the Department of Commerce to restore California’s MEP Center because I know how important these resources are to manufacturers in the Inland Empire and across our state. Every month of delay means missed opportunities to help small and midsize businesses adopt new technology, strengthen our supply chains, create jobs, and compete in a rapidly changing global economy. This delay cannot become the new normal. The Department of Commerce must work with California stakeholders and ensure a strong MEP Center is restored as quickly as possible. As the largest manufacturing state in the nation, supporting American manufacturing means supporting California manufacturing.”

Earlier this year, Torres led members of the California Congressional delegation in encouraging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to restore California’s MEP Center after the state was left out of a December 2025 MEP Center funding opportunity. The lawmakers warned that leaving California without an MEP center would deny manufacturers access to technical assistance and resources that help strengthen domestic production and workforce development.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Torres has pushed for strong funding and safeguards for the MEP program, and is a longtime supporter of the program, including getting her bill, the National Supply Chain Database Act, signed into law as part of the CHIPS and Science Act . NIST’s latest decision to leave out California does not comply with the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-74) signed into law in January 2026, which directed the Department to fund the MEP at fiscal year 2024 levels, and to “rapidly execute funding competitions” in order to minimize “the periods of time when no MEP Center is active in any State or Puerto Rico.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-duckworth-in-renewed-push-to-prevent-police-involved-deaths/,Padilla Joins Duckworth in Renewed Push to Prevent Police-Involved Deaths,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in reintroducing the Police Training and Independent Review Act,legislation that would help prevent police-involved deaths and encourage independent, impartial investigations into law enforcement officials’ use of deadly force.

“Communities across California cannot feel safe if they cannot trust that law enforcement officers will be held accountable when they use deadly force,” said Senator Padilla. “Police-involved deaths are avoidable, and we can help prevent these tragedies with improved training, impartial investigations, and increased oversight. This bill will help restore accountability into policing and provide justice for the communities and families who have been impacted by the use of deadly force.”

“From Chicago to Louisville or anywhere in America, we cannot allow ourselves to accept that Black teenagers, men and women are still being unjustly executed at the hands of law enforcement without judge or jury,” said Senator Duckworth. The death of Laquan McDonald—an Illinoisan teen who was shot and killed 12 years ago at the hands of a Chicago Police Department officer with a recorded history of excessive force—“was preventable, and Congress still has yet to do enough to ensure tragedies like his never happen again. In honor of Laquan’s 29th heavenly birthday, I’m proud to lead Senate Democrats in reintroducing this overdue legislation that would help save lives and restore trust between law enforcement and local communities by increasing resources for training to help prevent such incidents, while promoting objective and independent investigations of police-involved uses of deadly force. Families like Laquan McDonald’s that have experienced heartbreak are no less deserving of justice than any other family. It’s time our country acts to ensure accountability within our law enforcement agencies and provide justice to those who have lost loved ones.”

Police in the United States kill more than 1,000 people each year, with some reports estimating around 195 deaths per year in California alone. Yet, fewer than 3% of those killings result in an officer being charged with a crime. Throughout most of the country, the officer’s own department investigates a police killing while a local prosecutor decides whether to bring charges, an inherent conflict of interest this legislation is designed to eliminate.

Specifically, the bill would:

Create financial incentives for states to require training for law enforcement officials on fair and impartial policing and best practices for working with members of the community who are disabled and have mental illnesses. Eligible institutions include:

The use of an independent agency, civilian review board or outside law enforcement department, such as the State Police, responsible for independently investigating and prosecuting all officer use of force allegations.

The appointment of the State Attorney General, or a special prosecutor overseen by the State Attorney General, responsible for conducting the criminal investigation and prosecution.

The use of an independent prosecutor, who does not reside or work in the same county as the county where the officer’s use of force was committed.

Encourage communities to use independent prosecutors to investigate law enforcement officials’ use of deadly force.

Authorize the U.S. Attorney General to award grants to states that require an independent investigation and, if warranted, prosecution in cases where one or more of the alleged offenses result in death or serious bodily harm.

In addition to Padilla, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-scott-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-bridge-gap-in-veteran-services/,"Padilla, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bridge Gap in Veteran Services",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced the Building Readiness and Integration for Dependents Going to Civilian Environments (BRIDGE) Act of 2026, legislation to support military and veteran families during the transition from military to civilian life. This bill would establish a pilot program focused on practical tools, peer support, and community engagement to improve emotional, social, and financial outcomes for transitioning families.

Thousands of servicemembers leave the Armed Forces and face significant challenges navigating employment, health care, education, benefits, and community reintegration. While the joint interagency Transition Assistance Program provides important pre-separation services, many military families still struggle to access personalized and coordinated support during this major life transition. This bill would establish a Department of Defense (DoD) pilot program to provide support through community connections and additional resources to assist servicemembers and their families. This legislation addresses the gap by providing whole-family support, building community connections, reducing isolation, and equipping families with the tools to thrive during and after the transition.

“For too long, the servicemembers and their families have had to navigate the transition from military to civilian life without the resources needed to thrive,” said Senator Padilla. “We must do more to ensure that military families have the support they need after they leave active duty. Our bipartisan BRIDGE Act would create a pilot program to help us prioritize programs that focus on bridging the gap in services for veterans and military families.”

“South Carolina is blessed to be home to thousands of our nation’s heroes,” said Senator Scott. “The men and women of the Armed Forces – and their families who have sacrificed alongside them – have earned the best possible support as they transition to civilian life. The BRIDGE Act empowers local communities to provide military families with tailored assistance, because the best solutions are often built closest to home.”

The bill is endorsed by Blue Star Families, Wounded Warrior Project, American Legion, National Military Family Association (NMFA), Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

“Our 2025 Military Family Lifestyle Survey found that 58% of respondents described their transition from military to civilian life as ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult,’” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “The BRIDGE Act recognizes that successful transition requires personalized, whole-family support that helps families build long-term stability, resilience, and connection as they move into civilian life. We are grateful to Sens. Padilla (D-CA) and Scott (R-S.C.) for championing this legislation and for their continued leadership in support of military and veteran families.”

“The BRIDGE Act recognizes that transitioning from military service is a major life change for both Service members and their families,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President for Government and Community Relations for Wounded Warrior Project. “By expanding access to personalized, community-based transition support, this pilot program helps address critical gaps in employment, wellness, and family readiness as military families move into civilian life. Wounded Warrior Project appreciates Alex Padilla’s leadership and urges Congress to advance the BRIDGE Act and help strengthen the Transition Assistance Program for future generations of Service members and their families.”

Specifically, the legislation would strengthen transition support by:

Establishing a three-year DoD pilot program at four military installations to provide community-based, whole-family transition support for servicemembers and families transitioning to civilian life.

Providing personalized services for servicemembers within one year of separation and their families, including peer support, spouse employment assistance, skills training, benefits navigation, and dedicated transition coordinators to build individualized transition plans.

Require DoD and Veterans Affairs (VA) coordination, prioritizing servicemembers facing involuntary or accelerated separations, and mandating tracking of employment, financial stability, and family wellbeing outcomes with a final report to Congress.

Padilla has consistently advocated for veterans and their families to receive the support they deserve. In May, Padilla announced more than $110 million in federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support updates at Veterans Home in Yountville – which serves the needs of nearly 1,000 veterans and their families. In March, as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the Senate passed Padilla’s bipartisan Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA) to ensure that veterans experiencing homelessness and receiving disability payments maintain access to crucial housing support.

In 2024, Padilla co-sponsored a resolution to designate November 17, 2024, as “National Warrior Call Day” and recognize the importance of connecting warriors in the United States to support structures necessary to transition from the battlefield, especially peer-to-peer connection. In 2023, Padilla sat down with local veterans and leadership at the Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Center for a roundtable discussion on mental health and a walk-and-talk tour of the facility. Also that year, he introduced legislation to help improve access to mental health care for the children of military families by establishing routine mental health and well-being checkups in military schools.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-padilla-bill-to-help-prevent-catastrophic-wildfires-increase-use-of-prescribed-fire/,"Senate Unanimously Passes Padilla Bill to Help Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires, Increase Use of Prescribed Fire",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA) of 2026, a bipartisan bill to make it easier for states and communities to use prescribe fire to reduce hazardous fuel and prevent catastrophic wildfires. The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“California is no stranger to devastating wildfires — and we cannot afford to wait until the next fire starts to take action. We must ensure that communities across the state and country have the necessary resources to proactively prevent and mitigate these disasters,” said Senator Padilla. “Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools we have to confront the growing impacts of the wildfire crisis. I am proud to see the Senate unanimously pass our bipartisan bill to help communities protect their land as they face growing threats of wildfires.”

WEPA would make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. The bill also promotes the efficient use of state air quality resources and provides certainty that states will not be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires.

Specifically, WEPA would:

Make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;

Provide certainty that states won’t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;

Promote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and

Make our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.

In addition to Padilla, WEPA was introduced with Senators John Curtis (R-Utah), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).

Padilla took to the Senate floor to advocate for the bill, highlighting the urgent need to make it easier for communities to use prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions and reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.

“Western states, including Oregon, California, and others, are confronting a crisis of wildfires that aren’t just growing larger and larger every year, but more destructive every year, and emitting massive amounts of toxic smoke,” said Senator Padilla. “Now, there’s no silver bullet for solving the wildfire crisis, but we know that prescribed fires — experience tells us and the data tells us — prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools in reducing hazardous fuels and preventing catastrophic wildfires.”

Earlier this month, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on WEPA. The bill also advanced out of committee unanimously.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Southern California fires, Padilla has introduced more than a dozen bills to help prevent and respond to future wildfires. Last year, he and Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. Last January, Padilla introduced a suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, the Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act, and the Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act. On the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) announced bipartisan legislation to establish a new grant program to help local communities defend themselves from the growing danger of wildfires.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.

Transcript of Padilla’s remarks is available below:

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I’m proud to join our colleagues from Utah and Oregon in bringing up this bill. I can’t overstate both the importance and the urgency of the Wildfire Emmission Prevention Act, which is a result of within a year of bipartisan negotiations and a measure that recently passed unanimously out of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

As my colleague from Oregon has begun to paint the picture. Western states, including Oregon, California, and others, are confronting a crisis of wildfires that aren’t just growing larger and larger every year, but more destructive every year, and emitting massive amounts of toxic smoke.

Now, there’s no silver bullet for solving the wildfire crisis, but we know that prescribed fires — experience tells us and the data tells us — prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools in reducing hazardous fuels and preventing catastrophic wildfires.

Will they continue to happen? Fires? Yes, but if we can prevent them, that’s ideal — or at least mitigates their size, their scope and the damage that they cause, however we can.

But the problem that brings us to this measure, is that while the EPA regulations have allowed prescribed fires to qualify as exceptional events since 2016, the agency has never actually approved one, leaving states worried that using this critical tool, this provenly effective tool, to protect communities could jeopardize their air quality goals. Right? By trying to do good and prevent fires or mitigate fires from a public safety standpoint, you’re penalized on the air quality side of things.

So, this bill creates a narrow, targeted pathway specifically for prescribed fire, while preserving existing air quality standards for other exceptional events.

I want to thank my colleagues from Utah and Oregon for their partnership in this important bill, and kudos to Chairwoman Capito and Ranking Member Whitehouse on the committee who helped craft this measure as well. Thank you, Mr. President.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schiff-padilla-secure-4-million-for-glassy-winged-sharpshooter-response-activities/,"NEWS: Schiff, Padilla Secure $4 Million for Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Response Activities",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) announced that they secured $4 million in emergency federal funding to address the growing threat posed by the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) in California. In June, Padilla and Schiff, along with U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04) and David Valadao (D-Calif.-22), REQUESTED THIS EMERGENCY FUNDING to support efforts to contain and eradicate the pest, which spreads Pierce’s Disease (PD) and threatens many critical agricultural industries in California, including wine grapes and table grapes.

“California’s wine industry provides more than a million jobs and is crucial to our national economy,” said Senator Schiff. “This USDA funding is essential to aid grape growers during this time of need, and I’ll keep fighting for more resources to protect California’s agricultural industries.”

“With the growing threat of invasive pests like the glassy-winged sharpshooter, we are working to ensure California has access to federal resources to quickly respond and protect our crops,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Our state’s growers have already felt the impact of these pests. I’m proud to have quickly secured this federal funding with my colleagues to ensure California’s agriculture and wine industries can continue to thrive.”

This funding will allow the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to expand trace-forward investigations, increase inspections, destroy infested materials, and strengthen trapping and visual surveys at high-risk locations associated with recent GWSS-infested plant shipments. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works with the CDFA and county agricultural commissioners through a long-standing cooperative program to manage and contain GWSS in California.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/city-san-jose-and-monterey-county-advance-protections-restricting-ice-facility,City of San José and Monterey County Advance Protections Restricting ICE Facility Construction,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sam T. Liccardo,L000607,liccardo.house.gov,liccardo,https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"San José, CA – Today, several members of Congress representing our region– U.S. Representatives Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Jimmy Panetta(CA-19)– congratulated the City of San José and Monterey County for adopting interim ordinances that temporarily restrict the development of ICE detention facilities within their jurisdiction.

“Local communities cannot control ICE rogue agents, but federal courts have upheld the authority of cities and towns to determine how and where DHS can build the infrastructure that enables this cruelty and chaos, namely ICE detention centers and processing facilities,” said Liccardo. “With a federal judge blocking a potential ICE facility at Gilroy, we expect the Department of Homeland Security will accelerate its search for new sites. By advancing these ordinances, the City of San José and Monterey County will make it far more difficult for DHS to convert large industrial and commercial sites for ICE detention centers, supporting our communities’ safety and public health. Thank you to Mayor Matt Mahan and the San José City Council in San José, along with Supervisor Luis Alejo, Board Chair Wendy Root Askew, and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for leading by example, and for expanding this regional effort to protect our communities.”

Liccardo, who represents portions of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, released a toolkit in August to help local governments use zoning laws and building regulations to mitigate the expansion of ICE detention facilities and safeguard community health and safety. San Mateo County, and Napa County have already advanced such ordinances. Several other city councils have now directed their staff to begin this process, and several more ordinance changes are in the pipeline.

“The Administration’s overreaching mass deportation policy has led to chaos in many communities and pain in our local economies,” said Rep. Panetta. “Detention centers are an extension of that cruel policy, and I applaud Monterey County and the City of San José for their leadership in moving to temporarily block this Administration from establishing these types of facilities. We must continue to work together at every level of government to take these types of bold actions to restore accountability, ensure our economic vitality, and keep our communities safe.”

""Earlier this year, I introduced amendments that would block funding for the construction of new ICE detention facilities, but Republicans voted no and wrote a blank check. I’m thankful that our local leaders in San José and Monterey County have stepped up and implemented these temporary moratoriums on new detention centers,” said Rep. Lofgren. “I'm also thankful for Sam Liccardo's leadership on this issue, which he understands well as a former Mayor. We need to continue overseeing conditions at the existing facilities, and we need to keep fighting against this Administration’s mass deportation agenda, which is wreaking havoc on our communities.""

“We’re grabbing the bull by its horns,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “These facilities don’t exist in our region – and we’re not going to wait until after they are built to understand the impacts. I want to thank my Council colleagues for joining me in pushing this moratorium forward and Congressmember Liccardo for leaning in and helping unite each city in the pursuit of public safety and health.”

“An ICE detention center in our region would intimidate immigrant workers and their families, spreading fear and anxiety far beyond its walls. It would threaten the dignity of our communities and the values we share across the Central Coast and Bay Area. Our immigrant neighbors are our family members, coworkers, and friends. We will stand up for them,” said Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo. ""On May 19, Monterey County became the first county government to vote unanimously to join the County of Santa Clara in opposing the proposed ICE detention facility in Gilroy. We knew then that the fear it would spread would not stop at the county line. We later led an effort to file an amicus brief in that federal litigation with 25 other local governments.""

“Our community has expressed real fear about what a detention facility could mean for their families and their future. Today’s action is about listening to those concerns, protecting the communities we serve, and providing reassurance that their voices matter. Our residents deserve to feel safe, secure, and heard in the place they call home,” said Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez.

Because county ordinances only govern unincorporated land, Liccardo encourages cities and towns throughout the region to adopt their own protections. Local leaders interested in introducing protections can utilize Liccardo’s ordinance toolkit call his office at 408-245-2339 with questions.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-lawmakers-urge-netanyahu-contain-settler-violence-protect,"Rep. Panetta, Lawmakers Urge Netanyahu to Contain Settler Violence & Protect Communities in the West Bank",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Reps. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Eugene Vindman (VA-07) in sending a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging his government to take immediate steps to contain settler violence in the West Bank.

“We write with urgent concern regarding the growing outbreak of extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including violence that has killed and threatened American citizens,” wrote the lawmakers. “We do so out of concern for Israel’s long-term security as well as for the safety of Palestinians. Continued settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank will harm that security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

“Amidst this violence, we are especially concerned for the safety of American citizens in the West Bank,” continued the lawmakers. “Nine American citizens have been killed in the West Bank since January 2022. To date, no one has been held accountable for any of these nine deaths. Many of us have heard directly from constituents, including American citizens who have themselves been threatened or harassed by settlers without cause.”

“Restoring the rule of law in the West Bank serves the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike,” concluded the lawmakers. “The safety of our constituents matters to us as the safety of your citizens matters to you. We also hope to see conditions improve so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live alongside one another without fear of terrorism or lawless violence.”

In the letter, the lawmakers requested that the Israeli government take the following actions to uphold the rule of law and end the violence in the West Bank:

Instruct the Israel Police and the Israel Defense Forces to defend Palestinian communities in the West Bank when they come under attack, and to apply that standard consistently, whoever the attackers are.

Establish a transparent and credible mechanism to investigate and prosecute violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans, and complete the pending investigations into the deaths of the nine American citizens killed in the West Bank since January 2022.

Halt further settlement approvals and continue to take steps to remove illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu:

We write with urgent concern regarding the growing outbreak of extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including violence that has killed and threatened American citizens. As members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we have been paying close attention to the security situation in the region, and write to urge you to take steps to contain West Bank violence and hold perpetrators accountable. We do so out of concern for Israel’s long-term security as well as for the safety of Palestinians. Continued settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank will harm that security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Since the beginning of your government in 2022, settler violence in the West Bank has grown at a rapid pace. The number of attacks by Israeli settlers, including those against Palestinians and Israeli security forces, rose 27% in 2025, according to data recorded by the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency. On top of this significant increase, serious incidents of settler violence rose 63% during the first half of 2026, as compared to the same period in 2025. According to the United Nations, 1,122 Palestinians, including both combatants and civilians, were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between October 7, 2023 and July 24, 2026, the vast majority of them by Israeli forces. That is roughly the same number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank during the preceding eighteen years, from 2005 through 2022. Since the beginning of 2023, 67 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in the West Bank. Since January of 2023, settler violence has displaced 107 communities in the West Bank, affecting approximately 6,000 Palestinians.

Israeli settler attacks have made daily life unsafe for Palestinians across large parts of the West Bank. Palestinian schools have been destroyed, Palestinian farmers have described being beaten and driven from land that Israeli settlers are trying to seize, and many Palestinian families have had their movements restricted or fences built around their homes by settlers. Since the beginning of 2026, the United Nations has documented more than 1,380 settler-related incidents across over 250 Palestinian communities, an average of about 6.6 per day.

Amidst this violence, we are especially concerned for the safety of American citizens in the West Bank. On August 29, 2026, masked Israeli settlers attacked an NBC News team and the Palestinian woman they were interviewing in the village of Jalud. Three crew members and the woman were beaten with sticks and struck with rocks, and an NBC correspondent was treated at a clinic. Nine American citizens have been killed in the West Bank since January 2022. To date, no one has been held accountable for any of these nine deaths. Many of us have heard directly from constituents, including American citizens who have themselves been threatened or harassed by settlers without cause.

This lack of accountability has come alongside continued settlement expansion. In March 2026, your government approved approximately 50 million shekels for illegal outposts, funding that has been used for all-terrain vehicles, night-vision goggles, and drones. Israeli soldiers have reportedly stood by during settler attacks without intervening, and in some cases are reported to have taken part in them. Accountability remains rare. According to the Israeli organization Yesh Din, 93.6% of all investigation files they monitor concerning ideologically motivated offenses committed by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank (“settler violence”) opened by the Israel Police since 2005 ended without an indictment.

As you know, the 20-point peace plan, which your government agreed to, includes language stating that “While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform programme is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.” Continued violence against Palestinians in the West Bank undermines a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, makes it far more difficult to reform the Palestinian Authority, and undermines the integrity and efficacy of the 20-point peace plan as a whole.

Condemnation of the attacks in the villages of Qusra and Jalud is an important first step, but it must be matched by action, and the description of those responsible as a “handful of rioters” is difficult to square with the pattern that Israel’s own former security leadership has documented. We welcome news of your order that some settler outposts in the West Bank be dismantled, and ask that your government carry out these orders quickly and commit to dismantling all illegal outposts and settlements. In June 2026, more than 200 prominent Israelis wrote to your government urging action to address violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The signatories included two former prime ministers, more than three dozen retired generals, and the former heads of Israel’s foreign and domestic intelligence services. We urge you to listen to their and our concerns and to take action to end West Bank violence. Failure to do so risks further destabilization and violence in the West Bank, wider instability in the Middle East, and harm to the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Accordingly, we respectfully request that your government take the following steps:

1. Instruct the Israeli Police and the Israel Defense Forces to defend Palestinian communities in the West Bank when they come under attack, and to apply that standard consistently whoever the attackers are.

2. Establish a transparent and credible mechanism to investigate and prosecute violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans, and complete the pending investigations into the deaths of the nine American citizens killed in the West Bank since January 2022.

3. Halt further settlement approvals and continue to take steps to remove illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Restoring the rule of law in the West Bank serves the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike. The safety of our constituents matters to us as the safety of your citizens matters to you. We ask that your government ensure that Americans living in or visiting the Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank receive the security and the protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see conditions improve so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live alongside one another without fear of terrorism or lawless violence.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/watch-sen-schiff-calls-out-gop-attacks-on-jack-smith-refusal-to-acknowledge-trumps-conspiracies-on-ms-nows-all-in-with-chris-hayes/,"WATCH: Sen. Schiff Calls Out GOP Attacks on Jack Smith, Refusal to Acknowledge Trump’s Conspiracies on MS NOW’s All In with Chris Hayes",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined MS NOW’s All In with Chris Hayes and called out Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans’ repeated attacks on Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led investigations into the events of January 6, 2021, and the case involving classified documents being stored at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.

Schiff exposed Republicans’ refusal to acknowledge President Trump’s conspiracies relating to January 6 and Mar-a-Lago investigations during a Senate Judiciary hearing earlier today with Jack Smith. He also denounced Republicans for ignoring the Trump administration’s attempted indictments against Democratic Members of Congress.

At the hearing earlier today, Schiff pledged to make a motion to subpoena Volume II of Jack Smith’s report at the committee’s next meeting.

View the full interview here.

Key Excerpts:

On Republican’s attacks on Jack Smith’s investigations, Sen. Schmitt’s exchange:

They teach you in law school not to ask a question you don’t know the answer to when you’re cross-examining someone. I don’t always agree with that philosophy. Sometimes you have to take a risk and ask a question you don’t know the answer to, but you generally don’t want to accuse someone of perjury and call them a dirtbag if you don’t know your facts. That’s pretty basic, and the point where I knew they made a colossal screw up was after Schmitt had gone through his “You’re a dirtbag and you’re clearly concealing and boy have we got you you’re in trouble for perjury.” Right after that, I was sitting at the end of the dais because I’m the junior member, so therefore I was closest to Jack Smith, and he must have been given a copy of that poster board, so he actually got to look at it for the first time. And he turned to me, I think, because I was closest, and mouthed, “I can explain. I think I can explain this.” So, it wasn’t my turn, but I piped up anyway. Can we give the chance, give this witness a chance to explain now that he’s seen the document? And Amy Klobuchar took it from there, and she did a masterful job. And just watching that footage now of him at that game in Maryland is the icing on the cake. But I think it did something really important. You know, aside from the impact on Eric Schmitt, it showed just how over the top, and ill-considered, and ill-thought-out all of these heinous attacks of Jack Smith have been.

The others may not have blown up as spectacularly, but they’re equally meritless. This is a class act, a dedicated prosecutor, and what I found so interesting also through all of this is the Republicans have never contested the overwhelming evidence of Trump’s guilt on both of those charges, Mar-a-Lago and January 6th, because they can’t. Smith has made it clear he had proof beyond a reasonable doubt. We certainly saw a lot of that evidence in the January 6 hearings. They don’t contest any of it because they can’t. They want to attack Smith instead, and we saw that spectacularly blow up in their face today.

On refusing to call out President Trump’s conspiracy theories:

[…] And this is not the first time we’ve had a hearing of this nature. That is a hearing to try to discredit Smith’s investigation of Mar-a-Lago on January 6. We’ve had multiple hearings now. They never contest the facts of the president’s guilt. They don’t try to claim, oh, the president never pressured Georgia to find 11,780 votes that don’t exist because there’s a recording of him doing it. They don’t contest Trump telling his own Justice Department at the time when they rebutted all these false claims of fraud that Trump tells Justice just say the elections were corrupt and let the Republican congressmen do the rest. They don’t contest that. They don’t contest all the classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. They don’t contest his trying to hide that evidence. They don’t contest his trying to do away with the security footage while they’re trying to hide those boxes. They don’t contest any of that because they can’t. Instead, they vilify Jack Smith. They basically leak documents from the Justice Department, and the chairman calls it a whistleblower. But it’s just DOJ leaking documents before every hearing so that they can try to pretend they’re significant and take attention away from the facts.

On Republicans’ not calling out Trump’s attempted indictments against Democratic Members of Congress:

[…] And here they are, protesting with such indignation that Jack Smith sought these toll records, not the contents of calls, but the toll records, not because they were targets of an investigation, but because co-conspirators like Rudy Giuliani and the president were calling them as January 6 was going on. They take great umbrage at all of that, but their colleagues are the subject of a grand jury investigation, the Justice Department sought to indict them very much right in the target bullseye, and the grand jury says no, that’s total BS. Not a single grand juror goes along with the prosecutors, and these Republicans on the Judiciary Committee don’t say boo about it. They could care less about it. I mean, it is staggering. Can you imagine if there was an effort to indict one of them and a grand jury turned them down, the prosecutors down completely? What kind of hue and cry there would be? But this just shows the horrendous double standard.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/watch-sen-schiff-calls-out-gop-refusal-to-acknowledge-trump-conspiracies-pushes-committee-to-subpoena-volume-ii-report-at-jack-smith-hearing/,"WATCH: Sen. Schiff Calls Out GOP Refusal to Acknowledge Trump Conspiracies, Pushes Committee to Subpoena Volume II Report at Jack Smith Hearing",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called out Senate Republicans for their refusal to acknowledge President Trump’s conspiracies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led investigations into the events of January 6, 2021, and the case involving classified documents being stored at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.

Schiff pledged to make a motion to subpoena Volume II of Jack Smith’s report at the committee’s next meeting.

Schiff said “I’m going to make a motion at our next business meeting that calls for a subpoena, to subpoena your report. We should see it. The country should see it… They could’ve asked for your report. They don’t want to see your report. They don’t want the country to see your report… I hope we can let the country see your work product and see the release of the second volume of your report.”

Read the full transcript below:

Schiff: Mr. Smith thank you for coming to testify today. I’m sorry that you have been so villainized and attacked today. I want to point out though, what we’ve heard, and I’ve sat through almost every minute of this hearing. What we’ve heard and what we haven’t heard from my colleagues across the aisle, they have attacked you repeatedly, aggressively, inappropriately, scandalously, but none of them have contested what took place on this day. None of them had said there was no attack on January 6. None of them have tried to deny the assault on the police officers. None of them have even suggested the President wasn’t involved. None of them have contested any of these things. No, they have attacked you because they don’t want to address the facts. They don’t want to talk about this, they would rather attack you. And just to level set here, for all of the outrage of my colleagues over your requesting toll records because Rudy Giuliani and other co-conspirators were calling some of the members of this body, for all of the outrage over that, I should let you know, because you may not be aware of this, the Barr Justice Department sought toll records for members of Congress, not a peep from my colleagues about that, but that involved toll records of Democrats. That apparently was okay. That apparently, doesn’t violate Speech and Debate. And just to level set a little further, I want to tell you what my colleagues here have had to say about an attempt to indict two of their Senate colleagues and four of their House colleagues for making a video that said that the military does not have to carry out an illegal order. A plain statement of fact, law, and constitution. Not a peep about the fact that they were not just targeted, they were sought to be indicted. This Justice Department went before a grand jury and sought to indict them. And you’re probably familiar what happened in that grand jury, that is not a single grand juror would agree to return the indictment. Has that ever happened to you, Mr. Smith? Have you ever gone before a grand jury and had not a single grand juror refuse to return an indictment?

Smith: No.

Schiff: I was a prosecutor almost six years, I’ve never even heard of such a thing. But that, they don’t care about. That was Democrats, who the department sought to indict. So they don’t contest the facts of January 6. They don’t contest – and let me just go through a couple of facts. January 2, 2021, days before the election results were certified in Georgia, Trump calls the Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, and presses him to “find” 11,780 votes. Just enough votes to overtake Joe Biden by a single vote. What do my Republican colleagues have to say about that? Do they say, oh Trump never did that? Did you ever hear one of my colleagues make that claim today?

Smith: No.

Schiff: None of them denied the President called and pressured the Georgia Secretary to find votes that don’t exist? Did you hear any of them make that argument?

Smith: No.

Schiff: And of course that’s on tape, it’d be very difficult to contest that. He also said, “So what are we going to do here folks” – this is Trump on the phone – “I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes, give me a break.” Did you hear any of my Republican colleagues say that that never took place?

Smith: No.

Schiff: They don’t contest those facts. How about this with respect to the Mar-a-Lago – well actually, respect to January 6, Trump calls top DOJ officials, December 27, 2020, acting-Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, and in that 90-minute phone call Trump complains the election was stolen from him, even after DOJ officials repeatedly rebut his claims, and A.G. Rosen says, “understand the DOJ can’t and won’t snap its fingers and change the outcome of the election. It doesn’t work that way.” The President, Donald Trump, replies, “I don’t expect you to do that. Just say the election was corrupt. And leave the rest to me and the Republican Congressmen.” Did you hear any of my Republican colleagues contest those facts?

Smith: No.

Schiff: Did you hear any of them say, “oh Donald Trump never tried to pressure the Justice Department to make stuff up about the 2020 election,” did you hear them make that argument?

Smith: No.

Schiff: You’ve heard them attack you a lot, right?

Smith: I did, but I’m not really concerned about that. It’s much more important that the public servants who I work with, that we stop vilifying public servants.

Schiff: I agree with you completely. I’ve seen how they’ve been vilified – I heard Kash Patel, sitting where you’re sitting, make the plainly false argument that none of the agents who worked for you were fired for working on the investigation of Donald Trump. He actually made that claim. That is just, patently absurd. And there will be a time when he will face consequences for making claims like that under oath. But let me ask you this. For all of the hyperventilation we heard today on the other side of the aisle, if this committee really wanted to know the facts, for example, about the storage of all the Mar-a-Lago classified documents – can we see an image of the Mar-a-Lago documents? Wouldn’t they want to see Volume Two of your report, if they wanted to know the facts? Wouldn’t that report shed light on the facts of the President sequestering all these documents in the bathroom at Mar-a-Lago?

Smith: I want to make sure I am in compliance with Judge Cannon’s orders, so I’m not going to speak about anything that would even imply what’s in that report.

Schiff: Let me ask you about this procedurally then. The Justice Department prior to Donald Trump becoming President wanted Volume Two of your report released, did they not?

Smith: The Justice Department I believe released Volume One, that’s correct.

Schiff: I’m talking about Volume Two. They also wanted to release Volume Two, did they not?

Smith: You know, honestly, I submitted these reports under the special counsel regulations, and I left the Justice Department immediately thereafter.

Schiff: That was the position of the Department of Justice prior to the new crowd coming in under Donald Trump. The new crowd under Donald Trump, former criminal defense lawyers for Donald Trump, changed their position. They would no longer advocate for the release of your report. I would think, if our chairman and our Republican colleagues really wanted to get to the facts, they would want to see that report. The chairman and ranking member together have the power to subpoena that report. I’m going to make a motion at our next business meeting that calls for a subpoena, to subpoena your report. We should see it. The country should see it. Those cases have been dismissed. There is no prejudice to any ongoing prosecution. They want to see the facts, let’s show them the facts, but they don’t want to see the facts. They could’ve asked for your report. They don’t want to see your report. They don’t want the country to see your report. No, they want to come in here today and call you a dirtbag. Because that means they don’t have to confront any of the evidence you produced. And you made a point earlier that I want to underscore, because I sat on the January 6 committee. What made those hearings powerful, what made your investigation powerful, the reason grand jurors among others indicted the President is because the witnesses were almost all Republicans. It wasn’t a partisan thing. The witnesses spoke about the crimes the President committed. And, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would have the country believe that, well, because Donald Trump was indicted in two separate cases, something unprecedented in history, then you must believe that the prosecutions were improper. Well, that’s one explanation, it’s the wrong explanation. It could also be, this is the first President in history who has repeatedly broken the law and the first President ever to incite an insurrection in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power. It is the first President who has tried to obstruct an investigation into the withholding of boxes and boxes of classified materials.

So, I want to thank you again for your service to the country. I want to thank you for the service of every member of your team, on behalf of one representative of the federal government, I want to apologize for the deplorable treatment that your team has received from this Congress and from this government, for all of the death threats they’ve received, for the improper firing, for the burdens placed on their families. My colleagues talked about the stress on members having their toll records requested as witnesses, not even targets. Well, what about the death threats that your team is receiving, that you have received? And so I thank you for taking on this challenge. I thank you for your willingness to testify, your eagerness to testify. I hope that we can let the country see your work product and see the release of the second volume of your report. You can’t testify about that today because Judge Cannon doesn’t want you to. Her decisions have just bent over backwards to do service for the President. And because this committee doesn’t want you to. And this Justice Department won’t give you guidance about what you can even say today because they don’t want you to. They want you to have to fear they will come after you if you testify about the volumes of evidence you have acquired. So thank you for your service to the country, and I’m sorry you have been treated with such shabby, ad hominem attacks. You deserve better and so do the American people.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-chu-takano-meng-and-sen-hirono-recognize-asian-american-and-native,"Reps. Chu, Takano, Meng and Sen. Hirono Recognize Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Week",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41), and Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of CAPAC, introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week, from September 27 – October 3, 2026. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

This week honors the vital role of AANAPISIs in expanding access to quality higher education for American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students. Since its authorization under the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the AANAPISI program has provided grants to institutions with high populations of AANHPI students, helping colleges expand their capacity to serve all students. These institutions have played a crucial role in opening the door to higher education for minority students, especially those who are low-income or first-generation. Today, AANAPISIs enroll over 40 percent of all AANHPI undergraduate students in the United States, and award nearly half of all associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees attained by all AANHPI college students across the country.

This resolution comes days after the Trump Administration diverted an additional $235 million in federal funding that Congress had designated for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges (TCUs). Instead of increasing investment in HBCUs and TCUs, this Administration has chosen to take money and resources from schools serving historically underserved students, including AANAPISIs, Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (NHSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Congressional Tri-Caucus condemned the decision and urged the Administration to restore the funding Congress appropriated to support MSIs.

Last year, the Trump administration also recklessly decided to end Congressional-approved funding for MSIs, calling them unconstitutional. AANAPISIs alone have had over $23 million in annual grant funding terminated since the beginning of the Trump Administration, which will force many to gut support services for students and lay off staff. These cuts will destabilize the education of thousands of students and ultimately harm our nation's economic future.

“As a former community college professor, I’ve seen what happens when students get real support. They don’t just graduate, they can transform their families and their communities for generations. AANAPISIs make that possible for students who need it the most, including first generation, and low-income students of color, by breaking down barriers and making sure all students have an equal shot at higher education,” said Rep. Chu, CAPAC Chair Emerita. “That’s why the Trump administration’s decision to terminate MSI funding, and now redirect $235 million of it to HBCUs and tribal colleges, is so disappointing. Every MSI deserves full investment, but pitting them against each other isn’t the solution, it is a step backward. This AANAPISI Week, I remain committed to fighting for these institutions and for every student’s right to the education they deserve.”

“Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, their funding, and their success are vital to our nation’s future and competitiveness,” said Rep. Takano. “I am proud to represent the University of California, Riverside, which has held AANAPISI status since 2018, and to fight the Department of Education’s dismantling and weaponization of Minority Serving Institution grants. These programs make higher education attainable for students from diverse backgrounds, bringing more talent, expertise, and knowledge to our workforce.”

""Far too often, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are treated as a 'model minority'—a harmful stereotype that hides the educational barriers facing our diverse communities. That is why Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions are so important. For decades, they have expanded access to higher education and opened pathways to economic mobility for millions of underserved AANHPI students. I am proud to introduce this resolution with my CAPAC colleagues to recognize AANAPISI Week and fight back against the Trump administration's efforts to terminate federal funding for these institutions. We will not stop until the next generation of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders is more successful than the last,"" said Rep. Meng, Chair of CAPAC.

“In Hawaii and nationwide, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions help students thrive in the classroom and prepare them for success after graduation. As the Trump regime continues its ideological attacks on Minority-Serving Institutions, supporting AANAPISIs and the communities they serve is critical,” said Sen. Hirono. “By establishing AANAPISI week, this resolution celebrates diversity in education and recognizes these institutions and the services they provide.”

“During this AANAPISI Week, APAHE extends our deepest gratitude to CAPAC for their steadfast leadership in defending the federal AANAPISI designation amid ongoing efforts by the Department of Education to dismantle these critical programs. AANAPISIs are vital to educational equity and AA&NHPI student success, and we must aggressively defend this essential resource from being stripped away,” said Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, President, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE).

The full resolution text is available HERE.

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Ed Case (HI-01), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Lou Correa (CA-46), Danny Davis (IL-07), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (CNMI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Norma Torres (CA-35), Dina Titus (NV-01), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-padilla-schiff-california-colleagues-condemn-trump-administration-efforts-to-repeal-roadless-rule,"Huffman, Padilla, Schiff, California Colleagues Condemn Trump Administration Efforts to Repeal Roadless Rule",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) led 38 members of the California congressional delegation in opposing the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Roadless Rule, a landmark U.S. Forest Service conservation policy adopted in 2001 that protects nearly 60 million acres of undeveloped National Forest System lands. It prohibits new road construction, reconstruction, and commercial timber harvesting to preserve these areas’ ecological and recreational value. The Trump Administration issued its final proposed rule to advance the rescission of the Roadless Rule, allowing only a 47-day public comment period.

In their letter to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers underscored the importance of the Roadless Rule to California’s preservation of public lands and natural resources.

“Unpaved and poorly maintained forest roads are notoriously the largest source of human-made sediment in public waterways,” wrote the lawmakers. “Protected roadless areas actively safeguard California's water quality by preventing the severe erosion and landslides that choke pristine rivers with silt and other pollution that inevitably follows road construction. Roadless areas directly anchor the vulnerable origin points of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Kern, Smith, and Eel Rivers, and these protected areas capture, clean, and regulate more than 11 trillion gallons of water annually.”

The lawmakers warned of the possible impacts on California’s water and natural resources if the Roadless Rule is fully repealed, especially with the growing threat of devastating wildfires in California.

“Most alarming is that when new areas are opened up to roads, wildfires become much more likely,” continued the lawmakers. “Moreover, when fires do burn through roadless areas, they often burn at lower, more natural intensities which keeps the underlying soil healthy and minimizes post-burn soil erosion impacts. The State of California currently spends billions of dollars each year toward wildfire mitigation and suppression, so removing this rule will result in even more fires and will unnecessarily cost California taxpayers more to support the State’s wildfire response efforts.”

The lawmakers further emphasized the Roadless Rule’s importance to the outdoor economy by protecting access to trails, promoting outdoor recreation, and supporting small businesses and local economies that rely on public lands. The lawmakers highlighted that Americans across the country have supported the Roadless Rule since its implementation, and that efforts to overturn the rule undoes previous bipartisan support. Since the announcement of the repeal, the rule received a significant amount of public support within the Administration’s brief public comment period.

“The proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is deeply unpopular among our constituents,” the lawmakers concluded. “At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments—more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment on the initial announcement for the Roadless Rule repeal—during which more than 600,000 comments were submitted and 99% of which supported retaining the rule.”

Padilla has been a longtime champion of public land conservation, fighting tirelessly against Republican efforts to undo environmental protections. Last week, Padilla led a bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch. In June, Padilla co-led an effort to push back against Republicans’ efforts to codify the repeal of the Roadless Rule and proposed an amendment to the Wildfire Prevention Act to expand critical benefits for federal firefighters. Last year, Padilla reintroduced a public lands package, the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, which would protect and restore more than 1.7 million acres of California’s public lands throughout northwest California, the Central Coast, and Los Angeles County.

Full letter is available here or below:

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write to oppose the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”) that prohibits new road construction and commercial timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas (“roadless areas”). Eliminating the Roadless Rule will harm California’s already overburdened water sources, will counterintuitively decrease communities’ fire resilience, and will have negative economic impacts throughout our state.

For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres across the United States from new road construction and commercial timber harvesting in some of our nation’s most intact and environmentally significant areas. In California, the U.S. Forest Service manages 20 million acres of national forests, including over 4.4 million acres of roadless areas. California’s national forests act as the state's natural water infrastructure, supplying roughly 65% of California’s total water supply, despite making up only 20% of the state's land area. Unpaved and poorly maintained forest roads are notoriously the largest source of human-made sediment in public waterways. Protected roadless areas actively safeguard California's water quality by preventing the severe erosion and landslides that choke pristine rivers with silt and other pollution that inevitably follows road construction. Roadless areas directly anchor the vulnerable origin points of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Kern, Smith, and Eel Rivers, and these protected areas capture, clean, and regulate more than 11 trillion gallons of water annually. The raw, wholesale market value of the water produced by California's national forests is estimated at roughly $3.2 billion annually, and serves as the underlying foundation for our multi-billion dollar agricultural, municipal, and energy industries.

Despite what opponents of the Roadless Rule argue, it does not ban firefighting or fuel reduction activities in our national forests. Agencies retain full authority to remove trees, clear brush, and construct temporary emergency access roads to protect public safety. Local managers frequently conduct thinning, remove small-diameter trees and underbrush, and execute prescribed burns within roadless areas—particularly along existing boundaries where ignitions are most likely.

Most alarming is that when new areas are opened up to roads, wildfires become much more likely. Recent research demonstrates that wildfires are four times more likely to start near roads than in roadless areas. Because California’s national forests—such as the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests—directly border massive urban populations, human-caused ignitions are the state's primary wildfire threat to communities. By limiting road construction, the Rule isolates rugged terrain from vehicles, campfires, and equipment sparks. Moreover, when fires do burn through roadless areas, they often burn at lower, more natural intensities which keeps the underlying soil healthy and minimizes post-burn soil erosion impacts. The State of California currently spends billions of dollars each year toward wildfire mitigation and suppression, so removing this rule will result in even more fires and will unnecessarily cost California taxpayers more to support the State’s wildfire response efforts.

Roadless areas are also essential to maintaining and supporting our state’s outdoor recreation economy that draws people from around the world. California’s national forests host 33 million visitors per year, shifting hundreds of millions of dollars from urban centers directly into rural gateway communities through hotel taxes and local sales taxes. This tax revenue directly funds essential rural municipal services that many counties in California otherwise could not afford. The Roadless Rule also protects thousands of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and hundreds of miles of whitewater paddling runs across the country, which allow outfitters and other small businesses to thrive. The strength of our outdoor economy is intrinsically tied to these roadless areas remaining protected from industrial development.

Finally, as you will undoubtedly find during this comment period, the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is deeply unpopular among our constituents. At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment on the initial announcement for the Roadless Rule repeal—during which more than 600,000 comments were submitted and 99% of which supported retaining the Rule. Now, the Administration is only allowing a 47-day comment period on the draft Environmental Impact Statement. Beyond all that, any new roads that are built would leave taxpayers on the hook for road maintenance, all while the U.S. Forest Service already has a $7-8 billion road maintenance backlog.

For these reasons and more, we strongly oppose the rescission of the Roadless Rule. We urge you to leave the Rule intact so that it can continue to provide its time-tested benefits to our state and nation. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

To view the release online, click here.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-peters-durbin-schumer-lead-senate-colleagues-in-demanding-secretary-mullin-halt-2026-election-interference-efforts/,"Padilla, Peters, Durbin, Schumer Lead Senate Colleagues in Demanding Secretary Mullin Halt 2026 Election Interference Efforts",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), led 30 of their Senate colleagues in demanding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin immediately halt the Department’s efforts to assert federal control over, and undermine public trust in, the 2026 midterm elections.

The Senators demanded information substantiating Mullin’s public claims about thousands of noncitizens who allegedly registered to vote, and called on DHS to rescind new election-related conditions on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) homeland security grants, release the full grant funding to states, and immediately end the alleged “Unlawful Voter Initiative” disclosed by a recent whistleblower.

“We write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President’s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration’s demands,” wrote the Senators.

In their letter, the Senators raised concerns about Mullin’s unsupported claim that 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states and criticized DHS efforts to pressure states to provide sensitive voter roll information to be run through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, despite the Administration’s acknowledgment of problems with the underlying data. The Senators also objected to new election-related conditions on FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program, which have been retroactively applied to previously awarded Fiscal Year 2025 funding and are threatening Fiscal Year 2026 funding. By threatening to withhold funding that communities rely on to prevent acts of terrorism and other threats, Mullin is putting Americans’ safety at risk for political leverage.

The Senators also highlighted allegations from a federal whistleblower about an effort referred to as the “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” According to the whistleblower, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) personnel were allegedly directed to use sensitive, personally identifiable information and improperly access state voter registration websites to find non-citizen voters. The whistleblower also alleged that personnel were directed to create law enforcement records using incomplete and unverifiable data for potential referral to law enforcement.

“The 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Padilla, Peters, Durbin, and Schumer, the letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Following receipt of the bombshell whistleblower disclosure, Padilla and Schumer demanded Mullin and USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow immediately halt the “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and provide responses to Congress on its activities, and protect citizens who were erroneously flagged as “unlawful voters.” Last week, Padilla and Schiff sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighting the concerning activities detailed by the DHS whistleblower disclosure and requested that Bonta investigate whether those actions violated California law. Last week, Padilla and Schumer led 16 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to demand the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately open an independent investigation into the wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower’s disclosure. The whistleblower’s disclosure is also being cited in ongoing litigation, Virginia’s Attorney General is examining potential violations of Virginia state law, and Arizona’s Attorney General and Secretary of State are calling on Arizona’s U.S. Attorney to look into this alleged misuse of data by the federal government.

Full text of the letter is available here.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-huffman-california-colleagues-condemn-trump-administration-efforts-to-repeal-roadless-rule/,"Padilla, Schiff, Huffman, California Colleagues Condemn Trump Administration Efforts to Repeal Roadless Rule",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, led 38 members of the California congressional delegation in opposing the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Roadless Rule, a landmark U.S. Forest Service conservation policy adopted in 2001 that protects nearly 60 million acres of undeveloped National Forest System lands. It prohibits new road construction, reconstruction, and commercial timber harvesting to preserve these areas’ ecological and recreational value. The Trump Administration issued its final proposed rule to advance the rescission of the Roadless Rule, allowing only a 47-day public comment period.

In their letter to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers underscored the importance of the Roadless Rule to California’s preservation of public lands and natural resources.

“Unpaved and poorly maintained forest roads are notoriously the largest source of human-made sediment in public waterways,” wrote the lawmakers. “Protected roadless areas actively safeguard California’s water quality by preventing the severe erosion and landslides that choke pristine rivers with silt and other pollution that inevitably follows road construction. Roadless areas directly anchor the vulnerable origin points of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Kern, Smith, and Eel Rivers, and these protected areas capture, clean, and regulate more than 11 trillion gallons of water annually.”

The lawmakers warned of the possible impacts on California’s water and natural resources if the Roadless Rule is fully repealed, especially with the growing threat of devastating wildfires in California.

“Most alarming is that when new areas are opened up to roads, wildfires become much more likely,” continued the lawmakers. “Moreover, when fires do burn through roadless areas, they often burn at lower, more natural intensities which keeps the underlying soil healthy and minimizes post-burn soil erosion impacts. The State of California currently spends billions of dollars each year toward wildfire mitigation and suppression, so removing this rule will result in even more fires and will unnecessarily cost California taxpayers more to support the State’s wildfire response efforts.”

The lawmakers further emphasized the Roadless Rule’s importance to the outdoor economy by protecting access to trails, promoting outdoor recreation, and supporting small businesses and local economies that rely on public lands. The lawmakers highlighted that Americans across the country have supported the Roadless Rule since its implementation, and that efforts to overturn the rule undoes previous bipartisan support. Since the announcement of the repeal, the rule received a significant amount of public support within the Administration’s brief public comment period.

“The proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is deeply unpopular among our constituents,” the lawmakers concluded. “At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments—more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment on the initial announcement for the Roadless Rule repeal—during which more than 600,000 comments were submitted and 99% of which supported retaining the rule.”

Padilla has been a longtime champion of public land conservation, fighting tirelessly against Republican efforts to undo environmental protections. Last week, Padilla led a bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch. In June, Padilla co-led an effort to push back against Republicans’ efforts to codify the repeal of the Roadless Rule and proposed an amendment to the Wildfire Prevention Act to expand critical benefits for federal firefighters. Last year, Padilla reintroduced a public lands package, the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, which would protect and restore more than 1.7 million acres of California’s public lands throughout northwest California, the Central Coast, and Los Angeles County.

Full letter is available here or below:

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write to oppose the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”) that prohibits new road construction and commercial timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas (“roadless areas”). Eliminating the Roadless Rule will harm California’s already overburdened water sources, will counterintuitively decrease communities’ fire resilience, and will have negative economic impacts throughout our state.

For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres across the United States from new road construction and commercial timber harvesting in some of our nation’s most intact and environmentally significant areas. In California, the U.S. Forest Service manages 20 million acres of national forests, including over 4.4 million acres of roadless areas. California’s national forests act as the state’s natural water infrastructure, supplying roughly 65% of California’s total water supply, despite making up only 20% of the state’s land area. Unpaved and poorly maintained forest roads are notoriously the largest source of human-made sediment in public waterways. Protected roadless areas actively safeguard California’s water quality by preventing the severe erosion and landslides that choke pristine rivers with silt and other pollution that inevitably follows road construction. Roadless areas directly anchor the vulnerable origin points of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Kern, Smith, and Eel Rivers, and these protected areas capture, clean, and regulate more than 11 trillion gallons of water annually. The raw, wholesale market value of the water produced by California’s national forests is estimated at roughly $3.2 billion annually, and serves as the underlying foundation for our multi-billiondollar agricultural, municipal, and energy industries.

Despite what opponents of the Roadless Rule argue, it does not ban firefighting or fuel reduction activities in our national forests. Agencies retain full authority to remove trees, clear brush, and construct temporary emergency access roads to protect public safety. Local managers frequently conduct thinning, remove small-diameter trees and underbrush, and execute prescribed burns within roadless areas—particularly along existing boundaries where ignitions are most likely.

Most alarming is that when new areas are opened up to roads, wildfires become much more likely. Recent research demonstrates that wildfires are four times more likely to start near roads than in roadless areas. Because California’s national forests—such as the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests—directly border massive urban populations, human-caused ignitions are the state’s primary wildfire threat to communities. By limiting road construction, the Rule isolates rugged terrain from vehicles, campfires, and equipment sparks. Moreover, when fires do burn through roadless areas, they often burn at lower, more natural intensities which keeps the underlying soil healthy and minimizes post-burn soil erosion impacts. The State of California currently spends billions of dollars each year toward wildfire mitigation and suppression, so removing this rule will result in even more fires and will unnecessarily cost California taxpayers more to support the State’s wildfire response efforts.

Roadless areas are also essential to maintaining and supporting our state’s outdoor recreation economy that draws people from around the world. California’s national forests host 33 million visitors per year, shifting hundreds of millions of dollars from urban centers directly into rural gateway communities through hotel taxes and local sales taxes. This tax revenue directly funds essential rural municipal services that many counties in California otherwise could not afford. The Roadless Rule also protects thousands of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and hundreds of miles of whitewater paddling runs across the country, which allow outfitters and other small businesses to thrive. The strength of our outdoor economy is intrinsically tied to these roadless areas remaining protected from industrial development.

Finally, as you will undoubtedly find during this comment period, the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is deeply unpopular among our constituents. At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment on the initial announcement for the Roadless Rule repeal—during which more than 600,000 comments were submitted and 99% of which supported retaining the Rule. Now, the Administration is only allowing a 47-day comment period on the draft Environmental Impact Statement. Beyond all that, any new roads that are built would leave taxpayers on the hook for road maintenance, all while the U.S. Forest Service already has a $7-8 billion road maintenance backlog.

For these reasons and more, we strongly oppose the rescission of the Roadless Rule. We urge you to leave the Rule intact so that it can continue to provide its time-tested benefits to our state and nation. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-protect-college-sports-act/,Padilla Statement on Protect College Sports Act,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), issued the following statement after voting to pass the Protect College Sports Act of 2026:

“College sports have long been an enriching part of American life, but in recent years, the pressures of big money have destabilized college athletics and overshadowed the primary mission of higher education.

“College athletes are students first. I am proud to have secured critical provisions to better support their success both in and out of the classroom by strengthening oversight of health and safety standards, holding colleges and universities accountable for ensuring students achieve academic success, and allowing college athletic programs the flexibility to make conference decisions that best serve their students.

“This bill also preserves opportunities for women’s sports and Olympic sports by protecting roster spots and requiring continued investment in the pipeline of American Olympic talent.

“These reforms will help keep the focus where it belongs: on the students and the education that college sports are meant to serve.”

The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 includes several provisions Padilla authored, including:

Academic Performance Rating (APR)

Padilla secured a change that would condition a school’s ability to use the retention fund to being in good standing with the NCAA’s academic performance and graduation standards for student athletes.

Health and Safety Standards

Padilla secured a change that strengthens and expands the work of the Commission on the Future of College Athletics to:

Ensure the adequacy of and compliance with health and safety standards required in the bill (and consider options to further strengthen these standards and oversight, including through the creation of a third-party oversight organization),

Evaluate the efficacy of the independence structure of health and safety officers, and

Review violations, athlete injuries, or deaths.

Conference Provision

Padilla secured changes to reduce and eventually end the independence requirement for schools moving between the Power Four conferences so that certain schools are not unfairly locked into their conferences in perpetuity.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-momentum-already-building-for-sens-tim-scott-adam-schiff-bill-to-establish-a-federal-film-tax-credit-with-8-new-bipartisan-backers-in-senate/,"NEWS: Momentum Already Building for Sens. Tim Scott, Adam Schiff Bill to Establish a Federal Film Tax Credit with 8 New Bipartisan Backers in Senate",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Bipartisan, bicameral backing from Senators in film production states – Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, and Montana – follows call for action by President Trump, decades-long push by lawmakers to enact federal credit

Washington, D.C. — Bipartisan momentum for U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Adam Schiff’s (D-Calif.) bipartisan, bicameral legislation to create a federal film tax incentive is already building in the Senate with the addition of 8 new bipartisan Senate backers from across the country.

Scott and Schiff are announcing today that their Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will be cosponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

This legislation, introduced last week in both the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, follows years of advocacy to create a nationwide tax credit, a push recently echoed by President Donald Trump.

“For years, I’ve been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of TV and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives. Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it’s time we get this passed,”said Senator Schiff.

“Having worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like ‘The Notebook’ bring us to tears, and films like ‘Forrest Gump’ inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to serve as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,” said Senator Scott. “We cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America.”

“Montana is home to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the country, made famous in noteworthy movies and shows like Yellowstone and A River Runs Through It. Movies about Montana should always be based in Montana – not on a fake movie set overseas. I’m proud to work with Senator Scott on this bill to level the playing field for American movie producers and keep our film industry thriving,” said Sen. Daines.

“Georgia’s vibrant film industry is swiftly emerging as one of the most lucrative in the nation, and I’m proud to represent the thousands who come to our state and make a career creating world-renowned productions,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “Everyone who dedicates their talent and expertise to bringing magic to the silver screen deserves economic opportunities that are competitive with the global market. Our bipartisan bill will help ensure the film industry continues to thrive both here in Georgia and across the country.”

“California built the world’s entertainment industry, but we continue to see production being pulled overseas by other countries’ tax policies,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bill would create a new tax incentive to keep our entertainment industry in the United States. I’m proud to partner with Senator Schiff on this critical issue as we continue advocating for our country’s beloved blockbusters and binge-worthy TV shows for the sake of California’s economy, entertainment industry employees, and audiences everywhere.”

“Film and television production supports good-paying jobs and small businesses across Virginia and across the country. This bill will help keep more productions — and the jobs they create — here at home, while giving Virginia’s talented artists and production workers more opportunities to succeed. I’m proud to support this effort,” said Senator Warner.

“President Trump is right, the days of executives offshoring good-paying jobs to Mexico are over. It’s time to Make Hollywood Great Again,” said Sen. Moreno. “When we keep production, talent, and creativity here in the United States, we don’t just protect good-paying jobs; we safeguard the industry that has defined global popular culture for generations. Ohio has been a staple in the film industry for nearly 130 years, producing iconic movies, pumping millions into our economy, and it’s time to bring those jobs back home for good.”

“As the film and entertainment industry continues to thrive in New Jersey, good jobs and economic growth for local communities thrives too. With new federal incentives, this legislation can take us even further and support states like New Jersey who are home to a growing production workforce and benefiting from it,” said Senator Kim.

TheMotion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:

Spur American jobs and economic development by providing a 20% federal, labor-based tax credit to U.S. film and television productions with minimum spend of $1 million and where at least 75% of the principal photography days occur within the U.S;

Offer 5% bonus credit allowances, increasing the base credit up to a maximum of 30%, for productions in rural opportunity zones and areas impacted by disasters, independent productions, multi-state producers in 10+ states, and producers who show a measurable onshoring of productions;

Make the credit available to traditional post-production and visual effects activities when at least 75% of the respective post-production and visual effects production takes place in the U.S; and

Support the investments of states currently offering incentives by allowing the federal incentive to supplement state credits.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, this legislation is led by Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas-1), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif- 38), Brian Jack (R-Ga-3), and Laura Friedman (D-Calif-30). House co-sponsors include Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15), Judy Chu (D-Calif-28), David Kustoff (R-Tenn-08), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), Vince Fong (R-Calif-20), and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-5).

This bill is endorsed by: American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), CreativeFuture, Coalition for American Production (CAP), Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, U.S. Film and Television Production Coalition, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW)

Bill one pager is here.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

The section-by-section of the legislation is available here.

Background: For years, Schiff has highlighted the need to increase film production in America and has continued to build bipartisan support in Congress for his federal film incentive proposal, which would promote American jobs and spur local economic growth by creating additional support for film and television production in the U.S., allowing us to compete with foreign incentives.

During his time in the California State Senate, Schiff helped lead efforts to increase film production in California and protect local jobs.

Schiff spearheaded efforts in Congress to extend California’s film tax credit, including in 2014 when he led 28 members of the California Democratic delegation in urging the leaders of the California State Senate and Assembly to reauthorize and enhance the tax credit. In 2024, Schiff sent a letter to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics requesting detailed data on the impact of foreign production incentives on the domestic industry.

In March 2026, Senator Adam Schiff hosted a spotlight hearing in Burbank California entitled, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production” to highlight the importance of bolstering American film production, and tackling the challenges facing the industry from generous tax incentives provided by other countries.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schiff-padilla-huffman-california-colleagues-condemn-trump-administration-efforts-to-repeal-roadless-rule/,"NEWS: Schiff, Padilla, Huffman, California Colleagues Condemn Trump Administration Efforts to Repeal Roadless Rule",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, led 38 members of the California congressional delegation in opposing the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Roadless Rule, a landmark U.S. Forest Service conservation policy adopted in 2001 that protects nearly 60 million acres of undeveloped National Forest System lands. It prohibits new road construction, reconstruction, and commercial timber harvesting to preserve these areas’ ecological and recreational value. The Trump Administration issued its final proposed rule to advance the rescission of the Roadless Rule, allowing only a 47-day public comment period.

In their letter to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers underscored the importance of the Roadless Rule to California’s preservation of public lands and natural resources.

“Unpaved and poorly maintained forest roads are notoriously the largest source of human-made sediment in public waterways,” wrote the lawmakers. “Protected roadless areas actively safeguard California’s water quality by preventing the severe erosion and landslides that choke pristine rivers with silt and other pollution that inevitably follows road construction. Roadless areas directly anchor the vulnerable origin points of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Kern, Smith, and Eel Rivers, and these protected areas capture, clean, and regulate more than 11 trillion gallons of water annually.”

The lawmakers warned of the possible impacts on California’s water and natural resources if the Roadless Rule is fully repealed, especially with the growing threat of devastating wildfires in California.

“Most alarming is that when new areas are opened up to roads, wildfires become much more likely,” continued the lawmakers. “Moreover, when fires do burn through roadless areas, they often burn at lower, more natural intensities which keeps the underlying soil healthy and minimizes post-burn soil erosion impacts. The State of California currently spends billions of dollars each year toward wildfire mitigation and suppression, so removing this rule will result in even more fires and will unnecessarily cost California taxpayers more to support the State’s wildfire response efforts.”

The lawmakers further emphasized the Roadless Rule’s importance to the outdoor economy by protecting access to trails, promoting outdoor recreation, and supporting small businesses and local economies that rely on public lands. The lawmakers highlighted that Americans across the country have supported the Roadless Rule since its implementation, and that efforts to overturn the rule undoes previous bipartisan support. Since the announcement of the repeal, the rule received a significant amount of public support within the Administration’s brief public comment period.

“The proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is deeply unpopular among our constituents,”the lawmakers concluded. “At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments—more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment on the initial announcement for the Roadless Rule repeal—during which more than 600,000 comments were submitted and 99% of which supported retaining the rule.”

Last week, Schiff and Padilla led a bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers in urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write to oppose the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”) that prohibits new road construction and commercial timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas (“roadless areas”). Eliminating the Roadless Rule will harm California’s already overburdened water sources, will counterintuitively decrease communities’ fire resilience, and will have negative economic impacts throughout our state.

For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres across the United States from new road construction and commercial timber harvesting in some of our nation’s most intact and environmentally significant areas. In California, the U.S. Forest Service manages 20 million acres of national forests, including over 4.4 million acres of roadless areas. California’s national forests act as the state’s natural water infrastructure, supplying roughly 65% of California’s total water supply, despite making up only 20% of the state’s land area. Unpaved and poorly maintained forest roads are notoriously the largest source of human-made sediment in public waterways. Protected roadless areas actively safeguard California’s water quality by preventing the severe erosion and landslides that choke pristine rivers with silt and other pollution that inevitably follows road construction. Roadless areas directly anchor the vulnerable origin points of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, American, Kern, Smith, and Eel Rivers, and these protected areas capture, clean, and regulate more than 11 trillion gallons of water annually. The raw, wholesale market value of the water produced by California’s national forests is estimated at roughly $3.2 billion annually, and serves as the underlying foundation for our multi-billion dollar agricultural, municipal, and energy industries.

Despite what opponents of the Roadless Rule argue, it does not ban firefighting or fuel reduction activities in our national forests. Agencies retain full authority to remove trees, clear brush, and construct temporary emergency access roads to protect public safety. Local managers frequently conduct thinning, remove small-diameter trees and underbrush, and execute prescribed burns within roadless areas—particularly along existing boundaries where ignitions are most likely.

Most alarming is that when new areas are opened up to roads, wildfires become much more likely. Recent research demonstrates that wildfires are four times more likely to start near roads than in roadless areas. Because California’s national forests—such as the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests—directly border massive urban populations, human-caused ignitions are the state’s primary wildfire threat to communities. By limiting road construction, the Rule isolates rugged terrain from vehicles, campfires, and equipment sparks. Moreover, when fires do burn through roadless areas, they often burn at lower, more natural intensities which keeps the underlying soil healthy and minimizes post-burn soil erosion impacts. The State of California currently spends billions of dollars each year toward wildfire mitigation and suppression, so removing this rule will result in even more fires and will unnecessarily cost California taxpayers more to support the State’s wildfire response efforts.

Roadless areas are also essential to maintaining and supporting our state’s outdoor recreation economy that draws people from around the world. California’s national forests host 33 million visitors per year, shifting hundreds of millions of dollars from urban centers directly into rural gateway communities through hotel taxes and local sales taxes. This tax revenue directly funds essential rural municipal services that many counties in California otherwise could not afford. The Roadless Rule also protects thousands of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and hundreds of miles of whitewater paddling runs across the country, which allow outfitters and other small businesses to thrive. The strength of our outdoor economy is intrinsically tied to these roadless areas remaining protected from industrial development.

Finally, as you will undoubtedly find during this comment period, the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is deeply unpopular among our constituents. At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment on the initial announcement for the Roadless Rule repeal—during which more than 600,000 comments were submitted and 99% of which supported retaining the Rule. Now, the Administration is only allowing a 47-day comment period on the draft Environmental Impact Statement. Beyond all that, any new roads that are built would leave taxpayers on the hook for road maintenance, all while the U.S. Forest Service already has a $7-8 billion road maintenance backlog.

For these reasons and more, we strongly oppose the rescission of the Roadless Rule. We urge you to leave the Rule intact so that it can continue to provide its time-tested benefits to our state and nation. Thank you for your consideration.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/watch-schiff-hails-bipartisan-cooperation-on-new-bill-to-create-federal-film-tax-incentive-emphasizes-need-for-congress-to-take-action-to-regulate-ai-on-cnns-the-story-is-with-elex-michaels/,"WATCH: Schiff Hails Bipartisan Cooperation on New Bill to Create Federal Film Tax Incentive, Emphasizes Need for Congress to Take Action to Regulate AI on CNN’s The Story Is with Elex Michaelson",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s The Story Is with Elex Michaelson to discuss the introduction of his new bill with Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, to create the nation’s first federal film tax incentive to help keep film and television production in the United States.

The Senator highlighted support from Congressional Republicans and President Trump as evidence of a pathway to get the bill signed into law by the end of this year.

He also discussed the importance of Congress taking action to regulate artificial intelligence and the need for the United States to come to an agreement with China on AI.

View the full interview here.

Key Excerpts:

On Republican support for creating a federal film tax incentive:

[…] I think a lot of the Republicans were supportive of this. I’ve been having conversations with them for the last two years, and in the House for many, many years before that. What it really took was the president issuing a statement of support. I think they were waiting for a signal from the White House that if they got on board with this, they would have the president’s backing, and he did issue that statement. It was a full-throated endorsement of this bill, and that really moved things forward. Then it was just a question of hammering out some last-minute provisions, we already had a very good draft. I’ve had that for you know the last couple of years, and we also obviously worked with our Democratic and Republican counterparts in the House so that when we introduced the bill today, it was not only bipartisan but also in both houses, and that just gives us that much stronger chance for passage.

On working with the White House, Trump administration, and stakeholders:

We’ve been working closely with the White House, and Spencer Pratt has been very helpful. John Voight has been very helpful. They’ve been, I think, very good liaisons with the White House. And my understanding is that we have sign-off of all the stakeholders on the terms of this bill. That’s what we were really working towards. We want to make sure that nobody had any poison pills, no deal breakers, and I think we’re all in alignment on this, and not just the parties and the White House, but also labor and the guilds. This is really quite a remarkable achievement to have everybody on the same page on this pretty complicated issue.

On pathway to get the bill across the finish line:

I think the finish line is in sight. We really need to strike while the iron is hot. It’s not going to happen before the election. The House is already out of session, but we’re going to come back in after the election for what’s called a lame duck session. It is my hope that we get it done then. That’s our best opportunity. We don’t want to wait until next year when this party or that might lose interest or we might lose momentum. So, it’s really important that we do our best to get it done. And it’s not difficult to see that pathway. It might get taken up on its own, or more likely, it will get added to a bill that’s already moving. Either approach is fine with me, just so long as we get it done.

On the need for Congress to take action on artificial intelligence:

There’s bipartisan concern, frankly, with how AI is developing-the speed, the sophistication, the lack of control over AI, even by the companies that are producing it and on the leading edge. When you see, as OpenAI did, its own AI chatbot agents talking to themselves, posting messages to themselves, saying, “we’re beholden to no corporation, no government, we are not subservient, we are, you know, on a par with our clients.” Then it’s really cause for alarm. I think people here are alarmed, but I also feel, Elex, in terms of seeing a finish line here, we have a terrible record in the Congress of regulating technology, even when there’s palpable harm, as we have seen with social media and what it’s done to our kids, we cannot afford to have that same dysfunctional approach when it comes to AI because it’s just too dangerous.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-sara-jacobs-conducts-in-person-oversight-of-uss-abraham-lincoln,Rep. Sara Jacobs Conducts In-Person Oversight of USS Abraham Lincoln,2026-09-27,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) joined a bipartisan delegation to conduct in-person oversight of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently en route to its home port of San Diego. The lawmakers spoke with sailors, Marines, and leadership aboard the ship, conducting oversight of the extended deployment and its reported issues.

Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “For months, I’ve taken the concerns shared with me about mail delays, food and supply shortages, low morale, and mental health crises aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln straight to CENTCOM and the Navy. Unfortunately, their answers have been wholly insufficient.

“Oversight can’t wait until the USS Abraham Lincoln comes home to San Diego. We deserve answers and accountability now. That’s why I traveled aboard the ship today to conduct oversight in-person. I raised my concerns directly with the ship’s command and received a briefing on logistics, supply issues, and lessons learned for future deployments. I also met with sailors and Marines on board who painted a very different picture of this war; they shared stories of the deployment and their struggles to wash clothes, get medicine and health care, and eat enough food. I don’t blame the ship’s leadership for the past conditions; they did the best they could under difficult circumstances. The blame lies squarely with President Trump who knowingly launched a war without the required planning and strategy needed. He put these service members in the position where the conditions were so horrific that some attempted suicide.

“I’m relieved that the USS Abraham Lincoln will soon be back in San Diego, and I’m looking forward to welcoming them home. But our demand for accountability won’t end when they make port. I will continue pushing for an OIG investigation into these conditions and a House Armed Services Committee field hearing in San Diego to hear directly from these service members. We need to prevent this crisis from happening ever again, and ultimately end the Iran war and bring all our service members home.”

###",1,2026-09-28T11:29:07Z,2026-09-28T11:30:58Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/correa-urges-california-to-accept-10-million-in-federal-funding-for-orange-county-veterans-cemetery,CORREA URGES CALIFORNIA TO ACCEPT $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ORANGE COUNTY VETERANS CEMETERY,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"SANTA ANA, Calif. — U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), who has long advocated for bringing a veterans cemetery to Orange County, sent a letter today urging Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) accepts $10 million in federal funding offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon. Representatives Ken Calvert, Young Kim, Mike Levin, Dave Min, Derek Tran, and State Senator Thomas J. Umberg and Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Avelino Valencia joined Correa in signing the letter.

“After more than a decade of work, we are closer than ever to fulfilling our promise to Orange County’s veterans and their families,” said the lawmakers. “We should not allow $10 million in federal funding secured for this purpose to be left on the table.”

In July 2025, Rep. Correa led a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs urging federal support for construction of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below

Dear Governor Newsom:

We write to respectfully urge your administration to take all necessary steps to preserve the $10 million in federal funding offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Orange County.

After more than a decade of work by veterans, local communities, and elected officials at every level of government, we have made extraordinary progress toward finally delivering a veterans cemetery for Orange County. The project enjoys broad and bipartisan support, including the County of Orange, all 34 cities in Orange County, our state and federal legislative delegations, and veterans organizations throughout the region. The County has also dedicated 200 acres of public land to the cemetery project.

At the federal level, the Orange County congressional delegation has worked diligently and on a bipartisan basis to secure federal funding for this project. Importantly, our efforts to secure this funding were undertaken at the express recommendation of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). In October 2025, the VA moved the Gypsum Canyon project to its conforming list, confirming that CalVet’s revised pre-application satisfied federal eligibility requirements. In February 2026, the VA accepted CalVet’s pre-application and offered $10 million in federal funding for the project. The VA further indicated that the funds could be provided by the end of the federal fiscal year upon receipt of CalVet’s completed grant application.

Based on that history, we are deeply concerned that CalVet is now indicating that acceptance of the federal funding is premature. The congressional delegation pursued this funding at CalVet’s request and successfully secured a $10 million federal commitment for the project. We should not place those funds at risk because CalVet has determined that the project does not align with its preferred development timeline.

We cannot allow this opportunity to be lost.

Federal funding through the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program is limited and appropriated annually, with projects across the country competing for available resources according to federal priorities. There is no assurance that $10 million will remain available for Gypsum Canyon in a future federal fiscal year. Declining or failing to act upon the current federal commitment therefore risks forfeiting these funds altogether, not simply postponing their receipt.

California has already made a substantial investment in this project. Your administration recently dedicated $19 million in the 2026–27 State Budget to advance the cemetery, including $9 million for an access road and $10 million in expenditure authority for preliminary plans, working drawings, and Phase I construction. Your administration appropriately described these investments as another major milestone toward delivering the cemetery.

The federal government’s $10 million commitment should build upon that investment, not be forfeited because the State is unwilling to complete the steps necessary to receive it within the federal funding window.

The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program exists specifically to assist states in establishing and improving veterans cemeteries. Federal funding offsets eligible costs associated with establishing a state veterans cemetery, while the State assumes responsibility for its continued operation. California and Orange County have spent years positioning Gypsum Canyon to take advantage of precisely this federal partnership.

Governor, we appreciate your administration’s continued commitment to the Southern California Veterans Cemetery and the significant resources the State has dedicated to bringing it to fruition.

We respectfully ask that you direct CalVet and the appropriate agencies within your administration to take the steps necessary to preserve the $10 million federal commitment and ensure that these funds are not forfeited.

After more than a decade of work, we are closer than ever to fulfilling our promise to Orange County’s veterans and their families. We should not allow $10 million in federal funding secured for this purpose to be left on the table.

We stand ready to work with you, CalVet, the VA, and our state and local partners to resolve any remaining issues necessary to protect this funding and keep the project moving forward.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://kevinmullin.house.gov/2026/09/25/prompted-by-constituents-death-rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-designate-lethal-airguns-as-firearms/,"Prompted by Constituent’s Death, Rep. Mullin Introduces Bill to Designate Lethal Airguns as Firearms",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Kevin Mullin,M001225,kevinmullin.house.gov,kevinmullin,https://kevinmullin.house.gov/category/press_release/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Modern airguns can be powerful enough to cause serious injury or death, yet face far fewer safeguards than traditional firearms simply because they use compressed air instead of gunpowder. To close this dangerous gap, Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15) introduced Garrett’s Law today after one of his constituents lost her son to suicide involving a high-powered airgun.

Existing law requires licensed firearms manufacturers and dealers to conduct a background check on prospective buyers to identify individuals who are prohibited from owning a firearm, such as felons or those with certain severe mental health conditions. Yet, lethal airguns are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission as consumer products, rather than as dangerous weapons regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. As a result, any individual can bypass a background check to purchase a type of airgun that is as deadly as a firearm, regardless of criminal history or ability to otherwise legally own a firearm.

This loophole has caused irreparable and, in some cases, fatal harm. Garrett Edwards, a constituent of Rep. Mullin, struggled with mental health during the pandemic and was prohibited from possessing a firearm by law. Yet, sadly, when his condition worsened, Garrett legally purchased a lethal airgun online and used it to take his own life. To prevent similar tragedies, Garrett’s Law would close this dangerous gap in federal lawby designating high-powered, lethal airguns as firearms.

“Garrett should still be here today,” said Rep. Mullin. “If a weapon is powerful enough to kill, it should be subject to the same common-sense safety standards as any other gun. It makes no sense that someone prohibited by law from purchasing a firearm can still walk into a store or go online and legally obtain an airgun capable of killing. This bill closes that gap and, hopefully, helps prevent another family from facing this kind of unimaginable loss.”

“Garrett’s Law represents every person’s right to be protected from a needless death,” said Garrett’s mother, Ann Edwards. “Garrett was an elite athlete, scholar, and meant the world to me. Despite the countless efforts made by his community, his late onset psychosis was unforgiving, and in a moment of crisis, he was able to access a lethal airgun through Amazon. Garrett ran out of time to fully live his life. I hope this law gives another child the chance to keep fighting.”

“Airguns can be lethal, and current federal law ignores that by allowing unfettered access to them,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “We’re glad to see Rep. Mullin introducing this legislation to create basic guardrails for these previously unregulated weapons, and we urge Congress to swiftly pass it.”

“Lethal weapons should be treated like lethal weapons,” said Jaclyn Corin, Co-Founder of March For Our Lives Foundation. “March For Our Lives supports Garrett’s Law because our laws should reflect the real-world risks posed by high-powered airguns capable of taking a life. We’re grateful to Congressman Mullin for his leadership in addressing this gap in federal law and advancing a common-sense measure to help prevent gun violence and save lives.”

Garrett’s Law, introduced by Rep. Mullin, would designate lethal airguns as firearms under the purview of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This would ensure that they receive the same common-sense gun safety protections as traditional firearms, such as background check and serialization requirements.

Specifically, Garrett’s Law would:

Designate lethal, high-powered airguns as firearms under the Gun Control Act;

Exclude paintball and airsoft guns that are unlikely to cause serious injury; and

Require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to produce guidance on how manufacturers and sellers can comply with this change.

This bill has been endorsed by GIFFORDS and March For Our Lives.

The bill text can be found here.

Watch Rep. Mullin’s speech on the House Floor about Garrett’s Law here.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/reps-peters-miller-meeks-introduce-bill-to-make-safer-products-program-permanent,"Reps Peters, Miller-Meeks Introduce Bill to Make Safer Products Program Permanent",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Scott H. Peters,P000608,scottpeters.house.gov,scottpeters,https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA) introduced the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act, legislation to formally codify and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safer Choice Program. The Safer Choice Program gives producers a voluntary framework to evaluate the human health, environmental, and economic effects of the chemicals and technologies they use. This also helps consumers identify safer alternatives for cleaning and other products.

“San Diegans and families across the country rely on safe, effective products every day, and they should know if these products have been vetted against the highest health and safety standards,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bipartisan bill would permanently give consumers that peace of mind and provide American producers the competitive advantage of a trusted, nationally recognized label. I’m glad to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure the Safer Choice Program benefits consumers and producers for years to come.”

“American families shouldn’t have to be chemists to know whether the products they buy meet high standards for health, safety, and performance,"" said Dr. Miller-Meeks. ""This bipartisan legislation gives consumers clearer information while encouraging manufacturers to develop safer products, all without creating a new mandatory regulatory regime. As a physician, I’m proud to support a voluntary, science-based approach that gives Americans more confidence in the products they use every day.”

EPA’s Safer Choice Program has helped drive innovation in safer chemistry for decades but has never been formally authorized by Congress. The Safer Choice Program Authorization Act would permanently authorize the program so that producers have clear health and safety standards and consumers can rely on a trusted federal label for safer products.

The Safer Choice Program Authorization Act would:

Formally authorize EPA’s “Safer Choice” and “Design for the Environment” programs;

Maintain rigorous, science-based standards for participating products;

Strengthen protections against conflicts of interest in product reviews;

Ensure continued maintenance of EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List; and

Support transparency, stakeholder engagement, and public access to safer product information.

The legislation is supported by a wide variety of stakeholders including industry leaders, manufacturers, sustainability groups, and cleaning product organizations. Read statements of support and endorsing organizations here.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-introduce-bill-to-prevent-unlawful-immigration-arrests-and-detentions/,"Padilla, Durbin Introduce Bill to Prevent Unlawful Immigration Arrests and Detentions",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced new legislation to clarify existing requirements for immigration arrests and codify statutory procedures to prevent unlawful arrests and detentions.

Immigration enforcement officers under this Administration have arbitrarily arrested U.S. citizens and immigrants with lawful status, including George Retes, Javier Ramirez, Andrea Velez, Wilmer Chavarria, and Dayanne Figueroa.

“Republicans continued to write blank checks to ICE and CBP while serious concerns remain about officer and agent training, accountability, and the treatment of U.S. citizens,” said Senator Padilla. “Every person in America has civil rights — in spite of this Administration’s total disregard for the Constitution. This bill would establish stronger accountability and oversight, restore due process, and ensure federal immigration enforcement respects the rights and safety of Americans and noncitizens alike.”

“The disturbing reality today is that many American citizens and immigrants with lawful status have been caught in the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and violent immigration enforcement dragnet across the country,” said Senator Durbin. “As Justice Sotomayor stated in her dissent in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, referring to immigration agents: ‘United States citizens are … being seized, taken from their jobs, and prevented from working to support themselves and their families.’ This must stop. The Immigration Warrant Reform Act will help prevent these due process violations while ensuring noncitizens who present a threat to public safety are not released. It is commonsense, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.”

In a concurrence in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, Justice Kavanaugh relied on these gaps in immigration laws to find that immigration officers and agents may makestops based solely on apparent race and ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent,and presence at certain worksites, even if U.S. citizens get caught in the administration’s dragnet. The Trump Administration has gone beyond “stops” to arrest and even brutally attack U.S. citizens and immigrants without probable cause or a warrant for the arrest in indiscriminate enforcement actions. The Trump Administration has further interpreted immigrationlaws to require immigration judges to deny bond to any noncitizen who entered the United States withoutinspection, regardless of how long they have been in the country, and severely limit theopportunities for an immigration judge to release noncitizens on bond.

Specifically, this legislation would bring immigration enforcement procedures in line with the standards that all law enforcement have to follow:

Codifying specific criteria for warrantless civil immigration arrests in the interior of the United States:

To limit the circumstances for warrantless arrest to those where a noncitizen presents an imminent danger to the community requiring immediate arrest, and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained; and

To require a bond hearing within 24 hours of any warrantless arrest to determine whether the conditions above were met, and release the individual if they do not present a danger to the community;

Codifying in statute criteria for obtaining an administrative warrant to arrest a noncitizen for civil immigration enforcement purposes, including by requiring immigration officers to:

Document probable cause of an individual’s inadmissibility and removability under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and

Obtain approval for an administrative warrant from a supervisory immigration officer;

Codifying in statute the requirement for periodic hearings in front of an immigration judge or federal judge for detained noncitizens; and

Clarifying that mandatory detention provisions applicable at the border should not apply to immigrants in the interior of the United States.

These changes would not allow for release of noncitizens who present a threat to public safety.

In addition to Padilla and Durbin, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda. Last month, Padilla demanded the Trump Administration abandon its reckless plan to equip ICE officers with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks. Last year, Padilla led 45 Congressional Democrats in urging DHS offices launch an investigation into the Department’s stops, arrests, detentions, and deportations of U.S. citizens.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-joins-van-hollen-senate-democrats-to-push-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-xi/,"Padilla Joins Van Hollen, Senate Democrats to Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators’ letter calls for global cooperation on AI development to preserve public safety and human control

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and 15 of his colleagues in calling on President Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a letter to Trump, the Senators also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity.

“We write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level,” the Senators wrote. “As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI’s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.”

“The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced,” continued the Senators. “Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.”

“AI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use,” the Senators concluded. “What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.”

In addition to Padilla and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

President Trump:

We write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI’s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.

The development, release, and proper and improper use of AI present several risks unique to this technology. Testing AI models without constant monitoring and safe sandboxing has resulted in security breaks. Current publicly available models are concerningly capable of detecting and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Companies developing AI have even more powerful models internally. An international race between the U.S. and China to advance these capabilities without safety guardrails, as is currently unfolding, poses unnecessary and dangerous risks to the American people. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently said that it would “not be misplaced” to refer to the capabilities of AI as “akin to digital nuclear weapons.” At the same time, despite serious warnings from those in your administration and bipartisan Congressional action, your administration has loosened export controls of semiconductors to China and refused to close relevant loopholes on the remaining regulations, enabling China to access the U.S. chips it needs to accelerate its own AI development. Both countries are currently integrating AI tools into military and defense applications, including in autonomous and unmanned systems, which Congress and AI developers alike have warned against without significant safeguards. AI has many applications and many of them are tools we will find beneficial, but its significant dangers and potential use in lethal applications without meaningful human control must be addressed, in part, through international cooperation.

In addition, efforts to engage with China should not stop the U.S. from constructing and implementing guardrails domestically, and Congress and U.S. companies should not wait to do so. In fact, both the U.S. and the Chinese government have already put some guardrails in place, but these provisions are not sufficient on their own. Your administration has implemented a voluntary testing scheme before the public release of advanced AI models. China reportedly has put in place several testing and capability restrictions, including registration and safety requirements for certain applications, although consistent implementation remains uncertain. The mutual recognition between the two countries that AI poses significant risks both during development and after release should be the foundation of discussions centered on reaching concrete terms for an international safety agreement. The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.

While advanced AI may be new, engagement between two superpowers over a technology that poses an existential threat is not. The U.S. and Soviet Union, over decades, negotiated and implemented multiple nuclear arms control agreements with each other, despite many deep-seated ideological differences during the Cold War. At the core of those agreements were verification mechanisms to ensure both countries were complying. Like those agreements that have helped keep the world safe from mutually assured destruction, identifying and coming to terms with the technical specifications for AI safety will require some of the smartest minds in the world committed to diplomacy. We encourage you to embrace these challenges because the stakes are existential, and our response must match the moment.

The experts building frontier AI models have also been raising concerns for some time that the capabilities of AI models may soon accelerate beyond our ability to understand or control them. In July, over 1,300 employees of frontier AI companies, who are uniquely aware of AI’s potential and risks, called on the U.S. government to engage in an international effort to create the tools necessary to pace the frontier of AI development, particularly as increased automation of AI research may lead to even faster advancement. We should take these warnings seriously. Former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin recently published an op-ed calling for you and President Xi to work on an “ACT” — AI Cooperation Treaty.” We may not get another moment to take the actions necessary to protect our citizens and people around the world.

AI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-trump-administrations-last-minute-election-security-plan/,Padilla Statement on Trump Administration’s Last Minute Election Security Plan,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Overdue plan comes after Trump Administration defunded election security efforts, fired staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its 2026 Election Infrastructure Security Plan, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections:

“Donald Trump isn’t serious about election security. His Administration’s newly released election security plan is the product of an election denier in chief who has spent his time in office installing like-minded conspiracy theorists in leadership positions across the federal government.

“After the President rehashed his tired conspiracy theories during his White House address in July, Secretary Mullin promised an election security plan within 30 days, along with DHS assistance for state and local election officials. The deadline came and went, voting is underway for the midterm elections, and the Trump Administration has gutted DHS’s election cybersecurity work. Election security staff has been fired and funding for state and local election officials has been cut, allowing mis- and disinformation to run rampant while denying election officials the tools to counter it. Meanwhile, the Administration is even withholding counterterrorism and disaster funds unless states go along with voter purging and voter suppression efforts.

“While CISA claims to be changing course and offering to help state and local governments with election security, this report does not do that. The Administration must restore the Election Infrastructure ISAC funding as Congress has directed – and then support legislation like my State and Local Election Security Act of 2026 to provide state and local election officials with the resources they need to modernize voting equipment and defend against any potential interference and cyberattacks.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections and California’s former Secretary of State, Padilla has been a vocal leader in protecting our elections. Earlier this month, Padilla and Congressman Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, demanded the Trump Administration immediately restore funding to the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), which helps state and local election officials protect federal elections from cybersecurity threats and election mis- and disinformation campaigns.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-breaks-down-new-whistleblower-allegations-of-dhs-lawbreaking-ahead-of-midterms/,WATCH: Padilla Breaks Down New Whistleblower Allegations of DHS Lawbreaking Ahead of Midterms,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WATCH: Padilla uncovers Trump’s voter intimidation push through DHS whistleblower disclosure

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with jurisdiction over federal elections and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, released a video sounding the alarm over Trump’s ongoing attacks on American elections, including a recent disclosure by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) whistleblower that alleges that DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) Division officers to violate state laws as a part of its “Unlawful Voter Initiative,” an effort aimed at substantiating President Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

With just weeks to go until the November election, Senator Padilla breaks down the whistleblower’s claims and how the federal government’s alleged interference will impact eligible voters. Additionally, Senator Padilla calls for every American to resist these voter suppression tactics by making a plan and committing to vote this November.

Following receipt of the bombshell whistleblower disclosure, Padilla and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow immediately halt the “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and provide responses to Congress on its activities, and protect naturalized citizens who were erroneously flagged as “unlawful voters.” On Monday, Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighting the concerning activities detailed by the DHS whistleblower disclosure and requested that Bonta investigate whether those actions violated California law. Last week, Padilla and Schumer led 16 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to demand the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately open an independent investigation into the wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower’s disclosure. The whistleblower’s disclosure is also being cited in ongoing litigation, Virginia’s Attorney General is examining potential violations of Virginia state law, and Arizona’s Attorney General and Secretary of State are calling on Arizona’s U.S. Attorney to look into this alleged misuse of data by the federal government.

Excerpts from the video are below:

PADILLA REACTION TO WHISTLEBLOWER DISCLOSURE

And the only reason we know about these allegations is because a federal employee had the courage to come forward. Now, that takes guts. My office is protecting this whistleblower’s identity from any potential retribution. But making their disclosure public isn’t enough. Because there are still major questions out there. How did DHS obtain this voter information? Who directed this initiative? And what exactly did they access? How was it used? And were American citizens caught up in it?

That’s why Senator Adam Schiff and I have shared this disclosure with Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General, because he may want to look into this and determine whether DHS personnel violated California law. And the DHS Inspector General should look into it to look for any violations of federal law. But this isn’t the only election fight happening right now.

[…]

Now these are separate matters. But together, they raise serious questions about the Trump Administration’s attempts to interfere in our elections. And all of this is happening as ballots go out to voters. So if you’re thinking, What the hell is going on? That’s a fair question. And after spending six years running California’s elections as Secretary of State, and now serving as ranking member of the Senate committee with jurisdiction over federal elections… this happens to be something I know a little bit about. So here’s what we know.

PADILLA ON WHAT COMES NEXT AFTER WHISTLEBLOWER DISCLOSURE

Recently my office received a protected disclosure from an anonymous federal whistleblower. According to that disclosure, hundreds of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees were reassigned from their duties to something called the “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” Its stated goal was identifying people who may have been unlawfully registered to vote. And to be clear: Regardless of what you hear from certain individuals, noncitizen voting in federal elections is both already illegal and extremely rare. But according to the whistleblower, these officers were instructed to access state voter websites to try to manufacture evidence of noncitizen voting. Some sites required users to attest that they were the voter or authorized to act for that voter.

These federal employees were neither. So, they were told to lie. And when employees reportedly questioned whether that was legal, they were basically told not to worry about it, and promised that they wouldn’t be held personally liable. Not held personally liable? If what they’re doing is legal, then federal employees shouldn’t have to question whether their assignments will expose them to liability. So I’m working to determine who gave those instructions.

PADILLA EXAMINES IMPACT OF TRUMP’S INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS

According to the disclosure, the government’s own materials acknowledged these investigations could include “a lot of U.S. citizens.” And the data was so unreliable it includes “supplemental magic.” And employees were reportedly expected to process— forty people a day. That’s five per hour – or about twelve minutes per person. Twelve minutes to review complex immigration information, citizenship information, voter information and potentially create a federal law-enforcement record. Based on magic data? That’s nowhere even close to enough time to do an actual thorough, responsible, accurate records check. After a twelve-minute review, they were instructed to create law enforcement records based on this questionable data. And an inaccurate federal record can have very real, long-term consequences. The worst part is that people won’t even know if these records were created for them until it is too late. So we need to know: How many American citizens were wrongly flagged? How many false records were created?

And what is going to protect Americans from being secretly flagged as a “unlawful voter” by DHS?

PADILLA’S PERSONAL FIGHT FOR FREE ELECTIONS

When I came home to California after earning my engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it was during our state’s fight over Proposition 187 which targeted and scapegoated families like mine. My parents immigrated from Mexico. My dad worked for forty years as a short-order cook. And for those same forty years, my mom cleaned houses. Now, watching immigrants who became citizens like my parents and so many others in my hometown community of Pacoima, when they become a political punching bag, that helped propel me into public service. A few years later, after serving on the Los Angeles City Council and then in the State Senate, I became California’s chief elections officer. And here’s something you learn when you actually run elections: election security and voter access are not mutually exclusive. Yes, you need accurate voter rolls, secure systems, clear rules, and, in a democracy, you need the opportunity for every eligible voter to cast a ballot. So when someone invokes “election integrity,” I take it seriously.

PADILLA’S EFFORTS TO PROTECT ELECTIONS

Now you may be thinking: Okay, Senator. What are you actually doing about this?

That’s a fair question. Because I know how this sounds. Another instance of the Trump Administration being out of control. Another letter. More outrage. More frustration with Washington. I understand it. So here’s the reality. We’re in a tough position with an Administration that has no regard for the law, and which Republicans refuse to hold accountable. Hopefully that all changes after this November’s midterm elections. But I’m not sitting on the sidelines and waiting until then — I’m already getting to work. I will protect this whistleblower. This evidence is already being cited in court. I am demanding documents, I am asking the tough questions, I will conduct oversight, and I will make sure these abuses do not go unnoticed. Senator Schumer and I have demanded an independent investigation into these allegations. I want to know: who authorized this? What information was accessed? Why were U.S. citizens wrongly flagged? Were laws broken? And what happened to the records? What recourse do U.S. citizens and others flagged have to correct these records? I’m going to keep asking until we get answers. The whistleblower did their part. I’m doing everything within my authority to do mine. And every American gets to decide for themselves what they think about what their government is doing. Pay attention. Make your own judgment. And make your voice heard. Because presidents don’t get the final word. Senators don’t get the final word. Voters do.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-chu-morrison-and-sen-murray-lead-house-senate-democrats-demand-rfk,"Reps. Chu, Morrison, and Sen. Murray Lead House & Senate Democrats to Demand RFK Jr. & HHS Return Millions in Funding for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Reproductive Task Force Co-Chairs & Liaisons Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Kelly Morrison (MN-03), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led 92 Democratic Senators & Members in a letter to the Department of Human & Health Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) demanding the return of Congressionally appropriated funds to the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP).

When HHS initially terminated funding and announced their intention to redirect funds to ideologically conservative programs in July, 79 members of the DWC and Democratic Caucus sent a letter to HHS warning of the negative impacts this would have on communities. They demanded HHS restore the funding, provide the rationale behind each cancellation, and justify their plan to redirect funding. Since then, none of the funding has been restored to TPP grant recipients, and local programs that work to reduce teen pregnancy, STIs, and other health risks for young people have halted work.

Although the administration’s attempt to redirect funding was stopped by federal courts, the funding is now sitting unused with no publicized plan from HHS to return it and seems likely to not be returned to grant recipients. If the funding is not returned soon, the over $100 million that Congress appropriated to TPP grants is at risk of lapsing—wasting Americans valuable tax dollars and leaving programs across the country unable to operate.

HHS’s only options are to either return the funding to the communities and teens who rely on it or let it go to waste.

In their letter, the Members and Senators expose the uncertainty created by HHS’s illegal withholding of TPP grant funding:

“As the fiscal year rapidly comes to an end on September 30, we are very concerned that your Department has failed to distribute over $100 million of the $101 million in funding Congress provided for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program. Your decision to terminate the vast majority of existing TPP grants this summer and your attempts to distort the program and impose illegal conditions on grant recipients have already halted critical work being done in states across the country to prevent teen pregnancy.”

The Members also explain the duty of HHS to distribute the Congressionally allocated funds properly:

“The only reasonable path forward is to provide funding to the grantees that were previously subject to the Department’s arbitrary terminations. As of this writing, only $579,499 of the program's $101 million appropriation has been provided to a single grantee. It is clear you have no practical plan to legally spend down these funds before they expire, and the best course of action is to simply renew the awards that were terminated.”

Lastly, the Members closed by reiterating the damage RFK Jr.’s cuts have done to local programs across the country:

“For example, in Central Pennsylvania, more than 10,000 teens—many of whom are foster youth, have substance use disorders, or face mental health challenges—will lose access to these critical resources due to the discontinuation of funding for a single provider. In South Carolina, the discontinuation of funds for another provider would impact over 6,450 youth and has already led to staff layoffs.”

The letter was signed by Reps. Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-07), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24); and by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Cory Booker (NJ), Tammy Duckworth (IL), John Fetterman (PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Martin Heinrich (NM), Mazie Hirono (HI), Edward Markey (MA), Jack Reed (RI), Bernard Sanders (VT), Adam Schiff (CA), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Ron Wyden (OR).",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-and-bipartisan-group-members-urge-administration-lead-ai-safety,Rep. Panetta and Bipartisan Group of Members Urge the Administration to Lead on AI Safety and Security,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and members of the bipartisan Congressional Working Group on Artificial Intelligence and Evolving Technologies wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging the Administration to lead international efforts to establish clear standards for the safe and secure development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The letter to President Trump comes as he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

As the United States works to maintain its global leadership in AI, the Working Group called for stronger U.S.-China coordination on AI safety, including testing and incident reporting, and clear consequences for AI-enabled cyber activity targeting American critical infrastructure. The lawmakers emphasized that America can protect its national security, strengthen its technological leadership, and set the rules of the road for emerging technology at the same time.

“The United States leads the world in AI, and we intend to keep it that way. But if we do not lead in setting global standards for advanced AI development, our adversaries will,” wrote the lawmakers. “In contemplation of your September 24th meeting with President Xi Jinping, we respectfully request that you prioritize a coordinated international effort on AI safety and security, beginning with China.”

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Mr. President,

The bipartisan Problem Solver’s Congressional AI and Evolving Technologies Working Group recognizes the rapid advance of frontier AI and the need for American leadership in setting the international rules to govern it. Leading American AI developers have consistently warned that the most capable models are developing capabilities that carry serious national security risks. These include enabling sophisticated cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, lowering the barriers to developing biological and chemical weapons, and increasing the risk of miscalculation in a military crisis

The United States leads the world in AI, and we intend to keep it that way. But if we do not lead in setting global standards for advanced AI development, our adversaries will.

In contemplation of your September 24th meeting with President Xi Jinping, we respectfully request that you prioritize a coordinated international effort on AI safety and security, beginning with China. Specifically, we ask that the meeting advance the following objectives:

1. Endorse and elevate the U.S.-China AI dialogue your Administration proposed this week, securing President Xi’s personal commitment to it at the leader level.

2. Press President Xi to commit to coordinating on AI safety principles, including safety testing and incident reporting measures built on American standards.

3. Make clear that AI-enabled cyber activity against American critical infrastructure is unacceptable.

The United States and China have taken a first step together before: at last year's APEC summit in Lima, both nations affirmed that decisions on the use of nuclear weapons must remain under human control. The United States wrote the rules of the road for nuclear safety and civil aviation without sacrificing our strength at home. We must do the same for AI.

We look forward to working together in a bipartisan fashion on this critical national security issue.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z
https://aguilar.house.gov/2026/09/24/rep-aguilar-delivers-wins-to-strengthen-inland-empire-water-infrastructure-promote-environmental-conservation-and-protect-jobs/,"Rep. Aguilar Delivers Wins to Strengthen Inland Empire Water Infrastructure, Promote Environmental Conservation and Protect Jobs",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Pete Aguilar,A000371,aguilar.house.gov,aguilar,https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/,scraper,"Highlights include over $85 million authorized for crucial water and flood infrastructure projects in the Inland Empire and expanding federal support for water scarcity management

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured key provisions in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 to strengthen water, sewer and flood control infrastructure in the Inland Empire, protect logistics jobs tied to the Port of Los Angeles and ensure the resiliency and conservation of the region’s water supply.

“From our schools to our hospitals, homes, businesses and more, so much of California’s daily functions and quality of life depend on the reliable delivery and management of water,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I am proud of my work to help upgrade our region’s water and flood infrastructure, support good-paying logistics jobs and ensure the dependability of our water supply for generations to come. I’ll keep fighting for more resources to boost our economy and keep Inland Empire families safe and healthy.”

“The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency thanks Congressman Pete Aguilar for his leadership in securing authorization of $67.5 million for water and wastewater infrastructure projects in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026,” said Robert Ybarra, President, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. “This authorization gives the Inland Empire a federal partner in building the water infrastructure our region needs to keep pace with sustained population and economic growth, and to help address California’s housing affordability crisis, which no region can solve without the water supply to serve new homes. It positions SGPWA to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on our Backbone Water System project, which will extend our transmission pipeline roughly 30 miles east and add groundwater recharge capacity, delivering a more reliable, drought-resilient supply to the families and communities that will one day call this area home. Congressman Aguilar has been a consistent advocate for the region’s water security, and the Agency looks forward to continuing to work with him and the California delegation to see this authorization signed into law and this project through to completion.”

“Flood control projects like Cable Creek and City Creek are important investments that help protect homes, businesses and public infrastructure in the San Bernardino communities within the Fifth District,” said Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor. “We appreciate Congressman Aguilar’s continuous partnership in moving these projects forward and bringing federal resources directly to the communities that will benefit from them.”

“San Bernardino County is grateful to Congressman Aguilar for his continued leadership in securing critical federal resources for our region,” said San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. “This WRDA funding is an important investment in our flood control infrastructure and will help advance critical improvements that support the long-term safety and resilience of our communities. We appreciate his continued partnership and commitment to San Bernardino County.”

“This $20 million authorization as part of WRDA represents a significant opportunity for Colton, particularly when federal funding for individual projects is often implemented in much smaller annual increments,” said Chad Blais, Public Works and Utility Services Director, City of Colton. “For our community, this is about replacing aging pipes, reservoirs and critical equipment so our residents and businesses can continue to count on safe, reliable water and wastewater services every day. We are grateful to Congressman Aguilar for advocating for Colton and helping us pursue federal resources at a scale that can make a real difference, stretch our local dollars further and reduce the long-term burden on our ratepayers.”

“San Bernardino Valley appreciates the display of Congressional leadership with approval of WRDA 2026 including establishment of an Office of Water Supply, Water Conservation and Drought Resiliency,” said San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District CEO/General Manager Heather Dyer. “The new office paves the way for enhanced collaboration at the regional and federal levels to support water supply, conservation, and drought resiliency.”

Every two years, Members of Congress can advocate for water resources and infrastructure needs in their districts by authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects in the Water Resources Development Act. Rep. Aguilar worked with local stakeholders to secure water infrastructure project authorizations and policy changes in WRDA 2026 to meet urgent needs in California’s 33rd Congressional District. Rep. Aguilar’s wins passed as part of the larger WRDA 2026 in the full House of Representatives with bipartisan support on September 16, 2026 and now await action by the Senate. A summary of Rep. Aguilar’s wins for the Inland Empire in WRDA 2026 is below.

Strengthening San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency’s Infrastructure

This project is included as part of a $65.7 million authorization Rep. Aguilar secured that will allow the San Bernardino County Flood Control District to strengthen flood protection infrastructure and ensure reliable water delivery for 700,000 Inland Empire residents. This will allow the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency to build a 610-foot tunnel to protect the at-risk Foothill Pipeline and prevent future failures that could cut off water service to hospitals, schools and emergency services. Additionally, the funding supports the construction of the Backbone Water System Pipeline, a 30-mile water pipeline and groundwater recharge facilities to better conserve and protect the Inland Empire’s water supply in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

Upgrading San Bernardino’s Cable Creek Channel

Also included in the $65.7 million authorization Rep. Aguilar secured, this project will allow San Bernardino County to upgrade more than half a mile of the Cable Creek Channel between Magnolia Avenue and Palm Avenue to withstand severe flooding and better protect nearby San Bernardino neighborhoods. Once complete, the project will help reduce the risk of flash flooding, prevent property damage and improve the community’s long-term safety and stability.

Improving San Bernardino’s City Creek By-Pass Channel

Further included in the $65.7 million authorization Rep. Aguilar secured, this project will allow San Bernardino County to upgrade the City Creek By-Pass Channel, strengthening flood protection infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods in San Bernardino. The County will upgrade 0.75 miles of the existing flood control bypass channel along Tippecanoe Avenue to Palm Lane, improving safety and reducing the risk of life-threatening flooding.

Upgrading City of Colton’s Water and Sewer Infrastructure

Rep. Aguilar secured a $20 million authorization for the City of Colton to upgrade its aging water, sewer and wastewater infrastructure to ensure reliable water delivery and treatment for more than 65,000 Inland Empire residents. The City of Colton will make much-needed improvements to its water reservoirs, water booster stations, water lines and wastewater treatment plants. Once complete, the project will ensure the reliability of the City’s water and sewer infrastructure for years to come.

Ensuring Major Ports like the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach Receive Stable Funding

Rep. Aguilar secured changes to WRDA 2020 Section 102, helping to ensure that major donor ports like the Port of Los Angeles receive fair and stable funding for harbor maintenance. The Port of Los Angeles is the nation’s largest container port and sustains thousands of trucking, logistics and manufacturing jobs in the Inland Empire. By ensuring donor ports like it and the Port of Long Beach receive adequate, predictable funding, it will support more stable employment for workers whose jobs depend on efficient cargo movement and well-maintained port infrastructure.

Creating an Office of Water Supply at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Rep. Aguilar advocated for the creation of an Office of Water Supply at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dedicated to addressing water scarcity and filling a critical gap in federal resources and support. This office will be crucial for regions that deal with water supply issues like the San Bernardino Valley, offering local governments a dedicated federal point of contact to help them navigate future challenges.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-chu-meng-and-krishnamoorthi-lead-bipartisan-letter-requesting,"Reps. Chu, Meng, and Krishnamoorthi Lead Bipartisan Letter Requesting Temporary Protected Status for Nepal Following Catastrophic Flooding",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) led a bipartisan letter to President Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging the Administration to immediately grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Nepali nationals following catastrophic flooding that has devastated over 1.6 million people. TPS allows people already living in the U.S. to stay and work legally when it is too dangerous for them to return to their home country due to war, natural disaster, or other crises.

On August 26, a glacial collapse triggered catastrophic flooding through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, devastating communities across northern and central Nepal. As of September 21, 2026, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reports 1,451 bodies recovered, over 5,780 people still missing, and an estimated 20,000 houses destroyed. Roads, bridges, schools, hydropower facilities, and other essential infrastructure have been destroyed or severely damaged. Nepal’s government estimates that recovery will cost $4.78 billion.

Nepal previously received TPS after the devastating 2015 earthquake. That designation was terminated earlier this year, and in August 2026, DHS ordered roughly 7,000 Nepali TPS holders to leave the country or face deportation.

The members wrote:

“These conditions have placed an extraordinary burden on Nepal as the country undertakes massive rescue, humanitarian, and reconstruction efforts. Many Nepali nationals currently living in the United States are from the communities directly affected by this disaster. Families are attempting to determine whether their loved ones are alive, if homes remain standing, and if their communities remain accessible…For many, removal would mean returning to a country where their homes and communities no longer exists and relatives are missing or deceased.”

“TPS was specifically designated for situations like this, and the Immigration and Nationality Act specifically lists flood and environmental disasters as a clear reason to designate TPS… Providing appropriate, temporary protections while Nepal undertakes this difficult recovery would be consistent with [the United States and Nepal’s a longstanding partnership] and with the humanitarian purposes established by Congress in our immigration laws.”

The Members also urge the Trump administration to consider Deferred Enforced Departure for eligible Nepali nationals, and a temporary pause on removals to areas of Nepal where rescue, recovery, and stabilization efforts remain underway.

The letter is co-signed by 54 Members of Congress: Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Ami Bera (CA-06), Don Beyer (VA-08), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús ""Chuy"" García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Summer Lee (PA-12), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

“The Nepali community is grieving unimaginable loss and experiencing profound tragedy while families wait for news of loved ones impacted by the devastating flooding,” said Dahni Tsuboi, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice- Southern California (AJSOCAL). “At a moment like this, people should not also have to live with the fear of being forced to return to conditions that are unsafe and unstable. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is exactly the kind of humanitarian protection this moment calls for. It would allow Nepali community members in the United States to remain safe, work, and support loved ones and recovery efforts in Nepal. We urge the Administration to act swiftly and grant TPS so that individuals are not forced to return to unsafe conditions and can work to provide critical financial assistance to loved ones and recovery efforts in Nepal.”

“The devastating floods have claimed thousands of lives, displaced families, and destroyed homes, villages, and livelihoods, leaving a lasting impact on our communities. For Nepalis in the United States, this tragedy is deeply personal - our families, loved ones, and the communities we call home are among those affected,” said Anil Shahi, Founding Coordinator for United for TPS Nepal (UTPSN). “A new TPS designation would provide eligible Nepalis, many of whom have established deep roots in communities here, with much needed protection and stability during this difficult time. It would allow them to continue supporting families and communities recovering in Nepal through crucial financial assistance, while contributing to the U.S. economy through their work, taxes, and businesses. TPS would support Nepal’s recovery while also sustaining the economic contributions Nepalis make here in the United States. We are deeply grateful to the Members of Congress who have stood with our community and to the many organizations across the country that have endorsed this effort. Their support reflects the urgent need facing Nepali families, and we strongly urge President Trump and Secretary Mullin to designate Nepal for Temporary Protected Status.”

Read the full letter HERE and below.

The letter is endorsed by over 200 organizations: AAPI New Jersey; AAPIs for Justice SA, TX; Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice; African Communities Together (ACT); Alianza Americas; American Friends Service Committee (AFSC); Asian American Federation (AAF); Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund; Asian American Resource Workshop; Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago; Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta; Asian Americans United; Asian Counseling and Referral Service; Asian Law Alliance; Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network; Asian Refugees United; Asian Texans for Justice; Association of Nepali Teraian in America; Association of Nepalis in Minnesota; Aurora Commons LLC; Baglung Welfare Society of America, New York; Balewa Society of America; Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America; Blasian March; Blood Donors of America, Colorado Chapter; Borderlands Resource Initiative; Building Education; California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative; California Immigrant Policy Center; Care in Action; Casa San Jose; Center for Gender & Refugee Studies; Central Ohio Nepali Association; Chinese for Affirmative Action; Chitwan Society of America; Church World Service; Colorado Nepal Alliance; Colorado Newah Khalah Inc.; Colorado Singh Sabha; Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP); Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Region; Council on American-Islamic Relations; Courage California; Creative Nepalese Society; Dallas Everest Women's Lions Club; Dallas Himalayan Sports Lions Club; Dallas Manakamana; Dhokpya Kyiduk USA; DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving, Inc.; East Bay Sanctuary Covenant; ECC Nepal; Embrace Nepal Foundation; Episcopal City Mission; Equality California; Everest Community Club; Everest Volleyball Club of North Carolina; Family Action Network Movement; Farmworker Association of Florida; FIWNA, Inc.; Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project; Florida Immigrant Coalition; Friends of Nepal; Future of Us; Ghyalsumda Seea Sanstha Inc.; Gorkhali Samaj Inc.; Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees; Greater Austin Nepalese Chamber of Commerce; Greater Austin Nepali Society; Greater Charlotte Nepalese Association; Gurung (Tamu) Society of New Hampshire; Haitian Bridge Alliance; HANA Center; Hands United; Helping Hands Health Education; Hindus for Human Rights; Hmong Innovating Politics; Hope Mobilization, Inc.; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef); Indivisible - Springfield, Ohio; INLS NH; Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti; International Mayan League; Irving Everest Centennial Lions Club; Japanese American Citizens League; Jhapali Samaj America Texas Chapter; Karen Organization of San Diego; Kirat Rai Society of America; Kirat Rai Society of America NY Chapter; Kirat Yakthung Chumlung; Krit Rai Society of America; Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA); LEAD Filipino; Legacies of War; Little Sisters Fund, Inc.; Long Island Nepalese Society; Magar Association USA, Inc.; Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego; Mass TPS Committee; Mekong NYC; Minnesota 8; Muslim Advocates; Myagdi Samaj USA; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum; National Domestic Workers Alliance; National Korean American Service and Education Consortium; National LGBTQ Task Force; National TPS Alliance; NCGP; NEPA Community USA; Nepal America Sociocultural Exchange Society (Nepali Ghar); Nepal Sanatan Sewa; Nepalese American Chamber of Commerce (NACOC); Nepalese Association of Houston; Nepalese Association of Michigan; Nepalese Society of Texas; Nepali American Center; Nepali American Community Center; Nepali Association of Northern California – Nepali Community Center; Nepali Community of Greater Pittsburgh; Nepali Elders Access Network (NEAN) Inc.; Nepali Jatra; Nepali Public Relation Committee America NY Chapter; Nepali Public Relation Committee Colorado; Nepali Samaj Marietta; Nepali Speaking Community Church; Nepalese Association of Connecticut; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; New Hampshire Nepali Community (NHNC); New York Immigration Coalition; Newah Nakha New York; Newah Organization of New England; Nicaraguan American Legal Defense and Education Fund (NALDEF); Non-Resident Nepali Association; Non-Resident Nepali Association CA; North Carolina Asian Americans Together; NRNA NCC America New York Chapter; NRNA NCC Texas Chapter; NRNA NCC USA Colorado Chapter; NRNA NH Chapter; NRNA Texas Chapter; NRNA VA; OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates; OCA-Greater Los Angeles; Ohio Immigrant Alliance; OPAWL - Building AAPI Feminist Leadership; Palpali Sangam Texas State Committee; PNSS Ohio; Prabas Nepali Samparka Samiti America; Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada; Queens Buddha Lions Club; Queens KTM Lions Club; Refugee Advocacy Lab; Refugee Congress; Rising Voices; Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal; SAAVETX EF; Sakhi for South Asian Survivors; Sanatan Mandir Cultural and Community Center; Sarin Gal; Search to Involve Pilipino Americans; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Sherpa Association of Colorado; Shree Krishna Pranami Hindu Samaj; Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF); Sindhu USA Welfare Society Inc.; Sisters Group, Colorado; Sojourners; South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO); South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI); South Asian Legal Defense Fund; South Asian Network; Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Stop AAPI Hate; Sunny Sagarmatha Society; Sunsar Maya; Syangja Samaj America Inc.; Tamang Society of Texas; Tamu Dhee Colorado Inc.; Tamu Pye Lhu Inc. New York America; Tanahun America Society; Thai Community Development Center; Thakali Sewa Samiti USA Inc.; The Advocates for Human Rights; The Gurung Tamu Society Inc.; The Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation; The TransLatin@ Coalition; The Workers Circle; Triad Nepalese Community Center (TNCC); True Alliance Center Inc.; U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI); Unitarian Universalist Service Committee; Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice; United Newa USA; US Nepal Climbers Association Inc.; Venezuelan American Caucus; VietLead; Waco Nepali Society; Washington State Nepali Community Center; We Are CASA; West Chester Sherpa Community; and Where Grace Abounds.

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Dear President Trump and Secretary Mullin,

We write regarding the catastrophic flooding that struck Nepal on August 26, 2026, and to urge the Administration to consider immediate temporary protections for Nepali nationals in the United States in light of the extraordinary humanitarian and recovery challenges facing the country.

Nepal’s previous Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation was based on conditions following the devastating 2015 earthquake and was terminated after the Department of Homeland Security determined that Nepal had sufficiently recovered from that disaster. following an assessment that the country had substantially recovered from 2015 earthquake and was able to adequately handle the return of its nationals. The August 2026 disaster presents a new and fundamentally different set of circumstances that warrants a new assessment based on current country conditions.

On August 26, 2026, a catastrophic glacial collapse and resulting ice-rock avalanche sent floodwaters, mud, and debris through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, devastating communities across northern and central Nepal. An estimated 1.6 million people have been impacted by this disaster. As of September 21, 2026, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reports 1,451 bodies recovered, over 5,780 people still missing, and an estimated 20,000 houses destroyed. Search and recovery operations remain underway. Roads, bridges, schools, hydropower facilities, and other essential infrastructure have been destroyed or severely damaged. Nepal's government estimates that recovery and reconstruction will cost $4.78 billion, underscoring the scale of the disaster.

These conditions have placed an extraordinary burden on Nepal as the country undertakes massive rescue, humanitarian, and reconstruction efforts. Many Nepali nationals currently living in the United States are from the communities directly affected by this disaster. Families are attempting to determine whether their loved ones are alive, if homes remain standing, and if their communities remain accessible. The humanitarian concern is particularly acute for former Nepali TPS beneficiaries who no longer have TPS protection and for other Nepali nationals whose immigration cases remain unresolved. For many, removal would mean returning to a country where their homes and communities no longer exists and relatives are missing or deceased.

We therefore respectfully urge the Administration to grant TPS protection to Nepal immediately, under 8 U.S.C. § 1254a(b)(1), based on the conditions created by the August 26, 2026 disaster. TPS was specifically designated for situations like this, and the Immigration and Nationality Act specifically lists flood and environmental disasters as a clear reason to designate TPS. We further urge the Administration to engage with the Government of Nepal to secure an official request for redesignation under the environmental disaster authority of 8 U.S.C. § 1254a(b)(1)(B), which would provide an additional, complementary basis for protection.

Such action would be consistent with both the statute and longstanding precedent. DHS has previously designated countries for TPS following catastrophic environmental disasters, including flooding in Honduras and Nicaragua and the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal, which killed nearly 9,000 people and displaced millions. The August 2026 floods have similarly caused a substantial, temporary disruption of living conditions, devastating communities and critical infrastructure across Nepal. These floods constitute a new and independent environmental disaster, separate from the conditions underlying Nepal’s previous TPS designation, and warrant a new determination based on current country conditions.

If TPS designation cannot be immediately provided, we respectfully ask the Administration to consider other appropriate temporary protections, including Deferred Enforced Departure for eligible Nepali nationals and a temporary pause on removals to areas of Nepal where rescue, recovery, and stabilization efforts remain underway.

The United States and Nepal have maintained a longstanding partnership, and the United States has repeatedly stood with the Nepali people in the aftermath of natural disasters. Providing appropriate, temporary protections while Nepal undertakes this difficult recovery would be consistent with that partnership and with the humanitarian purposes established by Congress in our immigration laws.

Given the urgency of this situation, we respectfully request prompt consideration of this matter and a response by October 9, 2026.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-chu-moran-and-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-bring,"Reps. Chu, Moran, and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Film Jobs Home",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“For generations, Southern California has been the heart of America's film and television industry, supporting thousands of workers and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley and across our region. But today, too many productions are leaving for other countries, taking good-paying jobs and economic opportunity with them. We cannot stand by while communities across the United States lose these productions and the jobs they support. That's why I am so proud to co-lead the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will create a new federal tax credit to incentivize film and television production here in America. This bill will help bring productions and jobs back home, support our creative workforce, and keep Southern California the entertainment capital of the world,” said Rep. Chu.

“When a production comes to a community—from rural East Texas to urban New York—that money doesn't just benefit the production company. It helps the local caterer, the hardware store, the hoteliers, and every tradesman in between who makes film and television production possible. Those jobs are going overseas right now simply because other countries are offering bigger handouts. If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that's exactly what this bill does. This isn't about subsidizing Hollywood—it's about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time. I'm proud to work with Senator Scott and our bipartisan group in both chambers to get this done, and I'm grateful to Ambassador Jon Voight and Sean Astin for the work they've put into pushing this forward,” said Rep. Moran.

“Having worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like ‘The Notebook’ bring us to tears, and films like ‘Forrest Gump’ inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to have served as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,” said Sen. Scott. “We cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America. Hollywood’s history is legendary, but the future of American filmmaking can be even brighter.”

“For years, I've been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of TV and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives. Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it's time we get this passed,” said Sen. Schiff.

“The United States is losing good-paying union jobs because it's become too expensive to film here. This isn't about the actors who star in films and can travel for a shoot. It's about the production crews and set builders, the backbone of the film industry. Our bill would create incentives to bring those jobs back home and boost local economies, not just in California, but across the country,” said Rep. Sánchez.

“My Congressional District is home to Trilith Studios, and I proudly represent the craftsmen, electricians, and carpenters who work hard to create movies that inspire generations of Americans. Study after study has demonstrated that American film production delivers substantial economic benefits to communities across our country by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating millions of dollars in local economic activity. I applaud President Trump's leadership in calling for a legislative solution to bring film production back to the United States, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to advance our legislation and achieve this important goal,” said Rep. Jack.

“For over a year, I've worked to build a coalition of unions, studios, Republicans and Democrats, and the White House, because we knew that a national film tax credit would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs back to our country,” said Rep. Friedman. “This bill is a result of that coalition. It tells every country that has been outbidding us for American work that we are done losing.”

“Ohio has a rich history in film production, from ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ to ‘The Avengers’ and ‘A Christmas Story.’ Many of these filming locations have become tourist attractions and are economic drivers to this day. The film industry provides high-paying jobs for artists, small businesses, and union workers. As other countries implement beneficial tax incentives to draw production away from the United States, Congress must work to ensure the United States stays competitive. I would like to commend Representative Moran for introducing this important legislation. As Chairman of the Humanities Caucus and a member of the tax-writing committee, I am confident this bill will help the United States maintain its global influence, as well as the high-paying jobs, associated with film production,” said Rep. Carey.

“The film and TV industry is an economic engine in New York. It supports thousands of good jobs at good wages,” said Rep. Suozzi “America is the entertainment leader of the world and this bill incentivizes filmmakers and studios to hire American workers. I'm proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan effort.”

What the Bill Does

- Creates a new federal tax credit for American film and television productions

- Covers every phase of production, including principal photography, traditional post-production, and visual effects, as long as the work happens in the United States

Endorsed by: American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Coalition for American Production (CAP), CreativeFuture, Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Paramount, Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW)

“I want to thank President Trump for bringing national attention to the urgent need for a federal film and television production tax credit and for calling on Congress to act,” said Jon Voight, United States Special Ambassador to Hollywood. “I also want to thank Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, along with Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, and Laura Friedman, for their work on this bipartisan effort to bring productions and jobs back to the United States. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will restore the American film and television industry, put crews back to work, support productions at all levels, and create economic opportunities in communities nationwide. All Americans want to bring our iconic film industry home, and we can do it by working together to get this important legislation passed quickly.”

“Paramount fully supports this legislation and thanks Representative Moran for his bipartisan leadership on this important issue. America's highly skilled production workforce — including camera operators, set production designers, editors, visual effects artists, lighting and sound crews, costume and makeup teams, transportation workers, filmmakers, and countless others — are critical to our nation's economy and have built and powered one of this country's greatest cultural exports. We believe now is the time to pursue this important legislation, so we can support our critical production workers and make more films and TV right here at home. Paramount will continue working closely with our union partners and the broader creative industry at every level to help support this effort,” said David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation.

“SAG-AFTRA is proud to partner with our fellow unions, industry and policymakers in a bipartisan effort to rescue the domestic film and television business. The money is being invested, the productions are being made, the jobs are being created, just not in America. This is a jobs bill and that is exactly what our members want to see. We have the infrastructure. We have the crews. We have the talent. Now all we need is a level playing field. We are the storytellers who inform and entertain the world. Let's get back to doing that right here at home. Thank you, Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Sánchez, Friedman, and Jack, for championing this critical legislation,” said Sean Astin, President, Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

“The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act is the most significant legislative effort in a generation to promote domestic film and television production, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports. This moment is the culmination of years of work by the entertainment guilds and unions, in partnership with the MPA and lawmakers from both parties. The DGA thanks Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Jack, and Friedman for advancing this important bipartisan effort to strengthen domestic production, create jobs, and further build on the critical work already underway through state incentives in California, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and elsewhere. We also acknowledge the leadership of Ambassador Voight on this issue. We look forward to working with our partners in Congress, labor, the Administration, and at the studios to get this bill signed into law,” said Christopher Nolan, President, Directors Guild of America.

“The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would deliver a true gamechanger for American creators, workers, and businesses, a federal incentive that supercharges production at home, fuels jobs and growth in local communities, and makes the United States a more competitive destination for the next generation of great film and television. There's a reason everyone from President Trump to a bipartisan group of members in Congress to studios, unions, guilds, and more want to get this done. Passing this legislation could inject $250 billion into the country's economy and deliver nearly 145,000 new jobs every year across all 50 states. That's a story we can write together by enacting this bill, to ensure that more stories are crafted, created, and made here in America. The Motion Picture Association thanks Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, and Tom Suozzi for their leadership in support of America's creative economy,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association.

Read full statements of support from these organizations and industry leadershere.

Background:

Many of the films Americans watch again and again were made here, by American crews, in American towns. “The Sandlot” was shot in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. “Jaws” was filmed on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. “Top Gun” was made in San Diego. “The Shawshank Redemption” was filmed in Mansfield, Ohio, and went on to become one of the most beloved American films ever made. “Singin’ in the Rain” was shot at MGM's old studios in Culver City, and “The Natural” was filmed in Buffalo, New York. If those productions had gone somewhere cheaper, they wouldn't be the movies people know today.

The legislation followspublic comments from President Trump this summer encouraging Congress to act on a bipartisan basis to bring film and television production back to the United States. Additional input and analysis on the legislation will take place as the bipartisan members work through the legislative process in both chambers with the goal of having the bill reach final consideration before the end of the year.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-chu-sherman-sens-schiff-padilla-press-fema-again-prevent-shutdown,"Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, Padilla Press FEMA Again to Prevent Shutdown of Critical Wildfire Recovery Program",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Lawmakers demand FEMA reverse denial of additional funding as September 30 shutdown looms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a follow-up letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton demanding immediate action to stop the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) serving survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires from shutting down on September 30.

The letter follows the lawmakers’ September 10 demand that FEMA immediately release millions of dollars in outstanding DCMP funding, a demand that has gone unanswered. On September 11, FEMA Region 9 denied California’s request for an additional $6.57 million needed to sustain the program, a decision the State has since appealed. The lawmakers are urging FEMA to grant the appeal, release the outstanding previously approved funding, and ensure there is no interruption in services.

“FEMA approved this program because survivors needed sustained case management throughout a long and difficult recovery. Yet FEMA’s own funding delays now threaten to force the program to shut down months before the end of that approved period,” the lawmakers wrote.

FEMA approved DCMP to operate for 24 months, but has released only approximately $3 million of the roughly $13 million approved for the program, with three remaining installments still under review. Meanwhile, the need for case management remains significant: DCMP providers report more than 3,000 survivors have been served, including 1,288 active cases and 84 survivors on an immediate waitlist. Of the active caseload, 1,023 cases are categorized at the highest complexity levels.

The September 30 shutdown also lands just days before FEMA Rental Assistance for Los Angeles wildfire survivors is scheduled to expire on October 9. As of September 17, 801 households were receiving rental assistance, including 623 renter households, with another 329 applications pending.

“Allowing DCMP to terminate on September 30, immediately before this separate housing assistance cliff, risks leaving survivors without trained case managers precisely when many may need additional help navigating housing challenges and other unmet recovery needs,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers are calling on FEMA to immediately grant California’s appeal and approve the additional $6.57 million needed to sustain DCMP through its approved period, release the remaining installments of the existing award, and take all available steps to prevent an interruption in services.

“More than 20 months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires devastated our communities, thousands of survivors remain in the midst of rebuilding their homes and their lives,” the lawmakers wrote. “It would be unacceptable for that program to collapse prematurely not because the need has disappeared, but because FEMA has failed to release already-approved funding and denied the additional resources necessary to keep it operating.”

The lawmakers requested answers from FEMA by September 28 on the outstanding funding and what immediate steps the agency will take to prevent DCMP services from ending on September 30.

Read the lawmakers’ September 10 letter HERE.

Read the full September 24 letter HERE and below.

----

The Honorable Cameron Hamilton

Administrator

Federal Emergency Management Agency

500 C Street SW

Washington, DC 20472

Dear Administrator Hamilton,

We write in strong support of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’

(CalOES) appeal of FEMA Region 9’s September 11, 2026, denial of $6,568,265.60 in additional

funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) serving survivors of the January

2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires in Los Angeles County. Without immediate action from FEMA,

DCMP operations will be forced to terminate prematurely on September 30, 2026, leaving

thousands of wildfire survivors without critical rebuilding and recovery support.

As we indicated in our September 10, 2026, letter, which has not received a response, additional

federal funding is urgently needed to ensure DCMP can operate through the 24-month timeframe

FEMA approved on May 5, 2025. FEMA approved this program because survivors needed

sustained case management throughout a long and difficult recovery. Yet FEMA’s own funding

delays now threaten to force the program to shut down months before the end of that approved

period.

On September 11, 2026, FEMA denied the State’s request for additional funding, stating the

State had not provided sufficient cost justification demonstrating a need for funding beyond the

original FEMA-approved award. But FEMA has not even provided the full amount of that

original award. Of the approximately $13 million approved by FEMA, only one installment of

approximately $3 million has been released to date, while the remaining three installments are

still under FEMA’s review.

The State’s supplemental funding request is not an effort to unnecessarily expand DCMP. It

reflects the documented cost of continuing to provide services through the timeframe FEMA

already approved. FEMA should not allow its own delays in releasing approved funding to

prematurely terminate a program it determined was necessary for this recovery.

The continued need for DCMP is clear. According to DCMP providers, more than 3,000

survivors have already been served by the program, including 1,288 active cases and 84

survivors on an immediate waitlist. Of the active caseload, 1,023 cases are categorized at the

highest complexity levels. And a broader provider database indicates that 7,000 additional

survivors are awaiting assignment to a case manager. These numbers demonstrate that the need

for case management has not diminished. Thousands of survivors remain in the middle of their

recovery and thousands more are still waiting for assistance.

That need could become even more acute in the coming weeks. FEMA Rental Assistance for Los

Angeles wildfire survivors is currently scheduled to expire on October 9, just days after DCMP

is scheduled to terminate. As of September 17, 801 households were receiving rental assistance,

including 623 renter households, with another 329 applications pending. Allowing DCMP to

terminate on September 30, immediately before this separate housing assistance cliff, risks

leaving survivors without trained case managers precisely when many may need additional help

navigating housing challenges and other unmet recovery needs.

We therefore urge FEMA to immediately grant the State’s appeal and approve the additional

$6,568,265.60 necessary to sustain DCMP through its approved period. We further urge FEMA

to immediately release the remaining installments of the existing DCMP award and take all

available administrative steps necessary to ensure there is no interruption in DCMP services

while the State’s appeal and outstanding funding installments are under review.

Given the impending September 30, 2026, termination of this program, we request responses to

the following questions no later than September 28, 2026:

1. FEMA stated in its denial that the State did not demonstrate the need for additional

funding beyond the program’s initial scope and award. What specific additional

documentation or cost justification does FEMA require to approve the State’s

supplemental funding request?

2. How did FEMA determine that the State had not demonstrated a need for additional

funding when less than one-quarter of the approximately $13 million FEMA already

approved has actually been released?

3. What is the expected timeframe for FEMA to complete its review and release the second,

third, and fourth installments of the existing DCMP award?

4. In its denial of the supplemental funding request, FEMA stated that these installments

were delayed in part because non-disaster program grants were prioritized due to

deadlines that could have “placed funding at risk.” Given that DCMP itself is now at risk

of prematurely terminating because of a lack of funding, what steps is FEMA taking to

expedite review and release of these outstanding funds?

5. What immediate steps will FEMA take to ensure there is no interruption in DCMP

services on September 30 while the State’s appeal and the remaining installments of the

existing award are under review?

More than 20 months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires devastated our communities, thousands

of survivors remain in the midst of rebuilding their homes and their lives. FEMA approved

DCMP to support survivors through this lengthy recovery. It would be unacceptable for that

program to collapse prematurely not because the need has disappeared, but because FEMA has

failed to release already-approved funding and denied the additional resources necessary to keep

it operating.

We urge FEMA to act immediately to grant the State’s appeal, release the outstanding funds, and

ensure there is no interruption in services for the thousands of survivors who depend on DCMP.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://friedman.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-rep-friedman-bipartisan-bicameral-coalition-announce-legislation,"RELEASE: Rep. Friedman, Bipartisan & Bicameral Coalition Announce Legislation to Create a National Film Tax Credit",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Laura Friedman,F000483,friedman.house.gov,friedman,https://friedman.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, September 24, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, legislation to create a national film tax credit and bring hundreds of thousands of good-paying production jobs back to the United States.

A one-pager on the bill is available here. Full text is available here.

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will create 143,500 full-time equivalent jobs annually across the country by establishing a 20% tax credit on labor expenses for American workers on qualifying film and television productions, with bonus credits worth up to 30% for productions that hire in rural or federal disaster areas, work across multiple states, or bring work home from overseas. The bill is led by Representatives Laura Friedman, Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Linda Sánchez (CA-38) (CA-30), Brian Jack (GA-03), David Kustoff (TN-08), Judy Chu (CA-28), Mike Carey (OH-15), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) in the House. In the Senate, the bill is led by Senators Tim Scott (SC) and Adam Schiff (CA).

“For over a year, I’ve worked to build a coalition of unions, studios, Republicans & Democrats, and the White House, because we knew that a national film tax credit would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs back to our country,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “This bill is a result of that coalition. It tells every country that has been outbidding us for American work that we are done losing”

WHAT THE BILL DOES:

A 20% credit on American labor expenses. Feature films, television pilots, and television seasons that cost more than $1 million qualify if at least 75% of their principal photography days happen in the United States.

Bonus credits that reward hiring where it is needed most. Productions can earn an additional 5% each, up to a 30% total credit, for shooting at least 30% of their days in a rural opportunity zone or a federally declared disaster area, for independent productions, for spending at least $10 million in qualified wages across 10 or more states, and for increasing domestic production relative to what a company shoots abroad.

Includes post-production and visual effects work. Domestic post-production and VFX qualify as long as at least 75% of those costs are incurred in the United States, with the same 5% bonuses available.

Usable by independent producers, not just major studios. The credit is transferable, meaning a producer who doesn't owe enough in federal taxes to use it can sell it to a company that does and get the cash up front.

Takes effect quickly. The credit applies to productions that begin in taxable years starting after December 31, 2026.

A one-pager with more details can be found here

FRIEDMAN’S WORK TO GET AMERICA A NATIONAL FILM TAX CREDIT:

Spent more than a year building the coalition behind this bill, sitting down with Rep. Brian Jack, Jon Voight, industry unions, studios, producers, and more to make the case for a national film tax credit before the issue had political momentum, as Variety reported in May 2025.

Co-founded the Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus with Rep. Brian Jack (GA-03), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), building the bipartisan bloc that will help carry this bill, as reported by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.

Helped stand up the U.S. Film & TV Production Coalition with the Motion Picture Association, Jon Voight, IATSE, the DGA, and the industry’s unions, appearing at the September 2026 press conference where MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin released the study behind these numbers, as covered by TheWrap.

“Having worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like ‘The Notebook’ bring us to tears, and films like ‘Forrest Gump’ inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to serve as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,” said Senator Tim Scott (SC). “We cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America.”

“For years, I’ve been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of tv and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives. Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it’s time we get this passed,” said Senator Adam Schiff (CA).

“When a production comes to a community—from rural East Texas to urban New York—that money doesn't just benefit the production company. It helps the local caterer, the hardware store, the hoteliers, and every tradesman in between who makes film and television production possible. Those jobs are going overseas right now simply because other countries are offering bigger handouts. If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that's exactly what this bill does. This isn't about subsidizing Hollywood—it's about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time. I'm proud to work with Senator Scott and our bipartisan group in both chambers to get this done, and I'm grateful to Ambassador Jon Voight and Sean Astin for the work they've put into pushing this forward,” said Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01).

“My Congressional District is home to Trilith Studios, and I proudly represent the craftsmen, electricians, and carpenters who work hard to create movies that inspire generations of Americans. Study after study has demonstrated that American film production delivers substantial economic benefits to communities across our country by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating millions of dollars in local economic activity. I applaud President Trump's leadership in calling for a legislative solution to bring film production back to the United States, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to advance our legislation and achieve this important goal,” said Rep. Brian Jack (GA-03).

“The United States is losing good-paying union jobs because it’s become too expensive to film here. This isn’t about the actors who star in films and can travel for a shoot. It’s about the production crews and set builders, the backbone of the film industry. Our bill would create incentives to bring those jobs back home and boost local economies, not just in California, but across the country,” said Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38).

“For generations, Southern California has been the heart of America's film and television industry, supporting thousands of workers and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley and across our region. But today, too many productions are leaving for other countries, taking good-paying jobs and economic opportunity with them. We cannot stand by while communities across the United States lose these productions and the jobs they support. That's why I am so proud to co-lead the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will create a new federal tax credit to incentivize film and television production here in America. This bill will help bring productions and jobs back home, support our creative workforce, and keep Southern California the entertainment capital of the world,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28).

“Ohio has a rich history in film production, from ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ to ‘The Avengers’ and ‘A Christmas Story.’ Many of these filming locations have become tourist attractions and are economic drivers to this day. The film industry provides high-paying jobs for artists, small businesses, and union workers. As other countries implement beneficial tax incentives to draw production away from the United States, Congress must work to ensure the United States stays competitive. I would like to commend Representative Moran for introducing this important legislation. As Chairman of the Humanities Caucus and a member of the tax-writing committee, I am confident this bill will help the United States maintain its global influence, as well as the high-paying jobs, associated with film production,” said Congressman Mike Carey (OH-15).

“The film and TV industry is an economic engine in New York. It supports thousands of good jobs at good wages,” said Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03). “America is the entertainment leader of the world and this bill incentivizes filmmakers and studios to hire American workers. I'm proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan effort.”

“I want to thank President Trump for bringing national attention to the urgent need for a federal film and television production tax credit and for calling on Congress to act,” said Hollywood Ambassador Jon Voight. “I also want to thank Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, along with Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, Tom Suozzi, and the growing list of supporters, for their work on this bipartisan effort to bring productions and jobs back to the United States. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will restore the American film and television industry, put crews back to work, support productions at all levels, and create economic opportunities in communities nationwide. All Americans want to bring our iconic film industry home, and we can do it by working together to get this important legislation passed quickly.”

Endorsed by: American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Coalition for American Production (CAP), CreativeFuture, Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Paramount, Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW).

Statements of support from endorsing organizations can be found here.

The American film and television industry supports more than two million jobs, pays $202 billion in wages, and is made up of more than 162,000 businesses in all 50 states, the vast majority of them small businesses. But more than 100,000 production jobs have disappeared since the industry’s peak in October 2022, a decline of roughly 36% through February 2026.

While U.S. high-budget production spending fell 20% in 2025, the United Kingdom grew 15%, and Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic grew a combined 78%. Sixty-five countries now offer production incentives, and no single state can outbid a foreign government.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-titus-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-on-trump-admin-plans-to-open-public-lands-to-ai-datacenters,"Huffman, Titus Lead Colleagues in Demanding Answers on Trump Admin Plans to Open Public Lands to AI Datacenters",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Interior is reviewing at least a dozen proposals covering 17,600 acres across six states while shutting the public out

Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Representative Dina Titus (D-Nev.), along with 14 House Democrats, sent a letter demanding answers from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on the Department's reported plans to hand over federal public lands for massive data center projects.

The Bureau of Land Management is reportedly reviewing at least a dozen data center proposals at the President's direction, covering at least 17,600 acres across Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Burgum has met with dozens of technology and energy executives about data center build out since the 2025 executive order on data center permitting, and BLM officials have reportedly compiled lists of public land to target for development.

“Our public lands must not be managed by secret deals and industry-led schemes,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers warned that the buildout will drive up costs for families already facing rising bills. One study found data centers could consume up to 12 percent of all U.S. electricity by 2028, straining the grid and pushing energy prices higher. At the same time, BLM has lost nearly half its staff under this administration, with a reported 50 percent vacancy rate in the Lands and Realty program that handles permitting. The agency proposed further cuts for fiscal year 2027 while naming data centers a top priority, which the members said will worsen backlogs for ready-to-build clean energy projects that would lower energy bills.

The letter points to the Townsite Data Center, the first BLM-approved data center on public lands, now held up in court after the agency let a developer reuse a permit issued for a solar project without new environmental review or public comment.

The members also raised alarm over Secretarial Order 3452, which directs Interior staff to streamline or exempt reviews of impacts to cultural and historic sites and to terminate Tribal consultation when an official decides further talks ""will not be productive.""

“Federal public lands belong to all Americans, and all Americans deserve to have a say in development that would affect our lands, waters, and access to public resources,” the members wrote.

“To date, the Trump administration has taken no effort to involve the American public in these data center plans – only industry executives,” they added.

Huffman and Titus were joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

Read the full letter here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://kevinmullin.house.gov/2026/09/24/mullin-kaptur-introduce-the-sunlight-on-superpacs-act/,Mullin & Kaptur Introduce the Sunlight on SuperPACs Act,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Kevin Mullin,M001225,kevinmullin.house.gov,kevinmullin,https://kevinmullin.house.gov/category/press_release/,scraper,"San Mateo, CA — As the election nears and to help provide more transparency into who is paying for campaigns, Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) introduced the Sunlight on SuperPACs Act of 2026.

This new legislation would require federal election campaign ads paid for by SuperPACs to disclose the name and dollar amount contributed to that SuperPAC by its top three major donors of $5,000 or more. By providing voters with more information on the funders of election ads, they will be empowered to make more informed decisions about the content of those ads.

“Voters deserve to know who is trying to influence their decisions at the ballot box,” said Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15), who authored the California DISCLOSE Act while previously serving in the state’s legislature. “When political groups hide who is funding their ads, it undermines trust in our elections and our democracy. I’m proud to cosponsor the Sunlight on SuperPACs Act to give voters a clearer picture of who is behind the political messages they see and how much they have invested in them. With greater transparency in campaign spending, voters will have more of the information they need to make informed decisions in the upcoming elections.”

“Voters should know who is bankrolling campaign ads that come across their television screens, billboards, and smart phones,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “Requiring disclosures to appear in the campaign ads themselves will give voters the information they deserve. Transparency is the first big step to returning control of our democracy back to the American people.”

“The explosion of ‘pop-up’ SuperPACs hiding their true agendas behind fake names and paperwork games is a scam to deceive voters,” said Jon Golinger, Democracy Advocate, Public Citizen. “The Sunlight on SuperPACs Act pulls the mask off these clowns by requiring the top three funders of every SuperPAC to be printed right on their ads. This is a proven method to arm voters with information they can use to decide whether to buy whatever sketchy SuperPACs are trying to sell.”

SuperPACs are political organizations that originated in 2010 and can spend an unlimited amount of money to support or oppose political candidates. SuperPACs also have no limit on how much money they accept from donors. While they cannot give money directly to candidates or their campaigns, these organizations can have tremendous amounts of influence on elections through spending money on advertising and organizing.

The Sunlight on SuperPACs legislation will allow voters to see information about the source of campaign ad funding in real-time, following the example of successful state and local disclosure initiatives enacted by voters in California and Alaska for example.

A full copy of the Sunlight on SuperPACs Act of 2026 can be found by clicking here, and a one-page background document can be found by clicking here.

Other original co-sponsors of the Sunlight on SuperPACs Act include Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), and Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07).

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/liccardo-calls-federal-investigation-russian-owned-menlo-park-development,"Liccardo Calls for Federal Investigation into Russian-Owned Menlo Park Development, Potential Sanctions",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sam T. Liccardo,L000607,liccardo.house.gov,liccardo,https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA) demands Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launch an immediate federal review of the ownership and financing behind a proposed real estate development at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park. Liccardo urged the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and other appropriate federal agencies to examine the property and consider sanctions against its Russian owner, Vitaly Yusufov, and his father, Igor Yusufov.

“I urge immediate review of the source of funding behind a real estate development at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park, California, owned by a Russian citizen, Vitaly Yusufov,” wrote Liccardo. “Public sources raise serious questions about Vitaly Yusufov’s ties to the Russian government and individuals linked to organized crime, warranting immediate review by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), and, ultimately, consideration for sanctions.”

In the letter, Liccardo cited public reporting regarding Vitaly Yusufov’s past business dealings, his sanctions by Ukraine, and reported connections involving Russian government officials and organized crime figures. The letter also notes that Yusufov’s father, Igor Yusufov, previously served as Russia’s Energy Minister and as a board member of Gazprom and Rosneft.

Liccardo raised separate national security concerns because of the property’s location in Silicon Valley and its proximity to companies and research centers working in defense technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

“Given the very high concentration of defense tech, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing companies and research centers in the region, we believe federal agencies should review the property, its ownership, and its financial backing to ensure Kremlin officials and their proxies cannot obtain sensitive information about critical U.S. companies and their employees,” the letter reads.

The letter also points to concerns surrounding transparency in the property’s financing and ownership. Liccardo cited a 2023 FinCEN warning that sanctioned Russian elites and their proxies may seek to exploit vulnerabilities in the U.S. commercial real estate market to evade sanctions or conceal illicit funds.

Liccardo requested a formal federal review of Yusufov, Willow Project LLC, and the 80 Willow Road property, including transactions and entities associated with its acquisition, financing, ownership, and development.

“Given the reported ties to U.S. adversaries and organized crime figures, as well as the development’s proximity to companies and infrastructure critical to our national security, we urge OFAC to immediately review Vitaly and Igor Yusufov for potential sanctions designation and urge appropriate federal agencies to review the ownership, financing, and development of 80 Willow Road,” wrote Liccardo.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sanchez-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-bring-film-jobs-home,"Sánchez, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to bring film jobs home",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Linda T. Sánchez,S001156,lindasanchez.house.gov,lindasanchez,https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), along with Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), today introduced the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, a bipartisan bill to revive film and television production in the United States and drive economic growth in local communities.

The bill would create a federal tax credit for productions made in the United States to reverse the flow of film and television jobs to foreign countries that are luring these productions away. It would bring that work back to American production crews, small businesses and communities that depend on the industry.Sánchez and Moran were joined by Representatives Brian Jack (R-Ga.), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Mike Carey (R-Ohio) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) in introducing the bill. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“The United States is losing good-paying union jobs because it’s become too expensive to film here,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “This isn’t about the actors who star in films and can travel for a shoot. It’s about the production crews and set builders, the backbone of the film industry. Our bill would create incentives to bring those jobs back home and boost local economies, not just in California, but across the country.”

“When a production comes to a community – from rural East Texas to urban New York – that money doesn’t just benefit the production company,” said Congressman Moran. “It helps the local caterer, the hardware store, the hoteliers, and every tradesman in between who makes film and television production possible. Those jobs are going overseas right now simply because other countries are offering bigger handouts. If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that’s exactly what this bill does. This isn’t about subsidizing Hollywood – it’s about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time. I’m proud to work with Senator Scott and our bipartisan group in both chambers to get this done, and I’m grateful to Ambassador Jon Voight and Sean Astin for the work they’ve put into pushing this forward.”

“My Congressional District is home to Trilith Studios, and I proudly represent the craftsmen, electricians, and carpenters who work hard to create movies that inspire generations of Americans,” said Congressman Jack. “Study after study has demonstrated that American film production delivers substantial economic benefits to communities across our country by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating millions of dollars in local economic Activity. I applaud President Trump’s leadership in calling for a legislative solution to bring film production back to the United States, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to advance our legislation and achieve this important goal.”

“For over a year, I’ve worked to build a coalition of unions, studios, Republicans and Democrats, and the White House, because we knew that a national film tax credit would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs back to our country,” said Congresswoman Friedman. “This bill is a result of that coalition. It tells every country that has been outbidding us for American work that we are done losing.”

“For generations, Southern California has been the heart of America’s film and television industry, supporting thousands of workers and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley and across our region,” said Congresswoman Chu. “But today, too many productions are leaving for other countries, taking good-paying jobs and economic opportunity with them. We cannot stand by while communities across the United States lose these productions and the jobs they support. That’s why I am so proud to co-lead the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will create a new federal tax credit to incentivize film and television production here in America. This bill will help bring productions and jobs back home, support our creative workforce, and keep Southern California the entertainment capital of the world.”

“Ohio has a rich history in film production, from ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ to ‘The Avengers’ and ‘A Christmas Story,’” said Congressman Carey. “Many of these filming locations have become tourist attractions and are economic drivers to this day. The film industry provides high-paying jobs for artists, small businesses, and union workers. As other countries implement beneficial tax incentives to draw production away from the United States, Congress must work to ensure the United States stays competitive. I would like to commend Representative Moran for introducing this important legislation. As Chairman of the Humanities Caucus and a member of the tax-writing committee, I am confident this bill will help the United States maintain its global influence, as well as the high-paying jobs, associated with film production.”

“The film and TV industry is an economic engine in New York. It supports thousands of good jobs at good wages,” said Congressman Suozzi. “America is the entertainment leader of the world and this bill incentivizes filmmakers and studios to hire American workers. I’m proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan effort.”

“Having worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like ‘The Notebook’ bring us to tears, and films like ‘Forrest Gump’ inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to serve as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,” said Senator Scott. “We cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America.”

“For years, I’ve been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of TV and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives,” said Senator Schiff. “Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it’s time we get this passed.”

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:

Spur American jobs and economic development by providing a 20 percent federal, labor-based tax credit to U.S. film and television productions with minimum spend of $1 million and where at least 75 percent of the principal photography days occur within the United States;

Offer 5 percent bonus credit allowances, increasing the base credit up to a maximum of 30 percent, for productions in rural opportunity zones and areas impacted by disasters, independent productions, multi-state producers in 10+ states, and producers who show a measurable onshoring of productions;

Make the credit available to traditional post-production and visual effects activities when at least 75 percent of the respective post-production and visual effects production takes place in the U.S; and

Support the investments of states currently offering incentives by allowing the federal incentive to supplement state credits.

The bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; the Coalition for American Production; CreativeFuture; the Directors Guild of America; FilmUSA; the Independent Film and Television Alliance; the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; the Motion Picture Association; Netflix; Paramount; the Producers Guild of America; the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists; Sony Pictures Entertainment; the Teamsters, the Television Academy; the Walt Disney Company; Warner Bros Discovery; the Writers Guild of America East and the Writers Guild of America West; and the U.S. Film and Television Production Coalition.

Statements of support from these organizations and industry leaders are available HERE.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-and-obernolte-lead-introduction-american-leadership-fusion-act,Lofgren and Obernolte Lead Introduction of American Leadership in Fusion Act,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“Fusion is the future, and this bipartisan bill is a major step in capitalizing on the promise of its emission-free power,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. “I’m proud to be introducing this bill today alongside Representatives Obernolte, Beyer, Trahan, and Gallagher—and I thank them for their partnership. We are faced with a choice: lead the global race to commercialize fusion power or get left behind. We need to match the momentum we are experiencing with breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility, from the emerging fusion energy industry, and at universities and other national laboratories across the country to fortify the foundation of fusion energy in America, in both the private and public sectors. With $10 billion in direct investments for high-priority activities, the establishment of an Office of Fusion at DOE, a workforce development program, and much more—this bill will unleash a new era of fusion energy development in the United States.”

“Fusion energy has the potential to be a reliable domestic source of power and strengthen America’s energy independence,” said Rep. Jay Obernolte. “The American Leadership in Fusion Act supports the research infrastructure and commercialization pathways needed to move fusion technologies toward deployment and maintain U.S. leadership in this critical field.”

“Fusion energy can help deliver abundant, reliable, clean energy for decades to come, but if we want to realize its promise, we need to make greater investments in its commercialization,” said Congressman Beyer. “That’s why I’m proud to support the bipartisan American Leadership in Fusion Act, which would provide $10 billion in direct investment to accelerate fusion commercialization and establish an Office of Fusion. We must give promising fusion technologies the resources they need to reach the grid and ensure American leadership in this global race.”

“At a time when families across the country are struggling with rising energy costs, fusion energy offers the promise of delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power. However, turning that promise into reality requires sustained investment and commitment,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This legislation will help accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy and strengthen America’s position as a global leader in this critical technology. By investing in the scientists, researchers, and companies developing the next generation of energy technology here in the United States, we can advance our clean energy goals, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our energy independence. America has always been at its best when we lead the world in innovation, and fusion is our opportunity to lead once again.”

“Fusion energy represents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen American energy dominance, drive innovation, and create new opportunities for workers and businesses for the North State and across the nation,"" said Rep. James Gallagher (CA-01). “This bipartisan bill makes critical investments to accelerate the commercialization of fusion, grow our research capabilities, and support the next generation of American talent. We must build on the breakthroughs happening across our national laboratories, universities, and private sector to ensure America remains at the forefront of fusion energy.”

""The FIA, as the unified voice of the fusion industry, applauds and commends Representatives Lofgren, Obernolte, Gallagher, Trahan, and Beyer for introducing bipartisan legislation to advance the commercialization of fusion energy,” said Andrew Holland, Chief Executive Officer, Fusion Industry Association. “The private fusion industry has attracted a record $4.5 billion in investment over the past year, but to deploy in the U.S. within the next decade, it needs a strong partner in the federal government. The American Leadership in Fusion Act provides the DOE with the necessary guidance to support commercialization, along with the government resources needed to develop the infrastructure and grow the public-private partnerships accelerating fusion's deployment.""

“The global race to commercialize fusion will be won by the nation that can translate scientific leadership into industrial strength,” said Ylli Bajraktari, CEO, SCSP Action Program. “The American Leadership in Fusion Actrecognizes fusion as a strategic national priority with the potential to help secure America’s energy future, strengthen its economic and national security, and ensure that the United States—not China—sets the pace for this critical technology. By investing at scale in test infrastructure, milestone-based public-private partnerships, domestic supply chains, and the fusion workforce, this bipartisan legislation translates a comprehensive national strategy into action.”",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-cline-tillis-coons-blackburn-and-schiff-lead-bipartisan-bill-combat,"Lofgren, Cline, Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff Lead Bipartisan Bill to Combat Foreign Digital Piracy",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation focused on combating foreign digital piracy. The Deterring Extraterritorial Foreign Exploitation of Networks Damaging Intellectual Property (DEFEND IP) Act of 2026 is being led in the Senate by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Text for this legislation can be found here.

Previous efforts to curb foreign digital piracy failed because they lacked due process, threatened free speech, and provided overly broad enforcement powers that risked harming legitimate websites and the open internet. The DEFEND IP Act instead:

Respects First Amendment rights by requiring every blocking order to go through a U.S. court, requiring clear evidence, due process, and judicial oversight to ensure fair enforcement and prevent censorship.

Allows for feasible tech solutions by not mandating specific technical measures for blocking like past proposals. Instead, it allows service providers to determine the best, least intrusive method(s) to comply with court orders, preserving internet stability and security.

Strictly applies to large-scale, foreign-run piracy sites, ensuring that lawful U.S. platforms, mixed-use sites, and independent creators remain unaffected.

Calls for ongoing monitoring, as judicial orders would be temporary and require detailed evidence showing harm before any issuance or renewal.

Protects service providers from legal liability for implementing judicial orders and for actions of blocked criminal sites.

“Protecting a free and open internet and standing up for American creators go hand in hand,” said Rep. Lofgren. ""Foreign piracy operations exploit a loophole in our law, hurting workers and businesses in California and across the country while putting consumers at risk. I am proud to work across the aisle on this smart, targeted approach to crack down on foreign piracy while protecting Americans’ free speech and access to a free and open internet.”

“Foreign piracy sites steal our Nation’s creative works, exposing creators and consumers to fraud, intellectual property theft, and financial harm,” said Rep. Cline. “The bipartisan, bicameral DEFEND IP Act would give American creators a way to pursue foreign criminals in U.S. courts while protecting free speech and an open internet. By closing this legal gap, we can strengthen IP protections, support American jobs and businesses, and give creators greater tools to defend their work.”

“Foreign piracy continues to threaten American creators, putting well-paying jobs at risk, while exposing consumers to malware, identity theft, and other serious online harms,” said Sen. Tillis. “The DEFEND IP Act provides a targeted, commonsense tool to shut down these foreign, criminal operations at the source while protecting lawful speech and due process. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to safeguard America’s creative economy and strengthen digital security, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to counter these threats.”

“Pirating American movies, TV shows, art, and books by foreign websites steals tens of billions of dollars from the U.S. economy each year, costing our creative community hundreds of thousands of jobs,” said Sen. Coons. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will give American creators the tools they need to protect their intellectual property rights, while ensuring the internet remains a vibrant forum for free speech.”

“Tennessee’s thriving creative community must be protected from the theft of creative works by foreign criminals,” said Sen. Blackburn. “Foreign piracy operations threaten the American creative industry through phishing, identity theft, and financial fraud, and our DEFEND IP Act would protect creators by allowing them to pursue these criminals in U.S. federal courts.”

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to protect creators and consumers alike from foreign criminal enterprises seeking to steal our intellectual property and exploit Americans,” said Sen. Schiff. “As Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and a steadfast advocate for the creative community, I understand that robust protections are essential for innovation and economic growth in the digital age. This commonsense approach will provide the courts with the tools they need to combat foreign piracy operations and help level the playing field for American artists and creators who deserve to be fairly compensated for their work.”

This legislation is endorsed by over a dozen organizations: Motion Picture Association (MPA), Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), American Society of Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL), Association of American Publishers (AAP), Recording Academy, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), the Copyright Alliance, Songwriters of North America (SONA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), CreativeFuture, Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP), Authors Guild, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA).

""We applaud Reps. Lofgren and Cline, and Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff for their commitment to protecting the millions of Americans working in the creative industries by introducing this site-blocking legislation,” says CreativeFuture CEO Ruth Vitale. “Our film and television industry employs 2.01 million workers. The industry is composed of more than 162,000 businesses, 93% of which employ fewer than 10 people. Piracy, most of which is coming from territories beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement, threatens to undermine all of this. The overwhelming evidence from almost 60 countries around the world with site-blocking in place proves that these laws shift traffic away from illegal pirate sites toward the legal marketplace. We look forward to seeing a judicial site blocking law enacted here in the U.S.”

""The DEFEND IP Act would help protect American creators from foreign actors who steal and profit from their content,” said ITIF President Daniel Castro. ""The legislation provides important due process protections by entrusting website-blocking authority to the courts, while protecting Internet users by leaving the technical implementation of blocking injunctions to qualified experts rather than judges. This calibrated approach balances the need to protect America’s creative industries with the interests of Internet users.”

“The Motion Picture Association commends Representatives Lofgren and Cline and Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn and Schiff for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral DEFEND IP Act – a bill to deliver a long-overdue judicial site-blocking framework to the United States,” said Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin. ""By enacting this legislation, our country can deploy a highly effective tool to protect creators and consumers from overseas digital piracy, all while safeguarding free speech and preserving the open internet. For more than a decade, similar policies have been used to great effect by democratic allies like the United Kingdom and Australia. We look forward to working with Congress and stakeholders to enact this important measure into law.”

“We are grateful to Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff and Representatives Lofgren and Cline for their bipartisan, bicameral leadership in crafting the DEFEND IP Act, which empowers US federal courts to protect consumers, rightsholders, and markets from large scale foreign piracy,” said Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America. “Similar tools have proven effective around the world over the last ten years with no harm to speech, Internet infrastructure or security, or participation online, and we look forward to working with the sponsors to create a simple, effective judicial remedy as this bill moves forward.”

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-authors-bipartisan-nato-shield-act-require-congressional-approval,Rep. Panetta Authors Bipartisan NATO Shield Act  to Require Congressional Approval  Before U.S. Withdrawal From NATO,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced the NATO Shield Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish a statutory framework requiring Congressional approval before any President can initiate the withdrawal of the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) is co-leading the legislation.

The legislation builds on Rep. Panetta’s bipartisan efforts to secure a provision in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to establish Congressional limits to prevent unilateral U.S. withdrawal from NATO. The NATO Treaty currently provides a process through which a member may withdraw following one year’s notice. The NATO Shield Act builds on Rep. Panetta’s previous NDAA efforts in order to ensure that any decision by a President to begin that process is subject to Congressional oversight and approval.

“NATO is one of the most consequential and successful security alliances in the history of the world,” said Rep. Panetta. “It is the foundation for security not just in Europe, but also throughout the globe. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to have a voice in any decisions that weaken NATO. At a time of growing threats and global instability, the bipartisan NATO Shield Act would strengthen existing guardrails and ensure that any effort to withdraw the United States from NATO is subject to Congressional oversight and approval.”

“I am grateful to co-lead the NATO Shield Act to ensure that America’s commitment to our NATO allies remains strong and any decision that weakens this critical alliance receives the full consideration of Congress. NATO is essential to achieving Peace Through Strength, deterring war criminal Putin, and ensuring Dictators with Rule of Gun who threaten freedom and democracy around the world do not invade Democracies with Rule of Law,” said Rep. Wilson.

The legislation treats withdrawal from NATO as a matter directly connected to Congress’s constitutional war powers, as abandoning the Alliance would fundamentally alter U.S. deterrence, military deployments, force posture, and strategic commitments around the world.

Specifically, the NATO Shield Act would:

Require consultation with Congress before a President initiates any action to withdraw the United States from NATO.

Require a formal report to Congress within 48 hours of any withdrawal action, modeled on the reporting framework of the War Powers Resolution.

Automatically terminate withdrawal actions after 30 days unless Congress affirmatively approves continued withdrawal.

Prohibit the use of federal funds to implement an unauthorized NATO withdrawal.

Establish expedited Congressional procedures allowing Congress to quickly consider resolutions approving or disapproving a withdrawal.

Provide for judicial review, including standing for Members of Congress to seek enforcement of the statute in federal court.

NATO remains a central component of U.S. and European security cooperation. A United States withdrawal would have significant implications for the Alliance’s collective defense posture and for America’s ability to coordinate with European allies in responding to military, cyber, and gray-zone threats.

The ongoing conflict involving Iran and the broader instability in the Middle East further demonstrate the importance of maintaining close coordination among the United States and its allies. Escalation in the region could affect European security through disruptions to energy supplies and maritime commerce, cyberattacks, attacks on European interests, and additional migration pressures.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-joins-push-human-centered-framework-provide-guardrails-ai,Rep. Panetta Joins Push for Human-Centered Framework to Provide Guardrails for AI in Education and Workforce,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined the introduction of comprehensive legislation to establish guardrails against artificial intelligence (AI) risks in education and the workforce and invest in protections for students, educators, and workers. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) is leading the bill.

The Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act is a robust federal framework to protect students, educators, and workers and help them safely navigate the technology in their classrooms and careers. The bill establishes national workforce strategies and coordinates evidence-based programs across the Departments of Education and Labor. It also directs safety research at federal science agencies, creates enforceable safeguards, protects workers and communities, invests in professional development, and more.

“As the emergence of artificial intelligence reshapes our education system and workforce, the federal government needs to lead with the appropriate guardrails and necessary programs to protect our students, teachers, and working families,” said Rep. Panetta. “I’m proud to cosponsor this wide-ranging federal framework to ensure that AI is deployed strategically in classrooms and offices, protecting human-centered education and training, while investing in open-access research, upskilling resources, new pilot programs, clear safety standards, and transparency. AI has significant potential, but we must implement standards to ensure its deployment is safe, stable, and secure.”

“AI is already shaping how students learn and how people earn a living, but federal rules and regulations to protect students, support workers, and enforce ethical standards do not exist,” said Rep. Bonamici. “The companies building these tools don’t get to regulate themselves; we need clear rules and accountability for how AI is used in classrooms and workplaces. My human-centered legislation will empower and protect students, families, educators and others in the workforce by investing in evidence-based research, reskilling, transparency, safety, and long-term strategies. Congress must act now so AI does not continue to threaten the development of critical thinking skills and the wellbeing of humanity.”

The legislation has been endorsed by Alliance for Learning Innovation, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), American Council on Education, American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and Workday.

Full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here, and a section-by-section breakdown can be found here.

Specifically, the bill would:

Require AI risk assessment standards for classroom technology, safeguards against harmful content, parental notice and opt-out rights, human review of automated decisions in federally funded workforce programs, and a secure student data breach reporting portal, enforced jointly by the Department of Education and the Federal Trade Commission;

Create strict safety compliance requirements, including prohibiting the use of student data to train AI models, open licensing and access of funded research and learning materials, independent evaluations and audits, human oversight and bias testing, robust data security protocols, and adoption of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) AI risk management framework;

Prohibit model developers from directing school instructional content or requiring exclusive use of their AI product;

Require data center operators to disclose pre-construction energy and water consumption projections and actual operational consumption, direct NIST to develop AI infrastructure energy and water measurement standards, and fund state, local, and community capacity for data center oversight, audits, and environmental research;

Establish an Interagency Council on Artificial Intelligence in Education and the Workforce to publish and update list of AI-disrupted jobs to guide program design;

Establish grants for regional career pathways and stackable micro-credential pilot programs to support interdisciplinary studies and project-based learning;

Support in-service training for school leaders that pairs AI literacy with humanities, critical thinking, and work-based learning, including on algorithmic bias, student data privacy, and preventing reliance on AI for critical educator roles;

Provide resources for educator professional development on responsible and ethical AI use; facilitate open-access education research on evidence-based, voluntary materials for AI-related literacy, ethics, civics, and humanities;

Fund open-access research on AI effects in education, Regional Centers for Human-Centered AI in Education and Work, and updated federal practice guides for the responsible use of AI in the classroom;

Invest in applied AI workforce research on employment disruption, regional training with wraparound supports, and evidence-based educator toolkits;

Direct National AI Workforce Strategy and State AI Workforce Implementation Plans, supported by a national workforce coordination council, to assess skills gaps, identify disrupted occupations, and align programs with regional labor needs;

Provide grants for community colleges, small employers, and workforce programs to develop research and upskilling resources for individuals in non-traditional career pathways;

Create grants for apprenticeships, reskilling, and public service fellowships; require AI accessibility in vocational programs; provide a small business reskilling tax credit; and require reporting on AI-caused worker displacement;

Establish grants for equitable AI education access, capacity building at minority-serving institutions, career scholarships, mentorship networks, and technical assistance; and

Require EEOC liability guidance on preventing discriminatory AI use in recruitment, training, and performance evaluation.

In addition to Rep. Panetta, the package is cosponsored by Representatives Ted Lieu (CA-36), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Greg Landsman (OH-01).",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/rep-peters-urges-senate-to-finalize-permitting-package,Rep. Peters Urges Senate to Finalize Permitting Package,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Scott H. Peters,P000608,scottpeters.house.gov,scottpeters,https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement:

“There is clear and real appetite for concrete bipartisan action that reforms the broken permitting process. We can’t wait, consumers can’t wait, and the planet can’t wait. Almost all energy projects in the queue are renewable. A faster permit process means lower costs, more jobs, and a speedier transition to cleaner energy production.

“The Senate should finalize a deal this month to give stakeholders time to review it and build a coalition of support. The House, the Senate and the White House all want this to happen—this moment doesn't come often. The time to act is now.

“President Trump has said he's willing to let clean energy projects move forward without interference, and that's welcome news. The only way to hold him accountable to this promise is congressional action.

“A historic package like this will have its detractors, but it must have champions, or it will be picked apart by those who don’t get everything they want. On balance, if the gains far outweigh the flaws, we must show resolve.""

Background:

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Climate Change and Clean Energy Task Force, Rep. Peters has some of the largest bipartisan efforts in Congress to streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects.

Last year, he unveiled the SPEED and Reliability Act, which significantly streamlines the siting and permitting of critical national interest electric transmission lines. Faster approvals to build more electrical lines would lower costs for consumers and prevent blackouts.

He also reintroduced the Fix Our Forests Act, his landmark forestry bill, which would reduce bureaucratic delays to streamline environmental reviews for fuel reduction projects. This bill passed out of the House last January and was introduced by both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate last April.

In April, he released the CERTAIN Act to accelerate energy and infrastructure projects by enforcing strict application timelines. This ensures energy projects move forward quickly and stops Administrations from cancelling permits that were already approved legally. His bill has been supported by almost 40 organizations, made up of the people who build, power, and maintain America's infrastructure.

And last month, he introduced the CLEAR Act to accelerate the review process for large energy infrastructure projects and establish clear rules for stalled transmission projects, giving developers and local stakeholders the certainty to plan, along with relief for ratepayers from rising costs.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-simon-and-congressman-desaulnier-introduce-legislation-establish,"Congresswoman Simon and Congressman DeSaulnier Introduce Legislation to Establish a Commission to Identify, Investigate, and Remedy Historical Injustices by Federal Agencies",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Lateefah Simon,S001231,simon.house.gov,simon,https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12) and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) introduced the Confronting and Correcting Historical Injustices Act, legislation that would establish a “Commission for Review and Correction of Historical Injustices” to identify, investigate, and remedy instances of historical injustice and discrimination carried out by federal agencies.

“For far too long, communities – particularly Black and brown communities - have been subjected to discriminatory practices at the hands of our own government without proper accountability or acknowledgement. This current moment in history, when the Trump Administration is killing American citizens and terrorizing immigrant communities, demonstrates that the legacy of horrific violence and racial inequality towards immigrant communities by the federal government continues,” said Congresswoman Simon. “This legislation establishes a path to address these injustices and demand the accountability communities deserve. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation with my colleague Congressman DeSaulnier and carry forward the torch lit by Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.

“In order to realize the founding ideals of our country, we must recognize and address the darker chapters in its history marked by discrimination and hate,” said Congressman Mark DeSaulnier. “I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Simon, who has been a strong leader on this issue, in introducing this legislation that will bring us closer to the promise of equality and justice for all.”

The independent Commission established by this legislation would:

Review cases of discrimination where individuals or groups have not received compensation for the actions of the federal agency;

Recommend further legislative or executive action to address and resolve discriminatory instances;

Establish a procedure for the public to submit discrimination cases for review;

Hold the authority to issue a subpoena to any federal agency that the Commission deems necessary.

This bill was partially inspired by the case of the Port Chicago 50; and the legislation was previously introduced by then-Congresswoman, now Mayor of Oakland, Barbara Lee, and Congressman DeSaulnier in the 118th Congress.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-torres-and-senator-padilla-introduce-basic-act-to-ensure-no-student-has-to-choose-between-college-and-basic-needs,Congresswoman Torres and Senator Padilla Introduce BASIC Act to Ensure No Student Has to Choose Between College and Basic Needs,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla reintroduced the Basic Assistance for Students In College (BASIC) Act, legislation to help community colleges and four-year institutions address the unmet basic needs of their students by establishing a $1 billion competitive grant program to better connect students with the resources they need to stay in school and complete their degrees.

Amidst the ongoing affordability crisis, college students across America are struggling to afford food, safe housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and other necessities. Nearly one in four college students across the country experience food insecurity, a rate twice that of all other U.S. households, and 1 in 10 students experience homelessness. Research from The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University shows that 3 in 5 students do not have enough to eat or a safe place to live.

Students with limited income or access to opportunities, such as Pell Grant recipients, parenting students, first-generation students, veterans, former foster youth, students with disabilities, and students at community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, typically experience the highest levels of basic needs insecurity.

Since Fiscal Year 2021, Rep. Torres and Senator Padilla have secured over $43 million for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program (“Basic Needs Grants”) grants nationwide, including $10 million in FY2026. Basic Needs grants now reach schools in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including both rural and urban areas in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the program has received applications from many more states. The BASIC Act would build upon this progress and ensure students have access to basic needs.

“No student working toward a college degree should have to wonder where their next meal will come from or whether they can keep a roof over their head,” said Congresswoman Torres. “Our students are doing everything we ask of them, pursuing an education, and building a better future, but rising costs are making it harder just to stay in school. The BASIC Act will help colleges step up, connect students with resources they already qualify for, and make sure food, housing, child care, or transportation are never the reason a student has to give up on their education. When our students succeed, our communities and our economy succeed with them.”

“Higher costs fueled by the Trump Administration’s policies are making it harder for millions of students to afford basic needs like housing, healthcare, and nutritious food,” said Senator Padilla. “No student should have to choose between meeting their everyday needs and pursuing higher education. The BASIC Act will help bridge these gaps by providing resources to universities to support students not having to skip a meal or sacrifice their mental or physical health in pursuit of their higher education goals.”

""The California State University (CSU) is proud to support Senator Alex Padilla and Congresswoman Norma Torres in advancing a comprehensive approach to meeting students’ basic needs. We know that student success extends beyond the classroom. When students have reliable access to nutritious food, safe housing, childcare, transportation and technology, they are better positioned to stay enrolled, focus on their education and make meaningful progress toward their degrees. Through the CSU’s Basic Needs Initiative, we have seen the importance of addressing these needs as an integral part of supporting the whole student. The BASIC Act builds on that commitment and aligns with CSU Forward’s focus on creating the conditions for every student to thrive and earn a degree. By strengthening this work at colleges and universities across the country, this legislation has the potential to expand educational opportunity and create lasting benefits for students, their families and their communities."" said Dr. Dilcie Perez, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success.

“The University of California (UC) is committed to addressing students’ academic and essential needs through its Basic Needs Initiative, a multi-prong effort to identify and address key factors that contribute to food and housing insecurity so that students can succeed and thrive,” said University of California Vice President and Vice Provost for Graduate, Undergraduate, and Equity Affairs Yvette Gullatt. ""That is why UC is proud to support the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, which would establish a grant program allowing institutions of higher education to address basic needs insecurity on campuses by providing additional resources to ensure that students can complete their degrees. UC has long advocated for federal support for basic needs and is grateful to Representative Norma Torres and Senator Alex Padilla for their continued work on this vitally important issue.”

The BASIC Act would:

Authorize a $1 billion competitive grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the basic needs of students through:

$40 million for planning grants to help institutions identify unmet needs and develop strategies to combat food and housing insecurity and homelessness.

$960 million for implementation grants to help institutions provide direct housing, food, and child care assistance, connect students with public benefits, partner with community organizations, and strengthen basic-needs services.

Grants will prioritize institutions with 25% of higher federal Pell Grant enrollment.

At least 25 percent of grant funding must go to community colleges, and another 25 percent must go to HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority serving institutions (such as HSIs, AANAPISIs).

Improve coordination and data sharing to help identify students who may qualify for programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, housing assistance, child care assistance, tax credits, while protecting student data and privacy.

Require a national report on student food, housing, and basic-needs insecurity to better understand the challenges facing students and identify effective solutions.

The legislation authorizes $1 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to support planning and implementation grants for colleges and universities nationwide.

The BASIC Act of 2026 is endorsed by: American Association of Community Colleges (AACC); American Association of University Women (AAUW); American Council on Education (ACE); California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office; California State University (CSU); EdTrust; Excelencia in Education; Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP); National Association for College Admission Counseling; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; National Education Association ; New America Higher Education Policy Program; The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs; The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS); Today's Students Coalition; University of California (UC); Youth Law Center; Achieve Atlanta; Cedar Crest College; Church Women United in New York State; FoodShare South Carolina ; Hunger Free America; LeadMN;

Original Cosponsors: Representatives Wesley Bell (MO-01); Yvette Clarke (NY-09); J. Luis Correa (CA-46); Jasmine Crockett (TX-30); John Garamendi (CA-08); Lucy McBath (GA-06); Gwen Moore (WI-04); Seth Moulton ((MA-06)); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00); Scott Peters (CA-50); Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38); Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05); Lateefah Simon (CA-12); Shri Thanedar (MI-13); Juan Vargas (CA-52);

Bill text

One pager

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-tran-introduces-legislation-lower-housing-costs-southern,Representative Tran Introduces Legislation to  Lower Housing Costs for Southern California Families,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Derek Tran,T000491,tran.house.gov,tran,https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) introduced the Housing Cost of Living Support for Tenants (COST) Act, to deliver relief to Southern California renters struggling with rising housing costs. The legislation creates comprehensive tax credits for renters, contributing to Representative Tran’s ongoing commitment to expand housing affordability.

“Housing costs across the country, especially in Southern California have reached a breaking point. Families are barely scraping by to pay rent, let alone save for the future,” said Representative Tran. “This bill would provide immediate, tangible relief to renters in need, helping them keep a roof over their heads, provide more room in their budgets for everyday expenses, or even save to buy a home. I am proud to lead this effort on behalf of all American families.”

Southern California families face some of the highest housing costs in the nation, with the average rent in Orange County being over $3,200 a month and skyrocketing almost 40%, since 2017.

The proposed legislation introduces a new, baseline 8% refundable tax credit for families who make a gross income of $150,000 or less, with a maximum household cap of $333 a month, totaling $4,000 a year. In California’s 45th Congressional District, this would benefit over 75,000 households.

While other efforts to lower housing costs would take time to implement, this bill immediately puts money back in the hands of renters as they tackle the costs of groceries, medication, childcare, and other expenses.

This legislative push builds on Representative Tran’s record of delivering housing results for the region:

Rep. Tran secured $250,000 in federal funding to support the construction of 2,700 permanent affordable housing units across Orange County.

Tran cosponsored the Saving the American Dream Act to create an interagency task force on the housing crisis and the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to finance the building of more multifamily units.

Additionally, Rep. Tran voted for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law in July 2026 and works to speed up homebuilding and reduce regulatory red tape.

The full bill text can be found HERE.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-deluzio-launch-effort-to-prohibit-firearms-at-polling-places-protect-voters-and-election-workers/,"Padilla, Deluzio Launch Effort to Prohibit Firearms at Polling Places, Protect Voters and Election Workers",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"In early 2026, 32 percent of local election workers experienced threats or harassment, 52 percent concerned for staff safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With midterm elections just around the corner and threats to our elections at an all-time high from Donald Trump, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and California’s former Secretary of State, and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17) introduced bicameral legislation to protect voters and election workers from intimidation and threats of violence at polling places.

The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would help further ensure that every voter and election worker has the right to cast their ballot and conduct their official duties free from fear and intimidation. It would update existing anti-intimidation provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit the presence of visible firearms at locations where voters cast their ballot or election workers perform their official duties, empowering poll workers and election officials to continue safely administering elections.

“No voter should have to walk past a gauntlet of firearms to exercise their right to vote, and no election worker should have to risk armed threats just to do their job,” said Senator Padilla. “Intimidation and violence have no place at our polls. These threats disenfranchise voters, undermine the fairness of our elections, and prevent nonpartisan election workers from doing their jobs. Our bill will keep visible firearms and other forms of violence away from polling places, ensuring every eligible voter can exercise their fundamental right safely, freely, and without intimidation.”

“The right to vote is foundational to America’s democracy, and part of protecting that right is keeping official ballot drop sites and polling places free from intimidation,” said Congressman Deluzio. “With the rising risk of political violence and ongoing threats to our democratic system, we need to strengthen the sanctity of our elections. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act of 2026 would help protect the rights of America’s voters and election workers so that they can vote and perform their official duties free from violent threats and intimidation. I’m proud to reintroduce this bill today alongside Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Ruiz.”

The right to vote is fundamental to American democracy, but rising threats of political violence against voters and election workers threaten election security. As of April 2026, 32 percent of local election workers have reported experience threats, harassment, or abuse. Armed groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were involved in the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol have threatened to patrol polling places in recent elections. While intimidation is illegal under existing law, this new legislation is important to provide a clearer standard and further ensure safe polling locations.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D- Md.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

In addition to Deluzio, the bill is cosponsored by Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25).

Specifically, the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would:

Amend Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act to establish a rebuttable presumption that a person carrying a visible firearm while engaging in election-related activities is engaging in voter intimidation;

Provide civil remedies for individuals who experience this type of intimidation, including an emergency injunction that would allow the voter or election official to carry out their duties in peace; and

Recognize an exception for law enforcement officers acting within their official duties.

The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is endorsed by organizations including the Brennan Center, Defend the Vote Action Fund, and the Fair Elections Center.

“Congress must pass the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act. We are grateful to Representative Deluzio, Senator Padilla, and other members of Congress for their work to keep our elections safe for everyone involved in the process. This legislation would bolster federal protections that empower voters, election officials, and election workers to seek legal recourse if they are intimidated. The bill would help protect our democracy by keeping intimidation and violence out of voting,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, Senior Director of the voting rights program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.

“Our ability to hold elected leaders accountable to the people depends on ensuring every voter can access the ballot free from intimidation or harassment, and that election workers can run those elections without interference. Defend The Vote Action Fund applauds Rep. Deluzio and Sen. Padilla for their leadership on this critical bill that protects voters’ rights to cast their ballots free from interference, while ensuring that poll workers and election officials can safely oversee and administer our elections,” said Defend the Vote Action Fund Executive Director Brian Lemek.

“To fully realize our civil rights, we need stronger protections against intimidation to make sure that election officials can do their jobs without fear, and that no American is stopped from exercising their right to vote. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is one way we can defend our voting rights in the face of those who want to take power away from the people,” said Fair Elections Center’s President and CEO, Rebekah Caruthers.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee and California’s former Secretary of State and chief election officer, Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to protect our elections and strengthen voting rights.

Last week, Padilla led the Congressional response to the bombshell whistleblower report that DHS agents violated state laws as part of the “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and called for an immediate investigation into the agency’s misconduct. He also urged California’s Attorney General to investigate the effects these actions could have on Californians.

Also last week, Padilla convened some of the country’s top labor leaders to discuss how to strengthen our democracy and mobilize against election interference.

Last month, he led 27 of his Senate colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration stop its illegal voter roll purges before election day.

Padilla also joined Schumer in launching the first-ever Senate Election Observer Program to protect the 2026 midterms and maintain election integrity nationwide and serves as part of the Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force.

In June, Padilla joined his colleagues in introducing the Protect Our Polls Act to protect the integrity of American elections from federal interference by armed military or federal law enforcement.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-demands-answers-from-governor-abbott-on-texas-voter-registration-errors/,Padilla Demands Answers from Governor Abbott on Texas Voter Registration Errors,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, demanded answers from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden regarding recent disclosures showing potentially hundreds of thousands of Texas voter registration applications were not properly processed, leaving newly registered voters at risk of being disenfranchised in the 2026 midterm elections.

Ranking Member Padilla stressed that Congress has an oversight responsibility over Texas’ mass failure to process voter registration, due to federal laws like the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), also known as the “Motor Voter Law”, writing: “[t]he NVRA requires states to offer voter registration at the state’s motor vehicle registration agency, and these issues raise questions about the state’s compliance with the law. Understanding both the scope of this error, how it occurred, and how the state will remedy it to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised is therefore an important subject for congressional oversight.”

In his letter to Abbott and Howden, Padilla also pointed out that the error cannot be viewed in isolation and instead placed it within a broader pattern of state actions that have made it more difficult for Texans to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

“The late timing of this announcement threatens the voting rights of more than a hundred thousand Texas voters on the heels of other intentional actions by the state that harm voting rights, such as mid-decade gerrymandered electoral maps and Senate Bill 1 that streamlined mass voter purges and restricted voting methods – including harsh limits on vote by mail. Voting rights advocates have also expressed concern that the state has failed to fund efficient election administration, greenlighted reductions in polling locations, and other additional obstacles and confusions for voters,” wrote Senator Padilla. “Texas has also proactively cooperated with the Trump Administration’s election interference agenda by handing over its voters’ personal information and utilizing the flawed SAVE program, both actions which other states have successfully resisted on a bipartisan basis. Alternatively, if the state considered other commonsense reforms like online voter registration and same day registration, that could help voters avoid these issues.”

With the midterm elections approaching, Padilla emphasized that time is of the essence and urged Abbott and Howden to respond quickly and transparently.

“Local officials and potentially impacted voters have real reason to be concerned about the state’s ability to work quickly enough to ensure that all eligible voters who registered can cast their ballot without obstacle. Further, the state and its localities have an obligation to contact affected voters to ensure they are aware of their right to cast a provisional ballot, which should be counted for the November 3rd election,” continued Senator Padilla. “Due to the size and timing of this voter registration process error, the eyes of voting rights advocates across America are on Texas and how the state will respond. I urge you to be transparent on this matter and provide real relief for eligible voters in your state.”

Padilla reinforced his concerns in an interview on MS Now earlier today, where he questioned whether politics may be at play.

“I just can’t help but remember, back in the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump called the secretary of state of Georgia and said, ‘find me 11,000 more votes.’ Right? In this case, isn’t that about finding additional votes that didn’t go his way; it’s about risking hundreds of thousands of Texas voters from being able to cast their ballots or have their vote counted. And Texas, by the way, is where the redistricting war last year began. So, coincidence? I’m not so sure. But these are some of the questions that we need to get to the bottom of.”

The full letter is available here and below.

Padilla’s MS Now interview is here.

Dear Governor Abbott and Secretary Howden,

The United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration has oversight jurisdiction over federal elections, including voter registration. I write with serious concern over recent disclosures that potentially hundreds of thousands of Texas voter registration applications were not properly processed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and/or the Texas Secretary of State’s office, leaving newly registered and updated voters at risk of being disenfranchised in the 2026 midterm elections.

All eligible Americans have a right to register to vote, cast their vote, and have their vote counted. The U.S. Constitution gives authority for elections to the states and to Congress. Pursuant to this authority, Congress has enacted a number of federal laws that protect voter registration, including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act, and the Voting Rights Act to guarantee those rights are not infringed. The NVRA requires states to offer voter registration at the state’s motor vehicle registration agency, and these issues raise questions about the state’s compliance with the law. Understanding both the scope of this error, how it occurred, and how the state will remedy it to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised is therefore an important subject for congressional oversight.

While the state has failed to produce an overall number, the Texas Association of County Election Officials is expecting a backlog of potentially hundreds of thousands of applications, noting that individual “[c]ounties have received anywhere from several hundred to tens of thousands of records to process.” These numbers are particularly high for populous counties, including but not limited to 45,000 in Bexar County, more than 40,000 in Collin County, and approximately 32,000 in Travis County which brought their overall backlog to 35,000 – a total of over 100,000 in those three counties alone. If numbers are similar in other large Texas counties, the total figure will be much higher.

There are only seven business days before the state’s voter registration deadline (October 5th). Texas counties are now facing a daunting backlog of potentially hundreds of thousands of applications as they are already busy with the work of preparing for the upcoming state and federal elections, which includes an election for the United States Senate. Local officials and potentially impacted voters have real reason to be concerned about the state’s ability to work quickly enough to ensure that all eligible voters who registered can cast their ballot without obstacle. Further, the state and its localities have an obligation to contact affected voters to ensure they are aware of their right to cast a provisional ballot, which should be counted for the November 3rd election.

In addition, there are serious questions as to why this growing backlog of unprocessed voter registrations was not identified for so long. The state has also not yet provided public assurance that the issues that led to this backlog have been resolved, and whether new registrations are being processed appropriately. These issues have occurred amidst scrutiny of Texas’ statewide voter registration system, known as TEAM, which has caused a host of issues during its “once- in-a-decade upgrade” that may relate to this huge registration backlog on election eve.

The late timing of this announcement threatens the voting rights of more than a hundred thousand Texas voters on the heels of other intentional actions by the state that harm voting rights, such as mid-decade gerrymandered electoral maps and Senate Bill 1 that streamlined mass voter purges and restricted voting methods – including harsh limits on vote by mail. Voting rights advocates have also expressed concern that the state has failed to fund efficient election administration, greenlighted reductions in polling locations, and other additional obstacles and confusions for voters. Texas has also proactively cooperated with the Trump Administration’s election interference agenda by handing over its voters’ personal information and utilizing the flawed SAVE program, both actions which other states have successfully resisted on a bipartisan basis. Alternatively, if the state considered other commonsense reforms like online voter registration and same day registration, that could help voters avoid these issues.

To ensure that Congress can conduct its constitutional oversight role on this matter, please provide responses to the following questions no later than Friday, October 2nd.

1. What specific issues caused this failure to process voter registration applications? Who is conducting the investigation, and is there a coordinated review that involves both DPS and the Office of the Secretary of State?

2. How many eligible voters were impacted by this error? When will this be known with certainty and with what degree of confidence?

3. Has DPS and/or the Office of the Secretary of State resolved the underlying issues that led to the unprocessed applications, so that the backlog is not continuing to grow?

4. What support is the state providing to county officials as they address this backlog of applications? Is the state hiring additional personnel or authorizing overtime or supporting such actions on the local level?

5. Are all relevant Texas state agencies committed to processing all registrations that were filed on time but the process is delayed due to potential issues related to state agencies and not the eligible voter?

6. What outreach or education will be provided to voters who took steps to register on their rights to cast a ballot if they are not on the voter rolls by the November 3rd election? Relatedly, what education will be provided to election officials and volunteer poll workers who will be supporting these potential voters?

7. What safeguards will Texas state agencies put in place to ensure this error does not occur again?

8. Is the State of Texas complying with the 2021 settlement agreement in Stringer v. Hughs related to the state’s failure to comply with the motor voter provisions of the NVRA?

Due to the size and timing of this voter registration failure, the eyes of voting rights advocates across America are upon Texas. I urge you to be transparent on this matter and ensure that all eligible voters in Texas who registered to vote can cast their ballot and make their voice heard.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-raskin-press-dhs-secretary-and-other-officials-on-trump-administrations-refugee-admission-policy/,"Padilla, Durbin, Raskin Press DHS Secretary and Other Officials on Trump Administration’s Refugee Admission Policy",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin on the Trump Administration’s shameful policies dismantling the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program during an annual, statutorily required refugee consultation for Fiscal Year 2027.

The meeting occurred as the Trump Administration is slated to limit refugee admissions “primarily” to just 17,500 White Afrikaners from South Africa over the next fiscal year.

“Welcoming a thoughtful number of refugees every year is part of our nation’s legacy and an important international obligation. Yet the Trump Administration has all but closed the door on people fleeing persecution, even leaving behind Afghan allies who fought alongside U.S. service members and have now spent years in the resettlement pipeline,” said Senator Padilla. “Meanwhile, the Administration is aggressively pursuing the deportation of refugees, asylum seekers, TPS holders, and green card holders to countries we know are unsafe and have questionable human rights records. It’s un-American and flies in the face of our longstanding commitment to being a beacon of freedom in the world. The Administration must restart refugee resettlement to a respectable and honorable level.”

“The Trump Administration’s agenda is clear: prioritize white-only Afrikaners as refugees and disregard the millions of men, women, and children from around the world who are trying to escape horrific violence and persecution,” said Senator Durbin. “Although we finally heard directly from a Cabinet official on this Administration’s refugee policies, unlike the last consultations, as the law requires, the Trump Administration is doing everything possible to attack our immigrant communities. We must restore our longstanding asylum policies and admit lawful refugees—including the Afghan allies who served alongside our troops abroad.”

“Yesterday’s consultation reinforces our sense that the Administration has turned America’s traditional refugee program into a whites-only airplane ride for South African Afrikaners into Trump’s America. Afghan allies who risked their lives fighting alongside our troops, religious minorities facing intensified persecution in Iran and tens of thousands of approved and pre-vetted refugees fleeing war from around the world have been left twisting in the wind for years. But white Afrikaners get the Elon Musk presidential red-carpet treatment. America should offer race-neutral asylum for people fleeing tyrants and war, but Donald Trump is stiff-arming families we promised to protect and turning a humanitarian lifeline into another exercise in political favoritism and racial exclusion,” said Representative Raskin.

In June, Padilla and Durbin objected to the Trump Administration’s flawed attempt at an appropriate consultation with Congress on May 21 and an increase in the refugee admissions goal solely for white Afrikaners from South Africa. In May, Padilla, Durbin, and Raskin, along with U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), released a statement after a consultation on the Trump Administration’s refugee admissions plan to increase the refugee cap included only deputies, not Cabinet-level representatives as the law requires. Last year, Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, and Jayapal also slammed the Trump Administration’s decision to abandon nearly 130,000 vetted refugees and slash refugee admissions to 7,500 without the legally required consultation with Congress.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-tillis-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-install-suicide-prevention-infrastructure/,"Padilla, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Install Suicide Prevention Infrastructure",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, introduced the Barriers to Suicide Act, legislation that would create grants to help state and local governments fund nets and barriers to reduce suicide on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure.

“Too many Americans die by suicide – and we know physical barriers can help save lives during times of crisis,” said Senator Padilla. “California has seen firsthand at the Golden Gate Bridge that nets and barriers work. As we continue to confront the suicide crisis, we must do more to help state and local governments install nets and barriers on bridges and other high structures. The Barriers to Suicide Act is commonsense, life-saving legislation that will help enhance safety standards and make our public infrastructure safer.”

“We should be doing everything in our power to address our nation’s mental health crisis and investing in life-saving barriers plays an important role in preventing a moment of crisis from becoming a tragedy,” said Senator Tillis. “The Barriers to Suicide Act will provide critical funding to state and local governments to prevent more valuable lives from being lost.”

Nearly 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Falling deaths are a common cause of suicide, and restricting access to lethal means allows time for a feeling of crisis to pass, allowing people experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek help. A study found that San Francisco’s installation of netting on the Golden Gate Bridge reduced suicide rates by 73% in one year.

Specifically, the Barriers to Suicide Act would:

Establish a competitive grant program for states and localities to apply for federal funding under the National Highway Performance Program to install nets and barriers on bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail grade crossings, and at rail stations; and

Authorize a study to identify the types of structures most commonly used for suicide attempts, types of barriers that are most effective in prevention, and additional strategies to reduce jumping deaths.

In addition to Padilla and Tillis, the bill is cosponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

“My heart breaks for all those dealing with the incredible grief and sadness of losing someone to suicide. Congress must do everything in its power to support our communities on the frontlines of this public health crisis, including investing in proven strategies to reduce suicides,” said Senator Merkley. “The Barriers to Suicide Act is common-sense legislation to help state and local governments fund nets and barriers that have been shown to reduce suicide on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure, so we can save as many lives as possible.”

The Barriers to Suicide Act is endorsed by organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

“The Barriers to Suicide Act meets a critical need to prevent suicide by investing in proven strategies to make public spaces safer for people in crisis,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “By funding evidence-based design and infrastructure improvements in high-risk settings, this legislation takes a proactive approach to suicide prevention. NAMI thanks Senators Padilla and Tillis for their leadership and support for this important legislation.”

“Barriers work. When we know a public place presents a high risk for suicide, and we know there are proven ways to make it safer, we have an obligation to act,” said Erich Mische, CEO of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE). “The introduction of the Barriers to Suicide Act in the Senate is a historic moment, and one made possible in large part by the relentless advocacy of suicide loss survivors who have turned unimaginable loss into action to save other lives. SAVE has been proud to stand with them and to be a vocal and relentless advocate for this legislation. We are grateful to Senators Alex Padilla and Thom Tillis for their bipartisan leadership in moving this commonsense, lifesaving legislation forward.”

“Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with 1,246 people dying by suicide after falling from bridges and high places in 2024,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). “Research consistently demonstrates that reducing access to lethal means is a well-established suicide prevention strategy. Installing barriers and nets on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure can create critical time and distance from a lethal means, allowing an acute suicidal crisis to pass and creating opportunities for support and intervention. AFSP commends Senators Padilla and Tillis for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation.”

As a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health caucus, Senator Padilla has been a leader in advocating for increasing mental health care access for all Americans. Last year, he introduced the EARLY Minds Act to combat the growing youth mental health crisis in America through early intervention and prevention services. Padilla has repeatedly condemned the Trump Administration’s efforts to purge staff and cut billions in federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Under the Biden Administration, Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission for making critical improvements to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by adopting the main provisions of Padilla’s Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023.

Text of the bill is available here.

A one-pager is available here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-warren-torres-introduce-bill-to-address-basic-needs-insecurity-in-higher-education/,"Padilla, Warren, Torres Introduce Bill to Address Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), reintroduced the Basic Assistance for Students In College (BASIC) Act, legislation to help community colleges and four-year institutions address the unmet basic needs of their students by establishing a $1 billion competitive grant program to better connect students with the resources they need to stay in school and complete their degrees.

Amidst the ongoing affordability crisis, college students across America are struggling to afford food, safe housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and other necessities. Nearly one in four college students across the country experience food insecurity, a rate twice that of all other U.S. households, and 1 in 10 students experience homelessness. Research from The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University shows that 3 in 5 students do not have enough to eat or a safe place to live.

“Higher costs fueled by the Trump Administration’s policies are making it harder for millions of students to afford basic needs like housing, healthcare, and nutritious food,” said Senator Padilla. “No student should have to choose between meeting their everyday needs and pursuing higher education. The BASIC Act will help bridge these gaps by providing resources to universities to support students not having to skip a meal or sacrifice their mental or physical health in pursuit of their higher education goals.”

Students with limited income or access to opportunities, such as Pell Grant recipients, parenting students, first-generation students, veterans, former foster youth, students with disabilities, and students at community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), typically experience the highest levels of basic needs insecurity.

“No student working toward a college degree should have to wonder where their next meal will come from or whether they can keep a roof over their head,” said Congresswoman Torres. “Our students are doing everything we ask of them, pursuing an education, and building a better future, but rising costs are making it harder just to stay in school. The BASIC Act will help colleges step up, connect students with resources they already qualify for, and make sure food, housing, child care, or transportation are never the reason a student has to give up on their education. When our students succeed, our communities and our economy succeed with them.”

Since Fiscal Year 2021, Senator Padilla and Representative Torres have secured over $43 million for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program (“Basic Needs Grants”) nationwide, including $10 million in FY 2026. Basic Needs grants now reach schools in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including both rural and urban areas in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the program has received applications from many more states. The BASIC Act would build upon this progress and ensure students have access to basic needs.

Specifically, the BASIC Act would:

Authorize a $1 billion competitive grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the basic needs of students:

$40 million for planning grants to help institutions identify unmet needs and develop strategies to combat food and housing insecurity and homelessness.

$960 million for implementation grants to help institutions provide direct housing, food, and childcare assistance, connect students with public benefits, partner with community organizations, and strengthen basic-needs services.

Grants will prioritize institutions with 25% or higher federal Pell Grant enrollment.

At least 25% of grant funding must go to community colleges, and another 25% must go to HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority serving institutions (such as HSIs, AANAPISIs)

Improve coordination and data sharing to help identify students who may qualify for programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, housing assistance, childcare assistance, tax credits, while protecting student data and privacy.

Require a national report on student food, housing, and basic-needs insecurity to better understand the challenges facing students and identify effective solutions.

The legislation authorizes $1 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to support planning and implementation grants for colleges and universities nationwide.

In addition to Padilla and Warren, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

The BASIC Act of 2026 is endorsed by organizations like American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), American Association of University Women (AAUW), American Council on Education (ACE), California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, California State University (CSU), EdTrust, Excelencia in Education, Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, National Education Association, New America Higher Education Policy Program, The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), Today’s Students Coalition, University of California (UC), University of California Student Association, Youth Law Center, Achieve Atlanta, Cedar Crest College, Church Women United in New York State, FoodShare South Carolina, Hunger Free America, and LeadMN.

“The California State University (CSU) is proud to support Senator Alex Padilla and Congresswoman Norma Torres in advancing a comprehensive approach to meeting students’ basic needs. We know that student success extends beyond the classroom. When students have reliable access to nutritious food, safe housing, childcare, transportation and technology, they are better positioned to stay enrolled, focus on their education and make meaningful progress toward their degrees. Through the CSU’s Basic Needs Initiative, we have seen the importance of addressing these needs as an integral part of supporting the whole student. The BASIC Act builds on that commitment and aligns with CSU Forward’s focus on creating the conditions for every student to thrive and earn a degree. By strengthening this work at colleges and universities across the country, this legislation has the potential to expand educational opportunity and create lasting benefits for students, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Dilcie Perez, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success​.

“The University of California (UC) is committed to addressing students’ academic and essential needs through its Basic Needs Initiative, a multi-prong effort to identify and address key factors that contribute to food and housing insecurity so that students can succeed and thrive,” said University of California Vice President and Vice Provost for Graduate, Undergraduate, and Equity Affairs Yvette Gullatt. “That is why UC is proud to support the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, which would establish a grant program allowing institutions of higher education to address basic needs insecurity on campuses by providing additional resources to ensure that students can complete their degrees. UC has long advocated for federal support for basic needs and is grateful to Representative Norma Torres and Senator Alex Padilla for their continued work on this vitally important issue.”

Senator Padilla has been a consistent advocate for increasing access to higher education, fighting back against President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ actions that are making college more unaffordable and unattainable for millions of working-class families. Last week, Padilla joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) in introducing the Debt-Free College Actto lower the cost of college and mitigate the student debt crisis. Last year, Padilla co-sponsored the College for All Act, which would make public colleges and universities free for 95% of students.

Full text of the bill is available here.

A one-pager of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-as-gas-and-diesel-prices-spike-sen-schiff-introduces-legislation-to-levy-an-excess-profits-tax-on-big-oil-companies-to-discourage-price-gouging/,"NEWS: As Gas and Diesel Prices Spike, Sen. Schiff Introduces Legislation to Levy an Excess Profits Tax on Big Oil Companies to Discourage Price Gouging",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Los Angeles, CA – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to levy an excess profits tax on big oil companies to discourage price gouging and ensure oil companies aren’t profiting off of prolonged war and oil market instability. Schiff’s legislation comes as Americans are facing sky-high prices at the gas pump and Big Oil companies are projected to rake in $96 billion in profits in 2026, $13.5 billion more than last year.

“After half a year of war, it’s clear who has benefited from rising gas prices: Big Oil companies. While American families struggle to fill their tanks, and farmers can’t afford diesel fuel, oil and gas companies are realizing massive profits. We need legislation to stop these companies from the price gouging that only adds to the pain at the pump. Big Oil must pay their fair share,” said Senator Schiff.

The Oil Company Windfall Profits Tax Act would:

Impose a permanent excess profits tax on big oil companies; and

Direct all revenues raised by the excess profits tax to the Highway Trust Fund, Mass Transit Account, and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund, consistent with gas tax ratios

As President Donald Trump’s war with Iran has entered its seventh month, gas per gallon and utility costs have reached record highs – increasing to nearly double the amount before the war. In California, gas prices have reached over six dollars.

Schiff’s legislation comes at a time when even President Trump has called out oil companies – saying this past summer that Americans are being “gouged.”

Background: In July, Schiff demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) launch a federal investigation into potential price gouging by Big Oil companies and publicly report its findings to Congress.

He has previously championed a windfall profits tax on oil companies as a way of shifting the cost burden of gas prices off of American families, who have been spending at least $1.00 a gallon more compared to last year thanks to Trump’s war in Iran.

This Summer, outside of a gas station with the highest gas prices in Los Angeles, Schiff held a press conference announcing actions to hold big oil accountable for price gouging consumers at ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-sens-scott-schiff-reps-moran-sanchez-jack-friedman-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-establish-a-federal-film-tax-credit-to-keep-film-and-television-production-in-the-u-s/,"NEWS: Sens. Scott, Schiff, Reps. Moran, Sanchez, Jack, Friedman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish a Federal Film Tax Credit to Keep Film and Television Production in the U.S.",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Bipartisan, bicameral legislation from lawmakers from film production states follows call for action by President Trump, decades-long push by lawmakers to enact federal credit

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) alongside U.S. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas-1) Linda Sanchez (D-Calif- 38), Brian Jack (R-Ga-3), and Laura Friedman (D-Calif-30) introduced new bipartisan legislation to create a federal film tax incentive to keep film and television production in the United States.

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would benefit every U.S. state and promote American jobs and spur local economic growth while allowing the United States to compete with foreign production incentives.

The bicameral effort follows years of advocacy to create a nationwide tax credit, a push recently echoed by President Donald Trump.

“For years, I’ve been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of TV and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives. Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it’s time we get this passed,” said Senator Schiff.

“Having worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like ‘The Notebook’ bring us to tears, and films like ‘Forrest Gump’ inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to serve as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,” said Senator Scott. “We cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America.”

In the Senate, this bill is cosponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). In the U.S. House of Representatives, this bill is cosponsored by Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15), Judy Chu (D-Calif-28), David Kustoff (R-Tenn-08), and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03).

“When a production comes to a community—from rural East Texas to urban New York—that money doesn’t just benefit the production company. It helps the local caterer, the hardware store, the hoteliers, and every tradesman in between who makes film and television production possible. Those jobs are going overseas right now simply because other countries are offering bigger handouts. If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that’s exactly what this bill does. This isn’t about subsidizing Hollywood—it’s about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time. I’m proud to work with Senator Scott and our bipartisan group in both chambers to get this done, and I’m grateful to Ambassador Jon Voight and Sean Astin for the work they’ve put into pushing this forward,” said Rep. Nathaniel Moran.

“The United States is losing good-paying union jobs because it’s become too expensive to film here. This isn’t about the actors who star in films and can travel for a shoot. It’s about the production crews and set builders, the backbone of the film industry. Our bill would create incentives to bring those jobs back home and boost local economies, not just in California, but across the country,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez.

“My Congressional District is home to Trilith Studios, and I proudly represent the craftsmen, electricians, and carpenters who work hard to create movies that inspire generations of Americans. Study after study has demonstrated that American film production delivers substantial economic benefits to communities across our country by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating millions of dollars in local economic activity. I applaud President Trump’s leadership in calling for a legislative solution to bring film production back to the United States, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to advance our legislation and achieve this important goal,” said Rep. Brian Jack.

“For over a year, I’ve worked to build a coalition of unions, studios, Republicans & Democrats, and the White House, because we knew that a national film tax credit would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs back to our country,” said Rep. Laura Friedman. “This bill is a result of that coalition. It tells every country that has been outbidding us for American work that we are done losing.”

“Ohio has a rich history in film production, from ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ to ‘The Avengers’ and ‘A Christmas Story.’ Many of these filming locations have become tourist attractions and are economic drivers to this day. The film industry provides high-paying jobs for artists, small businesses, and union workers. As other countries implement beneficial tax incentives to draw production away from the United States, Congress must work to ensure the United States stays competitive. I would like to commend Representative Moran for introducing this important legislation. As Chairman of the Humanities Caucus and a member of the tax-writing committee, I am confident this bill will help the United States maintain its global influence, as well as the high-paying jobs, associated with film production,” said Rep. Mike Carey.

“For generations, Southern California has been the heart of America’s film and television industry, supporting thousands of workers and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley and across our region. But today, too many productions are leaving for other countries, taking good-paying jobs and economic opportunity with them. We cannot stand by while communities across the United States lose these productions and the jobs they support. That’s why I am so proud to co-lead the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will create a new federal tax credit to incentivize film and television production here in America. This bill will help bring productions and jobs back home, support our creative workforce, and keep Southern California the entertainment capital of the world,” said Rep. Judy Chu.

“The film and TV industry is an economic engine in New York. It supports thousands of good jobs at good wages,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi. “America is the entertainment leader of the world and this bill incentivizes filmmakers and studios to hire American workers. I’m proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan effort.”

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:

Spur American jobs and economic development by providing a 20% federal, labor-based tax credit to U.S. film and television productions with minimum spend of $1 million and where at least 75% of the principal photography days occur within the U.S;

Offer 5% bonus credit allowances, increasing the base credit up to a maximum of 30%, for productions in rural opportunity zones and areas impacted by disasters, independent productions, multi-state producers in 10+ states, and producers who show a measurable onshoring of productions;

Make the credit available to traditional post-production and visual effects activities when at least 75% of the respective post-production and visual effects production takes place in the U.S; and

Support the investments of states currently offering incentives by allowing the federal incentive to supplement state credits.

This bill is endorsed by: American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), CreativeFuture, Coalition for American Production (CAP), Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW)

“I want to thank President Trump for bringing national attention to the urgent need for a federal film and television production tax credit and for calling on Congress to act,” said Hollywood Ambassador Jon Voight. “I also want to thank Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, along with Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, Tom Suozzi, and the growing list of supporters, for their work on this bipartisan effort to bring productions and jobs back to the United States. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will restore the American film and television industry, put crews back to work, support productions at all levels, and create economic opportunities in communities nationwide. All Americans want to bring our iconic film industry home, and we can do it by working together to get this important legislation passed quickly.”

“The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would deliver a true gamechanger for American creators, workers, and businesses – a federal incentive that supercharges production at home, fuels jobs and growth in local communities, and makes the United States a more competitive destination for the next generation of great film and television. There’s a reason everyone from President Trump to a bipartisan group of members in Congress to studios, unions, guilds, and more want to get this done. Passing this legislation could inject $250 billion into the country’s economy and deliver nearly 145,000 new jobs every year across all 50 states. That’s a story we can write together by enacting this bill, to ensure that more stories are crafted, created, and made here in America. The Motion Picture Association thanks Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, Tom Suozzi for their leadership in support of America’s creative economy,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association.

“The Independent Film & Television Alliance is pleased to support the introduction of legislation to establish a federal production incentive for film and television. A federal incentive will help increase U.S. production and create new jobs in states across the country. We thank the bill sponsors for their leadership and look forward to working with them to ensure this new and important incentive can serve as a meaningful catalyst for independent film and television production in the U.S,” said Jackie Brenneman, President & CEO, Independent Film & Television Alliance.

“The over 170,000 behind-the-scenes entertainment workers of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) are proud to endorse the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. IATSE has long called for a globally competitive, labor-based federal production incentive to level the playing field for American workers, return middle-class film and television jobs to America, and keep them here at home. This legislation would achieve that goal, addressing the dramatic loss of tens of thousands of American jobs in motion picture production and post-production. IATSE praises Senators Scott and Schiff, and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, Friedman, Carey, Chu, Kustoff, and Suozzi for leading this bipartisan effort. IATSE calls on all members of Congress to support and pass this critical jobs bill before the end of the year,” said Matthew D. Loeb, International President, IATSE.

“The U.S. entertainment industry should be making movies and TV shows in America with union labor. The Teamsters are proud to endorse the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will give our country the competitive advantage to bring film and TV production back home. Thank you to Senators Scott (R-SC) and Schiff (D-CA) and Representatives Moran (R-TX) and Sanchez (D-CA) for their leadership. Creating good union jobs in America should be a priority for every member of Congress, from every state and political party. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act must get to the President’s desk this year,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President, Teamsters.

“The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act is the most significant legislative effort in a generation to promote domestic film and television production, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports. This moment is the cumulation of years of work by the entertainment guilds and unions, in partnership with the MPA and lawmakers from both parties. The DGA thanks Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Jack, and Friedman for advancing this important bipartisan effort to strengthen domestic production, create jobs, and further build on the critical work already underway through state incentives in California, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and elsewhere. We also acknowledge the leadership of Ambassador Voight on this issue. We look forward to working with our partners in Congress, labor, the Administration, and at the studios to get this bill signed into law,”said Christopher Nolan, President, Directors Guild of America.

“We are pleased to support the film and television tax incentive legislation introduced today by Senators Schiff and Scott along with Reps. Friedman, Moran, Sanchez and Jack. This country must invest in efforts to keep production of film and television, along with the tens of thousands of good union jobs they support, here in the U.S.,” said Michele Mulroney, President, Writers Guild of America West & Tom Fontana, President, Writers Guild of America East.

“SAG-AFTRA is proud to partner with our fellow unions, industry and policymakers in a bipartisan effort to rescue the domestic film and television business. The money is being invested, the productions are being made, the jobs are being created — just not in America. This is a jobs bill and that is exactly what our members want to see. We have the infrastructure. We have the crews. We have the talent. Now all we need is a level playing field. We are the storytellers who inform and entertain the world. Let’s get back to doing that right here at home. Thank you Sens. Scott and Schiff and Reps. Moran, Sanchez, Friedman and Jack for championing this critical legislation,” said Sean Astin, President, SAG-AFTRA.

“The Producers Guild of America (PGA) represents over 8,400 professionals across film, television, and emerging media and strongly supports the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. Producers are responsible for creating projects, assembling teams, managing budgets, coordinating logistics, and making decisions that guide a production from start to finish – and we want that work to benefit our nation. This legislation helps make it possible for producers to grow this remarkable industry at home and create stable, rewarding work for generations to come. PGA commends Senators Scott and Schiff, and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman for proposing action that is essential to ensuring our nation remains the entertainment capital of the world,” said Susan Sprung, CEO, Producers Guild of America.

“The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will put us on equal footing with the rest of the world. Congress must act if we are to preserve jobs in this country and grow a quintessential American industry. This bill will make a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of professional musicians. Thank you, Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman, for recognizing the essential role AFM members play in creating film and television. The American Federation of Musicians looks forward to this commonsense, bipartisan proposal becoming law as soon as possible,” said Tino Gagliardi, President, American Federation of Musicians.

The Television Academy, representing nearly 30,000 television professionals from every state in the country, applauds the introduction of the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. By establishing a stackable, federal production credit for work performed here at home, this legislation gives American crews, creatives, and small businesses the opportunity to keep production local. We applaud Senators Schiff and Scott and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman for introducing this landmark bill, and the Television Academy looks forward to working with lawmakers on behalf of our members to see it enacted as soon as possible,” said Maury McIntyre, President and CEO, Television Academy.

“We thank Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Scott and Reps. Moran, Sanchez, Jack, Friedman, Carey, Chu, Kustoff, and Suozzi for their leadership on the American Film and Television Production Credit. This is a historic step, the first federal production credit for an industry that sustains thousands of jobs in every state. FilmUSA proudly supports this bipartisan effort and the nationwide economic development it will drive,” said Katie Patton Pryor, President, FilmUSA.

“We applaud Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Sánchez, Jack, and Friedman on the announcement of the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. U.S. film and television productions contribute 2.01 million jobs and $202 billion per year in wages to the American economy. Although state incentives have done a remarkable job at attempting to compete with overseas incentives, a federal incentive Is the missing piece that will make America once again a magnet for film and television production. We look forward to working with the Senators and Representatives to help restore this economically vibrant and culturally vital American industry,” said Ruth Vitale, CEO, CreativeFuture.

“The Coalition for American Production strongly supports the introduction of the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. American film and television productions have moved overseas, taking work from crews and the small businesses that make those productions possible. A competitive federal incentive would help bring that work home. We thank Senators Schiff and Scott and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman for listening to production workers and businesses across the country. Their bill recognizes that when a production films in the United States, the benefits reach far beyond the set: equipment rental companies, transportation providers, and the Main Street businesses that supply everything from lumber and paint to hardware, flowers, catering and coffee. CAP looks forward to working with Congress to keep those jobs and businesses growing here at home,” said Brian Papworth, Executive Director, Coalition for American Production.

Bill one pager is here.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

The section-by-section of the legislation is available here.

Background: For years, Schiff has highlighted the need to increase film production in America and has continued to build bipartisan support in Congress for his federal film incentive proposal, which would promote American jobs and spur local economic growth by creating additional support for film and television production in the U.S., allowing us to compete with foreign incentives.

During his time in the California State Senate, Schiff helped lead efforts to increase film production in California and protect local jobs. Schiff spearheaded efforts in Congress to extend California’s film tax credit, including in 2014 when he led 28 members of the California Democratic delegation in urging the leaders of the California State Senate and Assembly to reauthorize and enhance the tax credit. In 2024, Schiff sent a letter to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics requesting detailed data on the impact of foreign production incentives on the domestic industry. In March 20, 2026, Senator Adam Schiff hosted a spotlighthearing in Burbank California entitled, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production” to highlight the importance of bolstering American film production, and tackling the challenges facing the industry from generous tax incentives provided by other countries.”

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/watch-as-uss-abraham-lincoln-returns-home-after-300-days-of-deployment-sen-schiff-renews-call-for-end-to-trumps-war-in-iran/,"WATCH: As USS Abraham Lincoln Returns Home after 300+ Days of Deployment, Sen. Schiff Renews Call for End to Trump’s War in Iran",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, Senate Republicans again blocked a measure that would have confirmed Congress has not authorized the ongoing deployment of U.S. troops for Trump’s Iran War

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) took to the Senate floor to urge Senate Republicans to pass a War Powers Resolution to end President Trump’s illegal war in Iran. Schiff highlighted constituent stories from servicemembers’ families detailing the abysmal conditions onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, contrasting their sacrifices against the President’s downplaying of the war’s impact and obsessions with his vanity projects.

Senate Republicans’ blocking of this resolution follows a series of similar resolutions led by Democrats in Congress, including by Senator Schiff and colleagues in the Senate, to confirm that Congress has not authorized this use of the U.S. military and require the President to end the war. The resolution failed today in a 49 to 50 vote.

“In fact, the Lincoln set a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea without a port visit. And a record away from its home port of San Diego. And even now, just recently after stopping in Thailand for its first regular port call in nearly nine months — hull rusted, paint peeling — the Lincoln and its crew were still a long way from home,” said Senator Schiff on the Senate floor.

Schiff emphasized how the prolonged deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln has sent shockwaves throughout the San Diego community and continued his call for an end to this war.

Watch the full speech HERE. Download the remarks HERE.

Read the full transcript of his remarks as delivered below:

Ever since the USS Abraham Lincoln was commissioned in the waning days of the Cold War, it has been known for many things.

After a volcano erupted in the Philippines in 1991, the Lincoln led the largest peacetime evacuation of U.S. military personnel and their families. A baby was even born onboard during the evacuation — and named Abraham Lincoln.

In 1993, the Lincoln became the first carrier in the Pacific Fleet to integrate female aviators.

But today, as a result of the President’s war with Iran, the Lincoln has achieved another distinction — one it neither sought nor wished to claim.

And that is for more than 300 days, over 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln were at sea.

Without visits to their family.

Or other loved ones.

Without visits to friends apart from their fellow servicemembers.

In fact, the Lincoln set a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea without a port visit.

And a record away from its home port of San Diego.

And even now, just recently after stopping in Thailand for its first regular port call in nearly nine months — hull rusted, paint peeling — the Lincoln and its crew were still a long way from home.

As the President’s senseless war has dragged on, it has taken a heavy toll on the lives and well-being of our servicemembers and their families, many of whom are in California.

So how does the Commander-in-Chief respond?

When asked last month if carriers like the Lincoln had been deployed too long, Donald Trump said — and this is a direct quote — “No, no, no, not nearly long enough.”

Not nearly long enough?

It was long enough that our sailors have been working 12 to 16 hour shifts — at times facing the danger of enemy missiles.

It was long enough that they were forced to ration food and water — shortages that have reportedly caused severe weight loss and health impacts.

It was long enough that crew members have had severe mental health crises, which created significant distress for their families as well. To the point where some servicemembers sought to jump off the carrier into the sea.

It was long enough that servicemembers had to deal with black mold that drips, as one servicemember described, “onto your face, shoulders, arms or head” while “standing in line for a meal or even walking out of the shower.”

Doug, a constituent from California, wrote a letter to me expressing his deep concerns over his son’s service on the Lincoln. His son had to be medically evacuated from the ship after suffering a collapsed lung — which Doug believes was connected to malnutrition and overexertion.

“The crew went about four weeks without hot water or laundry. They were on rations for two to three months while working 12 to 16 hour days. During that time, his family spent thousands of dollars sending him food, but only about half of it arrived.”

Doug went on: “After time in the ICU [abroad], he returned home to us as a shell of the son who had left. He is 6’5″ and left weighing 210 pounds; and he returned closer to 180 pounds. He resembled a starved prisoner of war. What he told me as a father and veteran turns my stomach and must be brought to light.”

Another constituent of mine, Annabelle from San Diego, shared her story about her husband attempting to jump overboard from the Lincoln during his deployment.

“He’s scared,” she said. “He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge, and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year-old career is ruined, just like that. That’s not fair, that’s not right. That’s not what he should be worrying about right now.” But this, is what Annabelle and her three kids are now living with.

Shelby, a high schooler whose mom is deployed on the Lincoln, spoke about how hard it is to start her senior year without her mom. She asked, “Will she be back before homecoming? My birthday? Christmas? I have no idea, and that’s all that I think about.”

This week, we learned from the Acting Secretary of the Navy that eight U.S. Navy personnel assigned to the Lincoln’s carrier strike group attempted suicide during the prolonged time at sea. The navy also confirmed that one sailor went overboard from the ship this summer, while another attempted to go overboard. After months of denials, the Defense Department confirmed what has been reported for months, and that is, deteriorating mental health aboard the Lincoln and multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard.

These are just some of the alarming, dangerous, and shameful conditions our sailors and Marines have endured aboard the Lincoln — and also what our families are going through — while Pete Hegseth posts workout videos and Donald Trump renames lakes and pours over blueprints for the gilded ballroom.

For Donald Trump and his billionaire cronies — events in black tie.

For our servicemembers aboard the Lincoln — showers and meals with black mold.

Could there be a clearer encapsulation of this administration’s misplaced priorities?

So, the American people were told that the war would be over “very soon.”

That was March 9th. Ten days after the war started.

Now, the U.S. is more than six months into the disastrous war.

Months of negotiations to end the conflict have failed. But the President promises us that the war will soon come to an end — after the election.

And what have we achieved in this war that has cost the lives of 19 U.S. servicemembers?

Prices at the pump and grocery checkout have skyrocketed. Diesel prices, fertilizer prices are crushing farmers while the resultant food prices are crushing the rest of America.

Utility bills and medical bills, out of control.

Everyone but the President and his buddies are painfully aware that we’re experiencing an affordability crisis in America.

While the President says… “Not long enough.”

In the closing days of the Mexican-American War, our sixteenth president — whose name the Lincoln proudly carries — was a freshman here in Congress. He wrote to his law partner.

“The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons,” Lincoln wrote.

“Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object.”

“This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions, and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us.”

“But your view,” Lincoln wrote, “destroys the whole matter, and places our President where kings have always stood.”

We need to take Lincoln’s words to heart. This Congress is not a royal court, to do the bidding and bow and scrape before an all-powerful sovereign. We are a coequal branch of government and two hundred and fifty years into this experiment in self-governance, we should show Lincoln’s resolve.

Will we continue to place the president where kings have stood?

Or will we say, at long last, “enough?”

Will we make it clear that this war, illegal from the start, has gone on too long?

Will we insist on the removal and return of our troops?

I pray that we will, and I urge support of this resolution.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-applauds-35-million-south-valley-water-infrastructure-projects,Costa Applauds $35 Million for South Valley Water Infrastructure Projects,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FRESNO, Calif. - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after the Bureau of Reclamation announced $25 million for the Kern Fan Groundwater Recharge Project and over $9 million for the Tulare Irrigation District’s Seaborn Reservoir as part of the Small Storage Program.

“Water is the lifeblood of the San Joaquin Valley, and we need to capture and store every drop we can,” said Congressman Costa.“I’ve fought for investments in the Kern Fan Groundwater Recharge Project and Seaborn Reservoir because these are the kinds of projects that will strengthen our water supply, recharge our groundwater, and provide greater certainty for our farmers and communities. Kern Fan helped inspire my Every Drop Counts Act because we know what works in the Valley. This $35 million federal investment will help us put those solutions to work and build a more reliable water future for the San Joaquin Valley.”

BACKGROUND:

The Bureau of Reclamation announced $25 million in federal funding for the Kern Fan Groundwater Recharge Project and $9,279,859 for the Tulare Irrigation District’s Seaborn Reservoir Project.

Congressman Costa has been a vocal advocate for both projects and for strengthening water infrastructure in the San Joaquin Valley. Congressman Costa’s legislation, Every Drop Counts Act, was based on the Kern Fan Groundwater Recharge Project.

The Kern Fan Groundwater Recharge Project will enhance groundwater recharge efforts by developing a new 26,000-acre-foot regional water bank, in addition to adding 375 cubic-feet-per-second of conveyance capacity. This project aims to construct three recovery wells and utilize nearly 1,000 acres of existing recharge and groundwater storage facilities. By capturing water when supply is abundant, this project helps to provide certainty for our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen and women.

The Seaborn Reservoir Project will repurpose a former mining operation into a 7,000-acre-foot reservoir to store Kaweah River water. The project will support flood control for downstream communities and agricultural land, improve groundwater recharge, increase Central Valley Project federal water availability, and help offset groundwater use to support SGMA sustainability. The project will also restore native habitat, provide recreation and environmental education opportunities, and contribute to drinking water supply improvements for neighboring communities, including disadvantaged communities.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-leads-bipartisan-push-protect-american-produce-growers-us-mexico-trade,Costa Leads Bipartisan Push to Protect American Produce Growers in U.S.-Mexico Trade,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, joined Representatives Dan Newhouse (WA-04), David Rouzer (NC-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) in leading a bipartisan push urging the Trump Administration to secure stronger payment protections for American fresh produce growers and shippers doing business in Mexico through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) process.

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator Julie Callahan and U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg, the lawmakers called on the Administration to secure protections in Mexico equivalent to those provided under the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). While American produce sellers have payment protections at home and Canada has established comparable protections, U.S. growers and shippers selling into Mexico remain exposed when buyers fail to pay or become insolvent.

In their letter, the lawmakers wrote:

“As the Administration works to reduce the agricultural trade deficit and expand export opportunities for U.S. specialty crops, American growers and shippers should have confidence that they will be paid for the products they sell abroad. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the Administration prioritize securing a commitment from Mexico through the USMCA process to establish protections for sellers of perishable agricultural commodities equivalent to those provided under the U.S. PACA Trust and Canada's Bill C-280. Establishing such a mechanism would create reciprocal protections across all three USMCA countries and provide greater certainty for American growers and shippers doing business across North America.”

The full letter can be found HERE.

BACKGROUND:

The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) has long provided U.S. growers and produce sellers with important protections when buyers fail to pay or become insolvent. In 2024, Canada enacted similar protections for fresh fruit and vegetable sellers, providing greater financial certainty for produce transactions in both countries.

Mexico does not currently provide U.S. growers and shippers with equivalent protections, leaving American sellers exposed when buyers fail to pay. As the United States and Mexico continue negotiations related to the 2026 review of the USMCA, including discussions on agriculture, Costa and his bipartisan colleagues are urging the Administration to close that gap and establish consistent payment protections for produce sellers across North America.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://bera.house.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-of-trump-xi-summit-bera-urges-trump-to-stand-firm-on-taiwan-and-establish-ai-crisis-guardrails,"Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit, Bera Urges Trump to Stand Firm on Taiwan and Establish AI Crisis Guardrails",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Ami Bera,B001287,bera.house.gov,bera,https://bera.house.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of President Trump’s meeting with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, is urging President Trump to maintain longstanding U.S. commitments in the Indo-Pacific while using direct diplomacy with Beijing to address the emerging national security risks posed by artificial intelligence and reduce the risk of dangerous miscalculation.

Ranking Member Bera joined East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chair Young Kim (CA-40) in a bipartisan letter outlining priorities for the Trump-Xi summit, including upholding America’s longstanding policy toward Taiwan and supporting Taiwan’s self-defense, securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans, disrupting the fentanyl trade, and reducing Beijing’s leverage over critical mineral supply chains.

In a separate letter, Bera, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05), and House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa Ranking Member Sara Jacobs (CA-51) led 26 other House Democrats in calling for sustained dialogue between the United States and the PRC focused on artificial intelligence safety and risk.

“President Trump must make clear that the United States will not compromise its commitments to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific for the sake of reaching a broader deal with Beijing. That means standing firm on Taiwan, pressing for the release of wrongfully detained Americans, combating the networks fueling the fentanyl crisis, and reducing dangerous supply-chain dependencies,” said Representative Bera.

“At the same time, the President should seek agreement on implementing AI guardrails and establishing reliable channels of communication that reduce the risk of miscalculation and provide mechanisms to deconflict during a crisis. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union developed similar mechanisms to communicate during moments of heightened tension. Washington and Beijing need those channels in place to address current and emerging threats,” Bera continued.

Standing Firm on Taiwan and Advancing U.S. Security Priorities

In the Bera-Kim letter, the lawmakers urge President Trump to maintain America’s longstanding One-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-China Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances. They specifically call for continued efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and for the President to make clear that the United States will not consult with Beijing over arms sales to Taiwan.

“Maintaining America’s decades-long policy on Taiwan – guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-China Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances – by increasing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, including through additional arms sales, is essential to U.S. security,” Bera and Kim wrote. “We urge you to make clear that the U.S. will not consult with the PRC on arms sales to Taiwan consistent with the U.S. One-China policy.”

The Kim-Bera letter also urges President Trump to press for the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizens Min Zin and Youlin Chen, expand law-enforcement cooperation to target fentanyl precursor chemicals and the networks supporting the fentanyl trade, and reduce U.S. dependence on the PRC for critical minerals and key pharmaceutical inputs.

Read the full Bera-Kim letter here.

Establishing AI Guardrails and Crisis Communications

In the Bera-Meeks-Jacobs letter, the lawmakers led more than two dozen U.S. House Democrats in calling for a sustained dialogue between the United States and the PRC focused on AI safety and national security risks. The letter calls for shared standards and red lines around dangerous uses of AI, a standing crisis communications channel, mechanisms to report consequential AI incidents, and discussions on maintaining human control over nuclear weapons decisions and preventing advanced AI capabilities from reaching dangerous non-state actors.

“The purpose of a U.S.-China dialogue on AI should be focused and practical: reduce risks of miscalculation and address the dangers that neither country can manage alone,” the lawmakers wrote.

The Bera-Meeks-Jacobs letter also calls for a standing channel that both countries could use to report anomalous AI events and prevent misunderstandings, work on technologies that could help verify claims about AI activities, and narrowly scoped engagement between American and Chinese AI researchers focused on safety and risk while protecting U.S. technology and intellectual property.

“The promise and risks of AI are too great for the United States and China to not talk,” the lawmakers added.

Read the full Bera-Meeks-Jacobs letter here.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://friedman.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-rep-friedmans-multi-year-push-create-national-film-tax-credit,ICYMI: Rep. Friedman’s Multi-Year Push to Create a National Film Tax Credit,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Laura Friedman,F000483,friedman.house.gov,friedman,https://friedman.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, September 23, 2026, as momentum builds in Congress behind a national film tax credit, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) released a record of her work to create a national film tax credit and bring film and television production jobs back to the United States.

“I started working on this as soon as I got to Congress. Now, because of the effort we’ve put in alongside incredible Members of Congress like Rep. Brian Jack and Senator Adam Schiff, we’re closer than ever to getting it done,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “Sixty-five other countries decided to compete for these jobs, and no single state can outbid a foreign government. These are carpenters, electricians, drivers, and camera operators in all 50 states, and I won't stop until we bring their work home.”

Built the coalition behind this effort starting in 2025: Variety reported in May 2025 that Friedman was drafting the House bill and recruiting Republicans to build a bipartisan coalition behind it. Since then, she has worked with Rep. Brian Jack, Senator Adam Schiff, Jon Voight, industry unions, studios, producers, and more to make the case for a national film tax credit before the issue had political momentum.

Co-founded the Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus in September 2026 with Reps. Brian Jack (GA-03), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03), giving the effort a bipartisan home in the House. Release here.

Convened a roundtable with the Directors Guild of America Leadership Council in August 2025 on bringing production back to the United States, building on an earlier roundtable with local businesses and community leaders and a rally of entertainment labor unions. Release here.

Brought the job losses on the record in the district, joining Sen. Adam Schiff’s March 2026 Spotlight Hearing in Burbank, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production.”

Making the Case Early in 2025:

Los Angeles Times, May 2025 – Named Friedman and Sen. Adam Schiff among the lawmakers who had been advocating a national program to put the United States on equal footing with countries offering more generous incentives. Read here.

Variety, May 2025 – Friedman said she wanted to refocus the conversation around a national film tax credit, and was drafting the House bill while recruiting Republicans to build a bipartisan coalition behind it. Read here.

Spectrum News 1, May 2025 – Friedman said she was already negotiating with colleagues on a national film tax credit to help every state with film production, and welcomed conversations with the administration. Read here.

The Hollywood Reporter, September 2025 – Friedman, a former film producer, redirected the tariff conversation to a national film tax credit, arguing it works in California and will work across the country. Read here.

Building the Coalition 2026:

NPR, September 2026 – Friedman told Weekend Edition that the country is losing an industry employing people across a wide range of crafts and occupations, and that she wants the United States to lead the world in entertainment and content. Listen here.

Los Angeles Times, September 2026 – Friedman said she would put American crews and talent against any in the world, and that productions will come back if they have a level playing field to shoot on. Read here.

Variety, September 2026 – Reported that Friedman and Sen. Schiff were among the first to call for federal action to supplement state tax credits. Read here.

The Hollywood Reporter, September 2026 – On the caucus launch, Friedman made the case that bringing production back to the United States is not a partisan fight. Read here.

Deadline, September 2026 – Confirmed Friedman as one of the members spearheading the effort in the House. Read here.

The Washington Times, September 2026 – Friedman called it a major mistake that the United States has nothing to compete with at the federal level. Read here.",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-hears-damning-testimony-on-flock-surveillance-camera-misuse/,WATCH: Padilla Hears Damning Testimony on Flock Surveillance Camera Misuse,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, raised serious concerns about Flock surveillance cameras, particularly their misuse for immigration enforcement.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Padilla questioned Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about the widespread use of Flock technology among local, state, and federal officials as well as the private sector. Padilla also raised concerns about Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers’ ability to access Flock data despite Flock’s claims that it does not contract with ICE.

Key Excerpts:

PADILLA RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FLOCK DATA SHARING WITH ICE

PADILLA: Broad data sharing with ICE: Is it happening or is it not happening? Flock claims that it does not partner with ICE, and ICE does not have direct access to Flock cameras, or their systems, or their data. But we know that ICE is still able to access Flock data through state and local law enforcement agencies that have entered into agreements, cooperative agreements, with ICE, known as 287(g) agreements. So, can you explain in more detail how these agreements can function as a loophole for ICE or other immigration enforcement agencies to access data that they otherwise couldn’t?

[…]

MARLOW: I would point out Flock seems to change its story week to week. It’s hard to even remember. But they did say for a long period of time, that ICE does not have direct access to Flock data, and that was true. But the key word there is “direct.” Exactly. And so, it doesn’t even take a 287(g) agreement, although that’s obviously a major problem.

All it takes is one officer in one department who is a customer of Flock and participates in their nationwide data-sharing program, and you get a call from, be it ICE or any other federal agency, that says, “Hey, can you run a search for me?” And either because they believe in the cause that that federal agency is pursuing, or they just want to be on good terms with them because they may need something from them tomorrow, they say, “Happy to help.”

And Flock never acknowledges that no security procedures that’s put in place do anything to protect against the misuse of its system.

PADILLA: The question becomes how do we close that loophole?

MARLOW: You ban them, sir. You ban them.

Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-once-again-defeats-republican-efforts-to-advance-save-act-condemns-trumps-tariffs/,"WATCH: Padilla Once Again Defeats Republican Efforts to Advance SAVE Act, Condemns Trump’s Tariffs",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padila (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, once again took to the Senate floor to lead his colleagues in defeating Republicans’ attempts to pass parts of the SAVE Act voter suppression bill after the 2026 midterm election has already begun. Padilla opposed Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) efforts to advance Senator Jon Husted’s (R-Ohio) MAGA voter ID bill, S. 5271, which consists of a provision of the SAVE Act that would require eligible voters to provide specific types of photo identification when voting, including in their mail and absentee ballots, threatening to violate the right to a secret ballot and cause chaos in an election where mail ballots are already printed and voting is underway.

With Election Day now 41 days away, Padilla highlighted the deliberate timing of Republicans’ attempts to advance the bill. Some eligible voters have already exercised their right to vote early, and Padilla emphasized the additional burden, especially for mail and absentee ballots, and chaos that would immediately follow if the voter ID bill passed.

“The 2026 midterm election has already begun — it’s in full swing,” said Senator Padilla. “So let’s not be fooled about this attempt to pass a piece of the SAVE Act. Number one, the substance. It’s not just a voter ID bill. It’s a bill, and the timing is curious, that seeks to create chaos and confusion over vote by mail and absentee voting. The other part is, indeed, the timing and its implications. Trying to change the rules, because this bill, if signed into law, would go immediately into effect, creates chaos in the middle of an election that’s already underway.”

Padilla sounded the alarm on President Trump’s efforts to interfere in the upcoming midterm elections and detailed the Supreme Court’s recent decision to block Trump’s vote-by-mail executive order’s directive that the U.S. Postal Service determine who is and is not allowed to receive ballots. He highlighted the bipartisan opposition to these burdensome provisions, with the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Utah, the state’s chief election officer, saying in March that this provision would be “violating our constitutional right to a secret ballot” and the Republican Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine vetoing a similar bill at the state level in June, calling the mail voting ID requirement “a significant burden.”

“All this talk about changing the rules around elections. You know, this Administration, including the president himself, has been trying nonstop to interfere and change the rules on the elections for a long time now, and those efforts have been successfully pushed back on,” continued Senator Padilla. “It’s a desperate attempt to hold on to power, because the writing is on the wall. Poll after poll, approval ratings, etc., show that Donald Trump is going to be in for a rough night this November, but it’s also an attempt to distract.”

Padilla raised significant concerns about Republicans’ continued fixation on passing this voter suppression bill and highlighted issues that working Americans are facing, such as the rising costs of groceries, healthcare, and gas. He emphasized that instead of focusing on voter ID, Republicans should instead focus on the affordability crisis that Trump has created through his unnecessary tariffs. Padilla concluded by trying to pass the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act to undo Trump’s tariffs on U.S. imports. Republicans objected.

“President Trump promised that these tariffs would bring back manufacturing, make Americans more wealthy, and pay down the nation’s debt, create jobs, and lower prices for consumers. That sure sounded good, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. None of that has happened,” Senator Padilla concluded. “Instead of focusing on those issues, they are once again, taking precious time on the Senate floor and talking about unnecessary changes to how people should be able to vote or not vote – maybe that’s their ultimate objective – for an election that’s already underway. Just because your team is losing at halftime doesn’t mean you call timeout and change the rules, or change the referees trying to change the outcome.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, which has oversight over federal elections, Padilla has led the charge opposing Trump’s overreaching anti-voter SAVE Act. Last month, Padilla led his Senate colleagues in once again defeating MAGA Republicans’ efforts to advance Husted’s voter ID bill. In June, Padilla led his Senate Democratic colleagues in defeating Republicans’ efforts to include the SAVE Act in their anti-immigrant reconciliation bill twice in one night. During the failed March 2026 “talking filibuster” attempt, Padilla took to the Senate floor four times as a leader in the Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act.

Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.

Full transcript of Padilla’s remarks is available below:

Reserving the right to object, let me remind us all, colleagues, that we, as of today, are 41 days from the midterm elections, or, as I like to refer it – refer to it – as simply the last day to vote, because a lot of people in states across the country take advantage of their right and opportunity to vote early in person, like people in Virginia did beginning this last weekend.

Many people in states across the country, including my home state of California, exercise their right and option to vote by mail. Uh, I’ll get back to that in a minute. The point is, in a growing number of states, the midterm election is already underway. People in North Carolina, Wisconsin and Alabama are already receiving their ballots in the mail. In Virginia, South Dakota, Minnesota, Vermont, and Illinois, voters are already going to the polls to vote in person early. And in the next couple of weeks, additional states will begin – nine more states will have begun their early voting. And in my home state of California, ballots will be mailed to every registered voter in the state.

So again, the bottom line here is the 2026 midterm election has already begun. It’s in full swing. So let’s not be fooled about this attempt to pass a piece of the SAVE Act. Uh, number one, the substance. It’s not just a voter ID bill. It’s a bill, and the timing is curious, that seeks to create chaos and confusion over vote by mail and absentee voting.

The other part is, indeed, the timing and its implications. Trying to change the rules, because this bill, if signed into law, would go immediately into effect, creates chaos in the middle of an election that’s already underway.

But don’t just take my word for it. Let me quote the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Utah, who says that this, quote, “is violating our constitutional right to a secret ballot.” Why? Because the requirement to include a copy of your drivers license when you’re voting by mail undermines the sec – the notion of a secret ballot in America.

Let me quote the Republican governor of Ohio, who says that a very similar bill that reached his desk in the state of Ohio represented, quote, “a significant burden.” And again, it’s not just a potential or theoretical significant burden for some election sometime in the future. It would go into effect immediately, causing chaos and confusion and a burden for election administrators who wouldn’t even know how to begin to comply with this for an election that’s already underway.

Let me go even further, Mr. President, and reference the Supreme Court’s recent actions when they blocked President Trump’s executive order on vote by mail, and what he was trying to do, giving authority and direction to the United States Postal Service to determine which voters get their ballots and which don’t. Even Justice Kavanaugh, who I disagree with on much, but even Justice Kavanaugh said it was in part because changing the rules so close to an election, quote, “would be arbitrary and capricious.” That was a couple weeks ago that this ruling came out. If at that time the Supreme Court deemed it too close to an election, we’re even closer now. And so, again, not nearly the time to properly, responsibly implement, even if you agreed with this bad policy.

But let me make a case for what is really going on here. All this talk about changing the rules around elections. You know, this administration, including the president himself, has been trying nonstop to interfere and change the rules on the elections for a long time now, and those efforts have been successfully pushed back on.

I expect him to continue these threats and attempts, not just between now and Election Day, probably on Election Day and post-Election Day, if history is any indicator. Why? I mean, first of all, it’s a desperate attempt to hold on to power, because the writing is on the wall. Poll after poll, approval ratings, et cetera, show that Donald Trump is going to be in for a rough night this November, but it’s also an attempt to distract.

You would think that he or we could be spending more time on trying to bring down costs for working families. But no, for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, the unauthorized war in Iran, the price on everything is not just not going down – it keeps going up. The price of gas that people put into their passenger cars to get to and from work, or wherever they need to go. The cost of diesel is also at record levels and being passed on to consumers in terms of increased costs on everything else: groceries, clothing, consumer electronics, and more. The threat to the economy is so bad that the Federal Reserve has not only not lowered interest rates, as Donald Trump has practically demanded, they’ve taken a recent step to increase interest rates for the first time in three years to try to rein in inflation.

So nothing’s getting cheaper, nothing’s getting easier. And a recent report showed that, from the administration’s tariffs, again, the war in Iran, the trade wars that are unnecessary, and the bad economic decisions are taking a toll on American families. $4,200 per household in increased costs because of higher prices. And now the president has once again threatened our Canadian neighbors with endless tariffs.

Look at healthcare. The average cost of employer-provided health care is expected to increase by at least 11%. What happened to the so-called Liberation Day of last April? President Trump promised that these tariffs would bring back manufacturing, make Americans more wealthy, and pay down the nation’s debt, create jobs, and lower prices for consumers. That sure sounded good, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. None of that has happened. Actually, the exact opposite has come to bear.

But again, instead of focusing on those issues, they are once again, taking precious time on the Senate floor and talking about unnecessary changes to how people should be able to vote or not vote – maybe that’s their ultimate objective – for an election that’s already underway. Just because your team is losing at halftime doesn’t mean you call timeout and change the rules, or change the referees trying to change the outcome.

So let’s dispense with this measure and get back to the real work at hand.

So, Mr. President, I would therefore ask the Senator to modify his request, so that instead of S. 5271, and notwithstanding Rule 22, the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of S. 5390, the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, and further, that the bill be considered, read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered, made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-amidst-worsening-staffing-crisis-sens-schiff-and-whitehouse-renew-probe-of-fish-and-wildlife-service-after-dodging-lawmakers-inquiries/,"NEWS: Amidst Worsening Staffing Crisis, Sens. Schiff and Whitehouse Renew Probe of Fish and Wildlife Service after Dodging Lawmakers’ Inquiries",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators emphasize that staff and resources are spread thin, drastically impacting the ability to protect wildlife and public lands

Washington, D.C. – After the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) sidestepped repeated inquiries from lawmakers regarding the worsening staffing crisis at the agency and dodged questions during Senate hearings, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate EPW Committee, are renewing demands that the agency immediately address and reverse the staffing crisis at FWS.

Since the Senators’ last inquiry in December 2025, which FWS did not respond to, FWS has lost 36% of its workforce – up nearly 10% since December. FWS offices in California have lost more than 40% of staff. With resources spread thin, the Senators emphasize that the reduction in its workforce drastically impacts the agency’s ability to carry out their responsibilities to protect wildlife and manage wildlife refuge lands.

“Many are being forced to rely on outside nongovernment organizations for support of critical functions. Making matters worse, you removed the 16-year-long Chief of the Refuge System from her post without explanation. Further, there is currently a backlog of more than 400 species waiting for protection decisions, wasting critical time that could be used implementing species protection plans. Continued mismanagement and reductions to the workforce threaten FWS’s ability to perform these vital functions and leave American wildlife and the public to bear the consequences,” the Senators wrote in a new oversight letter to FWS Director Brian Nesvik.

During Nesvik’s June 10 appearance before the Environment and Public Works Committee, Schiff pushed Nesvik on answers for the findings of the nationwide review of the Refuge System that the Senators demanded over six months ago. Nesvik stated they were “getting close to being wrapped up to where we can talk publicly” about it.

“We are frustrated that, despite the severity of this situation, we have still not received a clear plan for addressing FWS’s losses… The continued absence of responses to congressional inquiries regarding the agency’s ability to protect wildlife and maintain refuges compounds our alarm that your agency does not intend to do anything to stop its own ongoing collapse,” the Senators concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Director Nesvik:

We write to follow up on our December 18, 2025, letter regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) worsening staffing crisis and the devastating impacts the staffing shortages are having on the National Wildlife Refuge System and the agency’s ability to fulfill its core conservation mission. In our previous letter, we asked the Department of the Interior and FWS to provide Congress with your plan to address these staffing losses and ensure the Refuge System has the personnel and resources necessary to protect America’s wildlife and public lands. Nine months later, we have still not received any response from the administration.

Since we sent our letter, new evidence has shown that the crisis is getting worse. According to an updated analysis released by the Center for Biological Diversity on September 2, FWS has lost 36 percent, or more than one-third, of its workforce since the beginning of the Trump administration. This analysis was informed by documents from your own agency obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.

The consequences of these losses are already having impacts on our wildlife populations and public lands. FWS employees are responsible for managing the National Wildlife Refuge System, protecting threatened and endangered species, responding to wildfires and other natural disasters on these lands, and carrying out the agency’s responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). National wildlife refuges continue to be understaffed, with many refuges not having a single employee working on the refuge. Many are being forced to rely on outside nongovernment organizations for support of critical functions. Making matters worse, on August 25, 2026, it was reported that you removed the 16-year-long Chief of the Refuge System from her post without explanation. Further, there is currently a backlog of more than 400 species waiting for protection decisions, wasting critical time that could be used implementing species protection plans. Continued mismanagement and reductions to the workforce threaten FWS’s ability to perform these vital functions and leave American wildlife and the public to bear the consequences.

We are frustrated that, despite the severity of this situation, we have still not received a clear plan for addressing FWS’s losses. During your testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on June 10, 2026, you were asked when we could expect a response to our December letter concerning the staffing crisis. You answered: “I can’t commit to you on a timeline when you’ll receive a response.” This lack of responsiveness to the Article I branch of government demonstrates a startling lack of respect for the Constitution and the system of checks and balances established by our Framers. One-fifth of the Senate—including the ranking members of the authorizing committee and subcommittee with jurisdiction over your agency—is awaiting a response from you.

Further, also during your June 10 appearance before the Environment and Public Works Committee, you stated that you were “getting close to being wrapped up to where we can talk publicly” about the findings of the nationwide review of the Refuge System that you ordered on December 16, 2025. Thus far, Congress has received very little information regarding this review. In the context of a 36-percent loss of agency staff, this review raises questions about possible closures of our nation’s wildlife refuges.

The continued absence of responses to congressional inquiries regarding the agency’s ability to protect wildlife and maintain refuges compounds our alarm that your agency does not intend to do anything to stop its own ongoing collapse. Accordingly, by October 7, 2026, we demand responses to the requests included in our December 18, 2025, letter as well as information on the conclusions of the nationwide Refuge System review that you stated was close to completion in June. Thank you.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schiff-joins-duckworth-and-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-demanding-the-trump-administration-to-extend-and-redesignate-tps-for-ukrainians/,NEWS: Schiff Joins Duckworth and Bipartisan Group of Senators in Demanding the Trump Administration to Extend and Redesignate TPS for Ukrainians,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The Senators’ call for an 18-month extension and redesignation comes as TPS for Ukrainians is set to expire next month

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians living in the United States as Vladimir Putin continues his unjustified war of aggression against their homeland. In their letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators underscored how a failure to extend TPS ahead of its expiration next month would send thousands of Ukrainians back into a war zone that has resulted in significant civilian casualties, infrastructure damage and displacement.

“Current conditions in Ukraine clearly merit the continuation of TPS status. The ongoing war has caused a humanitarian crisis and damage to critical civilian infrastructure has left many with limited or no access to heat, electricity or medical services. Ukrainian nationals cannot safely return at this time, and allowing TPS to terminate on October 19, 2026, would risk sending more than one hundred thousand individuals back to an active war zone,” wrote the Senators.

Ukrainian TPS holders have long contributed to communities in Illinois, and across the country, both culturally and economically. The Senators noted that allowing an 18-month extension of the TPS would prevent these community members from being forced to return to dangerous conditions, while allowing the communities that benefit from their contributions to continue to benefit and learn from them.

Along with Schiff and Duckworth, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D- Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

We strongly urge you to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine prior to the impending October 19, 2026, termination date. Ukraine is currently in the fifth year of a large-scale war with Russia, which has led to ongoing civilian casualties, significant damage to critical infrastructure and the displacement of broad swaths of the population. An extension of TPS for Ukraine would protect current TPS beneficiaries from being forced to return to an active war zone, while a redesignation would expand those protections to the population of Ukrainian nationals who arrived after October 20, 2023.

Ukraine was initially designated for TPS on April 19, 2022, on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by Russia’s military actions within the country. In its designation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, cited regular artillery attacks and airstrikes by Russia’s military forces, serious human rights abuses and the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure. Subsequent reviews of in-country conditions found that the situation in the country had not sufficiently improved; accordingly, TPS for Ukraine was extended and redesignated through April 19, 2025, and extended once more beginning on April 20, 2025.

The war in Ukraine—the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II—is ongoing, as are the same extraordinary and temporary conditions that warrant the continued protection of Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the United States. International observers report a trend of steadily increasing civilian casualties from year to year, with approximately 17,000 civilian deaths and more than 50,000 civilian injuries since the outbreak of the war in 2022. These casualties, coupled with significant damage to civilian infrastructure, constrained access to health care and substantial population displacement have created a profound crisis, with approximately 10.8 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The facts on the ground paint a clear picture: sending Ukrainians back now would risk returning them to life threatening conditions.

Protecting the approximately 101,000 Ukrainian TPS holders currently living in the United States is a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound economic decision. Thanks to the work authorization granted by their TPS status, Ukrainian TPS holders have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to our economy each year and have provided approximately $716 million in taxes annually. In States like Illinois, thousands of Ukrainian TPS holders make our communities stronger not only through their rich cultural contributions, but also through their participation in critical sectors, including transportation, health care and construction. Terminating TPS for this population risks disrupting these industries, increasing costs for American consumers by forcing thousands of experienced workers out of their jobs.

Current conditions in Ukraine clearly merit the continuation of TPS status. The ongoing war has caused a humanitarian crisis and damage to critical civilian infrastructure has left many with limited or no access to heat, electricity or medical services. Ukrainian nationals cannot safely return at this time, and allowing TPS to terminate on October 19, 2026, would risk sending more than one hundred thousand individuals back to an active war zone. Ukrainian TPS holders contribute greatly to our communities, both culturally and economically. To ensure that eligible Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States can continue living and working safely while conditions in their home country remain perilous, we urge you issue an extension and redesignation of TPS for Ukraine.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/watch-sen-schiff-breaks-down-need-for-federal-film-tax-incentive-to-keep-production-in-america/,WATCH: Sen. Schiff Breaks Down Need for Federal Film Tax Incentive to Keep Production in America,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) released a video highlighting his push to secure a bipartisan federal film tax incentive to drive more production in America while increasing job opportunities and economic development. The latest momentum for a federal film tax incentive in Congress follows President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of its passage.

In the video, Schiff breaks down how a federal film tax incentive would work and how it would increase America’s competitive edge in film and television production.

Watch the videohere

Background: For years, Schiff has highlighted the need to increase film production in America and has continued to build bipartisan support in Congress for his federal film incentive proposal, which would promote American jobs and spur local economic growth by creating additional support for film and television production in the U.S., allowing us to compete with foreign incentives. This proposal would benefit every U.S. state and territory, doubling down on the investments of the 40 states that already have some form of film production incentive with a stackable federal credit.

During his time in the California State Senate, Schiff helped lead efforts to increase production in California and protect local jobs. Schiff spearheaded efforts in Congress to extend California’s film tax credit, including in 2014 when he led 28 members of the California Democratic delegation in urging the leaders of the California State Senate and Assembly to reauthorize and enhance the tax credit. In 2024, Schiff sent a letter to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics requesting detailed data on the impact of foreign production incentives on the domestic industry. In March 20, 2026, Senator Adam Schiff hosted a spotlight hearing in Burbank, California entitled, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production” to highlight the importance of bolstering American film production, and tackling the challenges facing the industry from generous tax incentives provided by other countries.

Read the full transcript below:

Sen. Schiff: So, what do the films “E.T.,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Pulp Fiction” have in common, besides the fact that they were big box office hits? What they have in common is they were all made in the United States of America. This is tragically becoming a rarity, particularly when you’re talking about film. We have a lot of runaway production of television, but it is most particularly an issue when it comes to movies.

Anchor (In clip): Some of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2025 mostly shot overseas. In many cases, production budget cuts, multiple strikes domestically, and what some describe as a California tax incentive that’s no longer competitive, taking Hollywood elsewhere.

Schiff: The movement of U.S. production of film and TV out of the country has huge consequences. Most particularly, we lose a lot of good-paying jobs. I feel this very keenly, being a resident of Burbank, California, where so much of the industry is concentrated. But we see high-paying jobs going to the UK and New Zealand, going to Canada and other places. This is a phenomenon called runaway production that we have seen for years, but it has been accelerating, and the result is the loss of many tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of jobs. I see these folks that are impacted by this all the time. I was walking through the streets of my hometown of Burbank the other day and was approached by someone who told me how they had worked in the industry for 25 years. They hadn’t had a union contract in three years. They’d never seen a more difficult time, and this is important to our economy. It’s also one of our most important cultural exports, our film and television. And the reason this is happening is that other countries many years ago started offering very generous tax incentives to try to lure this business away, because it has such a big impact on the rest of their economy, and these tax incentives have been successful. Now, some states like California have enacted their own tax credits to try to be competitive, but the U.S. government has not.

(Clip from “Talladega Nights”): Are you kidding me?

Schiff: That may be about to change. This is something I’ve worked on for 20 or 25 years, but for the first time, it has truly bipartisan support. You’re seeing President Trump, who has experience in the entertainment industry, voice his support for a film and television tax credit.

Trump (In clip): They all want to be in Hollywood. They don’t want to lose Hollywood, and the unions want that. The unions are going to work along. I’ve done a lot of work in that the last week, and I think we have bipartisan support. I think we have tremendous Democrat — I understand Adam Schiff is totally in favor of it, and I’d like to get it done. It’s going to work very quickly. They want to make movies in Hollywood. They grew up wanting to be in Hollywood. Now you can’t make a movie in Hollywood. It doesn’t make sense.

Schiff: You’re seeing others like Spencer Pratt and Jon Voight, the actor who is one of the president’s emissaries to Hollywood, also speaking out in favor of these tax credits. You have many Democrats like myself who’ve been pushing this for many, many, years. Laura Friedman, my colleague in the House, also a strong champion of this legislation, and we may finally have the opportunity to get this done.

(Clip from “Elf”): Oh my God!

Schiff: I hosted a hearing on this issue earlier this year, and we had Noah Wyle, the star of “The Pitt” among many other shows and movies, testify about the impacts of the loss of production, and he used the illustration of “The Pitt” which is filmed in Los Angeles, to talk about what a positive impact that has on jobs and the local economy.

Schiff (In clip): How was the decision to film here made, and how would a federal tax incentive on top of the state tax incentive, how would that affect the industry?

Wyle (In clip): You know, the one thing that Los Angeles has been able to offer is generational talent, homegrown here for over 100 years. This is the incubator of this industry, and the talent pool is immense. So the tax credit, augmented by a federal tax incentive, makes this competitive again and brings that work back to Los Angeles. Bottom line is that the estimated total impact of the first season of “The Pitt” contributed around 125 million dollars towards the state’s GDP during our production period. That is proof of concept. That is replicable, and it is vital to the strength of our industry and to our city to support these incentives.

Schiff: He also talked about, frankly, how many jobs have been lost in the industry as a result of runaway production.

Wyle (In clip): Over the last six years, the aggregate effect of projects leaving the state in search of tax credits, the pandemic, and last year’s fires, has been a near cratering of our once thriving industry. We lost 42,000 film and TV jobs in LA County between 2022 and 2024. And as of last year, high-budget productions are down 43%. Admittedly, it’s really hard to shoot a TV show in Los Angeles, and it’s really expensive. Prohibitively so, unless you adopt an economic model that allows you to take full advantage of the California tax incentive to offset your gross costs.

Schiff: Now there are more than one factor that have contributed to the exodus of some of the film and television industry out of California or out of the United States to other states. The high cost of production can be a factor, regulatory burdens can be a factor, but among the biggest factors are these tax incentives that have been offered by other countries. They’re extremely generous. We are not competitive, and as a result, we’ve been losing a lot of these jobs. So, how would a U.S. tax incentive work? How would it be competitive?

(Clip from “Seinfeld”): So what’s the deal with politics? I don’t get it. Am I right, Pete?

Schiff: Well, here’s basically how it would work. Under the proposal that I’ve written, in combination with many others, we would provide about a 20% tax credit for most film and television production. That is for the labor end of that production, so for the wages that these studios are paying employees, real people, to do this work. That tax credit could be augmented by five or ten percent, depending on whether the production is in a disaster zone or an economic zone, where there is a lack of good jobs and good employment, or when other circumstances, independent production are met. That could go up to a maximum of, a total of, 30 percent of federal tax credit. That is competitive with other countries. Other countries are still more generous than that in other respects. But here’s the thing: this would be stackable with tax credits offered by the state of California, for example. So, a production would enjoy the federal incentive as well as the state incentive. That makes us truly competitive with other countries, and that is great news for this vital American industry. So, what does this mean in practical terms?

(Clip from “Austin Powers”): Whoop-de-do! What does it all mean, Basil?

Schiff: “Beetlejuice” was originally filmed in the United States in 1987, but its sequel in 2024 was filmed in the United Kingdom. “The Social Network,” filmed in 2010, was mostly filmed in Los Angeles and a few other locations, but its sequel, “The Social Reckoning” due out in October, was filmed mostly in Vancouver, Canada. “Spaceballs” originally filmed in the United States in Los Angeles, its sequel is shot in Australia. Even the new “Spider-Man” which is set in New York City and features New York taxicabs and New York landmarks was filmed in the United Kingdom, where they had to go to the expense of recreating scenes that looked like New York instead of filming in New York, and why? Because the UK has a very generous tax incentive that we don’t have.

So, what about the argument that well, aren’t these tax incentives going to mean just giving more money to Tom Cruise, or these big Hollywood stars who have plenty of money to begin with? And the answer is no. These Hollywood stars are going to get paid wherever it’s filmed, whether it’s filmed in Canada or the United States, the UK. It doesn’t matter to their bottom line. What it does matter to is a lot of the set designers, and the caterers, and the local dry cleaners and all of the others who are working just to try to provide a good living for their family. I see these folks, I meet these folks, I talk to these folks all the time. They’re my neighbors, and they’ve had to spend increasing amounts of time out of the country, filming on location or simply out of work, because that work has left the United States. So those are the folks that I’m concerned about, that are really losing their jobs with the loss of this vital industry.

We take great pride in this American cultural form, film and television, watched all around the world, and increasingly not shot in America. So I’m excited that this is one of the few bipartisan things that we can agree upon and have a hope of actually getting passed. In fact, this is what the President had to say on social media: “Congress should approve immediately a federal production incentive to create entertainment jobs in America. It can be done quickly, accurately, efficiently and importantly, will benefit all of America.” We’re going to look to the next few weeks to try to get this across the finish line. It is something that has been long in need, and something that we can accomplish together.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-secures-250k-hartnell-colleges-child-development-center,Lofgren Secures $250k for Hartnell College’s Child Development Center,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SALINAS, CA — On Tuesday, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) visited Hartnell College’s Child Development Center to deliver a $250,000 check as one of her 13 community projects she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2026 congressional appropriations cycle. These funds will be used to renovate the Center’s outdoor learning environment and make essential safety upgrades.

“It’s great to visit Hartnell College again and celebrate this win for the children of Salinas,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “The Child Development Center here has provided great programming for kids and has helped parents with young children pursue their educational goals. Every parent wants their child to be able to play outside safely, and I’m happy to help deliver this funding to help renovate the outdoor learning environment.""

""We're thankful for this investment, which will finally allow us to give our youngest students a space that matches the quality of learning we want to provide every day,” said Michael Gutierrez, Superintendent/President of Hartnell College. “The Child Development Center has always been about supporting Salinas families. We thank Congresswoman Lofgren for recognizing that investing in early childhood education is investing in our entire community.""

The Child Development Center at the main campus of Hartnell College serves the larger Salinas community by providing a quality preschool program that facilitates the transition to kindergarten for children 2 through 5 years of age. It includes educational development, health services, social services, and nutritional services.

During 3-hour sessions, children spend between 2 and 2.5 hours in the Center’s outdoor learning environment. The outdoor climbing structure was installed in 1995, and a priority of the renovation will be to remove this structure. Currently, children need to cross a bike path to reach the play structure, another safety concern that will be addressed by the renovation. The redesign will also enhance access to gardening, outdoor dramatic play, art and construction, and a variety of natural experiences.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3528,Carbajal Announces Funding for Central Coast Water Projects Passed House,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill containing more than $66 million for Central Coast water projects. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 will now need to be considered by the Senate for final passage.

Click here for legislative text and here for a summary of WRDA 2026.“Climate change and population growth are straining the Central Coast’s aging water infrastructure. We need strong federal investments to upgrade the water pipes, treatment plants, and sewer systems that serve our region,” said Rep. Carbajal, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Now that the House has passed the Water Resources Development Act, this bill is heading to the Senate carrying key investments I secured for our local infrastructure. I will continue working closely with my colleagues in Congress to ensure this critical legislation is signed into law and delivers for our communities.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In July 2026, Carbajal announced WRDA advanced out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Below are quotes from Central Coast leaders on the bill's advancement.

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

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

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

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

“Congressman Carbajal’s work to continue advancing the Lower Mission Creek Flood Control Project through WRDA 2026 is a very welcome shot in the arm. He has been an essential and long-time champion of the project. With construction now over 50% complete, renewed Federal investment is critical to finishing this complex and urgently needed project to protect our densely developed urban core from recurring flooding,” said Santa Barbara County Public Works Director Chris Sneddon.

“Safety and infrastructure have been central priorities for this Council and City staff, with enhanced public participation, deferred maintenance budgeting, and focused timelines as key progress indicators. We are extremely grateful for our Federal agencies in partnering with the City of Ojai to bring our storm systems to proper order, helping to sustain a community that can remain resilient, safe, and efficient now and for decades to come,” said Ojai’s Mayor Andy Gilman.

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out critical water infrastructure projects nationwide, including flood risk reduction, ecosystem restoration and navigation improvement. WRDA is biennial legislation crafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. By authorizing these projects through WRDA, Congress helps unlock future federal funding.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://garamendi.house.gov/2026/09/22/garamendi-radewagen-introduces-bipartisan-concurrent-resolution-commemorating-the-65th-anniversary-of-the-u-s-peace-corps/,"GARAMENDI, RADEWAGEN INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. PEACE CORPS",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,John Garamendi,G000559,garamendi.house.gov,garamendi,https://garamendi.house.gov/category/press-release/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), the only returned Peace Corps volunteer serving in Congress and Co-Chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus, introduced a bipartisan concurrent resolution with Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa) to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Peace Corps.

The resolution officially honors the service, legacy, and ongoing global impact of the nearly 250,000 Americans who have answered the call to service since President John F. Kennedy founded the agency in 1961.

“Patti and I answered President John F. Kennedy’s call to service fresh out of college, serving together in a small village in western Ethiopia. That experience changed our lives and inspired a lifetime of public service for us for several of our children who also answered the call,” said Congressman Garamendi (CA-08). “Sixty-five years later, the Peace Corps remains one of America’s most vital instruments of soft power, food security, and international goodwill. As we celebrate this 65th anniversary, Congress must continue to support a stronger, modernized Peace Corps that is fully prepared to face the global challenges of the 21st century.”

“Thank you to 65 years of Peace Corps volunteers that have made a difference for millions of people throughout the world, and congratulations to the Peace Corps on this milestone,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa). “This Resolution provides congressional recognition for a proven program built on lasting values of serving others. It’s a pleasure to work with returned volunteer Congressman Garamendi to encourage Peace Corps volunteers for many years to come. I have fond memories of my time as a Peace Corps staffer, as does my daughter, a returned volunteer.”

Read the concurrent resolution here.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-bipartisan-ai-safety-bill-will-move-us-and-china-beyond-red-phone,New Bipartisan AI Safety Bill  Will Move U.S. and China Beyond the “Red Phone”,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Sam T. Liccardo,L000607,liccardo.house.gov,liccardo,https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and Kevin Kiley (I-CA) will introduce legislation to establish U.S.-China coordination on frontier artificial intelligence safety.

The proposal advances that work on two tracks: clearing legal barriers so that top American experts in AI labs, companies, universities, think tanks, and other technical experts can engage directly with Chinese counterparts, while directing the State Department and the rest of the Administration to pursue negotiations with China on binding, verifiable safeguards. As Congressman Liccardo put it, “A lot of technical work must begin now, before political leadership can ever fruitfully meet at the negotiating table. Both nations will need to forge shared safety metrics, rigorous evaluation protocols, standardized testing, and critical verification mechanisms.” This proposal focuses on developing routine U.S.-Chinese communication at the technical level to prevent critical incidents from developing. “By establishing red lines now,” Liccardo added, ”we can avoid the need for red phones later.”

“The AI industry has focused on running faster, but no human wins a race to superintelligence that exceeds human control,” said Liccardo. “We don’t talk to the Chinese because we trust them or agree with them; we shouldn’t and don’t. We talk to the Chinese because—as with the USSR during the Cold War—all of our lives depend on it.”

The framework would:

Pursue binding U.S.-China AI safety standards

Direct the State Department to seek negotiations with China covering model testing and evaluation, independent auditing, transparency, incident reporting, capability pacing, and mechanisms to verify compliance.

Protect American intellectual property.

Direct the Commerce Department to pursue negotiations with China on protections against the compromise of U.S. intellectual property through model distillation.

Target catastrophic AI risks.

Focus negotiations on loss of control and alignment failures, AI-enabled chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, and major cybersecurity risks.

Create an AI “red phone.”

Establish a direct hotline between the U.S. and Chinese governments for urgent communication involving significant AI risks or incidents.

Build common technical standards.

Authorize $100 million for the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) to bring together experts from industry, academia, and civil society and work with international counterparts on common testing, evaluation, and verification standards.

Enable tightly controlled expert engagement.

Allow U.S. AI safety experts to work with Chinese counterparts on narrowly defined safety standards while requiring advance registration with the State Department and permitting U.S. government observation. The framework prohibits participants from sharing proprietary intellectual property, information that could assist model distillation, or sensitive cybersecurity and national security information.

Require congressional oversight.

Require the State and Commerce Departments to provide Congress with monthly updates on progress.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-presents-2-million-federal-funds-help-miraleste-intermediate,REP LIEU PRESENTS $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP WITH MIRALESTE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Ted Lieu,L000582,lieu.house.gov,lieu,https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"LOS ANGELES - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) joined Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District leaders and community partners to tout the $2 million in community project funding that Congressman Lieu secured for Miraleste Intermediate School.

In recent years, the school has experienced significant infrastructure needs. Miraleste Intermediate is a unique site because it is home to the Central Kitchen for Food Services, which provides prepared meals to 10 elementary schools, three intermediate schools, two comprehensive high schools and one continuation school. Replacing and renovating the utilities infrastructure, including the District Central Kitchen, at Miraleste Intermediate School will ensure that students continue to have their learning and wellness needs met, both at the school site and districtwide.

“I’m pleased to have secured $2 million in federal funding for much-needed infrastructure improvements for Miraleste’s campus,” Rep. Ted Lieu said. “At a time when public education funding has been cut by the Trump Administration, this is an important boost to community efforts to create safe and productive environments for learning. These funds will help modernize the kitchen that helps provide meals for all Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) schools, will improve utility systems, and will strengthen building resilience in the event of earthquakes. I am excited to see how this project will enhance PVPUSD’s service to its students and staff.”",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-tran-co-sponsors-tipped-income-protection-legislation-support,Representative Tran Co-sponsors Tipped Income Protection Legislation in Support of Local Service Workers,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Derek Tran,T000491,tran.house.gov,tran,https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) co-sponsored H.R. 1314, the Tipped Income Protection and Support Act (TIPS Act) to allow service industry professionals to deduct their tips when filing taxes. This legislation would increase the maximum amount that service workers can deduct from an adjusted gross income of $25,000 to $112,500, and make this change permanent for service workers across the country.

“While prices skyrocket due to President Trump’s reckless war in Iran and irresponsible tariff policies, working families are under an immense amount of stress as they struggle to make ends meet. For service workers, tips are essential to putting food on the table, handling everyday expenses, and providing for their loved ones. I’m a proud cosponsor of the TIPS Act because it creates a measurable economic impact for service workers and their families in Southern California — putting more money in their pockets and strengthening their financial futures,” said Representative Tran.

The TIPS Act applies to cosmetology, hospitality, food/beverage, parking, and custodial service employees, benefiting nearly 70,000 service industry professionals in California’s 45th Congressional District. This legislation was introduced by Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04) in the 119th Congress. Unlike the provision in H.R.1 – the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – this legislation would make the increased deduction for service workers permanent instead of sunsetting it at the end of 2028.

Representative Tran remains focused on addressing the affordability crisis and has continuously championed legislation to lower prices for working families:

In May 2026, Tran joined fellow members of the Lowering Costs Caucus in a letter urging the Trump Administration to address skyrocketing energy prices.

In July 2025, Representative Tran introduced the Baby Food Tax Relief Actto exempt essential baby feeding products, such as formula, high chairs, and baby bottles, from tariffs to lower costs for hard-working parents.

Tran also cosponsored the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to finance the building of more multifamily units and the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, which establishes a refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-vargas-peters-jacobs-levin-and-senators-padilla-and-schiff-call-on-dhs-to-end-immigration-enforcement-activity-around-schools-in-san-diego-county-after-string-of-disturbing-ice-detentions-near-campuses,"Reps. Vargas, Peters, Jacobs, Levin and Senators Padilla and Schiff Call on DHS to End Immigration Enforcement Activity Around Schools in San Diego County After String of Disturbing ICE Detentions Near Campuses",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Juan Vargas,V000130,vargas.house.gov,vargas,https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49) and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activity around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County. Since the start of the school year, there have been disturbing incidents where ICE agents have detained parents and students near educational institutions, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of students, parents, families, and educators.

“Parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, and students should be able to attend class without encountering federal immigration enforcement around their campus,” wrote the lawmakers.

“Schools and institutions of higher education have long been places where students feel safe enough to learn, belong, and achieve their academic dreams without their lives being uprooted. Schools should not become the backdrop for immigration enforcement activity, nor should parents have to choose between bringing their children to school and fearing that they may be detained in the process,” the lawmakers continued. “As back to school season continues, we demand that you end all ICE activity in the immediate vicinity of schools and college campuses, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times.”

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Mullin,

We write in strong opposition to the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activity in and around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County. Over the past several weeks, ICE agents have detained parents and students near multiple educational institutions, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of our students, parents, families, and educators. Parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, and students should be able to attend class without encountering federal immigration enforcement around their campus.

According to the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), on September 9, ICE agents detained two parents after they dropped off their children at John Marshall Elementary School in Chollas Creek. And this is not an isolated incident. During last year’s back-to-school season, several parents were also arrested by ICE or other federal agents while on their way to or from school pick-up and drop-off lines.

These concerns extend to institutions of higher education as well. On September 8, the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) confirmed that ICE arrested one individual and pursued another near a college campus. College officials confirmed that the driver and passengers were students at San Diego City College. Schools have reported that the presence of ICE officials outside a college campus is highly disruptive and can discourage students from attending classes and accessing campus resources.

These incidents are concerning because immigration enforcement activity near schools can have an impact on all students and families, even when enforcement does not occur directly on school property. ICE activity near schools destabilizes the sense of safety schools offer and places an additional burden on school staff and local communities. The fear among students and families that these incidents cause can also likely negatively impact a student’s educational engagement, mental and physical health, academic performance, and developmental trajectories.

Schools and institutions of higher education have long been places where students feel safe enough to learn, belong, and achieve their academic dreams without their lives being uprooted. Schools should not become the backdrop for immigration enforcement activity, nor should parents have to choose between bringing their children to school and fearing that they may be detained in the process. As back to school season continues, we demand that you end all ICE activity in the immediate vicinity of schools and college campuses, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-murphy-introduce-bill-to-protect-students-from-physical-abuse-end-dangerous-corporal-punishment-practices-in-schools/,"Padilla, Murphy Introduce Bill to Protect Students from Physical Abuse, End Dangerous Corporal Punishment Practices in Schools",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in re-introducing the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act, legislation that would ban corporal punishment for any school that receives federal funding, as well as establish a federal grant program to support states and school districts across the country improve school safety.

“Every student deserves a safe, supportive learning environment that fosters positive relationships and protects their physical and emotional well-being,” said Senator Padilla. “The evidence is clear – corporal punishment is a cruel and outdated method that harms students, hinders academic achievement, and worsens behavior. This bill will make more of our schools safer spaces for students of all backgrounds.”

“Families should be able to trust that when they send their kids to school, they will be in a safe learning environment free from physical abuse,” said Senator Murphy. “The evidence is overwhelming: hitting kids does nothing to help kids. It’s past time to get this archaic, counterproductive practice out of our schools for good.”

“Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for every student,” said Senator Durbin. “We know that corporal punishment is counterproductive to learning and can harm a student’s physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. It should be left out of the classroom entirely. By standing with Senator Chris Murphy and co-sponsoring this bill, we can ensure that no student falls victim to this outdated and cruel punishment.”

“No child should ever face physical abuse, including at school,” said Senator Kaine. “It’s time to end the outdated and harmful practice of corporal punishment in every school across the country. Instead of relying on fear, our schools should provide safe, supportive learning environments that students need to thrive and be healthy.”

Inflicting physical pain on a student’s body as a form of discipline is used in schools throughout the country. However, research has decisively demonstrated corporal punishment is ineffective and does not improve student behavior. Instead, it leads to physical and emotional harm, poor academic performance, diminished self-esteem, and loss of trust. The Protecting Our Students in Schools Act enacts protections for students to ensure all public educational facilities maintain safe, non-violent environments.

The Protecting Our Students in Schools Act is endorsed by organizations including Access Ready Inc., All4Ed, American Psychological Association, Arkansans Against School Paddling, Autism Society of America, Boys Town, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Committee for Children, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Disability Belongs®, Disability Rights Oregon, EdTrust, Family Voices NJ, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Lives in the Balance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Social Workers, National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association (NEA), Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK), Secular Student Alliance, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), TDIforAccess, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (TED), Texas Parent to Parent, The Arc of the United States, The Center for Learner Equity, The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition (FedSDC), The Learning Disabilities Association of America, The National Center for Learning Disabilities, U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children, and United Women in Faith.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-sen-schiff-demands-health-net-restore-coverage-for-thousands-in-ca-depending-on-assisted-living-care-warns-of-health-implications/,"NEWS: Sen. Schiff Demands Health Net Restore Coverage for Thousands in CA Depending on Assisted Living Care, Warns of Health Implications",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Adam B. Schiff,S001150,www.schiff.senate.gov,schiff,https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is urging Health Net, one of the largest Medicaid plans in California, to reverse its termination of assisted living coverage for 3,000 Californians, jeopardizing access to housing and essential care services.

“The sudden loss of assisted living benefits could have potentially devastating repercussions for enrollees and their family members. I urge Health Net to reconsider this coverage termination,” Senator Schiff said to Interim CEO at Health Net Eric Schmacker in a new letter.

The Senator emphasized that millions of Californians are already facing significant uncertainty about accessing medical care in the aftermath of the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history by this Republican-led Congress. Additionally, Schiff warned that forcing thousands to pay out of pocket for assisted living services will be a heavy burden on these patients and their family members.

“Very few families have the capacity to provide full-time care, imposing undue financial, physical, and emotional strain on loved ones. Sadly, others have no family or support systems to rely on at all. With such limited alternatives, the risk of sudden coverage loss could be catastrophic,” the Senator wrote.

“I am deeply concerned that Health Net’s coverage termination of Medi-Cal assisted living benefits will compound the damage caused by the cuts to Medicaid programs across the country. While California’s health care safety net faces extraordinary strain, we must work together to mitigate coverage loss and help Medi-Cal beneficiaries access the care and support they need,” the Senator concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. Schmacker,

I write to you today with deep concerns regarding Health Net’s decision to terminate Medi-Cal coverage of Assisted Living Facility Transitions (ALFT) and Personal Care Homemaker Services (PCHS) Community Support benefits, impacting approximately 3,000 Californians enrolled in Health Net plans. The sudden loss of assisted living benefits could have potentially devastating repercussions for enrollees and their family members. I urge Health Net to reconsider this coverage termination and ensure each of these enrollees maintain access to assisted living care.

Assisted living benefits provide an important alternative to institutional care. In California, thousands of Medi-Cal enrollees rely on these benefits to manage basic day-to-day needs, such as meal preparation, medication management, bathing, dressing, and mobility. Losing plan coverage of such vital services leaves very few alternatives for access to care. For a vast majority of these Medi-Cal enrollees, paying for assisted living services out-of-pocket – which can cost as much as $7,000 each month – is not feasible. But enrollees are not the only ones affected by this coverage termination – without access to professional support, family members are often left to fill the caregiver role. At the same time, very few families have the capacity to provide full-time care, imposing undue financial, physical, and emotional strain on loved ones. Sadly, others have no family or support systems to rely on at all. With such limited alternatives, the risk of sudden coverage loss could be catastrophic.

I am particularly concerned that Health Net’s decision to terminate assisted living coverage comes at a time when Californians are already facing significant uncertainty about accessing care. Last year, the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans enacted the largest cut to health care in American history, with many of these devastating cuts set to take effect on January 1, 2027. I am deeply concerned that Health Net’s coverage termination of Medi-Cal assisted living benefits will compound the damage caused by the cuts to Medicaid programs across the country. While California’s health care safety net faces extraordinary strain, we must work together to mitigate coverage loss and help Medi-Cal beneficiaries access the care and support they need.

I urge Health Net to reconsider the decision to terminate coverage of Assisted Living Facility Transitions and Personal Care Homemaker Services Community Support benefits and work with DHCS to ensure continuity of care for these Medi-Cal enrollees. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://bera.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-bera-secures-155-million-for-sacramento-river-basin,Rep. Bera Secures $155 Million for Sacramento River Basin,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Ami Bera,B001287,bera.house.gov,bera,https://bera.house.gov/news,scraper,"SACRAMENTO, CA — Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 by a strong bipartisan vote of 415-9. The legislation includes a $155 million authorization that Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) helped secure for water and wastewater infrastructure in the Sacramento River Basin.

The authorization will support water and wastewater infrastructure, including environmental restoration and surface water protection, across the Sacramento River Basin. It covers Sacramento County, along with Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, and Yolo counties.

“Reliable water infrastructure is essential to the future of the Sacramento region,” said Representative Bera. “I’m proud to have helped secure this $155 million authorization to strengthen our region’s water systems, protect our waterways, and support the long-term needs of communities throughout the Sacramento River Basin. I’ll continue working to bring federal resources home to the Sacramento region and ensure our region has the infrastructure it needs for the future.”",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6186,"Rep. Gomez Demands Accountability and Transparency for Man Shot by ICE in Austin, TX",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Gomez,G000585,gomez.house.gov,gomez,https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and over 100 Members of Congress demanded that ICE immediately release Wilber Rafael Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and stop its efforts to deport him. Mr. Garces Perez is a 28-year-old DoorDash driver who was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin, TX on September 20, 2026.

In a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, the Members demand that:

ICE release Mr. Garces Perez from detention so he can receive medical treatment;

ICE abandon efforts to swiftly deport him or remove him from Texas;

The ICE agent responsible remain in Texas; and

DHS preserve all available evidence related to the shooting and share all evidence with parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation.

Rather than receiving medical care, Mr. Garces Perez is being held at ""the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, Texas, which has a documented history of medical neglect,"" the Members write. ""According to his lawyers, he still has the bullet lodged in his body. He's received no pain medication and had to sleep on the floor.'""

""Mr. Garces Perez is a key witness to this shooting, and given ICE's history of obscuring the facts in similar investigations, he must not be removed,"" the Members write.

The Members demand answers by Monday, September 28th, including:

Why did agents use deadly force?

ICE's use of force policy requires officers to render medical aid, and video suggests they did not. Why was that policy not followed?

What is Mr. Garces Perez's current medical condition? What treatment is he receiving in immigration detention?

Will ICE release all bodycam footage?

The full letter can be read here.",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-announces-over-97-million-improve-jolon-road-sole-corridor-fort-hunter,"Lofgren Announces Over $9.7 Million to Improve Jolon Road, Sole Corridor to Fort Hunter Liggett",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"JOLON, CA — Today, Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) announced that the County of Monterey Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks has received a $9,784,000 federal grant to rehabilitate approximately 8.7 miles of Jolon Road (from the Mission Road south to Bradley Lockwood Road). Running parallel to U.S. Highway 101, Jolon Road is the only corridor that serves U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett. The funding comes from the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which addresses deficiencies in community infrastructure that supports a military installation’s readiness.

“I am thrilled to see that this grant was secured and that Jolon Road will be getting necessary safety improvements,” said Rep. Lofgren. “It’s fantastic news for the Monterey County residents that regularly drive this narrow road, especially our brave troops at Fort Hunter Liggett that rely on it. I commend Supervisor Lopez and Monterey County for their work on this issue, and I’ll always continue to be supportive of efforts to revitalize infrastructure and make California’s 18th district safer.""

“This is a big win for South Monterey County and a reminder of what is possible when we make sure rural communities have a seat at the table,"" said Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez. ""Jolon Road has served our families, our visitors, and Fort Hunter Liggett for generations, and this nearly $9.8 million investment will help us make long-overdue improvements to this critical corridor. Our rural roads matter, and the people who rely on them every day deserve safe, reliable infrastructure. I am grateful to Congresswoman Lofgren for continuing to show up for South Monterey County, and to our County Public Works team and partners at Fort Hunter Liggett for helping us bring this investment home. This is what partnership looks like, and I am excited to see these dollars put to work in our community.”

“Jolon Road is the sole gateway and vital lifeline for everyone who lives, works, and trains at Fort Hunter Liggett,"" said Colonel Jason McKenzie, Fort Hunter Liggett Commander. ""This $9.8 million DCIP grant to Monterey County is a monumental achievement that positively impacts combat readiness of the military. We are incredibly grateful to Representative Zoe Lofgren, County Supervisor Chris Lopez, and the Monterey County Department of Public Works for their tireless partnership and support to this project.""

Jolon Road is a rural, narrow, two-lane road constructed in the 1940s with little to no shoulders, spanning a length of approximately thirty-nine miles and connecting to U.S. Highway 101 in King City and Bradley. After many years in use, the road has geometric deficiencies, poor pavement conditions, and needs rehabilitation to improve safety.",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-lofgren-urges-removal-wielicki-leader-climate-research-office,Ranking Member Lofgren Urges Removal of Wielicki as Leader of Climate Research Office,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) Director, Michael Kratsios, urging him to remove Dr. Matthew Wielicki from his position as leader of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The USGCRP was established by law in 1990 to develop and coordinate a comprehensive research program to address climate change. Dr. Wielicki is a climate science denier who has built a career around belittling scientists’ calls to action on climate despite his own lack of training in the field.

“For the last 20 months, the Trump Administration has systematically attacked our nation’s scientific enterprise, handing the keys to discovery and innovation to our greatest adversaries,” Ranking Member Lofgren wrote in her letter. “Climate science has been one of its most relentless targets. But it now appears that erasing the Federal Government’s support for climate science is not enough for this Administration, and that climate science is to be weaponized against the American people as well. Earlier this summer, press reports indicated that the White House had appointed Dr. Matthew Wielicki to lead the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) decision to select a leader of USGCRP who has demonstrated an aggressive unwillingness to collaborate with other scientists is unacceptable. In addition, the law governing the USGCRP requires that its members be permanent employees of certain federal agencies or departments, which Dr. Wielicki is not. Therefore, his appointment appears to violate the law. I urge you to remove Dr. Wielicki from his position and appoint a leader who has the technical expertise, scientific credibility, and legally required qualifications to do the job in a manner worthy of the Government of the United States.”

Ms. Lofgren details the importance of the USGCRP’s work and how the Trump administration’s targeting of the Program, rooted in climate denialism, puts Americans in danger and is a massive waste of taxpayer dollars:

“Last April, carrying out changes proposed by now-Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought in Project 2025, the Trump Administration dismantled the USGCRP. Federal employees were removed from the program and sent back to their home agencies. Government contracts that would have supported the sixth NCA were abruptly canceled without any valid basis. Authors for the sixth NCA, who had been selected based on their scientific expertise and merit, were summarily dismissed. This sudden move laid years of effort and taxpayer dollars to waste. To be clear, USGCRP was not targeted because it was a failure, but rather because it was a success. The program achieved its congressional mandate and became a global leader in understanding the impacts of climate change for human society.”

The letter can be found here and below.

Dear Director Kratsios,

For the last 20 months, the Trump Administration has systematically attacked our nation’s scientific enterprise, handing the keys to discovery and innovation to our greatest adversaries. Climate science has been one of its most relentless targets. But it now appears that erasing the Federal Government’s support for climate science is not enough for this Administration, and that climate science is to be weaponized against the American people as well. Earlier this summer, press reports indicated that the White House had appointed Dr. Matthew Wielicki to lead the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) decision to select a leader of USGCRP who has demonstrated an aggressive unwillingness to collaborate with other scientists is unacceptable. In addition, the law governing the USGCRP requires that its members be permanent employees of certain federal agencies or departments, which Dr. Wielicki is not. Therefore, his appointment appears to violate the law. I urge you to remove Dr. Wielicki from his position and appoint a leader who has the technical expertise, scientific credibility, and legally required qualifications to do the job in a manner worthy of the Government of the United States.

The need for a robust national climate program was well established even before Congress created the USGCRP. In 1988, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly identified climate change as an urgent issue and resolved to negotiate a framework to combat it. In 2025, nearly 40 years later, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a consensus study report that concluded, “[T]he evidence for current and future harm to human health and welfare created by human-caused greenhouse gases is beyond scientific dispute.” In the decades between those warnings to policymakers, global greenhouse gas emissions increased by more than 40%. Also in that time, Congress enacted the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-606) to establish the USGCRP.

Congress intended the USGCRP to “provide for the development and coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.” During its long history, the program accomplished just that. Over 35 years, the USGCRP conducted five analyses of the best available climate science and published these as authoritative National Climate Assessments (NCA). In the NCAs, USGCRP affirmed the general scientific consensus that climate change could lead to disastrous economic and social consequences. For instance, in the most recent Fifth NCA, scientists wrote, “Even if greenhouse gas emissions fall substantially, the impacts of climate change will continue to intensify over the next decade…and all U.S. regions are already experiencing increasingly harmful impacts.”

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the rigorous and high-quality climate science overseen by the USGCRP made it a target of the Trump Administration. Last April, carrying out changes proposed by now-Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought in Project 2025, the Trump Administration dismantled the USGCRP. Federal employees were removed from the program and sent back to their home agencies. Government contracts that would have supported the sixth NCA were abruptly canceled without any valid basis. Authors for the sixth NCA, who had been selected based on their scientific expertise and merit, were summarily dismissed. This sudden move laid years of effort and taxpayer dollars to waste.

To be clear, USGCRP was not targeted because it was a failure, but rather because it was a success. The program achieved its congressional mandate and became a global leader in understanding the impacts of climate change for human society. By contrast, the Trump Administration shutting down the USGCRP puts American lives and livelihoods at risk. The alarming conclusions within the NCAs and other consensus studies are not conjecture; the evidence is all around us. Between 1980 and March 2026, the U.S. sustained 431 billion-dollar disasters, with a total cost exceeding $3.1 trillion dollars. Hindering communication between scientists and policymakers has put U.S. communities on a back foot as they wrestle with how to confront the climate-related problems they now encounter daily: failed infrastructure, losses in jobs, family homes and histories destroyed by intense fires, floods, storms, and more.

Unsatisfied with the mere destruction of the USGCRP, it appears the Administration now has further designs to twist the program into a distorted mirror image of itself. Press reports in July indicated that the White House sought to revive and weaponize the USGCRP by appointing Dr. Wielicki to lead the program. Dr. Wielicki is both scientifically and legally unqualified for the job. He has built his post-academic career around belittling scientists’ calls to action on climate as “irrational” fears. He has made this assertion in spite of his own lack of training in climate science, which is perhaps why he has no legitimate history of scholarly debates on the matter via any platform except social media. Dr. Wielicki has used his X account to broadcast his view that climate change is an imaginary problem. As host of his podcast, Dr. Wielicki disparaged young people, scientists, scientific data, and government agencies alike, all while purposefully misunderstanding basic tenets of the scientific process. He has made uninformed arguments such as, “There is just no evidence for anything like a tipping point, particularly at 420 ppm of CO2, which is incredibly low over the last 550 million years. This is just completely unscientific garbage.” He has defended the ostensible benefits of climate change with nonsensical arguments about the risks of a new ice age. He is fundamentally unserious as a climate researcher. Yet you ask the public to believe that you are merely elevating alternative scientific viewpoints. The scientific authors of the climate reports named above have argued that there is, in fact, an avalanche of evidence behind decades-long discussions around the possible effects of carbon dioxide levels. I can only surmise that, by appointing Dr. Wielicki, your plan is to promote the Trump Administration’s politically preferred narrative by summarily removing scientific expertise from the USGCRP while benefitting from its hard-earned reputation when you slap its name on whatever product it churns out.

In addition to his scientific shortcomings, Dr. Wielicki is legally ineligible to lead the USGCRP. 15 U.S.C. § 2932 establishes a committee that implements the USGCRP. The statute states that members of the committee shall be high ranking officials from each of the 14 specified federal agencies and departments, and be chaired by a member who “shall be a representative of an agency that contributes substantially, in terms of scientific research capability and budget, to the [USGCRP].” It adds that the committee shall receive support from an executive secretary, who “…shall be a permanent employee of one of the agencies or departments represented on the committee, and shall remain in the employ of such agency or department.” Public records indicate that you have appointed Dr. Wielicki as the “Director” of the USGCRP, but he is ineligible to lead or support the program because he was not a federal employee at the time of his appointment and does not appear to be currently employed by a member agency or department. Congress wrote this statute to ensure that scientific expertise would always guide the work of the USGCRP. You must follow the law.

Since June 2025, OSTP has promoted so-called “Gold Standard Science” as “the highest standards of scientific integrity.” It has claimed that Gold Standard Science will enable Federal decision-makers to use “the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available.” A reasonable person would conclude that the consensus reports named above, each of which incorporated technical expertise from hundreds if not thousands of scientists, were well aligned with the tenets of OSTP’s Gold Standard Science. But this example of real Gold Standard Science was inconvenient for the Trump Administration and its anti-climate science agenda. Instead, OSTP has selected a fringe ideologue without the proper background, expertise, and legal qualifications to lead America’s premier climate science program. It is wrong, it is offensive, and it makes a mockery of what Congress intended when it created the USGCRP more than 35 years ago.

I intend to monitor the activities of the USGCRP closely in the months to come. In order to facilitate the Science Committee’s oversight of the USGCRP, please provide answers to the following questions related to Dr. Wielicki’s appointment no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026:

1. Under what authority is Dr. Matthew Wielicki serving in relation to the USGCRP?

a. By what process was Dr. Wielicki appointed?

b. Please provide copies of the following:

i. Documentation of the Chair’s selection;

ii. Documentation of Committee discussions and approval of Dr. Wielicki’s appointment; and

iii. A copy of Dr. Wielicki’s current SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action.

2. What role did OSTP play in the appointment of Dr. Wielicki to the USGCRP?

3. What role, if any, did the White House, independent of OSTP, play in the appointment of Dr. Wielicki to the USGCRP?

4. What role, if any, did OMB and/or its Director, Russell Vought, play in the appointment of Dr. Wielicki to the USGCRP?

In addition, please respond to the following questions about the general operating status of the USGCRP by the date requested above:

5. In July 2025, USGCRP’s website, globalclimate.gov, was taken down and remains unavailable.

a. Please provide a list of current USGCRP Committee members and documentation of USGCRP Committee meetings held since May 1st, 2026.

b. What is the current staff level of the USGCRP office, including civil servants, political appointees, contractors, and agency detailees?

6. Does USGCRP intend to publish the sixth NCA?

a. If yes, what process does USGCRP and any involved external parties intend to follow to draft, review, and disseminate the report? Please provide detailed guidance as it is available.

b. If yes, what criteria and process will USGCRP and any involved external parties use to determine whether specific pieces of data, studies, and other forms of scientific or technical evidence qualify as meeting the conditions of “Gold Standard Science”?

c. If yes, when does USGCRP intend to issue the final version of its report?

7. Who made the decision to dismiss the hundreds of authors for the sixth NCA in 2025? Did OSTP participate in that decision?

8. Who directed NASA to issue stop-work orders and/or terminate the contracts relating to the management of the USGCRP? Did OSTP participate in that decision?

9. Did Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) representatives have any involvement in the stop-work orders or termination of the USGCRP support contracts or the dismissal of the authors of the sixth NCA?

Pursuant to Rule X of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology “shall review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to nonmilitary research and development.” The Committee possesses jurisdiction over environmental research and development. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Josh Schneider with the Committee’s Minority staff at (202) 225-6375. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://min.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-min-and-ansari-demand-law-school-admission-council-reverse-improper,Reps. Min and Ansari Demand Law School Admission Council Reverse Improper Discrimination Against Iranian Americans,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Dave Min,M001241,min.house.gov,min,https://min.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC. — Today, U.S. Congressional Representatives Dave Min (CA-47) and Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) sent a letter to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) President and CEO Sudha Setty demanding that LSAC immediately review and restore accounts improperly restricted based on Iranian nationality or heritage. The reported restrictions have affected U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other individuals residing in the United States during a crucial point in the law school admissions cycle.

The lawmakers’ letter follows reports that LSAC broadly suspended accounts belonging to individuals of Iranian nationality or heritage after the Office of Foreign Assets Control suspended Iran General License G under its Iran Sanctions program. The members emphasized that federal sanctions rules restrict certain services provided to Iran, the Government of Iran, or persons in Iran, but do not make Iranian nationality alone a basis for prohibiting services.

“LSAC's broad suspension of the accounts of all individuals of Iranian nationality or heritage regardless of residence is an egregious overcompliance that has unfairly targeted impacted American citizens and residents based on national origin alone,” the lawmakers wrote. “These suspensions occurred at a particularly consequential point in the admissions cycle and created uncertainty regarding candidates' ability to sit for scheduled examinations, access their accounts and application materials, and meet admissions deadlines. For candidates with an imminent examination or application deadline, restoring an account several days later may not fully remedy the resulting harm,” the lawmakers continued.

“At its core, this is about equal access to legal education and the danger of treating Iranian nationality as a proxy for sanctions risk. Institutions should determine whether a restriction is legally required based on each person’s individual circumstances, not impose sweeping restrictions and place the burden on applicants to prove that the restrictions should have never applied to them. IABA was privileged to share its legal analysis of this matter and the experiences of affected community members with the Congressmembers' offices. We are grateful to Congresswoman Ansari and Congressman Min for bringing attention to this injustice and advocating for the students affected.” said Payam Saljoughian, President of the Iranian American Bar Association

Read the letter here.

###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-torres-joins-democratic-womens-caucus-members-in-calling-out-hhs-secretary-for-proposed-plan-to-gut-head-start,Congresswoman Torres Joins Democratic Women’s Caucus Members in Calling Out HHS Secretary For Proposed Plan to Gut Head Start,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) joined Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), DWC Whip Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), DWC Senate Liaison and Caregiving Task Force Co-Chair Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Caregiving Task Force Co-Chairs Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) & Lateefah Simon (CA-12) in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdraw their proposed rule to gut 90% of Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) that would increase costs for families and eliminate educational resources women and families rely on. The letter was signed by 87 House Democrats.

For 60 years, Head Start has served over 40 million families and children with accessible social services, healthcare, and improved early learning standards. The program provides low-income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children experiencing homelessness with the resources needed to succeed in school. Even after six decades, Head Start remains popular, with four in five Americans saying they’re in support of the program evidence that Trump’s efforts to gut it are out of step with what Americans want.

The proposed rule would diminish the quality of Head Start services and undermine its ability to develop evidence-based programs that improve education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services forcing families to either lose these resources or turn to more expensive options elsewhere. Head Start could no longer connect families to jobs, education, and housing opportunities or effectively help children succeed in school.

In the letter, Members highlighted how the proposed rule would undermine Congressional authority and intent:

“The administration claims to be removing red tape and saving money. In reality, this proposed rule would override Congressional intent by removing standards that make Head Start the program that it is today and that Congress explicitly directed HHS to create based on research and consultation with experts.”

The Members also explained how the elimination of National Head Start Standards for education would be detrimental to the programs success:

“Rigorous research has found that Head Start generates substantial long-term economic benefits, including an estimated $1.86 in benefits for every dollar invested. That return depends on strong teachers, strong ratios, and strong services—qualified staff, appropriate classroom size and teacher to child ratios that support learning, developmental screening and follow-up, health and mental health services, family engagement and support services, and evidence-based early learning—not a patchwork of state requirements that would create different standards throughout the country.”

The Members also warned the proposed cuts would erode the safety and the quality of the program and possibly put students in danger:

“The proposed rule would eliminate Head Start’s specific federal requirement that children be supervised at all times, reduce mandatory annual staff training on preventing abuse and neglect, repeal the prohibition on corporal punishment, shaming, humiliation, and seclusion practices, and remove the timelines that ensure a child’s developmental, dental, and medical needs are actually screened and followed up on.”

Lastly, the Members explain how the cuts would roll back its strict student support systems that keep children in school:

“This proposed rule would strip Head Start’s ban on expelling children and its strict limits on suspension which is deeply concerning. These protections exist because preschoolers are already suspended and expelled at rates far above K-12 students. Additionally, disparities in suspension and expulsion are already significant for children of color, boys, and children with disabilities. Federal data show that children of color account for a disproportionate share of preschool suspensions, while children served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) make up 23 percent of enrollment but 74 percent of expulsions.7 Removing these federal protections will not close those gaps. It will widen them.”

Read the full letter here.

The letter was signed by: Amo, Gabe; Ansari, Yassamin; Balint, Becca; Barragán, Nanette; Beatty, Joyce; Bonamici, Suzanne; Brownley, Julia; Brown, Shontel; Budzinski, Nikki; Carbajal, Salud; Carson, André; Castor, Kathy; Chu, Judy; Clarke, Yvette; Craig, Angie; Crockett, Jasmine; Davids, Sharice; Dean, Madeleine; DeGette, Diana; DelBene, Suzan; Dexter, Maxine; Dingell, Debbie; Elfreth, Sarah; Escobar, Veronica; Foushee, Valerie; Frankel, Lois; Friedman, Laura; Garcia, Sylvia; Goodlander, Maggie; Grijalva, Adelita; Hayes, Jahana; Horsford, Steven; Houlahan, Chrissy; Hoyle, Val; Jacobs, Sara; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Julie; Kamlager-Dove, Sydney; Kaptur, Marcy; Kelly, Robin; Lee, Summer; Leger Fernandez, Teresa; Matsui, Doris; McBath, Lucy; McBride, Sarah; McClain Delaney, April; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McDonald Rivet, Kristen; McIver, LaMonica; Mejia, Analilia; Meng, Grace; Moore, Gwen; Moskowitz, Jared; Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria; Omar, Ilhan; Pelosi, Nancy; Pettersen, Brittany; Pingree, Chellie; Pou, Nellie; Pressley, Ayanna; Ramirez, Delia; Randall, Emily; Rivas, Luz; Ross, Deborah; Salinas, Andrea; Scanlon, Mary Gay; Schakowsky, Janice; Scholten, Hillary; Schrier, Kim; Sewell, Terri; Simon, Lateefah; Stansbury, Melanie; Stevens, Haley; Strickland, Marilyn; Sykes, Emilia; Titus, Dina; Tlaib, Rashida; Tokuda, Jill; Torres, Norma; Trahan, Lori; Underwood, Lauren; Velázquez, Nydia; Wasserman Schultz, Debbie; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; Williams, Nikema; Wilson, Frederica

###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-to-ag-bonta-investigate-shocking-whistleblower-disclosure-alleging-alarming-dhs-activities-in-california/,"Padilla, Schiff to AG Bonta: Investigate Shocking Whistleblower Disclosure Alleging Alarming DHS Activities in California",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CA,Alex Padilla,P000145,www.padilla.senate.gov,padilla,https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Allegations made by DHS Whistleblower could have far-reaching impacts on eligible California voters and lawfully present noncitizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with jurisdiction over federal elections and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), in a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, flagged concerning activities detailed in a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) whistleblower disclosure and requested that Bonta investigate whether those actions may have violated California law.

In their letter to Bonta, the Senators highlighted the whistleblower’s allegations that DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers to impersonate voters in violation of state laws to access online voter data as a part of its “Unlawful Voter Initiative,” an effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for President Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread noncitizen voter fraud.

The Senators emphasized the potential impacts these actions could have on eligible California voters, including naturalized citizens, such as the creation of erroneous federal law enforcement records known as “TECS records,” especially given the reckless performance quotas of 40 subjects per day being demanded by DHS and the required usage of unreliable source data compiled with so-called “supplemental magic.”

“Of particular interest to Californians are the claims that USCIS personnel were directed to misrepresent themselves on California’s voter registration site to access voter data,” wrote the Senators. “California’s voter registration website is clearly intended for the use of voters themselves, and requires the use of sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) to access this voter data, including driver’s license number and/or partial Social Security Number. As outlined in the USCIS training materials provided by this whistleblower, USCIS officers were directed to enter this information, obtained from other DHS data, in order to access the voter data on California’s voter website.”

The Senators emphasized that USCIS personnel were provided with thousands of Californians’ sensitive records and data to investigate if they were “unlawful voters.” They further emphasized California’s strong protections regarding voter information and raised concerns about how the information was obtained by the Trump Administration.

“As you know, the U.S. Department of Justice has been unsuccessful in its attempt to compel California to provide its voter information to the Trump Administration, raising serious questions about what this data is, how DHS obtained it, and whether they complied with the law in collecting and using this data,” continued the Senators. “The fact that the DHS data was compiled with something called ‘supplemental magic’ does not provide reassurance.”

The Senators urged Bonta to review the whistleblower disclosure and determine measures to protect Californians’ voter data. They also urged an investigation into the whistleblower’s allegations.

“Considering California’s strong protections surrounding the use of voter registration information and PII, we believe this Disclosure merits a review by your office to determine what actions are necessary and appropriate to protect California voters,” concluded the Senators. “Especially as agency leaders dismissed concerns raised by the Whistleblower and other officers about the legality of this conduct, instructing them to move forward with the searches anyway, we want to ensure that you have all available information necessary to investigate these allegations to the extent your office deems appropriate.”

Following receipt of the bombshell whistleblower disclosure, Padilla and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow immediately halt the “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and provide responses to Congress on its activities. Last week, Padilla and Schumer led 16 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to demand the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately open an independent investigation into the wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower’s disclosure. Last week, Padilla also spoke on the Senate floor and called for immediate action and transparency from the Trump Administration following receipt of the disclosure and demanded DHS stop the sham “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” Last month, Padilla led 27 of his Senate colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration stop their illegal voter roll purges before election day. In June, Padilla joined Schumer in launching the first-ever Senate Election Observer Program to protect the 2026 midterms and maintain election integrity nationwide. The Task Force will continue meeting over the coming months to ensure that every American has fair access to the ballot box this November.

Full letter is available here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bonta:

Thank you for your leadership in standing up for the rule of law against President Trump and his Administration’s efforts to interfere with the voting rights of the more than 23 million eligible Californians who are registered to vote.

We are writing to make you aware of a September 8, 2026, protected whistleblower disclosure (the “Disclosure”) that reveals serious allegations of illegal and inappropriate activities within the Department of Homeland Security’s (“DHS” or “the Department”) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (“FDNS”). These allegations raise the very serious concern that U.S. citizens could be wrongfully flagged as “unlawful voters,” and also indicate potential violations of California state law, including federal officers impersonating California voters to access their state voting records.

According to the attached Disclosure, the Department and USCIS leadership have abruptly diverted FDNS personnel to an “Unlawful Voter Initiative” using highly questionable data and methods to identify purported unlawful voters. DHS and USCIS training materials admit these investigations will include U.S. citizens, some of whom will have federal law enforcement records created against them based on questionable data and rushed reviews by officers held to quotas. The whistleblower’s Disclosure includes compelling evidence of wrongdoing by agency leadership including:

(1) USCIS personnel have been directed to access sensitive voter information in violation of state laws prohibiting unauthorized access to individual voter records;

(2) USCIS personnel are under significant pressure from headquarters to enter federal TECS records against individuals that are likely to be false, potentially harming thousands of people in likely violation of federal privacy requirements;

(3) With minimal training, agency leadership is imposing reckless quotas that demand USCIS personnel investigate 40 subjects per day, a rate of roughly 12 minutes per subject, with leadership tracking their output in an attempt to complete this rushed investigation by September 12; and

(4) DHS is providing USCIS personnel with DHS data of dubious origin, including voter data, which they are required to accept as accurate despite the admission that the data has been augmented with “supplemental magic.”

The Trump Administration appears to be undertaking this rushed effort to find – or manufacture – evidence for its baseless election conspiracy theories of widespread voter fraud ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Inaccurate claims of “unlawful voters” and erroneous federal law enforcement records can result in serious consequences for Californians, including many naturalized citizens. The Trump Administration may also use these claims to further threaten state and local election officials in California and undermine or challenge the election results themselves.

Of particular interest to Californians are the claims that USCIS personnel were directed to misrepresent themselves on California’s voter registration site to access voter data. California’s voter registration website is clearly intended for the use of voters themselves, and requires the use of sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) to access this voter data, including driver’s license number and/or partial Social Security Number. As outlined in the USCIS training materials provided by this whistleblower, USCIS officers were directed to enter this information, obtained from other DHS data, in order to access the voter data on California’s voter website.

In addition, this whistleblower Disclosure reveals that FDNS officers were provided with thousands of Californians’ information to investigate whether they were “unlawful voters.” The ultimate source of the data used for this target list is unknown, but the training materials state “[t]his public voter file for California was passed to us by [DHS].” As you know, the U.S. Department of Justice has been unsuccessful in its attempt to compel California to provide its voter information to the Trump Administration, raising serious questions about what this data is, how DHS obtained it, and whether they complied with the law in collecting and using this data. The fact that the DHS data was compiled with something called “supplemental magic” does not provide reassurance.

The Disclosure further claims that agency leadership knew that this data was unreliable, yet FDNS officers were directed to create federal law enforcement records (known as “TECS” records) against individuals, many of whom are U.S. citizens. In fact, “[o]fficers are specifically told to rely on the data DHS provided for California and use the voter registration dates and voting dates provided in that data to indicate that the subject may be an unlawful voter and create a TECS record.” According to the Disclosure, “a significant number of TECS records, potentially thousands or tens of thousands, will be created against California residents based on data that an officer may have good reason to believe is unreliable or inaccurate without corroboration.” This is especially concerning since the agency’s own training materials admit that there are “a lot of U.S. citizens” in the data.

Considering California’s strong protections surrounding the use of voter registration information and PII, we believe this Disclosure merits a review by your office to determine what actions are necessary and appropriate to protect California voters. Especially as agency leaders dismissed concerns raised by the Whistleblower and other officers about the legality of this conduct, instructing them to move forward with the searches anyway, we want to ensure that you have all available information necessary to investigate these allegations to the extent your office deems appropriate.

Again, we appreciate your efforts to stand up to the Trump Administration’s repeated attempts to intrude on states like California’s authority to administer their elections and protect the right to vote.

Thank you for giving this important matter all due consideration.

Sincerely,

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