Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my good friend Congressman Gerry Connolly. 

Known for his kind spirit and steadfast leadership on the House Oversight and House Foreign Affairs Committees, Congressman Connolly was a passionate advocate for Americans and Virginians, alike, and a champion for government accountability. 

A protector of integrity and a proponent of transparency for the American people, Connolly was also a voice for America’s federal workforce, leading legislation that protected jobs and pushed back against partisan attempts to politicize civil servants.

Connolly was also a democracy defender, leading domestic investigations into political interference in the 2020 Census, the January 6th insurrection, civil service regulations, and more. Internationally, on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he condemned authoritarian regimes and advocated for free and fair elections, holding world leaders accountable for their anti-democratic efforts, and keeping the U.S. at the forefront of human rights advocacy. 

Connolly’s 30+ year career in public service has left an indelible mark on Congress and our country. His courage, leadership, and integrity will be sorely missed. My heart and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

May he rest in peace.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) testified before the House Rules Committee in support of her amendment to the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which would strip away critical health and food assistance from millions of Americans—all to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires.

Congresswoman Beatty arrived at the The Rules Committee hearing at  3:00 a.m. She remained in the hearing room for nearly nine hours before delivering her testimony just before 12:00 p.m., underscoring her unwavering commitment to standing up for working families in Ohio and across the country.

 

Beatty’s amendment—Amendment #280—would block the implementation of the Republican bill’s tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy if any of its provisions result in cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

 

“Despite what the title of the Republican budget reconciliation bill would have you believe, it is not ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’”Beatty testified. “It’s a big billionaire bankroll bill. And it is one of the biggest and most reckless and heartless attacks on American families.”

 

Beatty warned that the bill would rip away health care from nearly 14 million Americans and deny food assistance to 11 million children, with the savings used to bankroll tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans—averaging $278,000 a year, or $762 per day.

 

“The worst part is that none of this is necessary,” she continued. “It is only being done to bankroll a billionaire’s tax cut.”

 

In her testimony, Beatty grounded her remarks in the real-life impact of these proposed cuts, highlighting Arnishia, an Ohio mother of two and recent cancer survivor who depends on Medicaid for ongoing care and is scheduled for foot surgery that would only be affordable with Medicaid. Her family also relies on SNAP to put healthy food on the table.

 

“I’m offering this amendment for the 2.4 million Ohioans who rely on Medicaid to access critical health care services like blood pressure, diabetes screenings, mammograms, mental health services, and other life care situations,” Beatty said.

 

“I’m offering this amendment for the more than 42 million Americans without federal food assistance, that they might not eat tomorrow. I’m offering this amendment for Americans who are struggling to get by and counting on us to lower their costs, not enrich billionaires.”

 

Beatty concluded by emphasizing that if Republicans are confident their bill doesn’t cut Medicaid or SNAP, she argued, they should have no problem supporting it.

 

“If you believe that is true, then you should have no problem supporting my amendment,” she said. “It would make no changes if the bill does not cut Medicaid or food assistance.”

 

Watch Rep. Beatty’s testimony HERE.

See Rep. Beatty’s delivered statement to the Rules Committee HERE

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) released the following statement after House Republicans voted to take from the poor to give to the rich—advancing a budget that slashes essential services to fund billionaire tax breaks.

I voted NO.  “In the early hours of this morning, while working families across Ohio were getting ready for their day, House Republicans passed One Big Ugly Bill—a cruel and catastrophic budget that rips healthcare, food, and opportunity from Ohioans and millions of other Americans just to bankroll bigger and better tax breaks for billionaires.

Let me be clear: this bill isn’t about fiscal responsibility or tax relief for the working class. If Republicans truly wanted to help everyday people, they could have—without gutting Medicaid, slashing food assistance, or ballooning the deficit by nearly $4 trillion. But they didn’t. They made a choice. And they chose the yacht owners over the lunchroom workers—and the children in those lunchrooms.

This bill includes the largest cut to Medicaid in American history—$698 billion—and guts $267 billion from the SNAP program. In Ohio, that means potentially substantial new costs shifted onto our state, and fewer hospitals, fewer nursing homes, fewer services for our most vulnerable neighbors.

It’s not just bad math—it’s moral failure. It’s cruel, catastrophic, and bought by billionaire donors.

Democrats fought this bill through the night, but Republicans pushed forward anyway—protecting the wealthiest one percent while punishing everyone else. 

Every single House Democrat voted against this outrageous bill—and we’re not done fighting. We will continue using every tool we have to stop this assault on working families and protect the people we were sent here to serve.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) released the following statement on the deadly shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum.

“I am shocked and saddened by the deadly act of antisemitic violence near the Capital Jewish Museum, where an engaged couple—two young Israeli Embassy staffers—were senselessly murdered after attending an event.

As we await further details, one thing is clear: antisemitism has no place in our country. It must be confronted—boldly and urgently—by all people of conscience.

I stand with the families of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, and the Jewish community during this painful moment.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued the following statement on the passing of former Congressman Charles Rangel:

“I mourn the loss of former Congressman Charles B. Rangel—a giant in Congress, a civil rights champion, and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. As the first African American to chair the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, former Congressman Rangel broke barriers and paved the way for generations of leaders. His decades of service were marked by courage, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to justice.

My heart is saddened like all of my colleagues who were blessed to have sat with this giant. We learned from one of the best, stood on his shoulders, and now walk forward carrying his legacy. I will always cherish his words, his stories, and the joy of being—what he called me—‘the girl from Ohio.’

May we honor former Congressman Rangel by continuing to advance the values for which he stood so powerfully.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Benjamin L. Hooks Jobs Corps Center placed on hold by Trump

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-9), Dina Titus (NV-01) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today re-introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act that would ban the transportation of horses across state lines in “double decker” trucks or trailers containing two or more levels on top of one another. Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in 2022 applauded the inclusion of the Horse Transportation Safety Act in the House-passed INVEST in America Act, the same year the Humane Society of the United States named him its “Humane Horseman of the Year.” Congressman Cohen has championed the measure since 2008. This year’s version of the bill currently has 17 bipartisan cosponsors.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Horses deserve to be transported in as humane a manner as possible. Double-deck trailers do not provide adequate headroom for adult horses, and accidents involving double-deck trailers are a terrifying reminder that the practice is also dangerous to the driving public. I look forward to seeing this measure move forward as it did last year and be signed into law. Transporting horses can be precarious even under the best circumstances, and we should not compound the risks with unsafe double-deck trailers.”

Congresswoman Titus made the following statement:

“The harmful transport of horses in double-deck trailers cannot provide proper headroom and makes accidents worse. Whether roaming free or being transported on highways, horses must be treated humanely, and I’m proud to help introduce this commonsense legislation to make certain of that.”

Congressman Fitzpatrick made the following statement:

“Transporting horses in stacked double-deck trailers isn’t just inhumane—it’s dangerous. These trailers were never designed for animals of this size and using them puts both horses and drivers at serious risk. As Co-Chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I’ve been working across the aisle to close this loophole and advance commonsense reforms that protect animals and improve public safety. This bill is long overdue—and it’s time to get it across the finish line.” 

The bill is also cosponsored by Representatives Don Beyer, Julia Brownley, Salud Carbajal, Sean Casten, Suzan DelBene, Lloyd Doggett, Sara Jacobs, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Stephen Lynch, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mike Quigley, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Greg Stanton, Shri Thanedar, and Jill Tokuda. 

Endorsing organization statements:

“The Horse Transportation Safety Act is a commonsense solution that would promote public safety and animal welfare by ensuring that horses are not crammed into double deck livestock trailers that are designed for much shorter animals,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program director for the Animal Welfare Institute. “HTSA provisions have twice passed the full House of Representatives in recent years — a testament to the strong bipartisan support for protecting horses from unsafe transport conditions. It’s time to enact these critical reforms, and we are grateful to Congressman Cohen, Congressman Fitzpatrick, and Congresswoman Titus for their unwavering leadership.”

Neda DeMayo, founder and president of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation made the following statement:

“We are pleased to support the bipartisan Horse Transportation Safety Act, reintroduced by Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Dina Titus (D-NV). The bill would prohibit interstate transportation of horses in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another, commonly known as a double-decker, a practice already prohibited for hauling horses to slaughter for being too cruel. As we continue to pursue federal legislation to end the slaughter of America’s wild and domestic horses, we must do all that we can to ensure they are protected from any cruel and unnecessary practices.”

“The ASPCA applauds Representative Cohen’s commitment to protecting the equines in this country, and his longstanding leadership on animal welfare issues,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. “We are thrilled to see Congress taking important steps to keep animals safe.”

“The AVMA-endorsed Horse Transportation Safety Act is critical to ensuring horse welfare and public safety,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “Transporting horses in double-deck trailers does not provide them with the proper level of comfort needed during long road trips over state lines and poses an elevated threat to traffic safety, as these trailers packed with large animals are at greater risk of tipping over. We look forward to working with the congressional champions and other stakeholders to advance this legislation and urge Congress to pass the Horse Transportation Safety Act.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

What: A groundbreaking and press availability for Hub North, a project in the New Chicago neighborhood offering shelter and support for families without stable housing for which Congressman Cohen secured $1,275,000 in community project funding

Who: Speakers will include Congressman Cohen, Kelcey Johnson, executive director of the Hospitality Hub; Ashley Cash, director of Housing and Community Development; Jarad Bingham, principal at Dragonfly Collective; Mayor Paul Young, Councilwoman Rhonda Logan, Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas and the Reverend Dr. Ronnie C. King, pastor of Grace Missionary Baptist Church

When: Friday, May 30, at 11 a.m.

Where: 777 Firestone Avenue, Memphis 38107 

Background: In addition to the $1,275,000 project on which Friday’s groundbreaking is focused, Congressman Cohen has secured funding for the Hospitality Hub of $1 million in Fiscal Year 2024 and for $450,000 in Fiscal Year 2022. The Hospitality Hub was founded in 2007 by the Downtown Churches Association.

Please RSVP to Congressman Cohen’s communications director at Bartholomew.Sullivan@mail.house.gov

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) learned of the passing of former New York Congressman Charles B. Rangel on Sunday at 94 and made the following statement:

“I had the honor of serving with Charlie Rangel for 10 years. A gentleman and a legislative giant, honored by Memphis with the I AM A MAN award, we stood together on healthcare, drug reform, Cuba and much more. I was always proud to vote alongside him and the Congressional Black Caucus he founded. He was one of the greats. May he rest in peace.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force created to address Trump Administration power grabs through intervention in the federal courts, today applauded a Boston federal judge’s ruling preventing the dismantling of the Department of Education. Congressman Cohen signed on to the task force’s amicus curiae brief in State of New York v. Linda McMahon.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“I am pleased to see that our litigation task force has chalked up another big win in our efforts to prevent the Trump Administration from illegally usurping powers from Congress. We have had much success across the country in courts where judges have been appointed by the last six presidents, Republican and Democratic. This is a victory for the Department of Education but also for the American people and the rule of law.”

In late April, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force filed an amicus brief challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to close the Department of Education in the matter of the State of New York v. Linda McMahon. Thursday’s ruling cited the Members of Congress’s argument multiple times, with the judge noting President Donald Trump cannot make solitary decisions regarding the agency’s organization or function without congressional approval.

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