Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) issued the following statement after U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) announced that she will not run for re-election in 2026:

“I am sorry to hear my dear friend Rep. Jan Schakowsky has decided to depart the House of Representatives at the end of the 119th Congress. Over the past 26 years, she has consistently delivered results to better the lives of her constituents and her fellow citizens across the country. Because of Jan’s record of accomplishment, I have no doubt that the people of Illinois’ 9th district would have selected her to be their voice in Washington again, as they did 14 times before. That she decided not to run is a great loss for the Congress and the country. 

“From the Affordable Care Act to many of the historic bills we passed in the 117th Congress, Jan was integral to some of the most significant legislative achievements of the past quarter century. As one of our Chief Deputy Whips, she worked tirelessly to help unite our Caucus around solutions to some of our nation’s most pressing issues. She is a longstanding champion for organized labor, for our nation’s seniors, and for consumer advocacy – a record which predates her time in Congress. 

“Jan’s success as a legislator is built on her integrity, intellect, and kindness as a person. Sadly, those values have become harder and harder to come by in American politics today – and so too have leaders like Jan. I thank her for her decades of service and wish her, her husband Bob, and their family well as this chapter comes to a close.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)’s Falun Gong Protection Act to impose sanctions on the Chinese Communist Party for engaging in forced organ harvesting and other human rights violations against the practitioners of Falun Gong passed the United States House of Representatives.

“The United States, as the beacon of freedom around the world, cannot be silent when the Chinese Community Party is engaged in systemic torturing, incarceration, and forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners,” said Congressman Scott Perry. “I’m encouraged by Congress taking steps to hold the CCP accountable for these atrocities.”

In 2020, the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China found an “incomprehensible gap” between the number of transplant operations in the People’s Republic of China in comparison to the number of eligible registered donors. Falun Gong practitioners are a main source of organs for forced organ harvesting in China.

The Falun Gong Protection Act imposes sanctions on those who participate in or facilitate forced organ harvesting. The bill directs the Secretary of State to determine whether CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong constitutes crimes against humanity or genocide, alongside a required report on CCP organ transplant policies and practices. Additionally, the bill makes it U.S. policy to avoid any cooperation with the CCP as long as its forced organ transplant industry continues.

The world is becoming aware of the atrocities committed against people who simply want the freedom to practice their religious beliefs – like the practitioners of Falun Gong.

Read the bill here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s abrupt termination of arts grants nationwide:

The Trump Administration’s sudden cancellation of hundreds of previously awarded National Endowment for the Arts grants—just hours after the President proposed eliminating the agency entirely in his budget—is an outrageous attack on our nation’s cultural heritage and a reckless decision that will hurt local economies across the country. 

My office is already hearing from treasured Maine arts organizations that were notified late last night that their grants had been abruptly terminated. These organizations, like countless others, had already made programming decisions for the upcoming season and were counting on these funds to pay artists and workers.

Clearly, President Trump fundamentally misunderstands the role of the Endowment—which, through its relatively small budget, underpins the $1.2 trillion economic powerhouse that is the arts and cultural sector. These grants create jobs, support institutions that anchor Main Streets in even the smallest and most rural communities and generate significant additional private investment.

The claim that these grants are being redirected to ‘align with the President’s priorities’ is both disingenuous and concerning. This appears to be yet another attempt to force a cultural institution to serve the President’s pet projects rather than its sacred and longstanding mission to serve the American people. 

As co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus and as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds the NEA, I will do everything in my power to fight back against this illegal and disgraceful decision. I call on my Republican colleagues—many of whom are longtime supporters of the Endowment—to join me in standing up for our local arts organizations, which drive economic growth and enhance quality of life in every corner of the country. The arts aren’t partisan—they’re essential to who we are as Americans, and vital to the fabric of our communities.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD):

Dismantling the EPA’s Office of Research and Development is an unconscionable attack on science and public health. This so-called ‘reorganization’ is a thinly veiled attempt to extinguish the agency’s world-renowned scientific expertise by shuffling scientists to process chemical reviews for industry.

EPA seems to be jumping at the chance to appease DOGE by eliminating federal programs that research new and emerging threats to America’s air and water, jeopardizing public health for the sake of “efficiency.”

 The administration’s claim that this restructuring serves the public interest ignores the basic facts: More than 1,000 critical scientific positions face elimination, including irreplaceable chemists, toxicologists, and environmental biologists. This action violates both congressional intent and federal law. Congress explicitly appropriated funds for EPA’s science and technology initiatives in the current budget—funds that cannot be legally impounded or diverted.

ORD’s work is critical to addressing environmental hazards like PFAS contamination, assessing the health impacts of toxic chemicals, and responding to natural disasters. States rely on the expertise from ORD to meet their regulatory obligations, and dismantling this office will not only stall vital research but also strip the EPA and State partners of their ability to make informed, science-based decisions that protect public health. 

This move follows a disturbing pattern of politically motivated purges within the EPA, where allegiance to the president and his fossil fuel allies takes precedence over expertise and public service. We’re witnessing the transformation of a vital regulatory agency into a rubber stamp for corporate polluters, with career scientists being displaced while industry influence expands. Such actions jeopardize the health and safety of all Americans, particularly those in vulnerable and underserved communities already bearing disproportionate environmental burdens.

I have formally opposed this reckless plan and urge Administrator Zeldin to reverse course immediately. The integrity of the EPA’s scientific research must be preserved to ensure sound policymaking and the continued protection of public health and the environment. The American people will not stand by while their fundamental right to clean air, water, and a healthy environment is sacrificed for the profits of a few.

In March, Pingree, alongside Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), sounded the alarm over the EPA’s plans to dismantle ORD. In a scathing letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin, the ranking members warned this proposal is not just illegal, but would have devastating consequences for human health and the environment.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brian Babin (R-TX)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) has introduced legislation to officially rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Chambers County, Texas, as the “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge,” honoring the memory of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose life was tragically cut short in 2024.

In June 2024, Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally murdered in Houston, Texas. Two illegal aliens, allegedly members of the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang, have been charged in connection with her death. In response to this horrific tragedy, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14229 on March 5, 2025, directing that the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge be renamed to honor Jocelyn’s memory. Congressman Babin’s legislation will permanently enshrine this change into law.

“Jocelyn’s murder was a devastating reminder of the consequences of an unsecured border and the innocent lives lost as a result,” said Babin. “Renaming this refuge not only honors Jocelyn’s love for animals and the outdoors, but it also ensures her beautiful spirit will live on in a place of peace and life — a stark contrast to the evil that took her from us far too soon.”

Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14), who represents nearby areas in Southeast Texas, added: “Southeast Texas—and our entire nation—will never forget Jocelyn Nungaray. Now, we have a beautiful place that will forever honor her memory and the life she was so cruelly robbed of. This tribute is the very least we can do for the Nungaray family after enduring an unthinkable tragedy no family should ever face.”

Background:

The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, located near Houston, is a cherished habitat for countless species and a beloved destination for Texans and visitors alike. Naming the refuge after Jocelyn is a fitting way to honor her love for animals and preserve her spirit within the Texas landscape she called home.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for further consideration.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Announces Departure of Chief of Staff

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he emphasized that instead of working to lower costs, Rubber Stamp Republicans are advancing a budget that cuts Medicaid and food assistance and makes life more expensive for hardworking taxpayers while allowing Donald Trump to crash the economy.

LEADER JEFFRIES: George Washington, in his farewell address to the nation, made the important observation that the Constitution is ‘sacredly obligatory upon all.’ That means everyone in the United States of America has a responsibility to follow the Constitution. That includes presidents of the United States of America. That includes you, Donald Trump. There is nothing unclear about it. Why does Donald Trump make such ridiculous statements like he’s unsure as to whether he has a responsibility to follow the Constitution? Why is the Republican Party stuck with Marjorie Taylor Greene as their candidate for the United States Senate seat in Georgia? Why is the top thing that House Republicans are going to do this week on their legislative agenda renaming the Gulf of Mexico? It’s because Donald Trump and House Republicans are on the run. They are on the run. They are on the run with respect to the economy. They are crashing the economy in real time and driving us toward a recession.

Donald Trump and House Republicans have nothing good to say about the economy. They promised to lower costs and to drive down the high cost of living in the United States of America. Costs aren’t going down, they’re going up. House Republicans haven’t passed a single bill that has anything to do with lowering the high cost of living in the United States of America. Not a single bill, no executive order, no administrative action coming from this administration. They’re crashing the economy in real time, driving us toward a recession. Donald Trump and Republicans are on the run with respect to the economy. They’re on the run with respect to healthcare. They want to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. It’s deeply unpopular, which is why they have been ordered not to hold town hall meetings. Democrats are running toward our constituents, and House Republicans are running away from them. And Republicans are on the run as it relates to Social Security. They believe that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, and they’re trying to end Social Security as we know it. Democrats are here to protect and strengthen Social Security.

So when you have Republicans, in barely 100 days, on the run on the economy, on healthcare and on Social Security, ridiculous statements are made or they’re left with scratching the bottom of the barrel as it relates to candidates for U.S. Senate seats. And they’re forced to cancel hearings, like Republicans were compelled to do this week, because they have nothing of value or substance for the American people. They are on the run, and Democrats are going to keep the pressure on.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) announced Nicholas Schrock, a homeschooled sophomore from International Falls, as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. The winning entry, titled “Summer Evenings at Kakabeka Falls,” is an oil painting on canvas depicting a family on vacation. It will now hang in the U.S. Capitol alongside the winning artwork from other Congressional Districts for one year. 

“Congratulations to this year’s Congressional Art Competition winner, Nicholas Schrock,” said Congressman Stauber. “I am excited to pass this beautiful piece of artwork in the hallway every time I head to the Capitol for votes. I’m grateful to all the students who submitted their work and shared their talents with us. It’s clear that Minnesota’s 8^th District is filled with many creative young artists.”

The Congressional Art Competition takes place each spring. Students are encouraged to visit Congressman Stauber’s website to learn more. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement today following the release of President Donald Trump’s FY 2026 budget proposal:

“Right now, my focus is on opposing the GOP’s reconciliation plan to fund tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing health care for my constituents and running up the deficit. 

“Looking ahead to the president’s FY 2026 budget request, I can’t co-sign a plan to eliminate LIHEAP, which would leave tens of thousands of Maine households in the cold. However, there are other areas where we may be aligned; For example, I support in principle the president’s proposals to increase funding for law enforcement at our border and in our international trade. These are policy priorities I could support. 

“My staff and I will continue to review the details of the president’s budget request, while remaining focused on protecting health care this year.”

This year, GOP majorities in Congress have pushed ahead with a budget reconciliation plan that would gut health care programs to fund the renewal of tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest households. The plan would add trillions of dollars to the national deficit.

Golden voted against the reconciliation plan that set Congress down this reckless path in February and again in April. 

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