Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)
Stefanik Statement on Disgraceful Assisted Suicide Bill Passed by New York State Assembly | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), who previously announced an effort to update the Privacy Act of 1974 to better protect Americans’ sensitive data, and House Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11) demanded information from the National Labor Relations Board regarding potential violations of federal privacy laws by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
“We write with an urgent request for information related to the disclosure by a National Labor Relations Board whistleblower that agency officials possibly affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency may have illegally exfiltrated multiple gigabytes of sensitive data, including the personal information of Americans who reported unfair labor practices,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are deeply concerned that these actions may constitute violations of the Privacy Act of 1974, which can carry criminal penalties, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, which requires agency heads to notify Congress of major data breaches.”
The request follows a whistleblower at NLRB sounding the alarm about DOGE representatives removing approximately ten gigabytes of sensitive data, including the personal information of Americans who have previously reported unfair labor practices, and then attempting to cover up their actions. The data removed from the agency could also include companies’ proprietary information.
In addition to concerns about Musk’s conflicts of interest with his company SpaceX currently fighting NLRB complaints, the unverified and unreported exfiltration of Americans’ personal data could constitute violations of both the Privacy Act of 1974, which regulates how the federal government stores and uses Americans’ sensitive data, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), which requires that federal agencies notify Congress when Americans’ data is breached.
“Based on our understanding of the whistleblowers’ disclosure, we are concerned that NLRB officials, especially those affiliated with DOGE, may have violated both the Privacy Act and FISMA. With respect to the Privacy Act, it is overwhelmingly likely that one or more NLRB employees–and not foreign actors or criminals–perpetrated the massive data exfiltration on March 4th, violating the Act’s disclosure requirements. Moreover, it appears that these officials did so without obtaining written consent nor receiving agency approval for an ‘exception’ to the consent requirement, meaning they could be subject to criminal penalties,” the lawmakers concluded. “And with respect to FISMA, it appears that the whistleblower discovered a ‘major incident’ under any definition of the term proposed by OMB. NLRB subsequently failed to notify Congress, in apparent violation of its statutory requirements: as of writing, neither the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee nor House Education & the Workforce Committee have received notification with the required information about the incident.”
The lawmakers are requesting answers to the following questions by May 16, 2025:
All reports, communications, and written documentation produced during NLRB’s investigation into Mr. Berulis’s concerns that Tim Bearese, the NLRB’s acting press secretary, confirmed took place in a statement to National Public Radio (NPR).
A signed attestation that NLRB determined the events which Mr. Berulis discovered qualify as a “major incident” under the definitions proposed by OMB or, alternatively, an explanation of why the NLRB did not make such a determination.
Why has the NLRB failed to notify relevant Congressional committees as required by FISMA, including the House Oversight and Government Reform and House Education & the Workforce Committees?
For each official who holds, or has previously held since January 20th, 2025, access to NLRB information technology systems:
a. What is the nature of that employee’s relationship with NLRB?
i. If the employee is full-time, to what other agencies are they detailed?
ii. If the employee is detailed to NLRB, from what agency are they detailed?
iii. If the employee is a contractor, what firm do they work for?
b. For each NLRB system that the employee previously had access to, currently has access to, or will have access to:
i. What level of access to the system does the employee currently possess?
ii. Who provided such access to the system?
iii. What was the justification for providing such access to the system, especially if no other agency official had previously been granted the same level of access?
iv. When was access to the system provided?
v. What training, including security and privacy, were provided to the employee regarding their access to the system? Did this training take place before or after access was provided?
vi. To the extent that access to the system was provided under a Privacy Act exception, what exception was invoked?
vii. What security controls were implemented, if any, as a result of your granting the employee their access to the system?
viii. Did the NLRB official who granted access to the system consider the cyber, operational, or privacy risks before doing so?
ix. Has the employee modified, copied, shared, or removed any records from the system?
x. Has the employee modified the system in any way?
xi. Has the employee granted, revoked, or otherwise modified access to the system for any other users?
c. Can you commit to preserving all system logs related to access, development, exfiltration consistent with the Federal Records Act?
d. Can you commit to otherwise documenting all critical decisions related to information technology systems at NLRB?
A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.
This request for information follows an effort Trahan led last month requesting an independent investigation into DOGE’s alleged mishandling of Americans’ sensitive data housed in the Treasury Department’s payment system. In March, Trahan announced that she will be introducing legislation to rewrite the Privacy Act for the first time since its passage in 1974.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, is leading 142 Members of Congress in demanding answers regarding the termination of students’ legal status. Despite the Trump Administration’s claim last week that it would reverse course, only Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made any policy change. While students are no longer immediately deportable, they will be unable to return to the United States once they go home after the semester ends, as the State Department is not restoring students’ visa status.
“This is not about national security. It is about using immigration enforcement as a weapon to stifle political dissent, restrict due process, and enforce an exclusionary and nativist vision of America that runs counter to everything our institutions of higher learning stand for,” wrote the Members. “Across the country, students are being picked up – in some cases by masked immigration agents in unmarked cars – and being held in detention facilities with no warning and limited information as to why they are being deported.”
According to recent reporting, more than 1,800 students and recent graduates across 280 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked. Since Trump took office, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also confirmed that at least 4,736 have had their legal status terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). However, DHS does not have the authority to terminate this legal status except under very specific circumstances, none of which have been met in the vast majority of these cases.
“Our campuses have been spaces where students and scholars from around the world come together to challenge assumptions, push the boundaries of knowledge, and foster the innovation that has made our country a global leader,” continued the Members. “But today, the Trump administration’s heavy-handed and politically motivated immigration enforcement is turning university campuses into places of fear, rather than learning, and these actions deter students from coming to study at U.S. institutions.”
Reporting has also shown that the State Department has been using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to identify students to target through their social media accounts. This aspect is especially troubling as social media accounts may not feature students’ names, and AI facial recognition is often prone to mistakes, at significantly higher rates when identifying people of color.
The full text of the letter can be read here.
The letter was signed by Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Gerald Connolly (VA-11), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Al Green (TX-09), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jim Himes (CT-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), William Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John Larson (CT-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), John Mannion (NY-22), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Joe Morelle (NY-25), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).
It was also endorsed by AFL-CIO; American Friends of Combatants for Peace; American Friends Service Committee; Amnesty International USA; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago; Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California; Brooklyn for Peace; Center for Constitutional Rights; Center for International Policy Advocacy; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); CODEPINK; Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); DAWN; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Habonim Dror North America; Hindus for Human Rights; HIstorians for Peace and Democracy; IfNotNow Movement ; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; IMEU Policy Project; Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC); Indivisible; International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); J Street; Jewish Voice for Peace Action; MADRE; Minnesota Peace Project; MPower Change Action Fund; National Immigrant Justice Center; New Jewish Narrative; Nonviolence International; OneAmerica; Partners for Progressive Israel; Peace Action; Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness; Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration; Reconsider; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Stop AAPI Hate; United Church of Christ.
Issues: Arts & Education, Immigration
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, released the following statement after Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump-appointed Judge in the Southern District of Texas, ordered that the Trump Administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act is illegal.
“Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, an archaic wartime law, is clearly illegal — and now even judges he has appointed are agreeing. That is why I am proud to sponsor Representative Omar’s legislation to fully repeal this law.
“The Trump Administration has been rapidly kidnapping and deporting immigrants, without due process, many of whom have no criminal record, or have even been deported in error, in the administration’s own admission. It is important that this court is standing up for the rule of law in our country, now the administration must follow.”
Issues: Immigration
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma Torres, sent a letter to Acting Commissioner Flores calling for immediate transparency and answers following a series of raids conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Pomona, California. The raids, which took place on April 22 and April 25, targeted individuals at a Home Depot and an auto body shop, raising serious concerns about due process, local law enforcement coordination, and the treatment of detainees.
“I am profoundly outraged by the CBP’s actions in Pomona. These raids, which appear to target individuals simply trying to provide for their families, seem to disregard basic human rights and federal law– throwing out our constitution,” said Congresswoman Torres. “ The Border Patrol, escorted by the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, failed to constantly notify Pomona about their activities in the city. This lack of communication and common courtesy in informing an allied agency was a significant oversight. I demand an immediate update from CBP regarding the status of those detained, their legal grounds for detention, and most importantly, the information that would allow us to support families and ensure legal representation for our constituents. I will not tolerate the continued secrecy and lack of transparency in this operation.”
Background: The letter from Rep. Torres addresses a range of issues with the raids, including:
The lack of notification to local law enforcement, as required by policy.
A troubling absence of information about the detained individuals, leaving their families unable to make contact or secure legal counsel.
Concerns regarding the jurisdiction of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s involvement, despite Pomona being located within Los Angeles County.
The letter highlights the immediate need for answers from CBP, including the names and locations of detained individuals, the legal basis for the raids, and an explanation of why such actions were deemed necessary. Additionally, the Congresswoman is requesting a full briefing on the operations and a commitment from CBP to provide timely and accurate information to assist families in need.
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Washington, D.C. – La congresista Norma Torres, envió una carta a la Comisionada Flores pidiendo transparencia y respuestas inmediatas tras una serie de detenciones llevadas a cabo por el Servicio de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP) en Pomona, California. Las operaciones, que se llevaron a cabo los días 22 y 25 de abril, tuvieron como objetivo a personas en un Home Depot y un taller de carrocería de automóviles, planteando graves preocupaciones sobre el debido proceso, la coordinación de la aplicación de la ley local, y el tratamiento de los detenidos.
“Estoy profundamente indignada por las acciones de la CBP en Pomona. Estas detenciones, que parecen estar dirigidas a personas que simplemente tratan de mantener a sus familias, parecen hacer a un lado los derechos humanos básicos y la ley federal – tirando por la borda nuestra constitución”, dijo la congresista Torres. “La Patrulla Fronteriza, escoltada por el Departamento del Sheriff de Riverside, no notificó constantemente a Pomona sobre sus actividades en la ciudad. Esta falta de comunicación y cortesía común en informar a una agencia aliada fue un descuido significativo. Exijo una actualización inmediata de la CBP con respecto a la situación de los detenidos, sus motivos legales para la detención, y lo más importante, la información que nos permita apoyar a las familias y garantizar la representación legal de nuestros electores. No toleraré que continúe el secretismo y la falta de transparencia en esta operación.”
Contexto: La carta del diputado Torres aborda una serie de cuestiones relacionadas con las redadas, entre ellas:
La falta de notificación a las fuerzas de seguridad locales, como exige la normativa.
La preocupante ausencia de información sobre las personas detenidas, lo que impide a sus familias ponerse en contacto con ellas o conseguir asesoramiento jurídico.
La preocupación por la jurisdicción del Departamento del Sheriff del condado de Riverside, a pesar de que Pomona se encuentra en el condado de Los Ángeles.
La carta pone de relevancia la necesidad inmediata de respuestas por parte de la CBP, incluyendo los nombres y ubicaciones de las personas detenidas, la base legal de las operaciones y una explicación de por qué fueron consideradas necesarias medidas. Además, la congresista solicita un informe completo sobre las operaciones y un compromiso de la CBP para proporcionar información oportuna y precisa para ayudar a las familias.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)
CHERRY HILL, NJ — Today, the office of Congressman Donald Norcross issued an update on the Congressman’s recent medical incident.
“Congressman Donald Norcross has been discharged from Cooper Hospital following his recent serious medical incident and has begun his rehabilitation. The Congressman is making remarkable and steady progress and is well on his way to making a full recovery. The Congressman thanks the entire Cooper team for the excellent care he received, especially the doctors and nurses who saved his life.
“Congressman Norcross is in constant contact with his staff and actively monitoring events in Washington and South Jersey as he continues to fight for senior’s health care and access to affordable prescription drugs. He and his family continue to be overwhelmed by the support and well wishes they have received.”
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Mary from Michigan: “I’m a hospice nurse who works four days a week. My son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old… These politicians don’t care about people like my son. They would rather that people like my son would just die. They don’t think that he contributes to society or is worth anything. But as his mom, I know that is so, so, so, wrong.”
Pressley Also Introduced Amendments to Strengthen CFPB, Expose Harmful Impact of DOGE
WASHINGTON – In the House Financial Services Committee’s markup of the Republican reconciliation bill, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) condemned the bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid and shared the story of Mary Marinelli, a 70-year-old hospice nurse from a Republican district in Michigan whose family depends on Medicaid to care for their autistic son. Congresswoman Pressley also introduced several amendments to the legislation to strengthen the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and expose the harmful impact of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Congresswoman Pressley’s amendments to the reconciliation bill would:
Republicans rejected every amendment proposed by Pressley and her Democratic colleagues.
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s testimony on behalf of Ms. Marinelli is below and the video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Condemns Reconciliation Bill, Shares Heartbreaking Story of Family from GOP District at Risk from Medicaid Cuts
House Financial Services Committee
April 30, 2025
Democrats have been sounding the alarm on the hurt and harm this Republican bill will unleash.
In my district, the Massachusetts 7th, I’ve been holding town halls, listening to my constituents who oppose this bill for many reasons, but especially the Medicaid cuts.
Republicans were told to not host town halls, and they definitely haven’t been listening to the people in their district. It’s gotten so bad that people living in Republican districts are now reaching out to my office to have their voices heard.
Here is a letter from a constituent of Rep. McClain’s, who sits on this very committee. These are the words of Mary Marinelli:
“I’m a hospice nurse who works four days a week. My son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old. He’s non-verbal. He cannot be left alone and needs to be supervised 24/7. Through Medicaid, my youngest son, Sean, gets paid to be a caretaker for Michael, which really helps us out.
“When Michael became 18, he got on Medicaid and Medicare. It pays for his medication, treatment, hospital stays, and allows us to do some different therapies with him. He’s also on Social Security, which he started receiving at the age of 18. It gives us extra money, about $900 a month, to take care of him.
“I am 70 years old. I am still working as a hospice nurse four days a week. If they take Medicaid away, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’d have to get a second job. I received a letter on Friday. They want me to come into the Social Security office to talk about Michael’s benefits. They’ve never done that before, and I was in despair all weekend, worried about them taking away his benefits.
“I don’t know how we would function without Medicaid. It’s already stressful enough, even with these services. I can’t imagine how much worse things will get. It would be a death sentence.
“As a nurse, I can talk about a lot of different angles to this, the physical ramification of patients falling more between the cracks. These politicians don’t care about people like my son. They would rather that people like my son would just die. They don’t think that he contributes to society or is worth anything. But as his mom, I know that is so, so, so, wrong.
“Michael is a wonderful person who brings so much. I don’t know what I would have done without Medicaid.”
I don’t know if Rep. McClain is here and has anything to say to Mary, her constituent, communicating to you through me.
Silence.
The American people do not support this bill, and that includes those living in Republican districts.
Mr. Chair, I’m grateful for the reconciliation survival kit that you gifted to members. I only wish I had one for the American people.
I yield back.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres and Congressman Dave Min sent a letter to Secretaries Hegseth, Noem, and Duffy raising urgent concerns about reported plans to cut civilian faculty positions at U.S. service academies. These reductions would limit diversity of thought, impairing the ability of military officers to effectively lead in a rapidly changing world.
The letter follows alarming reports that the Department of Defense, under the influence of an executive order, is seeking to replace civilian instructors with military personnel. These changes come amid ongoing efforts to limit diversity in the armed forces, including disturbing moves like the banning of books at the Naval Academy and the suspension of courses that promote intellectual diversity.
“We cannot afford to narrow the diversity of ideas that shape our future leaders,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “Our service academies must remain places where critical thinking thrives—where students engage with different perspectives and ideas that challenge their thinking. Cutting civilian faculty members, who bring specialized knowledge and institutional memory, undermines that mission.”
“The idea that the military should avoid exposure to diverse viewpoints is not just short-sighted—it’s dangerous,” Congresswoman Torres continued. “Military leaders must be able to think critically, understand complex global dynamics, and lead diverse teams. Cutting civilian faculty will harm that essential preparation.”
“Cutting civilian faculty members will eviscerate our ability to effectively train the next generation of military leaders,” said Rep. Min. “It is essential that military officers can think critically and understand differing perspectives in order to respond to ever-evolving threats. Depriving future leaders of these opportunities will only hurt our national defense and military readinesses.”
Congresswoman Torres and Congressman Min are calling on leaders to reassess these plans and to ensure that the quality of education at service academies remains intact. Urging full transparency and answers on how these staffing changes will impact academic quality, cadet outcomes, and the critical development of military leaders.
Cosigned by: André Carson, Jim Costa, Robert Garcia, Steven Horsford, Henry Johnson, Robin Kelly, Eleanor Norton, Marilyn Strickland, Suhas Subramanyam , Bennie Thompson, Paul Tonko, Marc Veasey
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)
WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson delivered closing remarks at the Hill and Valley Forum that detailed how President Trump and Republicans in Congress are laying the groundwork for America’s industrial renewal.
Click here to watch the full speech
Read Speaker Johnson’s remarks below:
I want to talk to you about an important issue that I know is top of mind for all of you and that’s about some long-held assumptions. There’s a long-held assumption out there that government and innovation must be at odds. We don’t believe that. You don’t believe that.
But I think today’s thoughtful and insightful conversations – and most of American history for that matter – actually tell a different story. Many of our most consequential innovations have emerged from a healthy interplay between private ingenuity and public engagement.
Today, America is eager to get back to the days of making and building things again. And rightly so. For the better part of this century, we’ve actually been moving in the opposite direction. From the steel towns of Pennsylvania to the textile mills of the Carolinas, American communities watched as their factories shut down and main streets emptied out. We were told that we could simply innovate here and build elsewhere. The result was a gradual erosion of our industrial strength, which was part of the great strength of America.
In recent years, we’ve seen the consequences of allowing the industrial backbone of our economy to atrophy, whether it’s strategic vulnerabilities in semiconductors, rare earths, and pharmaceuticals, or the regulations that smother businesses and jobs far too often.
Our economy is coming back. We are doing the right things right now. We are making the right decisions to get this going. And that’s after the very damaging effects of Bidenomics the last four years, but we also see warning signs below the surface.
I think we owe it to ourselves to be frank about this because we’re the ones that have to figure this out. Company profits are up, but the productivity of key American industries of course is down. Unemployment is low, but the number of Americans in job market still stagnates still below pre-pandemic levels. And our industrial capacity – the real engine of a resilient economy – has barely begun to recover from decades of neglect.
What we are slowly learning is that our technological and our industrial strength is inextricably linked to our national prosperity and security. People in this room understand that, but others are taking notice.
This situation didn’t happen by accident, it didn’t happen overnight. Decades worth of policymakers made it too easy to offshore entire industries, while providing few incentives to reinvest here in the USA. And it happened because government forgot that its role is not to control the markets, but to cultivate the conditions in which innovation can not only survive, but thrive.
We saw this failure play out in real time under the last administration. I mean this is just objective fact, I don’t want to give you a partisan speech, but we need to look at reality. President Biden put the full weight of government behind clean energy, EVs, and broadband as a way to implement his green new economy. What we got instead was billions in spending with very little to show for it, if anything at all.
The EV charger program has to be one of the worst boondoggles ever. There were fewer than 10 functioning stations built in the first three years. Billions went into these failed programs, while burdensome permitting processes and red tape worked against the very innovation the Administration hoped to spur.
And while Joe Biden paused America’s LNG exports, his Administration enriched adversaries like Russia, who were all too willing to fill this void in the market. Our European allies quite literally had to go get their natural gas and get their energy needs met by Vladimir Putin. It fueled his war machine and caused so much of the chaos we’re still dealing with.
These policies don’t just handicap America and American technology; they fundamentally misunderstood the role of government in our system of free enterprise.
Republicans, and especially President Trump, see things very differently. We believe government’s job is not to pick winners and losers. It’s to set the rules of the road, clear the obstacles, and get out of the way so American capital and ingenuity can get to work.
We have to allow the job creators, and the risk takers, and the entrepreneurs, and the economy to do what they do. government can’t have a boot on the neck of those people and expect them to perform today.
We’ve got an opportunity to reckon with all these failures, to recalibrate appropriately and get America back to being an industrial powerhouse once again. Our survival as a nation, I think, depends upon this. So what role should government actually play? Let me just outline three quick, broad policies that Republicans in Congress are pursuing right now to accomplish all this in concert with the White House, because this is a – we’re trying to operate as a seamless team. You’ll see that we’re working day to day, hand in hand with the administration, and that Republicans who control now both chambers of Congress, because we have unified government, you’ll see the Senate and House Republicans working together in tandem. That’s very deliberate, I think, very, very important.
But three broad policies that we’re pursuing: number one, unleashing abundant American energy. I don’t have to tell the people in this auditorium why that’s so important. Artificial intelligence and data centers are consuming enormous amounts of energy, and this demand is growing exponentially. They come in and show us the charts where the demand goes like this on a chart, and we’re behind the eight ball already, as we know, if we’re to support these innovations and build the jobs and factories of tomorrow, we need reliable, affordable, abundant energy. And that means that unleashing the full potential of American energy and cutting red tape and tapping into every energy source, like commercial nuclear and liquefied natural gas, is just critically important.
Our second priority that we’re trying to pursue here is keeping taxes low and keeping competition in the marketplace. The 2017 Trump tax cuts sparked a real resurgence in American industry. The year after they passed, business investment jumped by roughly 10% real wages grew and companies began to reinvest in US manufacturing again. I mean, quite literally, all boats were rising. We say in these big forums as going around the country to a campaign and say, look, President Trump is a known entity. The first Trump Administration, look at what he did and what he was able to do prior to COVID, we had the greatest economy in the history of the world since we cut taxes and cut regulations. It’s not rocket science. We aspire to get back to that at that time, every boat was rising. I mean literally, every demographic in the country and every region in the country was doing better because these policies were implemented.
Right now, we’re working to make these tax cuts, the tax cuts of the first administration, permanent, not just for families, but also to ensure that American innovators have the confidence to take risks and to reinvest boldly in expanding our industrial base.
The third big priority I wanted to mention today is reducing the size and scope of government. We get two important levers to do that. One is reining in wasteful spending. Number two, it’s cutting back regulations again. Under President Biden, we cross the dangerous threshold of $35 trillion in national debt. This is a dire situation. I know the people in this room understand it. A lot of people back home don’t have a full scope of the threat that this is. When we bring in leaders in the Pentagon or the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the last several years, I served on the House Armed Services Committee, among other assignments. We would ask them, “what is the greatest national threat to our country? What is our top national security concern?” And you would expect them to say, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. They don’t. They say the debt. And it’s true that our interest payments alone are on track to outpace our entire defense fund. It’s not a sustainable situation, and everybody knows that. Our adversaries know it as well.
So we’re working right now on the one big, beautiful bill is the reconciliation process, and we’re going through that. We’re taking an honest look at every corner of the budget, including programs along considered to be “untouchable.” We know that when we work to root out wasteful and abuse, just like any smart business, we make our system and these vital programs more effective and efficient the people who really need and deserve them. And we’ve got all hands on deck to do this at the same time. We need to cut harmful regulations that smother innovation.
All of you run into this, I’m sure at some point or another, may be dealing with it today, but I hope to tell you, in good faith that help is on the way. America’s industrial comeback can’t wait on government bureaucracy. We need to clear the runway for capital to move swiftly into new factories and robotics and advanced automation. Just before COVID, Tesla built its giga factory in Shanghai. They did it in under one year. If you did that same thing here, it would take just as long to pull together the darn permits just to get started building. We can and we must do better. We cannot allow other countries to exceed our performance in that way.
Nowhere is it more necessary for Congress to move with caution than AI. If we over regulate here, which you know, Washington tends to do, we don’t just risk regulating American AI out of existence. We would cede critical grounded China and this fateful race to dominate this new technology, and it’s a race that we cannot afford to lose.
Our priority with AI and technology more broadly, is create an environment that’s competitive and open to new and emerging players, and not just one that benefits the big guys, right?
Let me talk about tariffs briefly, and I know I’m the last speaker today, so I don’t want to give you a long policy speech, but I think some of this is important, and I’m sure it’s timely for you, and it’s probably one of the questions you would ask if we opened it up.
President Trump is taking a serious look at our trade relationships, and it’s something I think that we should applaud. We have been mistreated. We have unfair trade partners around the globe, and this has been going on for quite some time. We’re living in the relic of really, what happened after World War II. Think about it, the historical terms I mean, we emerged as a great superpower, and Europe largely had to be rebuilt. So all these trade agreements were made with America as the new great nation, and the emerging superpower, and they sort of rationalized, “well, Americans can afford it, and we need a break.”
Well, I mean, we’re a long time past World War II. President Trump’s right to point it out. He said, reciprocal trade means it’s got to be fair. He said, every time I talk to him “Mr. President, we’re free traders, free market guys.” He goes “yeah, free and fair trade.” Well, that’s a good point. So tariffs are one tool among many that he’s using to try to do a rebalancing there. He’s trying to rebalance trade and restore a level playing field for American workers and businesses. We’re in uncharted waters on this. This hasn’t been done, so there’s bound to be some market disruption. That’s what we’ve all kind of lived through the last several weeks.
But I trust the President’s instincts here, and I know that American business leaders are tired of tactics from China. They just constantly undercut and outmaneuver American firms. They’ve stolen our IP, everybody here knows it. People are tired of competing with Chinese firms that are propped up by state subsidies and use actual slave labor to produce their products and they steal our intellectual property.
But tariffs are just one part of the equation securing our long-term security and the competitive edge that will depend that we’ll need all that’s going to depend on leaning into innovations like AI and advanced robotics and automation. I really empathize with Americans who feel uneasy about the rapid pace of technology advancement. I get that, but history gives us reason to be optimistic about this. From the automobile to the aircraft to the internet, each new breakthrough has unlocked entirely new industries and professions and forms of prosperity that have worked in our favor. They’ve transformed the way we live. We should always invite and celebrate those advances, because we know the better technology makes our workers more productive, and when our workers are more productive, they earn more, they build more and we see more human flourishing.
At the end of the day, that is our objective. We are trying to bring about human flourishing. That’s the goal of all this. It should be the goal of all of our public policy. Not everybody thinks about it that way, but we’re trying to, we’re trying to change things that they do. We should invite new ideas to reinvigorate our industrial base, not just to decouple from China, although that’s critical, but to give the American people a renewed sense of pride in what we make and what we build and what we export to the world, I have to say I’m incredibly bullish on America, not just because of the talent and ingenuity in this room and across the country, but because of what I’ve seen with my own eyes around the country.
I’ll just leave you with this quick anecdote. Two weeks ago, I was down in south Texas. I visited Saronic. You’ll probably know some of you guys know company. Y’all heard about it earlier on the stage, I think, but its headquarters sit in an unassuming lot right outside downtown Austin. I drove up and I was like, we’re here, but what I saw inside this building was truly extraordinary. What they’re doing is incredible work to bring back American shipbuilding, essentially from the ashes. We’re blessed where I’m from because Saronic is soon expanding manufacturing operation in my home state, Louisiana, and we’re going to welcome them with open arms, because it’s really exciting stuff.
I’m telling this story because that is what American renewal looks like. It’s not just about Silicon Valley or Washington or bringing back the smokestacks of the 50’s. This is about expanding the pool of opportunity for every American in every community, in every corner of this great country. It’s about pioneering innovation. It’s about taking risks and betting big on America. Once again, it can happen anywhere in the country, and we want to bring about the conditions to allow that to happen. And that’s why I’m more confident than ever that our best days still lie ahead of us.
Last thought, because I know you want to go. In July of next year, we’ll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation. This grand experiment in self-governance has lasted two and a half centuries. We have already exceeded the expiration date, the lifespan of a nation like ours, a republic, and we’ve done something totally different that no one had ever done before. America was truly revolutionary. The very concept was and we’re built upon these very firm foundations, these ideas, some of the things I’ve articulated today are made us who we are.
Sometimes in this job, I take the opportunity to go and speak to university and college students, and I’m often alarmed my friends, because I will ask at the beginning, I’ll get on a stage like this, and I’ll say, “would you raise your hand if you agree that you live in the greatest nation in the history of the world?” And sadly, sometimes you get 10-15% of the hands raised in an auditorium like this, I’ll say, “gee, well, you don’t believe in the live in the greatest nation? Would you at least concede you live in a great nation?” Get a few more hands, and then I spend the rest of time explaining to them. I’m a constitutional law attorney. I can put on my case. I need several hours, but I try to convince it, and in 20 minutes or so I say “look, you live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. It’s not even close by any objective measure.” We’re the most successful, most powerful, most free, most benevolent nation that has ever been on the earth.
But there’s a reason that we are, and it’s incumbent upon us as stewards of this great Republic if we are going to keep this grand experiment in self-governance, it is incumbent upon us to understand what those foundations are and to nurture them, to get back to those foundations, because we can’t allow them to be destroyed.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.
Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries