Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today on the March jobs report:
“The March jobs report today revealed that 228,000 jobs were added to the economy last month and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%. Sadly, these positive numbers do little to dispel the grave economic uncertainty that Americans are feeling as they watch Donald Trump willfully choosing to break the U.S. economy. After inheriting a country with rising employment and falling inflation, Donald Trump could have coasted on the progress Democrats made to lower costs, create jobs, and help American businesses and workers get ahead. Instead, he chose to put it all at risk.
“This week, Trump announced the largest tax increase on working-class Americans in our nation’s history. He is forcing American families to pay thousands of dollars more each year on groceries, gas, clothing, electronics, and a variety of other consumer goods while they watch their retirement savings deteriorate. Despite widespread concern from the boardroom to the kitchen table, Trump dismisses his tariffs’ devastating economic impact as ‘short term pain.’ I dare him to say that to the Americans who will struggle to keep food on the table, a roof over their head, and their small businesses open because his policies have raised prices across the board.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today on President Donald Trump imposing sweeping tariffs on virtually all imports into the United States:
“For years we’ve been told to take Donald Trump seriously, but not literally. We were told his incoherent economic philosophy and outrageous rhetoric were merely negotiating tactics for a master in the art of the deal.
“What he did yesterday ought to throw any such nuanced interpretation aside. What he did was stand in the Rose Garden and proudly announce the largest tax increase on middle-class Americans in our nation’s history – one that will cost the average American family thousands of dollars each year.
“Faced with financial market panic, his administration is fanning out to describe the impact of his tariffs as ‘short term pain,’ as if that pain were not both serious and literal for everyday Americans. Across the country today, Americans are grappling with the reality of higher costs, financial insecurity, and job uncertainty as a direct result of President Trump’s tax increase.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
WASHINGTON, DC– One year after Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined a bicameral Congressional letter led by Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) urging states to conduct critical bridge safety tests to prevent further tragedy in communities across the country. The letter is co-signed by Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) and Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06) as well as Representatives Andre Carson (IN-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07). In the letter, Olszewski – who grew up in the shadows of the Key Bridge – and his colleagues said its collapse after a vessel strike on March 26, 2024, could have been averted. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation, also released last month, revealed the bridge was 30 times the acceptable vulnerability threshold according to now-required guidelines by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The NTSB said the bridge was among 67 across the country that have not completed an AASHTO-based vulnerability study because they were built prior to its adoption. Also on the list is Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which the State of Maryland has recently committed to evaluating based on AASHTO safety guidelines. “Just one year ago, the Baltimore region experienced a devastating tragedy that claimed the lives of six individuals and disrupted countless livelihoods when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a vessel strike,” the lawmakers wrote. “The cost to rebuild the bridge is expected to near $2 billion and take at least three years for construction. We have since learned there are dozens of bridges across the country under state jurisdiction that lack recommended safety assessments.” “To avoid another tragedy of this magnitude, we must take urgent action to address vulnerabilities that could lead to another catastrophic bridge failure or collapse. The Key Bridge disaster was not an isolated incident – it was a warning,” they continued. “As leaders, we have a responsibility to prevent history from repeating itself. We urgently and respectfully request the expeditious adoption of the recommendations outlined by NTSB in its preliminary report. Specifically, we call on the 18 other states and Army Corps of Engineers with jurisdiction over the 66 bridges across the country that currently lack a vulnerability study to undergo such an evaluation as quickly as possible,” they urged. “As Members of Congress, we stand ready to work hand in hand with you, aiming to provide the resources needed in each state and localities to bring our bridges up to safety standards,” they continued. “This is a moment to lead with compassion and foresight. The families who lost loved ones in Baltimore deserve to know that their heartache is not in vain – that we learned, acted, and are doing everything within our power to prevent another disaster,” the lawmakers concluded.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Dina Titus (D-NV), and 127 House Democrats urged the Trump Administration to forgoits proposalto eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which provides the main source of federal support for museums and libraries across the country. In aletterto President Trump, the lawmakers shared their strong concerns about the impacts that would come with the elimination of IMLS, advocating for the president to reconsider his proposal to dismantle the agency before the harms are felt in communities nationwide.
“The IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting America’s museums and libraries,” the lawmakers wrote. “Operating in all 50 states and U.S. territories, it plays a vital role in strengthening these institutions which serve as essential educational, cultural, and economic pillars in our communities. From early literacy programs and STEM education initiatives to high-speed internet access and job training resources, funding for the IMLS enables libraries and museums to provide critical services to millions of Americans.”
“Eliminating the IMLS would not only jeopardize these essential services but also dismiss the everyday needs of millions of Americans who rely on libraries and museums for learning, job opportunities, and community engagement,” the lawmakers continued. “We urge the Administration to reconsider this decision and recognize the far-reaching impact of IMLS funding. Maintaining and strengthening federal support for museums and libraries is not just an investment in cultural preservation, it is an investment in education, innovation, and economic growth.”
Missouri received nearly$5 millionin IMLS awards in 2024, including a $250,000 grant to the National World War I Museum and Memorial and $217,000 to Powell Gardens. Since the Trump Administration made public their attempt to eliminate funding for IMLS, the National Word War I Museum and Memorial has announcedit will have to freeze projects and put staff on leave.
The official letter from lawmakers is availablehere.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or matthew.helfant@mail.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter, Collins lead Georgia Delegation in support of GPA water resources funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Mike Collins (R-GA) led the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation in a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressing support for the Georgia Ports Authority’s FY2025 water resources projects and encouraging the administration to supply adequate funding to accomplish its goals.
Specifically, the Members pushed for funding for a study of the deepening and widening of the Savannah Harbor, the Brunswick Harbor Modification project, and Brunswick Harbor and Savannah Harbor width and depth maintenance.
In the letter, the Members write, “Georgia’s port facilities in Brunswick and Savannah are vital supply chain conduits, job creators, and economic engines for Georgia and the United States…As drivers of local and global commerce, it is imperative that the needs of Georgia’s ports continue to be met by both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and America’s dredging and maritime construction industry.”
The Members continue, “We urge you take advantage of available FY2025 discretionary funding to deliver safe and reliable harbors for Georgia and the nation, as these critical projects are worthy of prioritization and your full and immediate attention.”
Co-signors include: Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Reps. Rick Allen (R-GA), Marjorie Greene (R-GA), Brian Jack (R-GA), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Austin Scott (R-GA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), David Scott (D-GA), and Nikema Williams (D-GA).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California
April 03, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) and U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Members hosted an issues forum titled “Attacks on NOAA Threaten American Communities and Economies.” During this forum, the Members examined the dangerous consequences of the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Members and panelists warned that Trump and Musk’s attacks are calculated moves to silence scientists, privatize public services, and reward tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of the American people.
“From farmers and first responders to entire coastal communities, NOAA is integral to protecting Americans’ safety and keeping our economy running,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “Today’s forum made one thing clear: the Trump administration’s reckless policies are not attacks on NOAA, but also attacks on public safety, good-paying jobs, and the scientific knowledge our communities depend on. By firing experts, slashing critical funding, and privatizing weather data, the administration is putting American lives at risk with the sole purpose of rewarding billionaires. Dismantling NOAA doesn’t just hurt public servants—it hurts everyone.”
“Fishing is part of who we are in Rhode Island—and data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on weather, fish stocks, and more plays a critical role in protecting lives and livelihoods in the Ocean State,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “I was proud to bring voices together and host today’s forum with House Natural Resources Committee Democrats to elevate local challenges and shine a light on the reckless cuts to NOAA by Trump and Musk that hurt the Ocean State and its coastal economy.”
“Whether we call it climate change, sea level rise, or nuisance flooding, it is happening, and it is happening at an increased level, including in Maryland’s Third District. Our state is incredibly vulnerable to the impacts of unpredictable weather, which is why I want to thank NOAA staff for your service. House Democrats understand what you deliver for the American people every single day, and I apologize that you are not receiving the respect that you deserve,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth.
“In my district, extreme weather is already endangering critical infrastructure, including at Naval Base Ventura County and the Port of Hueneme, which are vital to both our security and local economy,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Cuts to NOAA harm military readiness and weaken our community’s ability to respond to the growing dangers of climate change. NOAA’s forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster response are essential to our resilience. By dismantling this agency, the Trump Administration is weakening disaster preparedness and putting communities across the country at greater risk of more destruction from frequent and severe natural disasters.”
“Gutting NOAA will cost lives and livelihoods. For coastal states like Oregon, NOAA is a lifeline that keeps our economy resilient and our communities safe from climate-fueled disasters,” said Rep. Maxine Dexter. “Thank you, Ranking Member Huffman, for spotlighting Elon Musk’s dangerous cuts and standing with us to protect science, safety, and coastal communities.”
“What this administration does not seem to understand is that science is how we understand the foundation of this world, how we prepare our constituents for weather events, our farmers for their work, and our communities to respond to a rapidly changing climate,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury. “Cuts to this service will have severe consequences nationally and in my home state because we use the data from NOAA for everything. These mass firings will leave nothing behind but a mess that has undermined our ability to predict the weather with life or death consequences on the ground.”
“The cuts to NOAA’s funding and workforce are thoughtless and jeopardize the safety of countless Oregonians,” said Rep. Val Hoyle. “NOAA’s ocean mapping and weather forecasting helps our commercial fisherman safely navigate dangerous ocean waters as they harvest fish that feed our country, and it also helps our wildland firefighters with advanced warnings on dangerous weather conditions. These forecasts help our communities and can be the difference between life and death. There is no reason to gut this agency which provides critical information that is integral to protecting every community in my district and across this country.”
NOAA plays a vital role in protecting lives and supporting livelihoods across the United States. Its forecasts and data support industries from agriculture to tourism, while providing life-saving alerts and environmental monitoring that keep communities safe. Every day, Americans rely on NOAA to help navigate floods, fires, hurricanes, and other climate-fueled disasters.
Despite its critical mission, NOAA has become a primary target of the Trump administration and Musk’s DOGE. Since January, NOAA has faced an unprecedented wave of political interference: censorship of climate research, purging of expert staff, the shutdown of oversight committees, and forced layoffs impacting more than 800 employees. DOGE operatives have unlawfully accessed NOAA systems, including internal communications and grants databases, raising serious questions about data integrity and whistleblower retaliation.
These actions have already disrupted NOAA’s core functions. Weather balloon launches have been reduced, community resilience programs scaled back or shuttered, and offices around the country remain closed. Meanwhile, extremist proposals to dismantle or privatize NOAA will put essential weather alerts and environmental data behind paywalls, endangering farmers, first responders, and coastal economies. House Democrats are committed to exposing this dangerous agenda and defending the public services that keep Americans safe and our economy strong.
PANELIST QUOTES
“We have no idea how NOAA will keep functioning with these budget cuts. We have no idea how much expertise and knowledge has been lost in these firings. We have no idea what else the Trump administration will do to destroy NOAA. And we have no idea who else is slated to be let go,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudinš, Founder and Executive Director, Azul. “To name just a few examples, Digital Coast helped Florida use high-level surface mapping to improve their flood vulnerability assessments. It helped Southern California collaborate on innovation projects for their renewable economy. It helped Northern Mariana Islands better prepare for tsunamis. It helped improve storm surge modeling for Caribbean disaster preparedness programs. It helped inform watershed management in Florida. It helped promote ecotourism in Virginia through watershed conservation. It helped analyze urban growth and flood risk in North Carolina. It helped lower flood insurance premiums in South Carolina. The list could go on and on. NOAA’s tools have helped every one of these communities and so many more. So what will happen when there’s no longer the budget for these tools, for the scientists, and the data experts who know how to use them? The unfortunate result is that communities will suffer across the U.S.”
“In my last job in the Navy, I was the oceanographer and navigator of the Navy. Just as importantly, I was the Navy deputy to NOAA. That’s how important the Navy sees this relationship between our Navy and NOAA, in that they assign an admiral to be a deputy to the director of NOAA,” said RADM Jon White, USN (Ret.). “Without the NOAA information, without leading the world in this, then our national security and the safety of our men and women in uniform is at risk. […] And it worries me a lot because I just know that there are men and women in uniform out there who rely on this information. There are parents and husbands and wives who rely on having the best information possible to keep their loved ones safe and to make sure that we maintain our national security and that home and away game advantage for years to come.”
“Agency staff at every level have been demoralized and marginalized. When coupled with cuts to grants and fellowships and increased job insecurity, we are at a serious risk of alienating the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and leaders who would help the United States weather future storms,” said Elizabeth L. Lewis, Senior Associate Attorney, Eubanks & Associates. “NOAA simply cannot carry out its critical functions on limited staff, shrinking budgets, and aging equipment. Therefore, there is no doubt that if the Administration’s vision for NOAA becomes reality, American businesses will suffer, and even more tragically, lives will be lost.”
“In the two months since [January 20], the administration has abdicated its citizen-granted authorities to Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on the planet, and this unelected, unaccountable billionaire has torn through agency after agency, destroying a public service infrastructure that took decades to build. And it’s clear that everyday Americans are not this administration’s priority,” said Sarah Schumann, Fisherman, and Owner/Principal Consultant, Shining Sea Fisheries Consulting, LLC. “All of the ambitious and visionary things that fishermen desperately need, the faster, more collaborative data collection and decision-making, the greater attention to the multitude of stressors affecting fishery habitats, the supports for young people to enter and thrive in fishing careers, will be vastly more difficult to achieve with a diminished and distressed NOAA workforce.”
“I worked for The Weather Company, and there is no weather forecast that’s produced in this country that isn’t dependent on NOAA,” said Mary Glackin, retired NOAA official, American Meteorological Society. “In [Florida], we have 5.3 million acres of submerged lands that are managed through NOAA programs, and this is a combination of the Estuarine Research Reserves, the Coral Reef Conservation Project, the sanctuary that’s there, and coastal zone management. And why is this important to us? These areas safeguard water quality, buffer against storms and flooding, and provide critical habitat for fisheries and wildlife. They drive tourism and recreation, one of the prime economic drivers in Florida. They see over 100 million visitors annually for these world-class recreation activities, and without these programs, we are going to see increased pollution. Make no mistake about that. This could not be a worse time of year. We have the severe weather coming across. We haven’t seen our first hurricane yet, but I guarantee you it’s coming. And right now I fear that the only thing keeping us from real disaster is the heroic efforts of NOAA staff.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released a statement following the Trump Administration’s implementation of a sweeping 10 percent across-the-board tariff on all imports and double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries which will hurt Americans by raising the price of virtually all goods. These tariffs will apply to more than 100 trading partners.
“While I agree that we should always advocate for more fair trade, South Texans need economic stability, not chaos and higher prices,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “The Trump Administration’s ‘Liberation Day’ is a lie. These unrestrained tariffs on our trading partners will only lead to higher prices on virtually all goods and foods. Tariffs are a tool, not a strategy. The President must focus on lowering costs for South Texans, not starting global trade wars.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced the bicameral American Innovation Act, which would provide annual budget increases at a rate of five percent, indexed to inflation, for cutting-edge research at five federal agencies: the Department of Energy Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; the National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientific and Technical Research Services; the Department of Defense Science and Technology Programs; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Directorate. The American Innovation Act would position the U.S. as a leader in development and discovery for decades to come by creating steady, sustained funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies.
“I’m proud to work with Senator Durbin on this legislation to expand federal investment in scientific research,” said Foster. “Since World War II, investments in science and technology have helped expand our economy, create millions of jobs, and advance our national security. As we confront new and existing challenges, it’s critical that our scientists have the resources they need to ensure our nation remains at the forefront of research and innovation.”
“In its crusade to damage essential government infrastructure, the Trump Administration has failed to recognize that sustained support for basic scientific research has enabled the United States to put a man on the moon, build the internet, and produce a COVID-19 vaccine in record time. If we want to maintain our status as a world leader in research and technology, we must empower and fund our federal research agencies and retain their top talent,” said Durbin. “I’m introducing the American Innovation Act to ensure our nation’s scientists and researchers have access to critical funding to push our world forward while also creating jobs, growing our economy, and improving our national security.”
Basic science funding in the U.S. has lagged in recent decades. Since the 1970s, U.S. investment in basic science has decreased by tenfold to about 0.1 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, China’s research intensity (GDP expenditures on R&D) has increased by 500 percent since 1996. If this trend continues, China will soon surpass the U.S. in investment in science.
The American Innovation Act is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Brian Schatz (D-HI).
The legislation has earned the endorsement of the American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Society of Microbiology; Association of American Universities; Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities; Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation; Computing Research Association; Council on Undergraduate Research; Federation of American Scientists; Institute for Progress; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; MIT Graduate Student Council; Society of Women Engineers; Taskforce for American Innovation; University of Illinois System; and the University of Chicago.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), will hold a third telephone town hall on Monday, April 7, 2025. Please see below for key details.
Questions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris’ DC office at (202) 225-5311. Constituents who wish to be removed from the call list should contact Congressman Harris’s DC office.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)
CHARLOTTE, NC— The Office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition from high school students who live or attend school in North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office and panels of district artists select winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
Participants must submit both physical and digital copies of their artwork and the student release form to Yara Al Bayyari and Alijah Jamison by email at Yara.AlBayyari@mail.house.gov/ Alijah.Jamison@mail.house.govby Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Once a digital copy of the artwork and the student release form is received, we will schedule the drop-off of physical art pieces. Students are encouraged to submit digital copies as soon as possible to ensure they can complete the drop-off of physical art pieces by the deadline.
Artwork must be two-dimensional. Each framed artwork entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches (including the frame) and may be up to 4 inches in depth. All artwork should be matted or framed. The artwork may be:
Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (it is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
Collages: must be two dimensional.
Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints.
Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
Computer-generated art.
Photographs.
All entries must be original in concept, design and execution.
The winner will be eligible to receive:
Year-long exhibition of their artwork in the U.S. Capitol.
Complimentary airline tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the reception and installation of the winning entries from congressional districts throughout the country.
A chance to win a scholarship.
The first and second runners-up will have their artwork displayed in Rep. Adams’s Washington, D.C. office and the two Honorable Mentions will be displayed in the district office.