Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement in response to the President’s new tariffs:  

“Make no mistake: The American people will pay the price for the President’s trade war. The tariffs the President announced today will raise prices on groceries and electronics, cars and homes, and just about every other good on which we rely. 

“Our economy is the envy of the world. In a sweeping move, President Trump is undoing our progress. Thanks to President Trump’s trade war, people will lose their jobs, seniors’ retirement savings will go down, medical costs will go up, and families will struggle to afford basic goods.  

“Yet the President has gone on the record to make his stance clear, stating he ‘couldn’t care less’ if his tariffs raise prices on American families. It’s time Congressional Republicans join Democrats to stand up against the President’s attempt to tank our economy.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Last week, Representative Sharice Davids held a conversation with recently terminated federal workers to discuss the devastating impact of the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives, led by Elon Musk. The discussion highlighted the personal and community consequences of these sweeping job cuts, which are hitting Kansas City especially hard.

Davids also shared her Job Seekers Guide to help affected workers navigate unemployment and find new opportunities. Participants included former employees from key agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and more, many of whom were abruptly laid off despite good performance.

With Kansas City serving as a major federal employment hub, these cuts are already disrupting families, local economies, and critical public services. Davids acknowledged the federal government can work more efficiently, but has repeatedly pushed back on these cuts, warning of risks to aviation safety, veterans’ services, and Social Security operations. As more layoffs loom, she continues to advocate for Kansas workers and the essential services they provide.

Davids’ efforts to push back on DOGE’s reckless terminations made headlines across Kansas:

Kansas City Star: Fired federal workers in Kansas City raise alarm: ‘Chaos costs the American taxpayer’

“Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat representing Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, convened a roundtable of terminated federal workers on Friday. The event, opened to news media, underscored the local effects of President Donald Trump’s lightning-fast push to cut the federal workforce.

[…]

At a union hall in Kansas City, Kansas, a small sliver of former federal employees shared their stories. They hailed from different agencies and work backgrounds, but all cast the firings as a short-sighted and haphazard effort that will place public services at risk. The roundtable also included a current Social Security Administration employee, who spoke about concerns within the agency over looming job cuts. 

[…]

At 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 14, [Selina] Zapata Bur received an email saying she was fired. She was told her email access would be cut off 15 minutes later. DOT also sent her a termination letter but tried to recall the message because of typos and missing links before sending a new version an hour later. ‘So that tells you the attention to detail they’re giving,’ Zapata Bur said.

[…] 

Davids, a fourth-term congresswoman whose district spans southern Wyandotte County, all of Johnson County and stretches into rural areas southwest of the Kansas City metro, consistently emphasizes her willingness to work with Republicans and kicked off the event by noting that the federal government can be made more efficient. But she has grown increasingly vocal in criticizing the Trump administration over the DOGE effort.

‘I can tell you the idea of vilifying and demeaning our federal civil service is reprehensible to me,’ Davids said. ‘Because just right here we’ve got folks who make sure, like with Social Security, make sure that people are getting the benefits that they’re entitled to because folks have been paying into this system for a long time.’

[…]

The one current employee in the group, Garth Stocking of the Social Security Administration, previewed the harms he and his co-workers fear are coming if the agency moves forward with a plan to eliminate 7,000 jobs nationally.

[…]

SSA currently operates 68 field offices across the four-state Kansas City region that employ 943 workers, in addition to nearly 1,000 at a service center based in Kansas City. The agency plans to consolidate the Kansas City region into a new Mid-West/West region.

What that means for what kind of presence SSA will have in Kansas City – and Kansas and Missouri more broadly – is unknown. ‘It’s not too hard to connect the dots from closing a field office to lack of services,’ Stocking said Friday.”

KMBC: Former federal workers share concerns about job cuts at roundtable with Kansas congresswoman

“A handful of former federal workers gathered at a local union hall in Merriam on Friday with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., to share concerns about federal workforce reductions. Davids heard their concerns about federal job reductions under the Trump administration.

Donny Newsom, a Navy veteran recently let go from a construction supervisor role for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shared his concerns with the cuts and losing his job. “I think I owe it to the American people to, to at least push back a little bit and push back for the folks that can’t, that don’t have the capability to push back,” Newsom said.

The number of people losing federal jobs in the Kansas City area is still not fully known.

‘I think it’s going to be extremely difficult to undo what’s happening right now, because the service and stability is what drew people to the federal government,’ said Scott Curtis, whose job status has remained in limbo as chief of staff for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Davids shared her thoughts about the trimming federal workforce so rapidly.

‘Our communities are already expressing just how irresponsible this is,’ she said. ‘At the same time that I feel anger and heartbreak for the people who have been impacted by this.’”

The Olathe Reporter: Former federal workers detail confusion, chaos following mass layoffs

“Hosted in the LiUNA Local 1290 Union Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, Davids asked four former employees and one current social security employee to detail their experiences with recent layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Each person had a unique story, with consistent themes of miscommunication and confusion throughout. Details related to their individual firings are their own accounts.

Prior to hearing those stories, Davids, a Democrat, prefaced the conversation by saying she likely has never met someone who thought the federal government ran efficiently, but in her opinion mass layoffs are not the way to improve its effectiveness. 

‘These terminations are not the way to get there … both because of the impact on our individual federal civil servants, and the community services to keep us safe,’ Davids said.

[…]

‘Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have taken a very reckless and thoughtless approach to firing people who are literally public servants,’ Davids said. ‘It has cut against the idea that they’re working for a more efficient government. These are services and folks who are mission-driven, who keep our community safe, who keep us healthy, who make sure we have roads and bridges.’

[…] 

Those who received layoff emails or letters in the group noted inconsistent reasoning for their firings — some were told their continued employment ‘was not in the best interest of the American people,’ while others were told it was performance-based despite never receiving a poor performance report. 

‘I wasn’t even there long enough to be evaluated for anything,’ Hudgins-Bradley said. ‘I barely had access to the systems to do the job, so ‘Based on poor performance’? What poor performance, what have you got?’

Outside of the unusually handled layoffs, the speakers discussed Project 2025, a document written in 2023 in anticipation of President Donald Trump’s reelection, detailing policies and actions the president should take in his second term in office… It details the weakening of federal programs, among other rightwing agendas, through the use of Trump’s powers as president. Vought has said in the past he wants federal workers to be “traumatically affected” and to not want to work as they are ‘increasingly viewed as the villains.’

‘I think the thing that disturbs me the most is the use of language and vilification of civil servants,’ Newsom said of the Trump Administration’s handling of the layoffs. ‘Who does that? What sort of mentality? … Where are we at as a country at this point? What sort of sick, twisted person says things like that, but then has a whole backing that’s following them up?’”

Topeka Capital-Journal: ‘We made a horrible mistake’: Fired federal employees from Kansas share stories

“U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, hosted a town hall with fired federal workers from Kansas at a union office, where they shared how they were terminated from their jobs.

The employees… described a chaotic scene at their offices as it maneuvered through mass terminations of probationary employees that have served less than a one- or two-year term, an email asking them to describe five things they did in the past week and the unfulfilled promise of benefits offered to people who agreed to resign.

[…]

Scott Curtis, a Navy veteran who was fired as a probationary employee, said he agreed to the deferred resignation program but then was fired as a probationary employee before the agency tried to rehire him.

‘I got a call from FEMA saying: ‘Oh, sorry, we made a horrible mistake. You shouldn’t have been fired. We’re rescinding your termination and you’re going to go on the deferred resignation program.’ Now I’m still not getting paid,’ Curtis said.

[…]

Davids called the approach to the terminations ‘thoughtless’ and not a real solution to inefficient government.

‘One of the things that I work on, and my team works on, is trying to figure out ways to make the federal government work better, more efficiently and effectively,’ she said. ‘These terminations are not the way to get there, from my perspective, both because of the impact that it has on our individual federal civil servants like you guys, and the community services to keep us safe, to keep us healthy.’

Davids said she’s trying to find ways to conduct oversight on the Trump administration with the help of Republican colleagues, which would be necessary with the GOP holding four more seats in the House than Democrats.

‘I am trying to figure out ways to work with my Republican colleagues, because it is the nature of being in the Legislature that we are supposed to be providing oversight on this administration and the things that they’re doing,’ Davids said. ‘We only need four or five of them to help us push back.’”

Fox4:

 

“Kansas Democratic Congresswoman Sharice Davids, who represents Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, hosted a roundtable with federal workers who’ve recently been laid off. The group includes employees from both sides of the state line who once worked for the Department of Transportation, FEMA, NOAA, and IRS. 1,000 workers in the metro have already bene let go, with more expected down the line. The VA has announced plans to cut more than 80,000 jobs by the end of the year.

‘But I definitely was terminated as a new probationary employee despite bringing well over three decades of experience in the federal government along,’ [said Scott Curtis].

‘It takes $10,000 just to get someone sitting there ready for training and I think my class was 150 people. So, even if just 50 of those were internal and already had everything, you’re still looking at a good amount of money that’s basically being thrown away because I didn’t even make it through training,’ [said Jasper Hudgins-Bradley]”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional FIFA 2026 World Cup Caucus, released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s newly established White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Last year, Davids and her colleagues urged the previous administration to establish this type of task force to streamline federal efforts.

“Hosting the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kansas City, bringing jobs, tourism, and lasting economic benefits,” said Davids. “I welcome the creation of a White House Task Force and look forward to working with the administration to ensure host cities are fully prepared. My colleagues and I have long pushed for federal coordination, including urging the previous administration to establish a similar task force. This tournament will bring global attention to our region, and we must invest in the infrastructure and resources needed to maximize its impact. I’m committed to working across the aisle to make sure Kansas City, and all host cities, are ready for 2026 and beyond.”

Davids has been a leader in ensuring the United States is well-prepared for the FIFA World Cup 2026. She has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to maximize the tournament’s economic potential and strengthen security measures for host cities. She also led efforts in Congress requesting $625 million in FY2025 appropriations funding to ensure the security of FIFA World Cup 2026.

The World Cup will be the largest in history, with 48 teams playing across 16 North American host cities, including Kansas City. For the Kanas City regional alone, the games are expected to generate more than $650 million. To ensure the region is prepared for the influx of travelers, Davids has hosted multiple Community Conversations with Kansas City-area leaders. Previous conversations focused on transportation, public health and safety, small business, hospitality, and impacts on everyday Kansans.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

During this week’s U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Aviation Subcommittee hearing, “America Builds: Air Traffic Control System Infrastructure and Staffing,” Representative Sharice Davids emphasized the urgent need to invest in air traffic control staffing and safety infrastructure following a recent air collision involving PAT 25 and Flight 5342, which originated from Wichita, Kansas.

“Millions of passengers are able to board, fly, and disembark flights in the U.S. every year thanks to the scores of hardworking personnel across our country and the most advanced technology in the world,” said Davids. “But… [their] safety isn’t free. From fully implementing NextGen and upgrading our air traffic control systems to training and retaining folks like aviation safety professionals and air traffic controllers, we must continue to invest the time and resources to ensure we are protecting the flying public.”

WATCH: Davids questions aviation experts during U.S. House T&I Hearing

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently employs fewer than 11,000 fully certified controllers — far below recommended staffing levels — forcing many to work overtime in high-pressure environments. Delays in hiring and training exacerbate these shortages, making it more difficult to maintain the world-class safety standards the U.S. aviation system is known for. During the hearing, Davids underscored how ongoing workforce shortages and outdated technology could put passengers at risk.

Last month, Davids condemned the President’s decision to fire hundreds of FAA employees and urged U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to immediately implement key aviation safety reforms included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization, which Congress passed last year. That includes hiring more air traffic controllers and updating aging air traffic control technology and systems. Davids also called out the conflict of interest created by Elon Musk’s suggestion that the FAA should cancel a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon in favor of his Starlink.

 

Following the tragic  collision, Davids and her Kansas colleagues expressed their steadfast solidarity with the families and communities affected by the tragedy. The entire Kansas congressional delegation also released a joint statement in response to the devastating incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the incident, and based on its findings, Davids and her colleagues on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee will take the necessary legislative measures to prevent this type of tragedy from happening again.

 

During a T&I hearing last year, Davids pressed former FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, who served under President Biden, on the slow pace of modernizing critical landing systems used by air traffic controllers. She highlighted that in Kansas, 81 percent of these systems are functionally obsolete, and at the FAA’s current rate of replacement, it would take over a century to upgrade them. Davids emphasized the urgent need for faster upgrades to ensure the safety of Kansans.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

KANSAS CITY, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids convened a roundtable discussion with five federal workers recently laid off due to the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives, led by Elon Musk. The event shed light on the personal and community impacts of the substantial federal workforce reductions currently underway. Davids distributed her Job Seekers Guide, which provides valuable resources for finding new employment and support during periods of unemployment.

“The mass layoffs pushed by the current administration and DOGE are not just uprooting the lives of dedicated federal workers — they are putting at risk the essential services our communities rely on every day,” said Davids. “In Kansas, where federal jobs are a vital part of our economy, these cuts threaten not only public trust but public safety. While I support efforts to make government more efficient, this reckless approach will have far-reaching consequences. I am committed to standing up against these harmful cuts, holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring that these workers and the services they provide are protected.”

The roundtable featured a diverse group of federal workers impacted by the recent DOGE job cuts. Participants included:

• Jasper Hudgins-Bradley, Overland Park, KS: Former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contact representative, helping people navigate IRS issues, who was laid off after less than a month of service.
• Selina Bur, Kansas City, MO: Former Transportation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Secretary, facilitating infrastructure projects and helping federal funds reach American communities.
• Scott Curtis, Overland Park, KS: Former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 7 Chief of Staff, initially laid off, then told it was a mistake and asked to return — yet has not received any rehiring details.
• Donny Newsom, Leawood, KS: Navy veteran and former Senior Project Manager at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), overseeing national laboratories and ensuring they met operational needs.
• Garth Stocking, Kansas City, MO: Technical expert at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union leader, who, while not personally laid off, provided insight into the broader impacts of looming cuts within the Social Security workforce.

Kansas City, a major hub for federal employment, is experiencing widespread impacts from these layoffs. The federal government is the metro’s largest employer, with approximately 30,000 federal workers — accounting for about 3 percent of the region’s total workforce. These cuts are already affecting Kansas City families, local economies, and the critical services federal employees provide to the public. Specific agencies affected include:

• IRS: About 1,000 layoffs have already taken place at Kansas City locations, with more expected.
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Under DOGE directives, the VA announced plans to lay off up to 83,000 employees nationwide by the end of 2025.
  • Davids previously demanded answers from the VA following the abrupt termination of employees, including service-disabled veterans, military spouses, and medical researchers.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Aviation safety professionals at regional FAA offices are among those impacted, with the FAA union president saying they were let go “without assessment.”
  • Davids previously warned that the Administration’s FAA firings “undermine aviation safety,” just weeks after the fatal midair collision of AA5342, which took off from Wichita, Kansas.
• SSA: The administration is planning to cut at least 7,000 employees, a cut of more than 12 percent. The acting SSA commissioner said DOGE officials are “outsiders who are unfamiliar with nuances of SSA programs.”
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): In February, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas, laid off at least a dozen administrative employees. Some were later rehired to assist with the avian influenza response.
• NOAA: Local weather professionals are also seeing cuts, which could impact forecasting and emergency preparedness.
• And others.

WATCH: Davids spoke last week on the consequences of mass federal worker layoffs 

“I am just one of so many federal employees in Kansas and around the country who have been fired with disregard for our livelihood or the essential services we provide to the American people,” said Scott Curtis, former FEMA employee. “After 32 years in the U.S. Navy, I chose federal service to continue helping others, but like many probationary employees, I was among the first to go — not because of performance, but because of reckless policy. This is not just about jobs; it’s about losing dedicated public servants who quietly support millions of Americans in ways they may never realize. The irony is that if the goal was true efficiency, we should be keeping these new, innovative workers — not cutting them first.”

“Many current and former government employees are now vulnerable to the actions of President Trump, his appointee Elon Musk, and others in positions of power, and we find ourselves in crisis,” said Jasper Hudgins-Bradley, former IRS employee. “It is both encouraging and reassuring to have elected officials like Representative Sharice Davids listening to our concerns and amplifying our voices, supporting us from above as we work to address these issues on the ground. Public servants are often easy targets, but the President has demonstrated over the course of his terms that he will remove anyone who stands in his way. What has happened to us could happen to anyone who does not push back.”

“The termination of my position at U.S. DOT, carried out by the Trump Administration, not only violates the laws of the United States, but was done recklessly, without regard for my performance or what the impact would be to the communities I served across the country,” said Selina Bur, former DOT employee. “The ripple effects of these unlawful mass terminations will be far-reaching.”

“I served my country for 22 years in the Navy and continued that service at NOAA, ensuring scientists had the facilities they need to support critical research — including weather forecasting that helps Kansas farmers and communities plan for storms,” said Donny Newsom, former NOAA employee. “But after just 15 months, I was abruptly terminated along with 200 others, not for poor performance, but because we were easy targets in the new administration’s push to gut the federal workforce. These mass firings don’t just hurt public servants — they create chaos, weaken our national security, and cost taxpayers. Thank you, Sharice, for standing up against these reckless cuts and fighting for Kansans.”

“DOGE and the whole Trump administration has been an avalanche of woe for federal workers and a mounting disaster for our country,” said Garth Stocking, former SAA employee. “Mine is a household of two federal workers and a trans teen — you bet we are angry, frightened and in constant turmoil about the prospects of years of these vicious, thoughtless policies. Beyond my personal situation, the community needs to be absolutely clear about how this dismantling of the civil service will harm them in so many ways. They are burning it all down only to deliver more money to the rich. Sharice Davids has proven herself a hero to federal workers, because she is with us, talking to us at every step — really standing up, and we appreciate it.”

Davids has always prioritized what’s best for Kansans, working across the aisle when it leads to real benefits — like collaborating with the new EPA director to lower gas prices. But she won’t hesitate to push back against extreme policies that hurt Kansas families. She condemned President Trump’s new tariffs, warning they “could raise costs for hardworking folks and put even more pressure on our agricultural sector.” She also fought against threats to Medicaid — critical for 61,000 people in Kansas’ Third District — after House Republicans pushed a partisan budget that slashed health care to give billionaires tax breaks.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

This week, Representative Sharice Davids helped lead a bipartisan, bicameral legislative package to make child care more affordable and accessible. The two bipartisan bills, known as the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act, would strengthen existing tax credits that lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers.

“Child care costs are skyrocketing, and too many families are struggling to find affordable, quality options,” said Davids. “That’s why I’m proud to be leading this bipartisan, bicameral child care package that will directly address these challenges. By modernizing tax incentives and creating new opportunities for the child care workforce, this legislation will ease the financial burden on parents and strengthen our local child care centers. This is a clear example of both parties coming together to prioritize working families and build stronger communities.”

 

To introduce the package, Davids was joined by Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), as well as U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). To make child care more affordable and boost the sector’s workforce, this package would:

• give businesses a bigger tax break for helping their employees pay for child care;
• let workers set aside more money from their paychecks, tax-free, to cover child care costs;
• help create more good child care programs by making sure child care workers get better pay.

Davids has worked diligently to bring down child care costs and improve child care access in Kansas. Earlier this year, she introduced the bipartisan Affordable Child Care Act, which doubles three different tax credits, putting money directly in parents’ pockets. Last year, she voted for legislation that would expand the Child Tax Credit, which benefits 136,000 children in Kansas. She also toured a local child care facility and visited multiple Head Start programs to highlight how federal investments have supported the workforce and daily operations of local child care small businesses and education centers.

Additional Member quotes:

“Families on the Central Coast share a common concern: the high cost and limited availability of child care. Many families either can’t find the care they need or simply can’t afford it. At the same time, businesses are facing hiring challenges due to the shortage of child care options. The lack of affordable child care is holding back both families and local economies,” said Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24). “That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act, a bipartisan, bicameral child care package aimed at both modernizing tax programs to help families afford child care and strengthening the workforce.”

“I’m proud to be working in a bipartisan, bicameral way with Senators Kaine and Britt and Rep. Carbajal to expand the child and dependent care tax credit,” said Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY-17). “Putting more money back in the pockets of young working and middle-class families will help them achieve their financial goals, care for their kids, and provide a better future for all Americans.”

“This commonsense proposal is about more than just addressing our child care crisis – it is a direct investment in the hardworking families and local small businesses striving to achieve their American Dream across our nation. I’m proud of this effort to empower parents, which ultimately opens the door to more opportunities for their children and tackles our nation’s urgent workforce needs to help unleash a new era of American prosperity,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-AL). “Our legislation is pro-family, pro-Main Street, and pro-growth. We are sending a strong message to the American people that we can and will get the job done to improve the affordability and accessibility of quality child care.”

“The child care crisis is holding our families and economy back. I hear from Virginia parents all the time about how hard it is to find affordable child care, from child care providers who are forced to leave their jobs because of low wages, and from businesses who are having trouble finding the employees they need,” said Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, and I hope more of my colleagues will join us in passing this comprehensive proposal to support child care providers, make it easier for families to access the care they need, and boost economic growth by providing parents with the opportunity to get back into the workforce.”

“As a father of six, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find convenient and affordable child care,” said Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06). “The high cost of care and an ongoing workforce shortage is leading to a crisis in child care that is affecting families in southern Arizona, and across the U.S. I’m proud to join Rep. Carbajal in this bold, bipartisan solution that makes child care more accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower costs as well as addressing the workforce shortage.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is delighted to announce that Daniel Lee has been accepted for admittance to the United States Military Academy (Army) at West Point.

“I’m so pleased to announce Daniel has been accepted at West Point,” said Congresswoman Amata. “He now has a fully qualified appointment to the United States Military Academy. His achievement is a mark of excellence that is the result of hard work and dedication. I want to send out a special thank you and congratulations to each one of his family, teachers, Pacific Horizons School, and especially his proud parents.”

A Service Academy acceptance requires maintaining high grades throughout the entirety of high school. The Service Academies require strong academics, high test scores, and additionally, those offered an appointment must also demonstrate extracurricular activities, volunteering or other roles which show leadership and motivation.

Congresswoman Amata nominated Daniel in January among a group of 12 students who sent in 15 total Service Academy applications from American Samoa. This is the second member of this year’s class of nominees accepted to one of the nation’s prestigious Service Academies, as Congresswoman Amata recently announced that Noralei Toussaint was accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata issued the following statement in recognition of the life and enduring contributions of the late George A. Wray, a distinguished figure in American Samoa’s legal, educational, and aviation history:

“It is with deep respect and heartfelt remembrance that I acknowledge the passing of Mr. George A. Wray, a dedicated public servant, pioneer, and advisor whose legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of American Samoa’s development over the past six decades.

“Mr. Wray was a trailblazer in our territory, becoming the first Legislative Counsel for the American Samoa Fono in the mid-1960s. His work helped lay the foundation for the legislative process that has guided our local governance ever since. He was known for his sharp legal mind, integrity, and steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

“In 1975, Mr. Wray further demonstrated his devotion to the community by founding South Pacific Academy, an institution that has educated generations of young Samoans and continues to serve as a cornerstone of academic excellence in the territory.

“His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish and operate South Pacific Island Airlines (SPIA), helping to connect our islands and broaden access to travel and commerce. His impact in this arena reflected his forward-thinking vision and dedication to serving the people of American Samoa.

“Even into his 90s, Mr. Wray continued to practice law, providing wise counsel and guidance to those who sought his experience. I, like many others, valued his advice and could always rely on his thoughtful perspective when it came to the unique needs and circumstances of American Samoa.

“We honor George Wray not only for his professional accomplishments but also for his unwavering commitment to our people. His legacy lives on in the institutions he helped build and in the many lives he touched through his work. Fa’afetai tele lava, Mr. Wray, for your lifelong service to American Samoa.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)

Washington, DC – Congressmen Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Maximum Support Act, sending a strong message to the regime in Tehran that America will not tolerate Iranian backed terror and aggression around the world.

     This legislation requires an interagency strategy to support internet freedom and counter censorship efforts in Iran; directs the confiscation of assets of the Government of Iran; and designates the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), among other actions.

     “The brutal regime in Tehran is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism and responsible for supporting terrorist puppets causing mayhem in the Middle East and Latin America, especially Hezbollah. I am grateful to introduce this legislation to push back against the Iranian regime’s malign influence in Iraq and in the Western Hemisphere, while providing maximum support to the people of Iran,” said Rep. Wilson.

     “The Iranian regime continues to suppress its people through internet censorship and repression,” said Rep. Panetta.  “The Maximum Support Actcounters these abuses by bolstering internet freedom, seizing regime assets to aid pro-democracy efforts, and supporting those resisting oppression.  We must stand with the Iranian people in their fight for freedom and a brighter future.”

     The full text of H.R. 2614 is available here. 

 # # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)

Washington, DC – Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bulgaria Caucus Joe Wilson (R-SC), Bradley Schneider (D-IL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), and Richard Neal (D-MA) yesterday introduced the Bulgarian-American Heritage Month Resolution. This legislation recognizes the critical contributions that the people of Bulgaria have made to the U.S. since the 19^th Century.  

“I am grateful to lead this important legislation recognizing the contributions that Bulgarian-Americans have made to the United States and the strong benefits of the bilateral relationship. Having witnessed the Bulgarian people rebuke communism and adopt the democratic values of the Western world during my visit to the country as an election observer in 1990, I continue to be inspired by their journey and founded this caucus in 2002 to further strengthen our mutually beneficial partnership,” said Rep. Wilson.

“Bulgarian-Americans have helped shape our nation for generations, strengthening our communities, economy, and future. The partnership between the United States and Bulgaria is built on shared values and made stronger by the deep ties forged by those who call both countries home,” said Rep. Schneider. 

“I extend my gratitude to the co-chairs of the Congressional Bulgaria Caucus—Representatives Joe Wilson, Brad Schneider, Neil Dunn, and Richard Neal—for their leadership in advancing this legislative initiative. Bulgaria deeply values the bipartisan commitment to strengthening the ties between our two nations.

“Equally significant is the invaluable role of Bulgarian Americans—both past and present—who have contributed to the prosperity of the United States. Their dedication and achievements give meaning to our daily mission as diplomats representing Bulgaria in the United States.

“Bulgarian Americans take great pride in their rich historical heritage, the profound influence of the Bulgarian alphabet on global cultural advancement, and the nation’s enduring pursuit of freedom and individual liberty.

“Bulgarian-Americans also have established thriving business communities throughout the United States, and a particularly large diaspora in Illinois, fostering economic growth and entrepreneurship.

“This year, as we celebrate 122 years of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States, we honor a legacy of friendship, partnership, and strategic cooperation—built on shared values and strengthened by the bonds between our peoples,” said Ambassador Georgi Panayotov of the Republic of Bulgaria. 

The full text of H.Res. 291 is available here.  

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