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Nadler, DeLauro, McGovern, Morelle, and Raskin File Amicus Brief in Texas v. Bondi to Preserve Congress’ Authority to Set its Own Rules

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, on Friday reaffirmed their support for Congress’ constitutional authority in Texas v. Bondi, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit prepares to rehear the case en banc.

In August 2025, a Fifth Circuit panel reversed a ruling by the Northern District of Texas that had blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) against the State of Texas. In January 2026, however, the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc and vacated the panel’s opinion, placing the issue before the full court. The district court held that proxy voting procedures used by the House during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional.

“If upheld, this case would deal a devastating blow to Congress’s constitutional authority to determine its own rules and proceedings, authority that is fundamental to the separation of powers,” said Representative Nadler, the lead sponsor of the PWFA. “The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to govern itself. Allowing the courts to override that authority would upend more than a century of legal precedent and weaken Congress as a co-equal branch of government. I am proud to join my colleagues in filing this amicus brief to defend Congress’s institutional prerogatives and protect the constitutional balance that safeguards our democracy.”

The Members previously filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reverse the district court’s decision, which would undermine Congress’ authority to set its own rules. The Members explained that the House clearly had an established quorum when passing H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included the PWFA, and that courts must respect the will of the majority in passing this legislation. Not allowing Congress to shape its own rules could potentially jeopardize national security in an emergency, while also undermining core separation-of-powers principles and disenfranchising millions of constituents.

Congress passed H. Res. 965 to authorize remote voting by proxy during the coronavirus pandemic to allow the continuity of government while protecting public health. Democrats and Republicans both voted by proxy under these rules. Under the Congressional Proceedings and the Rulemaking Clause of the Constitution, the House of Representatives is authorized to establish rules by which each will conduct its own business. Additionally, the Constitution’s Quorum Clause does not explicitly mention a physical presence in the Chamber to establish a quorum.

In the Amicus Brief, the Members write:

Allowing the court to now second-guess, or after-the-fact void, the House’s exercise of its rulemaking authority threatens to disenfranchise all congressional members, and in turn their constituents, who voted in accordance with then-existing House Rules in voting in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “Act”). It would also curtail, if not eliminate entirely, Congress’s ability to set its own adaptive rules in times of national crisis or other emergency situations, which would hamper Congress’s ability to do business at all.

The full brief can be found here.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, reaffirmed their support for Congress’ constitutional authority in Texas v. Bondi, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit prepares to rehear the case en banc.

 

In August 2025, a Fifth Circuit panel reversed a ruling by the Northern District of Texas that had blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) against the State of Texas. In January 2026, however, the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc and vacated the panel’s opinion, placing the issue before the full court. The district court held that proxy voting procedures used by the House during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional.

“If upheld, this case would deal a devastating blow to Congress’s constitutional authority to determine its own rules and proceedings, authority that is fundamental to the separation of powers,” said Representative Nadler, the lead sponsor of the PWFA. “The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to govern itself. Allowing the courts to override that authority would upend more than a century of legal precedent and weaken Congress as a co-equal branch of government. I am proud to join my colleagues in filing this amicus brief to defend Congress’s institutional prerogatives and protect the constitutional balance that safeguards our democracy.”

The Members previously filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reverse the district court’s decision, which would undermine Congress’ authority to set its own rules. The Members explained that the House clearly had an established quorum when passing H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included the PWFA, and that courts must respect the will of the majority in passing this legislation. Not allowing Congress to shape its own rules could potentially jeopardize national security in an emergency, while also undermining core separation-of-powers principles and disenfranchising millions of constituents.

Congress passed H. Res. 965 to authorize remote voting by proxy during the coronavirus pandemic to allow the continuity of government while protecting public health. Democrats and Republicans both voted by proxy under these rules. Under the Congressional Proceedings and the Rulemaking Clause of the Constitution, the House of Representatives is authorized to establish rules by which each will conduct its own business. Additionally, the Constitution’s Quorum Clause does not explicitly mention a physical presence in the Chamber to establish a quorum.

In the Amicus Brief, the Members write:

Allowing the court to now second-guess, or after-the-fact void, the House’s exercise
of its rulemaking authority threatens to disenfranchise all congressional members,
and in turn their constituents, who voted in accordance with then-existing House
Rules in voting in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “Act”).
It would also curtail, if not eliminate entirely, Congress’s ability to set its own
adaptive rules in times of national crisis or other emergency situations, which would
hamper Congress’s ability to do business at all.

The full brief can be found here.

### 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, reaffirmed their support for Congress’ constitutional authority in Texas v. Bondi, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit prepares to rehear the case en banc.

 

In August 2025, a Fifth Circuit panel reversed a ruling by the Northern District of Texas that had blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) against the State of Texas. In January 2026, however, the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc and vacated the panel’s opinion, placing the issue before the full court. The district court held that proxy voting procedures used by the House during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional.

“If upheld, this case would deal a devastating blow to Congress’s constitutional authority to determine its own rules and proceedings, authority that is fundamental to the separation of powers,” said Representative Nadler, the lead sponsor of the PWFA. “The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to govern itself. Allowing the courts to override that authority would upend more than a century of legal precedent and weaken Congress as a co-equal branch of government. I am proud to join my colleagues in filing this amicus brief to defend Congress’s institutional prerogatives and protect the constitutional balance that safeguards our democracy.”

The Members previously filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reverse the district court’s decision, which would undermine Congress’ authority to set its own rules. The Members explained that the House clearly had an established quorum when passing H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included the PWFA, and that courts must respect the will of the majority in passing this legislation. Not allowing Congress to shape its own rules could potentially jeopardize national security in an emergency, while also undermining core separation-of-powers principles and disenfranchising millions of constituents.

Congress passed H. Res. 965 to authorize remote voting by proxy during the coronavirus pandemic to allow the continuity of government while protecting public health. Democrats and Republicans both voted by proxy under these rules. Under the Congressional Proceedings and the Rulemaking Clause of the Constitution, the House of Representatives is authorized to establish rules by which each will conduct its own business. Additionally, the Constitution’s Quorum Clause does not explicitly mention a physical presence in the Chamber to establish a quorum.

In the Amicus Brief, the Members write:

Allowing the court to now second-guess, or after-the-fact void, the House’s exercise
of its rulemaking authority threatens to disenfranchise all congressional members,
and in turn their constituents, who voted in accordance with then-existing House
Rules in voting in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “Act”).
It would also curtail, if not eliminate entirely, Congress’s ability to set its own
adaptive rules in times of national crisis or other emergency situations, which would
hamper Congress’s ability to do business at all.

The full brief can be found here.

### 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, reaffirmed their support for Congress’ constitutional authority in Texas v. Bondi, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit prepares to rehear the case en banc.

 

In August 2025, a Fifth Circuit panel reversed a ruling by the Northern District of Texas that had blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) against the State of Texas. In January 2026, however, the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc and vacated the panel’s opinion, placing the issue before the full court. The district court held that proxy voting procedures used by the House during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional.

“If upheld, this case would deal a devastating blow to Congress’s constitutional authority to determine its own rules and proceedings, authority that is fundamental to the separation of powers,” said Representative Nadler, the lead sponsor of the PWFA. “The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to govern itself. Allowing the courts to override that authority would upend more than a century of legal precedent and weaken Congress as a co-equal branch of government. I am proud to join my colleagues in filing this amicus brief to defend Congress’s institutional prerogatives and protect the constitutional balance that safeguards our democracy.”

The Members previously filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reverse the district court’s decision, which would undermine Congress’ authority to set its own rules. The Members explained that the House clearly had an established quorum when passing H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included the PWFA, and that courts must respect the will of the majority in passing this legislation. Not allowing Congress to shape its own rules could potentially jeopardize national security in an emergency, while also undermining core separation-of-powers principles and disenfranchising millions of constituents.

Congress passed H. Res. 965 to authorize remote voting by proxy during the coronavirus pandemic to allow the continuity of government while protecting public health. Democrats and Republicans both voted by proxy under these rules. Under the Congressional Proceedings and the Rulemaking Clause of the Constitution, the House of Representatives is authorized to establish rules by which each will conduct its own business. Additionally, the Constitution’s Quorum Clause does not explicitly mention a physical presence in the Chamber to establish a quorum.

In the Amicus Brief, the Members write:

Allowing the court to now second-guess, or after-the-fact void, the House’s exercise
of its rulemaking authority threatens to disenfranchise all congressional members,
and in turn their constituents, who voted in accordance with then-existing House
Rules in voting in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “Act”).
It would also curtail, if not eliminate entirely, Congress’s ability to set its own
adaptive rules in times of national crisis or other emergency situations, which would
hamper Congress’s ability to do business at all.

The full brief can be found here.

### 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee, and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, reaffirmed their support for Congress’ constitutional authority in Texas v. Bondi, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit prepares to rehear the case en banc.

 

In August 2025, a Fifth Circuit panel reversed a ruling by the Northern District of Texas that had blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) against the State of Texas. In January 2026, however, the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc and vacated the panel’s opinion, placing the issue before the full court. The district court held that proxy voting procedures used by the House during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional.

“If upheld, this case would deal a devastating blow to Congress’s constitutional authority to determine its own rules and proceedings, authority that is fundamental to the separation of powers,” said Representative Nadler, the lead sponsor of the PWFA. “The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to govern itself. Allowing the courts to override that authority would upend more than a century of legal precedent and weaken Congress as a co-equal branch of government. I am proud to join my colleagues in filing this amicus brief to defend Congress’s institutional prerogatives and protect the constitutional balance that safeguards our democracy.”

The Members previously filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reverse the district court’s decision, which would undermine Congress’ authority to set its own rules. The Members explained that the House clearly had an established quorum when passing H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which included the PWFA, and that courts must respect the will of the majority in passing this legislation. Not allowing Congress to shape its own rules could potentially jeopardize national security in an emergency, while also undermining core separation-of-powers principles and disenfranchising millions of constituents.

Congress passed H. Res. 965 to authorize remote voting by proxy during the coronavirus pandemic to allow the continuity of government while protecting public health. Democrats and Republicans both voted by proxy under these rules. Under the Congressional Proceedings and the Rulemaking Clause of the Constitution, the House of Representatives is authorized to establish rules by which each will conduct its own business. Additionally, the Constitution’s Quorum Clause does not explicitly mention a physical presence in the Chamber to establish a quorum.

In the Amicus Brief, the Members write:

Allowing the court to now second-guess, or after-the-fact void, the House’s exercise
of its rulemaking authority threatens to disenfranchise all congressional members,
and in turn their constituents, who voted in accordance with then-existing House
Rules in voting in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “Act”).
It would also curtail, if not eliminate entirely, Congress’s ability to set its own
adaptive rules in times of national crisis or other emergency situations, which would
hamper Congress’s ability to do business at all.

The full brief can be found here.

### 

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Rep. Ilhan Omar Announces Four Guests for State of the Union Address

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

WASHINGTON – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) will take Aliya Rahman, Mary Granlund, Mubashir Hussen, and Gerardo Orozco Guzman as her guests to the State of the Union Address. The stories of these four Minnesotans reflect how ICE’s reckless actions in Minnesota through “Operation Metro Surge” have devastated Minnesotans’ safety and economic security.

Aliya Rahman is a Bangladeshi-American software engineer, a resident of South Minneapolis, and a disabled person with autism and a traumatic brain injury. On January 13, Rahman was driving to a doctor’s appointment when her window was smashed in by DHS agents, she was forcibly removed from her vehicle, and she was violently detained by federal agents who had caused a traffic jam despite her repeated statements that she was disabled. She was taken to Whipple Detention Center where she witnessed inhumane cruelty against detainees from federal immigration agents. During her detention, Rahman experienced severe medical neglect and violence at the hands of ICE agents, requiring hospitalization for assault at Hennepin County Medical Center upon her release. Rahman is now calling for ICE to face legal accountability for their aggression against civilians.

Mary Granlund is the Chair of the Columbia Heights School Board. Since the detention of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old student at Columbia Heights schools, Granlund, Superintendent Zena Stenvik, and a group of Columbia Heights principals, teachers, interpreters, social workers, and community members have stepped up to protect their community. They’re conducting daily patrols, working to connect detained children and families with legal assistance, and coordinating food deliveries for families too scared to leave their homes. Despite Tom Homan’s announcement in early February that the surge is coming to an end, communities have not seen a decrease in ICE activities. The school district estimates that nearly 25% of its 800 students are learning remotely as they are too afraid to attend classes in person. Granlund, educators, social workers, and community members are doing invaluable work to keep Columbia Heights’ students and families informed, fed, and protected.

Mubashir Hussen is a 20-year-old U.S. citizen and Minneapolis resident. On December 9, 2025, several masked federal immigration officers stopped Hussen while he was walking in Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. ICE agents refused to check his ID before detaining him, despite Hussen repeating “I’m a citizen” multiple times. The agents took Hussen to the Whipple Federal Building, where he was shackled and fingerprinted. Hussen was released after showing a photo of his passport card to an individual at the Whipple building.

On behalf of Mubashir Hussen and two other community members whose constitutional rights were violated by federal immigration officers, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the Trump Administration to end ICE and CBP’s practice of suspicionless stops, warrantless arrests, and racial profiling of Minnesotans.

Gerardo Orozco Guzman is the son of Eustaquio Orozco Verdusco, a workers’ rights organizer who has been fighting wage theft and labor trafficking. Orozco Verdusco works with Minneapolis-based worker center Centro De Trabajadores Unidos En La Lucha, which has been organizing against ICE’s detention of construction workers from job sites. He is also a member of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee. On January 9, 2026, federal immigration agents detained Orozco Verdusco in Coon Rapids under Trump’s “Operation Metro Surge,” flew him to Camp East Montana in El Paso, TX, and recently moved him to New Mexico, where he is currently detained at Cibola County Correctional Center.

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Congresswoman McCollum & Congresswoman Morrison to Host Colin Hortman and Alina Bachman Hortman at State of the Union Address

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D, MN-03) announced their guests for the State of the Union Address. 

Congresswoman Kelly Morrison will be accompanied by Colin Hortman, the eldest child of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, who were assassinated in a horrific act of politically motivated gun violence last June. Congresswoman McCollum will be accompanied by Colin Hortman’s wife, Alina Bachman Hortman.

In the months since the assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman, Colin Hortman and his sister Sophie have honored their parents’ legacy by emphasizing the importance of political civility – especially among our elected leaders, calling for us to love our neighbors and treat one another with kindness and respect, and encouraging Minnesotans to do something, big or small, to make their community just a little better for someone else. 

“My parents, Mark and Melissa Hortman, were taken from us in an act of political violence, and that reality is something my family lives with every single day,” said Colin Hortman. “Both of my parents lived lives of service — to each other, to their communities, and above all, to our family. My parents taught me to show up for your community, stand up for your values, and always follow the golden rule — treat others the way you’d want to be treated. What has stunned me, especially in recent years, is how far our politics have drifted from that principle. 

​​“I am calling on our leaders — and all of us — to reject language that dehumanizes, to model disagreement without condemnation, and to remember that we are all human beings first,” continued Hortman. “My parents believed public service was about showing up for people and working across differences. As a family, we always watched the State of the Union, regardless of the political party of the President. I am proud to attend and honor my parents’ legacy.” 

Democratic members of Minnesota’s House Delegation – including Representatives McCollum, Omar, and Craig – will host a press conference on Tuesday, February 24 at 8:30 AM ET at the House Triangle to highlight the stories of their State of the Union guests. Additional details and a live stream link are forthcoming.

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Ranking Member Jayapal Demands Answers on the Expansion of Immigration Detention in WA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

SEATTLE, WA — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding a Presolicitation Notice posted on an official government contracting site to create a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Seattle. 

“ICE’s Northwest Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, already has capacity for 1,600 detention beds and is one of the largest facilities in the country,” wrote the Members. “That facility has been plagued by ongoing concerns related to substandard conditions. Just last month, multiple members of the Washington delegation noted deteriorating conditions, specifically mounting concerns about access to legal counsel and medical care.”

The Northwest Processing Center has a brazen record of violating agency policy by shackling a pregnant woman, denying adequate medical care to detained persons, and blocking detained persons from accessing legal counsel. There has been no evidence that the surge of ICE funding has contributed in any way to addressing these consistent issues. 

In the United States, there are an unprecedented number of immigrants detained at for-profit facilities across the country, many of whom have reported inedible food and insufficient medical care. This is as 38 people have died in custody since Trump returned to office, and there have been unanswered questions about discrepancies between Congressional death notices and autopsies regarding cause of death. 

The full text of the letter can be read here.

The letter was also signed by Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

Issues:

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Himes Statement on Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Bridgeport, CT—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) today released the following statement: “Last week, Congress voted to reclaim its authority on tariffs against Canada and today, the Supreme Court validated what we’ve known for almost a year…”

Source: United States House of Representatives – CONGRESSMAN JIM HIMES (4th District of Connecticut)

Himes Statement on Supreme Court Tariff Ruling | Press Releases | Congressman Jim Himes

“Last week, Congress voted to reclaim its authority on tariffs against Canada and today, the Supreme Court validated what we’ve known for almost a year — that the President’s sweeping tariffs were a gross abuse of the law. This ruling is an important reminder that the President does not possess absolute economic authority, and that the other two branches of government will continue to serve as checks on his power. While today’s decision took far too long, Americans will no longer have to shoulder the economic burden of Donald Trump’s petty grievances.  I also hope that this ruling will help to stabilize the United States economy and restore some trust among our international partners that our trade relationship does not rest solely on the whims of a volatile and vengeful leader.” 

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Himes Secures Millions in Federal Investment for Southwestern Connecticut Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that he secured over $12 million in federal funding for housing, community safety, public services, and critical infrastructure projects throughout Southwestern Connecticut.

Source: United States House of Representatives – CONGRESSMAN JIM HIMES (4th District of Connecticut)

Himes Secures Millions in Federal Investment for Southwestern Connecticut | Press Releases | Congressman Jim Himes

Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that he secured over $12 million in federal funding for housing, community safety, public services, and critical infrastructure projects throughout Southwestern Connecticut. Funding for these projects – selected by Congressman Himes for their benefit to the people of Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District – was delivered in the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding legislation that was signed into law on February 3, 2026.

“One of the best parts of my job is being able to deliver concrete results for my constituents,” said Rep. Himes. “That’s why I pushed so hard to ensure these local projects received the federal support they deserved. I’m elated to have secured this funding which will deliver more affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, educational opportunities, and public services for people throughout Southwestern Connecticut.

Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District will receive over $12.5 million for 13 community projects supported by Congressman Himes. These include:

$2,000,000 for Charter Oak Communities, Stamford Housing Authority tocomplete Phase 2 of the Charter Oak Park demolition and redevelopment project which will see 166 new units of larger, more energy-efficient housing constructed for low-income families;

$1,200,000 for the City of Stamford to install safety measures along Washington Boulevard, including ADA-compliant sidewalks, bicycle facilities, a raised crosswalk leading into Mill River Park, and pedestrian refugee islands;

$1,100,000 for Park City Communities to overhaul an existing structure into a four-unit multifamily residential property in Bridgeport’s East End neighborhood;

$1,092,000 for the City of Stamford to enhance extreme weather preparedness by replacing aging culverts and installing tidal controls on stormwater outflow pipes which will expand the city’s stormwater management capacity;

$1,092,000 for the Town of New Canaan to replace the 26-year-old ultraviolet disinfection system used at the town’s wastewater treatment facility;

$1,092,000 for the Town of Trumbull to finish Phase 2 of the Beardsley Pump Station and Force Main Replacement project by completing the design and replacement of 1,200 feet of force main between Trumbull and Bridgeport;

$1,031,000 for the City of Stamford to advance the construction of a new public safety complex to enhance emergency response capabilities;

$1,000,000 for the Town of Ridgefield to improve parking accessibility and pedestrian safety at the Venus Building Complex, a commercial and recreation center, by implementing ADA-compliant pedestrian infrastructure, rehabilitating parking and lighting, and installing a stormwater detention system;

$850,000 for the City of Bridgeport to design a new police headquarters that will serve as a hub for the Bridgeport Police Department’s public safety efforts;

$850,000 for the City of Norwalk to construct the Norwalk River Valley Trail Extension to Calf Pasture Beach and increase safe pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle access to the waterfront;

$500,000 for Chatham Rock Island Inc. to restore the breakwater and shoreline of the Stamford Harbor Lighthouse using living shoreline solutions to improve water quality, restore historic oyster bed habitats, and prevent coastal flooding; 

$480,000 for Stamford Museum and Nature Center to launch its Planetarium and Astronomy Center which will host public educational programming, a Starball Projector and Laser System, 4k Planetarium shows, interactive exhibits, and observational tools;

$250,000 for the City of Stamford to restore the Glenbrook Community Center by rehabilitating the building, replacing drywall and flooring, and modernizing the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.

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Casten Will Not Attend 2026 State of the Union

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

February 22, 2026

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that he will not attend the 2026 State of the Union and released the following statement:

“My respect for the office of the President of the United States cannot abide the disrespect that Donald Trump shows to that office every day. As such, while I will watch the State of the Union elsewhere, I will not attend in person, as I am not interested in being used as a prop for his theatrics.”

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LEADER JEFFRIES ON FOX: “WE’RE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO LOWER THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, FIX OUR BROKEN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND GET ICE UNDER CONTROL”

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on FOX News Sunday, where he laid out how House Democrats are standing up for the health, safety and economic well-being of the American people, while Republicans continue to show their inability to deliver on their promises to make life better for hardworking taxpayers.

SHANNON BREAM: Joining us now for another take, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Great to have you back, Mr. Leader.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. Great to be on.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay, so you heard Ambassador Greer. He talked about all the positives that have come from the tariffs. He talked about the ability to negotiate and change trade as we now know it. Assessing the effect of the tariffs a few weeks ago at the end of ’25, Fortune said that Trump’s higher tariffs are certainly raising money. They’ve raked in more than $236 billion, much more than in the past. And the trade deficit, meanwhile, has fallen significantly since the start of ’25. The article says that tariffs have slashed the deficit in half. Is that not a good thing for Americans?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the trade deficit has not been meaningfully closed. That’s number one. Point number two is that we know farmers and small business owners, companies, as well as perhaps most importantly, the American consumer have been hurt, being forced to pay thousands of dollars more per year in additional expense when the affordability crisis right now is already crushing everyday Americans, middle class Americans and working class Americans. And we also haven’t seen a return of manufacturing jobs to the United States of America, which is what the Trump administration promised would take place.

SHANNON BREAM: So to the point of affordability, inflation is down, wage growth is up—it’s far outpacing inflation—consumer sentiment is positive, small business consumer sentiment is positive as well. I mean, there are a lot of markers that seem to be moving in the right direction. The American people, I mean gas prices down, grocery prices have slowed, are those not positive?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the American people understand that this administration promised that they would lower costs on day one. That’s the standard that this administration, that the President himself set. Costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America. We know costs have gone up. Housing costs out of control, grocery costs out of control, electricity bills out of control, healthcare costs out of control and child care costs out of control. America right now is far too expensive. And we all should be working together to lower the high cost of living, to bring about a situation in this country where if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life. Far too many people in this country—this is not Democrats or Republicans, these are Americans. This is not a partisan issue—far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, can barely survive and certainly can’t thrive. And that’s the situation that we need to change decisively here in the United States of America.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay but, fair to say, looking at the data, that huge spikes in things like grocery prices and other things happened under the Biden administration. I mean, near record levels of inflation at 9%. That’s not gonna change overnight, but if it’s now nearing 2%, and rent prices have cooled, gas prices are down, those things have happened. I mean you can’t change all of that overnight. Do you not acknowledge that a lot of that happened under the last administration?

LEADER JEFFRIES: We’re focused right now on the here and now—

SHANNON BREAM: Which takes time.

LEADER JEFFRIES: —in terms of what the American people are confronting. This is 2026. Listen, the President himself is the one who said that costs were going to go down on day one.

SHANNON BREAM: And many counts they have.

LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s not the standard that we as Democrats set. That’s the standard that the President set. Now, I think in your own Fox News poll, 70% of the American people believe that the economy is not moving in the right direction. So this is not the Democratic position, this is the position of the American people. And we’re determined to do everything possible, working with anyone, anytime, anyplace, to lower the high cost of living because we do have an affordability crisis in America. It’s not a hoax. It’s very real, and it’s impacting people all throughout the land.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay, so I want to talk to you about the Supreme Court case, because you celebrated it on Friday, as many Democrats did. You have been very critical of the Supreme Court, as have many Democrats, calling them corrupt, saying they’re in the pocket of President Trump, saying that they need to be term-limited, the Court needs to be expanded. After the decision on Friday, which included a couple of the President’s own nominees voting against him and the arguments he was making, are Democrats now prepared to say that the court is neutral, it’s independent and you’ll stop talk of packing or term limiting the court?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I strongly disagreed with Supreme Court decisions in the past, and will continue to do so. However, the Supreme Court in this instance did the right thing. In terms of packing the court, that’s not a discussion that we’ve engaged in.

SHANNON BREAM: Many of your Members have.

LEADER JEFFRIES: As Democrats, listen, we’ve made clear to the American people. We’ve made clear, and I certainly made clear, that we’re focused on trying to do three things at this moment. Lower the high cost of living. Fix our broken healthcare system—we can begin by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits so that tens of millions of hard-working American taxpayers don’t experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles throughout the year. And of course, we also need to get ICE under control and deliver immigration enforcement in this country that’s fair, that’s just, that’s humane, so that taxpayer dollars aren’t being used to actually kill American citizens, like Renee Nicole Good or Alex Pretti.

SHANNON BREAM: So let’s unpack some of that. First of all, about the ACA subsidies. That was the last time you were here. We were talking about the shutdown that lasted 43 days had an enormous impact on the economy and a lot of people who missed a lot of paychecks, and yet Democrats who held the votes necessary to move things forward ultimately moved forward without a change to the ACA subsidies. We come to find out that 90-to-93% of people who are on these ACA marketplaces are getting federal subsidies. Meaning other taxpayers are paying into that, that doesn’t sound affordable. So, what about the promise of the Affordable Care Act that we’re now still fighting about these subsidies because it is so difficult to be paid for?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, we have a broken healthcare system and we need to fix it in a comprehensive way. Ideally, we should fix it a bipartisan way. Part of the challenge that we’ve confronted during this administration is the One Big Ugly Bill enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. As a result of that policy, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all throughout the country, including in rural America. People are struggling and part of the way in which we can fix this is to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, to impact everyone in blue states, in purple states and in red states. In fact, in Republican-controlled states, people who have lost their Affordable Care Act tax credits are suffering the most. We’re talking about states like Wyoming or West Virginia, Alaska, South Carolina, Texas. These are states where people are struggling. So we’re trying to resolve this issue on behalf of everyone.

SHANNON BREAM: Okay, so to the issue of those cuts, you know that a lot of that has to do with either waste, fraud and abuse or it has to with eligibility and making sure that those benefits are there for people who actually need them, not able-bodied adults or those who are choosing not to work as part of the system. And there is money in there for those hospitals. They can reopen under an emergency basis. The money is there to help them move forward. So all of that was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill too. But where we get to now is ICE. You know it’s funded. Why shut down the government? We get new information this morning that TSA PreCheck is going away, Global Entry is going away. You know, there’s real worry now TSA and FEMA are not going to get paid. There’s a winter storm coming to your Northeastern location there. Why take away funding from FEMA, from TSA, the Coast Guard and others when ICE is fully funded? Why not reopen the government?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let’s remember, Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. To the extent there is ever a shutdown, as was the case with the 43-day Trump-Republican shutdown in the fall and right now—

SHANNON BREAM: But you know they cannot move forward out of a shutdown without Democrat votes. They can’t do it. You guys have got to go with them.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Okay. So let’s talk about that. Our basic value proposition is that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not to brutalize or kill them, as was done with an ICU VA nurse—

SHANNON BREAM: Again, you’re not going to shut down ICE as part of this shutdown.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Alex Pretti. And so, our view—

SHANNON BREAM: And those are tragic cases that are being investigated and must be. We need answers on that. But that—

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’m happy to respond.

SHANNON BREAM: ICE is not going to shut down.

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’m happy to respond if you give me the opportunity to respond. So we believe that this moment should be used to make dramatic changes to ICE that are bold, that are transformational and that are meaningful, that include lifting up the Fourth Amendment and ensuring that judicial warrants are actually required before ICE agents can break into the homes of the American people. We believe there should be independent investigations so that if ICE breaks the law, state and local authorities can investigate and prosecute them, as is the case with every other law enforcement agency in the country. We believe that sensitive locations, like houses of worship, like hospitals, like schools and like polling sites, should be protected. These are basic common sense demands that have been laid out, and unfortunately, rather than dramatically reform ICE, the administration has decided to shut down FEMA, shut down the TSA and shut down the Coast Guard.

SHANNON BREAM: They will say your votes are doing that and, you know, there’s a lot of debate in there. We hope you find some common ground because there are some things there It sounds like Republicans agree with you on as well and the American people too. House Minority Leader Jeffries. Always good to have you. Thanks for coming by.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

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LEADER JEFFRIES ON MS NOW: “AS A RESULT OF THE TRUMP TARIFFS,EVERYDAY AMERICANS ARE PAYINGTHOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE INADDITIONAL EXPENSE PER YEAR”

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s PoliticsNation, where he reiterated that Democrats are committed to lowering the high cost of living, including by stopping the reckless Trump Tariffs from harming the American people.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, we’re going to get to the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson in a moment, but first, I want to talk to you about the major political story today. President Trump claims today he’s boosting his global tariffs from 10 to 15% after the Supreme Court struck down most of his existing tariffs yesterday. Even some Republicans appraising to the decision. The President responded by insulting the justices who signed off on it after saying this about you. Take a listen.

RECORDING OF RYAN NOBLES, NBC NEWS: Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Leader, has called you a wannabe king.

RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: I call him a low-IQ individual.

RECORDING OF RYAN NOBLES, NBC NEWS: Why wouldn’t you just work with Congress to come up with a plan?

RECORDING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t have to.

REV. AL SHARPTON: What’s your reaction to the tariff ruling and to being called low-IQ Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good to be with you, Rev. It certainly, in terms of the Supreme Court decision, was a big win for the American people and a big defeat for the wannabe king who did not have the authority to engage in the reckless Trump Tariffs that he has imposed effectively on the American people, hurting small businesses, hurting consumers, hurting farmers and hurting the economy. As a result of the Trump Tariffs, everyday Americans are paying thousands of dollars more in additional expense per year. Now the Supreme Court made clear that these tariffs were unlawful and unconstitutional, but the President can’t help himself, and so instead, he’s doubling and tripling down and continuing to hurt the American people. I’m less concerned about his petty, foolish and lame insults, Rev, than I am about the harm and the pain that Donald Trump continues to inflict on working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, yesterday’s court decision pretty clearly put the ball back in Congress’s court. And while many House Republicans are reportedly relieved, Speaker Mike Johnson has already vowed to work with the President to find the best way forward on his tariff demands. The President seems to be claiming he can do whatever he wants. What are you expecting from the other side of the aisle, and how do you and your Caucus plan to respond?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Donald Trump and Republicans, they promised to lower costs on day one of Donald Trump’s presidency. Costs aren’t going down. Costs are going up. And in fact, things are out of control in terms of the affordability crisis. And so it’s ridiculous, if you think about it, Rev, that in the face of their failures relative to the economy, we’re seeing Speaker Johnson want to further impose these Trump Tariffs on the American people, find a different scheme to do it that we believe ultimately will probably be declared unlawful. And so, we’re going to continue to resist this effort by the President, which is not anchored in working with a bipartisan group of people, Democrats and Republicans and people in the House and the Senate, to actually lower the high cost of living, lower housing costs, lower the cost of groceries or goods or healthcare or child care or utility bills, all of which right now have been out of control under Donald Trump’s presidency.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, while all of this is happening, Trump says he’s considering a limited military strike on Iran to force the country to accept the deal on its nuclear program. He’s given Iran a two-week window for negotiations. Its foreign minister says it’s preparing a counterproposal. But U.S. military vessels have been building up in the region for weeks. And just like his tariff policy, none of the buildup appears to have gone through Congress for input or approval. Is a conflict inevitable at this point, Leader Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: The last thing that we need right now, given all the problems that we have in America, all of the damage that Donald Trump has done to everyday Americans, all of his failures that we’ve seen from day one of his presidency, is for Donald Trump to get us into another failed foreign war or reckless adventure that will ultimately, particularly in the Middle East, cost us lives and cost us billions, if not trillions, of dollars in taxpayer resources. And so, we’re going to continue to proceed in the same way that we have before, find a bipartisan path forward to try and stop Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally strike anyone in the world in the absence of congressional approval, which, of course, is required by the Constitution.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Is Speaker Johnson on the same page?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Speaker Johnson is definitively not on the same page. So what we’re going to have to do is what we’ve done on a variety of different other issues, including, most recently, pass legislation in the House over the objection of Mike Johnson to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by three years. All 213 Democrats at the time joined by 17 Republicans. We most recently, before the Supreme Court acted, led by Congressman Greg Meeks, we were able to take down one of Donald Trump’s initial tariffs that had been imposed unlawfully, in our view, on Canada. And we’re going to have to find a path forward, joined by just a handful of Republicans, to assert the principle that, absent explicit authorization for the use of military force, Donald Trump should not and must not strike Iran.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Now, midterms are just nine months away, and several Republican-led states are entering their primary seasons with gerrymandered voting maps at Trump’s request, as he threatens voter ID with or without Congress, and Republicans push the SAVE Act, which could radically restrict voter access. All of this, as the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the future of Section Two of the Voting Rights Act. How worried are you about the impact of all of this for Democrats in November?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it’s an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure that there’s a free and fair election in November. First, we needed to stop his gerrymandering scheme, where, effectively, they wanted to alter congressional maps in red states only, all across the country, as part of their effort to rig the midterm elections. We’ve stopped that, effectively, from happening, and so they’ve run out of gas as it relates to that effort. But that doesn’t mean it’s over. As you pointed out, Rev, what we’re going to see is this effort to try to engage in voter suppression in a variety of ways, including by trying to jam the so-called SAVE America Act down the throats of the American people. Now, thankfully, Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats have made clear the bill is dead on arrival. And if the President tries to do any of this unilaterally, just as we’ve successfully done before, we will sue him, take it all the way up to the Supreme Court and I’m confident that we will win.

REV. AL SHARPTON: We lost Reverend Jesse Jackson this weekend. You know, you’ve been a member of the National Action Network for years, seen him there, know he’s been a central mentor to me. What are your thoughts on his life and legacy coming at this time in our nation’s history?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, he’s an incredible and real-life American hero. Through the force of his intellect, his advocacy, his character, his courage, his commitment, of course, has left America a more just place than the one that he’s found. Of course, we still have to march toward a more perfect union, and a lot of work needs to be done, but he’s shown us the way. And as you said, Rev, leaves behind such a tremendous legacy of his life’s work and leaders such as yourself, of course, who was very close to Reverend Jackson and mentored by him to continue the Civil Rights Movement efforts to bring about liberty and justice for all, equal protection under the law and make America the best version of herself. And so, we’ll continue to be inspired by him. There are four Black senators who stand on the shoulders of Reverend Jesse Jackson. When he began this work in the 1960s, of course, there were zero. There are about 55 African American Members of the House of Representatives. When he began this work in the mid-1960s, there were less than five. Now, there are at least 55. And so, we’re thankful for all that Reverend Jackson has done, what he’s meant, his inspirational leadership. And we continue to stand on his shoulders as we move forward to deal with the national nightmare that exists right now in the United States of America, and to show up and stand up and speak up for what Reverend Jackson fought for, what you fight for, Rev, in order to bring about a more perfect union.

REV. AL SHARPTON: I’m out of time, but one last question. Speaker Johnson has denied a request from Reverend Jackson’s family and others that he be allowed to lie in state in the Capitol. It’s reported the Speaker based his decision on a precedent in which the honor has been mostly restricted to government and military officials. Do you think an exception was deserved in this case, Leader Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: We certainly, as Democrats in the House, strongly supported an exception being made. We understand, of course, that tradition has it that in most instances, the honor is reserved for former presidents. But of course, precedent has allowed for instances where Rosa Parks, appropriately, Civil Rights hero, has lied in honor in the Capitol. And Billy Graham has lied in honor as a religious transformational leader. It’s interesting Jesse Jackson is both a Civil Rights leader and a transformational religious figure. And it was at least our view that if there was any instance where an exception was merited, it would be in the case of Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Sr. But we’re gonna continue to work with the family to make sure there are other appropriate ways to honor his life, his leadership and his legacy in Washington, D.C.

REV. AL SHARPTON: Alright, thank you very much, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Full interview can be watched here.


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RELEASE: REP. HILL RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT RULING ON IEEPA AUTHORITY

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

RELEASE: REP. HILL RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT RULING ON IEEPA AUTHORITY

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“I share in President Trump’s goal of securing fair and reciprocal trade agreements and holding bad actors accountable for their unfair trade policies,” said Rep. Hill. “While tariffs can be a useful tool when applied in a targeted way, today’s Supreme Court decision underscores the need for Congress to play a role in trade policy. My focus remains on advancing a trade strategy that supports Arkansas jobs, businesses, and consumers, and strengthens U.S. competitiveness.”