Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

Earlier this month, Rep. Craig attempted to conduct a Congressional oversight visit at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, but was turned away by DHS officials

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA (Jan. 23, 2026) — Today, Representatives Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Park Service Acting Director Jessica Bowron opposing the removal of slavery-related exhibits at Independence National Historical Park.

In their letter, Philadelphia’s US House delegation demanded answers from Administration officials on the censorship of these exhibits. The full letter, including the Representatives’ questions, can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron,

We write to express our opposition to the removal of slavery-related exhibits in Philadelphia’s historic district, specifically at the President’s House Site within Independence National Historical Park (INHP). These exhibits are an essential part of how the National Park Service presents the history of our nation’s founding, and the decision to remove them represents a disturbing departure from that mission.

Millions of visitors travel to INHP each year to learn about the origins of American democracy. The park’s fifty-five acres encompass landmarks such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, and the interpretive panels at the President’s House Site play a critical role in explaining how slavery coexisted with the birth of the Republic. Presenting that history in full deepens public understanding of the long struggle to align our actions with our ideals.

Trying to remove that history just because it makes some people uncomfortable is deeply troubling. When a government starts hiding parts of its past, it begins to look more like a regime that rewrites history rather than one that learns from it.

With the National Park Service facing budget pressures and the nation preparing for its 250th anniversary, federal officials should be strengthening historic sites and expanding educational programming, not diverting staff time and public resources to dismantling established exhibits.

We believe the removal of these panels violates existing agreements between the National Park Service and the City of Philadelphia governing the preservation and interpretation of the President’s House Site. As Members of Congress representing Philadelphia, we therefore demand clear and complete answers to the following questions:

1. Why were the exhibits at the President’s House Site taken down or dismantled?
2. Who authorized or directed this decision, and at what level within the administration?
3. What role, if any, did senior administration officials play in initiating or approving this action?
4. Where are the removed panels and related materials currently being stored, and what plans exist for their reinstallation?
5. What documents, memoranda, emails, or other internal communications relate to these actions?

Philadelphia residents and visitors from across the country deserve an honest and complete account of our history. We request a written response no later than January 30, 2026.

Sincerely,

Brendan F. Boyle, Member of Congress

Dwight Evans, Member of Congress

Mary Gay Scanlon, Member of Congress

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

‘The Trump-Vance administration may try to whitewash an exhibit, but they cannot erase the shame of what they have done.’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Bill would protect language access for 25 million individuals in the U.S. with limited English proficiency.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), joined Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), and Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) in introducing the Language Access for All Act of 2026 to codify language access requirements for federal agencies, including translation and interpretation services under threat from the Trump administration.

In March 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14224 that declared English as the official language of the United States and revoked EO 13166, a 25-year-old mandate that required agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide critical language access to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Trump administration’s Department of Justice issued new guidance that minimizes multilingual services and redirects resources towards English language education and assimilation. 

These policy changes threaten language access for the over 25 million individuals in the United States—eight percent of the U.S. population—with limited English proficiency. Asian Americans have among the highest language access needs of any racial group, with 32 percent having LEP. 12 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders also have significant language access needs. And while Spanish language speakers make up the majority of those who speak another language in the United States, nearly 40 percent report speaking English “less than very well” in the most recent U.S. Census. 

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 modernizes and strengthens the federal government’s approach to language access by codifying EO 13166 and establishing a coordinated, accountable framework to ensure meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency. The legislation promotes consistency across agencies, increases transparency and public engagement, and updates federal language access policy to reflect evolving technologies.

“For more than 25 years, both Democratic and Republican presidents have supported language accessibility across the federal government. Trump’s roll back of these protections is simply wrong. In my district, translation services are essential for parents applying for a home loan, seniors accessing Medicare, immigrants starting a small business, and disaster survivors accessing the FEMA’s resources. That is why I’m proud to co-lead the Language Access for All Act to ensure no one is denied health care, housing, or disaster assistance because English is not their first language. Language access is a civil right and rolling back these services is an attack on our immigrant communities,” said Congressmember Judy Chu (CA-28).

“Every American deserves equal access to federal services and programs in a language they can understand. Language access is essential to ensure individuals are able to access small business loans or receive the right medical care,” said Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “I am proud to introduce the Language Access for All Act alongside my colleagues to safeguard translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including millions in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. We will continue to fight against the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants and the essential services that our communities rely on and deserve.” 

“For decades, federal language access services have helped millions of people file taxes, get emergency alerts, apply for loans, and access health care. Trump’s decision to designate English as our country’s official language and attempt to scrap these critical services is dead wrong,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51). “No one should be locked out of federal programs because of the language they speak. This legislation is critical as we fight to push back on Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and keep in place the services our communities rely on.”

“In my district, in the most linguistically diverse city on earth, language access mandates across the federal government helps ensure that everyone has meaningful access to housing loans, health care, workforce programs, and life-saving emergency alerts. Trump’s attempt to roll back language access is just one of his many xenophobic attempts to attack immigrant communities, and it is completely unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing legislation to restore common sense requirements and ensure information about basic government services is made available to all,” said Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10).

The Language Access for All Act of 2026: 

• Requires federal agencies to ensure that individuals with LEP can meaningfully access the federally conducted programs and activities of the agency, including through translation and interpretation.
• Creates a public complaint system to track complaints regarding barriers to meaningful access at agencies.
• Requires agencies to develop and maintain language access plans consistent with EO 13166, with public notice and comment, and to submit plans to Congress and publish them on LEP.gov.
• Establishes language access technical standards that allow individuals with LEP to access agency content. This applies to all agency communications, including AI and automated language assistance services.
• Ensures AI-assisted language services do not replace qualified translators and interpreters, comply with federal privacy requirements, and are continuously tested for bias, discrimination, and errors.
• Creates an interagency language access working group to provide guidance, coordination, and technical assistance.
• Requires each agency to designate a language access coordinator to lead implementation and serve as a point of contact.

Together, these reforms aim to improve service delivery, reduce barriers to access, and ensure federal agencies are equipped to meet the language needs of the public. 

This bill builds upon Congressmember Chu’s longstanding commitment to ensuring language accessibility, beginning with her work as a City Councilmember, fighting against an ugly “English-only” movement in her hometown of Monterey Park. On August 15, 2025, Reps. Chu, Meng, and Vargas led 58 House colleagues in a letter to President Trump and the Department of Justice, on the administration’s rollback of language access across federal agencies and its impact on LEP communities. On April 11, 2025, Rep. Chu also led an oversight letter with Rep. Meng and 54 other House Democrats opposing the initial release of President Trump’s EO 14224.

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 is endorsed by the following organizations: AAPI Equity Alliance, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Americans for Financial Reform, Apicha Community Health Center, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Asian Resources, Inc, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Association of Language Companies, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, CenterLink, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Colorado Language Access Coalition, Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Consumer Action, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), Justice in Aging, Language Matters, Language Policy & Innovation Institute, Latino Community Fund INC (LCF Georgia), Latino Victory Project, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), National CAPACD- National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), National Health Law Program, National Immigration Law Center, North East Medical Services (NEMS), The Praxis Project, Sauti Yetu Center for African Women, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Stakeholders Advocating for Safe and Ethical use of AI in Interpreting Task Force (SAFE-AI TF), Stop AAPI Hate, TESOL International Association, and UnidosUS. 

Read the full text of the bill here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

PASADENA, CA — On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students in the West San Gabriel Valley. This annual computer science competition, hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives, encourages students to learn how to code and inspires them to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. 

This year, 52 apps were submitted to this competition.  The winner, Anika Jha of Arcadia High School, submitted an app “Fire Up” to assist residents and first responders with an AI-powered wildfire prediction, live detection, risk-assessment and evacuation planning into real-time, localized alerts through a single, human-centered platform.  After her family was nearly evacuated during the January 2025 wildfires, she created this app so all the fragmented information from NASA, NOAA, and CalFire can be integrated into one place and visualized onto an interactive map.  Families, schools and communities can connect to low-cost hardware that can feed into the app to detect fire and smoke early, and the app also includes an evacuation planner that recommends safer routes by avoiding active danger zones.  

Rep. Judy Chu issued the following statement:

“I was thrilled to host my 7thAnnual Congressional App Challenge Competition and highlight the increasing importance of STEM education in our country.  STEM grows more valuable for our nation’s youth, and the powerful skills gained from coding and programming will ensure that our nation remains at the forefront of technological progress and advancements.  All our submissions came from talented young coders who worked collaboratively to fix problems facing the world. I’m proud of all our winners and everyone who participated in the competition. Congratulations to each one of them!”

List of Winners:

First Place: Fire Up by Anika Jha (https://youtu.be/M6boFqd9h_E)

 Second Place: SCREAM++ by Tony Kan (https://youtu.be/ONdKvxl1Xgo)

 Third Place: EyeMAX by Drexel Ngo, Alina Ramos, Evan Lau, and Athicha Chanpradub (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpZ1x8xMZCA)

 Fourth Place: No Nurdles by Bernice Deng (https://youtu.be/AF45KeqGvBQ)

Fifth Place: Chorify by Chenxi (Eva) Huang (https://youtu.be/-EDnSJqf-5I)

Honorable Mention: SeeSomething AI by Spursh Deshpande, Timofey Tkachev, and Thomas Haddad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR3zwcc3pQ8)

 Honorable Mention: MyMelody by Lily Chen (https://youtu.be/aQCLCxCFqhg)

 Honorable Mention: PathGuard by Aaron Shen (https://youtu.be/50tSXgX29zg)

 Honorable Mention: MediHelp by Theo Mirzakhanian and Karen Avetisyan (https://youtu.be/wferZ6MPRDw)

Honorable Mention: EcoQuest by Chloe Tam (https://youtu.be/v594sB1TY3o)

The winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Motiv Space Systems who made their decisions based on the app’s purpose, concept, technicality, creativity, and design.  The winning app, Fire Up, will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge Website and on a digital display in the Capitol Building. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

Rep. Kelly votes for three-bill minibus, which includes her maternal health bills and community project funds

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

“I was deeply disappointed by United Healthcare’s inability to respond to my basic question of who determines health insurance denials. Mr. Hemsley could not assert whether AI is still improperly denying healthcare insurance claims,” said. Rep. Kelly. “As health insurance companies turn to AI technology, we must ensure that physicians and science-backed medicine guide all decisions. The Trump administration has gutted and broken our healthcare system, resulting in millions of Americans losing their coverage. Health insurance companies should not compound this healthcare crisis by weaponizing AI to deny Americans essential care.”

Rep. Kelly is also co-chair of the bipartisan Digital Health Caucus.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) voted to advance the Defense, Labor-HHS and Transportation-HUD minibus. The three spending bills delivers on Democratic priorities and blocks the Trump Administration’s plan to gut $163 billion from critical public services that American families depend on. 

The spending package invests in affordable housing, transportation, public health and childcare, while reinforcing Congress’s power of the purse, keeping a check on the Trump Administration, and giving relief to millions of Americans struggling to stay afloat amid the affordability crisis. 

It boosts FAA funding to hire more air traffic controllers and modernize facilities, supports Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and safer roads and bridges, and strengthens support for servicemembers through medical research and a military pay raise. The package also includes $8.2 million to support local community projects in New York’s 5th Congressional District.

“I voted for a funding bill that rejects Trump’s cuts to essential public services and delivers real results for American families,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. “Once again, Democrats negotiated aggressively for working people and families, delivering meaningful relief for Americans feeling the squeeze of rising costs. This bill funds housing, childcare, public health, mental health services, and groundbreaking scientific research, while protecting the services our communities rely on and investing in America’s future.”

In the funding package, Rep. Meeks secured $8,250,000 in Community Project Funding to directly support 10 local projects in New York’s 5^th Congressional District, including:

• $500,000 for the subway reconstruction and upgrades at the MTA Queens Boulevard Line -179 Street Station.
• $850,000 for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to support safety and security upgrades at Conlon Lihfe Tower.  
• $850,000 for NYCHA to enhance safety and building security at the International Tower.
• $850,000  for NYCHA to enhance safety and building security at the Shelton House.
• $850,000  for NYCHA to upgrade and modernize fire safety equipment at the International Tower Fire.
• $850,000 for NYCHA to replace the water tanks at Carleton Manor.
• $250,000  for New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety at the Beach Channel Drive intersection at Bayswater.
• $1,000,000  for NYCDOT to enhance pedestrian safety, transit access, and public amenities at Jamaica Avenue.
• $2,000,000 to the New York State Housing Trust Fund (HTFC) for the replacement of the power plant at Rochdale Village.
• $250,000 to the New York City DOT to improve bus service and pedestrian safety at Woodhaven Boulevard.  

“This funding is essential for improving transportation, infrastructure and community safety in Queens,” Congressman Meeks said. “It supports MTA station upgrades, NYCHA safety projects, street and pedestrian improvements, and critical infrastructure enhancements. These investments protect residents and strengthen neighborhoods making Queens safer and modernizing the borough.” 

This funding legislation will enact significant investments that:

• Increases funding for NIH by $400 million, including research to develop treatments and cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS, Diabetes, and other diseases.
• Increases funding for the Office of Research on Women’s Health by $30 million – a 40% increase.
• Rejects proposed cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), increases funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by $15 million and State Opioid Response Grants by $20 million.
• Helps tackle the cost-of-living crisis by increasing funding for Child Care and Head Start by $170 million, helping provide hard-working families access to early childhood education and childcare.
• Reinforces efforts to combat homelessness by increasing Homeless Assistance Grant funding by $366 million and rejecting President Trump’s efforts to eliminate Continuum of Care funding entirely.
• Provides $18.6 billion for the FAA, an increase of $1.6 billion, including funding to expand the air traffic controller workforce by 2,500 personnel, improve facilities and equipment, and modernize the nation’s air traffic control towers.
• Increases funding for medical research by $1.7 billion, including $1.3 billion for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Projects (CDMRP) that support efforts to develop treatments for cancer, disease, and service-related injuries.
• Fully funds the 3.8 % pay raise for military personnel.

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