Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber ahead of tomorrow’s elections, where he emphasized the importance of protecting Americans’ healthcare and lowering the high cost of living.

ARI MELBER: We are joined now by someone in a position to work with the Republicans and reopen the government sooner or later, the top House Democrat, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on Election Eve. Welcome.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good evening. Great to be with you.

ARI MELBER: Great to have you. What is important for people to understand about the shutdown going forward as we pass a month? And do you think it’s an issue for voters who are turning out tomorrow?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, this is day 34 of the Trump-Republican shutdown, and our position as Democrats remains very clear. We want to reopen the government. We want to find a bipartisan path toward enacting a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, including by lowering the high cost of living, which, of course, has gone up under Donald Trump and Republican policies throughout this year. But any agreement that we reach, of course, has to also decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis, particularly at this moment, as it relates to extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits so that tens of millions of Americans don’t experience dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles.

ARI MELBER: We’ve seen a lot of backlash to what seemed like a very tone deaf set of parties by Donald Trump, use of jets and other government benefits by his aides, it’s sort of collected into breaking through. And I want to show a TikTok because this isn’t just political people talking about it. Regular folks and people around the country noticed that clear sort of Great Gatsby contrast. Let’s take a look.

[TikTok video compilation plays]
 
ARI MELBER: People have had it. Your views on whether that matters and is breaking through—Trump throwing these lavish parties, doing the ballroom, taking private money, taking crypto money, while he leaves the government shut and the—and the benefits running out.

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s definitively breaking through, and what we’ve seen from the very beginning of this administration, of course, and this was the focus of the Republican One Big Ugly Bill, where they enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. They cut nutritional assistance, SNAP, by $186 billion. Literally, they ripped food out of the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans. They did this in July. And all of this was done, of course, so that they could reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks. So, at the center of Donald Trump’s administration and Republican policy in the House and the Senate is to benefit the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected, all part of their scheme to subsidize the lifestyles of the rich and shameless, while everyday Americans, working-class Americans and middle-class Americans get hurt. And that’s what we’ve seen during the duration of this Trump-Republican shutdown. They somehow found $40 billion, Ari, $40 Billion dollars to bail out their right-wing wannabe dictator leader of Argentina in a way that was also going to benefit some of their financier buddies in New York, but can’t find a dime to make sure that 42 million Americans don’t go hungry as a result of the Republican decision to unlawfully withhold SNAP benefits. And of course, during the same period of time, we see these lavish parties being thrown. We see the East Wing of the White House being destroyed so that Donald Trump can construct some gaudy ballroom to celebrate him as if he was a king. And during this period of time, we’ve also seen Donald Trump try to extort, hijack, steal $230 million from the Department of Justice so he could line his pockets. The whole thing is out of control. And the American people see it, and it’s going to have real consequences tomorrow in New Jersey, in Pennsylvania, in California, in Virginia and in New York City, and it will have consequences next year when we take back control of the House of Representatives.

ARI MELBER: Yeah, look, Congressman, Leader Jeffries, you sound pumped. You sound optimistic about tomorrow. You mentioned all the places, including New York. When we spoke a while back, you had yet to endorse the Democratic nominee in New York, then you did. Your counterpart, Chuck Schumer, has not. Not unlike some of the debates people remember over AOC, there’s been a question here about the big tent of the Democratic Party, but also the questions facing this candidate. I just put some of them to him, Zohran Mamdani. We just heard from him, and you’re busy, so I don’t think you probably caught the whole interview, but I’ll play you a part where he talked about pros and cons for this Democratic Party. We’ll see how he does tomorrow. Take a look.

RECORDING OF ARI MELBER: Something Democrats are right about.

RECORDING OF ZOHRAN MAMDANI: That we have to take on authoritarian administration in Washington, D.C.

RECORDING OF ARI MELBER: Something Democrats have gotten wrong.

RECORDING OF ZOHRAN MAMDANI: We need to bring back working people as the focus of our party.

ARI MELBER: Very direct, saying that the party, which you lead, hasn’t always done that. Is that a place of overlap between you two? Are you excited for him to win tomorrow, or did you delay your support, partly to send a message that he’s not your perfect avatar of a national Democrat?

LEADER JEFFRIES: No, Zohran has run a campaign that is relentlessly focused on the affordability crisis in New York City, and that, in fact, is a crisis that people all across the country are confronting. He’s going to win tomorrow, and then it will be all of our responsibility collectively in New York City, the city that we love, to ensure that he has the greatest degree of success possible. Now, what’s interesting—I was in New Jersey yesterday campaigning with and for Mikie Sherrill. At the core of her campaign is affordability and driving down costs for working-class people, middle-class people in New Jersey. We know that Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, who’s on her way to a decisive victory, has put lowering costs at the center of what she’s talked about. And House Democrats have repeatedly, from the very beginning of this year, made clear the cost of living is too high. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down. They’re going up. Grocery prices through the roof. Electricity prices through the roof. Housing costs too high, child care costs too high. And now, because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, we know tens of millions of working-class Americans and middle-class Americans are about to experience premiums that are going to increase by $1,000 or $2,000 per year, in many cases. This is unacceptable in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And so our perspective is that we have to decisively address the high cost of living. We have to fix our broken healthcare system. And by the way, we have to clean up corruption in Washington D.C. That’s the Congress, that of course is the Supreme Court and it also is the Trump administration, which is running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the world.

ARI MELBER: Yeah, and you mentioned a couple of specific facts, DOJ, the President trying to take money out of taxpayers and put it in his own pocket in the foreign aid, and so it really adds up to that contrast. We’re going to see what voters have to say about it tomorrow. We’ll be listening, and we’ll see whether your optimism is well-founded or not, but it’s a busy night for you. Leader Jeffries, I appreciate you coming on The Beat, sir.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Ari.

ARI MELBER: Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), issued the following statement after the City of Laredo received official notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding plans to construct a border wall along the entire southern border, including areas within Laredo, Texas:

“Border walls are a 14th-century solution to 21st-century problems. Border crossings are already down, and Laredo continues to be one of the safest places to live in the United States. This was accomplished without additional border wall being added, but through enforcement of the law and investing in resources at our border. We have seen illegal crossings fall to their lowest levels in the Southwest, demonstrating that practical enforcement and coordination drive results.

“Those outcomes reflect real consequences at the border and deeper cooperation with Mexico and our Latin American partners. By aligning enforcement, information sharing, and regional responsibility, we are addressing the problem where it begins and delivering measurable improvements at the border.

“We need to continue to invest in technology and our hardworking DHS workforce, including frontline Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers. That is why, as a senior appropriator, I have secured record levels of funding for Border Patrol Agents and $125 million for increases to Border Patrol overtime pay authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These investments ensure that agents have the resources, time, and support they need to sustain and build on recent progress.

“I support smart border security solutions that will strengthen our federal border law enforcement while cracking down on fentanyl trafficking and human trafficking. That is why I have also consistently worked in a bipartisan manner to secure funding for personnel, technology upgrades, drone detection systems, the elimination of Carrizo cane, improvements to river and patrol roads, and more boots on the ground. With targeted resources and strategic investments, we can keep communities safe and disrupt criminal networks.

“I look forward to working with the Administration to strengthen these proven strategies—expanding technology, enhancing surveillance and detection capabilities, improving river and patrol roads, and increasing staffing—to secure our border effectively and responsibly.

“Border security is about results. South Texas has shown that strategic investments, professional law enforcement, and regional partnerships are what work, and that is the approach I will continue to advance.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

RIVERSIDE, CA – Today, Members of the Inland Empire Congressional Delegation—Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), and Norma Torres (CA-35)—gathered at a local food bank that distributes food across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to spotlight the impact of the Trump Administration’s refusal to distribute November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 42 million Americans.  

Earlier this year, Trump and Republicans cut $186 billion from SNAP in the “One Big Ugly Bill.” Now, during the government shutdown, they are delaying and shrinking November benefits despite the Trump Administration’s own September shutdown plan stating that they would continue to fund SNAP during a shutdown. 

Members toured the food bank and highlighted the impact of Trump’s SNAP cuts on working Americans. 

“American families are facing the largest cut to SNAP in history—$186 billion—and this shutdown is only making hunger worse. It took states like California suing the Trump Administration just to force the release of emergency SNAP funds so families could eat during Thanksgiving,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. “In California’s 25th District, where 42% of families rely on SNAP, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Speaker Johnson needs to stop canceling work and do his job. I’ll keep fighting to reopen the government, protect SNAP, safeguard health care, and lower costs for hardworking families.” 

“Our message today to President Trump is simple; stop using hunger as a weapon,” said Congressman Mark Takano. “Families, seniors, and veterans should never have to wonder whether politics will decide whether they can eat. Our ask is clear: restart SNAP benefits now as the judge ordered and come to the negotiating table so we can save health care and reopen the government.” 

“The Trump administration has reached a new level of cruelty by refusing to fund SNAP and allowing millions of children and families to go hungry,” said Congressman Pete Aguilar. “Republicans have no problem finding $40 billion in taxpayer dollars to bail out billionaire investors in Argentina, but when it comes to ensuring the most vulnerable Americans don’t go hungry, they drag their feet to find funding despite the fact that there is money available for the program. Donald Trump and his Republican henchmen must do the right thing: fully fund SNAP, open the government, and save health care. The American people are depending on them.”

“The Trump Administration is using hunger as a weapon, and I won’t stand for it. Cutting SNAP means taking food out of children’s mouths and punishing working families who are already struggling to survive,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres.  “Nearly a million people in the Inland Empire depend on these benefits to feed their families. Taking food away from them is cruel and unacceptable, and I will not stop until every family gets the support they’ve earned and deserve.” 

Footage of the press conference can be found here. 

Photo and b-roll from the press conference can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This afternoon, Speaker Johnson joined The Will Cain Show on Fox News to discuss how Democrats cynically treat their government shutdown as a game to win or lose, while millions of low-income American families prepare to miss meals and federal workers are showing up to work each day without pay.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full interview here.  

On the mainstream media running cover for Congressional Democrats:

For one thing, the polls are all over the place. I mean, CNN was reporting just on Friday of last week that Republicans were winning this as if it was some sort of political game. The only people who lose here are the American people. But those statistics like that, polls like that, don’t surprise me. The entire media establishment is parroting the talking points of the Democrats every day. It’s the most staggering level of gaslighting we have ever seen in American politics, literally. The Democrats have voted 14 times to close the government down whereas Republicans have voted 14 times to open it. And right after they cast the votes, will they go out and find the nearest camera they can, then look right into the lens and they say it’s the Republicans’ fault. I mean, it’s just madness. It’s absolutely the opposite of the truth. But I think the longer this drags on and the more pain that’s experienced by real Americans, I think they’re going to be digging beyond the headlines and looking to see who’s really responsible. And the facts are very clear.

On the Democrat shutdown preventing bipartisan appropriations negotiations:

We’re very mindful of the clock, and the great irony here is the Democrats are the ones that are taking the time off that clock. We needed it. Remember, we passed the clean CR back on September 19, well in advance of this cliff, the end of the fiscal year on September 30. It was Republican and Democrat appropriators, the people in Congress who specialize in the government budgeting and funding who came together and said, we need seven more weeks to finish our regular government funding process. But once the bill was put on the floor, all the Democrats except one in the House voted against it. And of course, all these Senate Democrats keep voting no. They’re doing this for one simple reason, Will, and this is what is so infuriating to us. Clearly this is motivated out of fear.

On Democrats refusing to drop their unserious demands to reopen the government:

Remember, before this all began, the four leaders went over to the White House. We sat across from [President Trump] at the resolute desk. Hakeem Jeffries was there, Chuck Schumer, myself, and Leader Thune in the Senate. And the President had a great dialogue. He said, give your proposals, guys. Well, remember they had just filed a $1.5 trillion demand for new spending, including giving $200 billion to illegal aliens to fund their health care again, to prop up NPR and PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They wanted to send billions of dollars back overseas to these crazy social programs in other countries. And the President said, well, obviously that’s a non-starter. Talk to me about something that’s real and reasonable. And they just stuck their thumb in his eye. So, the President tried, the great deal maker, the art of the deal. He can negotiate the end of wars around the world, but he does not have enough with these guys to overcome their fear of the Marxists in the Democrat party. There is a massive turn to the Left in that party, and that’s what’s motivating them.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45), and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) led the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in a letter strongly opposing the Department of Education’s decision to rescind $350 million in funding from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The lawmakers also voiced their disappointment and disagreement with the Department of Justice’s July 25th determination that Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) apply “racial quotas” in a manner that is “unconstitutional,” especially since no court has found the MSI program unconstitutional or instructed the Department of Education to reprogram this funding. The signatories also warn the Department’s actions would disproportionately harm Californian students and weaken California’s—and America’s—long-term competitiveness.“To be clear, diverting resources away from these schools will disproportionately harm California students and students across the nation who depend on MSIs as the most accessible and affordable pathway to a degree,” wrote the lawmakers.“It would also weaken proven engines of upward mobility, deprive our workforce of diverse talent, and undercut the nation’s long-term competitiveness.”
“Rather than reallocate scarce dollars from MSIs to HBCUs and TCCUs, we urge you to allocate funding as intended by Congress to support all MSIs, HBCUs, and TCCUs. … Equitable sustained funding across the spectrum of MSIs, HBCUs, and TCCUs will ensure that more institutions can continue broadening opportunity, reducing inequities, and powering the American economy,” continued the lawmakers.“Our collective goal must be to invest in all students, no matter which institution they attend.” 
BACKGROUND   
There are over 800 federally recognized MSIs, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). MSIs enroll over five million students, many of whom are first-generation college students. These institutions rely on federal funding to provide vital supports and services for students to help them complete their degree. The Trump Administration’s decision to end funding for MSIs could threaten the institutions’ ability to adequately serve all the students they enroll.  
Earlier this year, Tennessee filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education to challenge the eligibility requirements necessary to receive a federal HSI designation. In July, the Department of Justice decided to not defend the constitutionality of the program in the ongoing litigation. Despite no ruling or court instructions, the Department of Education announcedduring HSI week on September 10th that it would end and reprogram $350 million in discretionary grants for HSIs and other MSIs. On October 10, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee allowed the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and LatinoJustice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (LatinoJustice PRLDEF) to intervene in the litigation, ensuring affected campuses can help defend the programs. 
California has the largest concentration of MSIs in the country. There are 170+ HSIs and 85 eligible AANAPISIs. In addition, MSIs enroll the majority of first-generation and low-income students in California and consistently demonstrate higher rates of economic mobility than non-MSI institutions. The Department of Education’s decision to reprogram funding from the MSI program undermines the ability of these universities to serve communities that have long been underrepresented in higher education. 
The full text of the letter is available HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Co-Chairs of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, today introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate October as National Crime Prevention Month, a nationwide effort to put prevention at the forefront of public safety. 
“Crime prevention is not partisan idea – it’s a promise we owe every American,”said Congressman Costa. “Safe communities don’t just happen by accident; they are built when neighbors, law enforcement, and leaders work together to stop crime before it starts. Declaring October as National Crime Prevention Month affirms prevention as the foundation of public safety – keeping kids out of gangs, protecting seniors in their homes, stopping scams and organized crime, and supporting victims. Every American family deserves peace of mind. That’s the future we’re fighting for, and it starts now.”
“Preventing and combatting crime in our communities is something every American deserves,” Congressman Ciscomani said.“This commonsense, bipartisan resolution acknowledges our support for every law enforcement officer, first responders, educators, community leaders and so many more. I’m proud to join my colleagues in honoring National Crime Prevention Month.”
BACKGROUND
The resolution underscores a simple truth: keeping families safe begins with preventing crime before it happens, and ensuring every community has the tools to build safer streets and strong neighborhoods. In short, prevention is action. It means:

Stopping violence before it starts – tackling the roots of crime before it turns deadly.
Keeping kids on the right path – steering young people away from gangs, drugs, and cycles of violence.
Building trust in public safety – strengthening the partnership between police and the communities they serve.
Standing with victims – making sure they have the resources to heal and rebuild their lives.
Fighting modern threats – protecting families from scams, counterfeits, and cybercrime through awareness and education.

The urgency is clear. According to the FBI, a violent crime is reported every 25.9 seconds in the United States. Experts estimate crime drains $2.6 trillion from families, businesses, and taxpayers each year.
First launched in 1984 by the National Crime Prevention Council, Crime Prevention Month has a proud legacy of mobilizing communities. The bipartisan Costa–Ciscomani resolution renews that mission and challenges the nation to recommit to prevention as the surest path to safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, and peace of mind for every family.
The full text of the resolution is available HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Suozzi, Hurd, Gottheimer Release Bipartisan Principles to Temporarily Extend and Reform Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premium Tax Credits

Washington – Today, Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) released a statement of principles for lowering health care costs and temporarily extending and reforming the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (APTCs). The principles focus on a temporary extension with reasonable income caps and reform. 

Bacon, Suozzi, Hurd and Gottheimer released the following quote:

“Congress is gridlocked, and too many Americans have lost faith that we can work together. But here’s the truth: Democrats and Republicans can sit down, listen to one another, and find common ground, especially when it comes to lowering health care costs.

“We may not agree on every ideal outcome, but we’ve identified a fair, reasonable path forward on the future of the Affordable Care Act’s Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. Compromise isn’t rocket science and it shouldn’t be treated like a weakness.

“Our hope is that this shared statement of principles will inspire bipartisan collaboration across Washington and help get Congress back to work for the American people.”

Below, find the statement of principles:

Principles to Temporarily Extend and Reform Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premium Tax Credits

Temporary: A two-year extension of APTCs

Income Cap: An income cap phased out between $200,000 and $400,000.

Reform: Guardrails to prevent improper payments of APTCs

Prevent “Ghost Beneficiaries”: Requirements that ACA marketplaces confirm recipient eligibility with the Death Master File 

Crack Down on Fraud: Establish a “preponderance of evidence” standard of proof to determine when an agent or broker should be allowed to continue operating in the ACA marketplaces. 

Enhance Delivery Clarity: Requirements that marketplaces better notify recipients the value of APTCs they are receiving from the federal government

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) joined NTD’s Capitol Report to discuss China’s restrictions on rare earth exports, President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping, and more. Watch the interview on YouTube and Rumble.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) joined The Voice of Reason with Andy Hooser to discuss the ongoing Schumer Shutdown, how Democrats are using the government shutdown as “leverage,” and their out-of-touch demands to reopen the government. Watch the interview on YouTube and Rumble.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Read “Travel Industry Sounds Alarm Over Government Shutdown,” in today’s Wall Street Journal:

Hundreds of travel businesses, including casinos, hotels and convention bureaus, are asking Congress to end the monthlong government shutdown by immediately passing a straightforward spending bill, citing worries about the holiday travel season.

The letter signed by nearly 500 companies and groups adds to the pressure on Democrats to give up their drive for a broader deal before voting to reopen the government. Since the shutdown started Oct. 1, government workers including air-traffic controllers and passenger screeners have gone without pay, leading to delays and safety concerns.

Americans “expect and deserve a fully functioning federal government during the peak holiday travel season,” the travel entities wrote in a letter led by the U.S. Travel Association and sent to the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate. “Congress must act without delay to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government immediately and ensure full federal operations are restored in advance of the Thanksgiving travel period.”

Senate Democrats since September have blocked a GOP measure funding the government through Nov. 21, attempting to force Republicans to extend certain subsidies that help 22 million people pay for health insurance. Senate Republicans have said that they will discuss the subsidies only after Democrats agree to reopen the government. The subsidies would add an estimated $350 billion to the federal deficit over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The travel-industry letter was signed mostly by small businesses and groups that promote travel. But it was also signed by giants including MGM Resorts International, Hilton, Omni Hotels and Resorts, Delaware North and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The busiest air-travel day last year was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with more than three million travelers in the skies, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration. Travel plans are typically locked in far in advance, causing anxiety about whether travelers will be willing to make plans with the uncertainty of the shutdown in the background.

“A continued shutdown is likely to significantly suppress travel demand and spending, creating a real threat to American workers, businesses, and the overall economy,” the letter said.

Last week, airline chief executives met at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and called on the Senate to pass a so-called continuing resolution that passed the House on Sept. 19.

“It is time to pass a clean CR, use that as the opportunity to get into a room behind closed doors and negotiate hard,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said.

Before that, the nation’s largest federal labor union went public with a call for Congress to pass the same bill.

Conversations about ending the government shutdown continued among senators over the weekend, according to one aide, and senators have been growing more optimistic about finding a way out of the shutdown. But the optimism that swept through the Senate last week still hasn’t resulted in a deal.

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