Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

FRESNO — Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced $3.15 million in federal funding for Fresno Yosemite International Airport through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Airport Improvement Program, bringing the total federal funding he has secured for the airport in recent years to more than $85 million. This funding will help the City of Fresno plan and design infrastructure improvements that enhance how the airport serves travelers and the broader region, supporting its ability to meet growing demand for air travel. 
“Fresno Yosemite International Airport has received unprecedented federal support over the years,” said Congressman Costa. “I’m proud to continue that work with this latest $3.15 million in FY26 funding. Following last year’s terminal expansion, this investment will help the City of Fresno plan and design the next phase of airport improvements, ensuring the airport continues to meet the needs of travelers and the region. Building on past Community Project Funding and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants, these resources strengthen regional connectivity and fuel economic growth that benefits families across the Central Valley.”
“Our airport has been growing steadily, and this investment allows us to build on that momentum,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Jim Costa for his leadership and advocacy on behalf of our community. This funding is a major win for our airport and the entire region. It enables us to move forward with critical expansion projects, enhance the passenger experience, and support long-term economic growth. The result will be improved travel options, new jobs, and a stronger local economy.”
“Securing this federal funding helps to support Fresno Yosemite International Airport in advancing infrastructure projects that expand regional connectivity and strengthen economic vitality,”said Interim Director of Aviation Francisco Partida. “These projects deliver a world-class airport that meets the needs of our community and supports continued progress.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi during an oversight hearing. Congressman Cohen pressed the Attorney General on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s recruitment effort that targets local law enforcement officers and on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) failure to investigate the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were slain by federal immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota. 

During the hearing, Congressman Cohen questioned Attorney General Bondi on ICE recruitment advertisements offering bonuses, debt relief, and an implied suggestion that ICE agents can operate under looser standards than traditional law enforcement. The ads encourage officers to leave local departments like the Memphis Police Department at a time when many cities face officer shortages—pulling them away from combating violent crimes in their communities to focus on deporting immigrants. According to DOJ’s own data, immigrants are significantly less likely to commit violent crimes than U.S. born Americans.  

Congressman Cohen has previously raised these concerns with Attorney General Bondi in direct correspondence and reiterated them again during the hearing. 

“The worst of the worst are not the immigrants,” said Congressman Cohen. “The worst of the worst, records show, are native-born Americans committing crimes that hurt our cities. Why are we trying to get officers working on the front lines to leave the front lines, take a $50,000 bonus, and go work for ICE instead of fighting violent crime in our communities?” 

Watch his questioning here.

Congressman Cohen also challenged Attorney General Bondi on the DOJ’s lack of response to fatal encounters involving federal immigration enforcement agents, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. He criticized the Department for failing to pursue meaningful, independent investigations and ensure accountability for these deaths. 

“The fact is ICE is running rampant and you are not investigating them. When they killed Mr. Pretti and Ms. Good—that was an execution, and you did not investigate it,” said Congressman Cohen. “[…] They were executed, like Kristi Noem executed her dog. And that was wrong, and you should investigate those people, and you should investigate anybody that uses a weapon, federal official or not, for civil rights violations.”

Click here to watch more.

Congressman Cohen is a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee. He has continued to challenge the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration enforcement practices—voting against funding DHS funding that would sustain ICE and calling for the agency’s abolition, co-sponsoring legislation to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding meaningful oversight and civil rights investigations into federal agents’ use of deadly force, introducing new legislation to require an independent investigation every time a federal officer uses deadly force, and more.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Says TVA advanced major changes with no public notice or opportunity for comment 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

MEMPHIS, TN – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to Governor Bill Lee today following up on his January 30 letter asking the governor to submit a request for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance for Shelby County following the severe winter storm that struck the region from January 22–27, 2026. 

On February 6, FEMA released a notification that a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Tennessee was granted, triggering the release of federal funds to help communities recover from the Severe Winter Storm that occurred January 22-27, 2026. Congressman Cohen urged the Governor to submit an additional request for Public Assistance for Shelby County, noting in his letter that updated assessments now place total estimated costs at more than $6.6 million. The damages include emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, buildings and equipment, utilities, and other critical infrastructure.  

His letter to Governor Lee reads in part:  

“I am writing to follow up on my earlier request. Now that your January 28 request to President Trump for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Tennessee from the Severe Winter Storm that occurred January 22-27, 2026, has been approved, I respectfully ask that you submit an additional request for Public Assistance funding for Shelby County to address the extensive damages caused by the January 2026 winter storm. 

“Based on updated assessments, Shelby County’s total estimated costs have increased to over $6.6 million […]. FEMA has validated damages, and Shelby County has met the threshold to receive Public Assistance. 

“As you know, Public Assistance funding will be essential to help Shelby County and its municipalities recover and restore vital services for residents.” 

Congressman Cohen has worked closely with local, state, and federal partners to ensure Memphis and Shelby County receive timely federal support following severe weather events and will continue advocating to keep the recovery process moving forward. 

Click here to read Congressman Cohen’s full letter to Governor Lee. 

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

PASASDENA, CA  –  Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) issued the following statement in response to California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement that the California Department of Justice will launch an independent civil rights investigation into whether anti-discrimination and disability rights laws were violated during delayed emergency response and evacuation orders affecting western Altadena during the Eaton Fire.

“One year ago, the Eaton Fire took the lives of 19 of our neighbors. Of those 19 lives lost, 18 resided in the historically Black community of western Altadena and the majority were elderly and disabled. Since then, we have learned critical information about significant delays in emergency response and evacuation warnings in western Altadena that contributed to this disproportionate loss of life and devastation. But we have been lacking one important question about those delays: why they occurred in the first place. That’s why I have long called for an independent investigation and for our local, state, and federal authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that we will be prepared for the next disaster so such a failure never happens again,” said Rep. Judy Chu. “I welcome Attorney General Bonta’s investigation into whether western Altadenans’ civil rights were violated due to these astounding delays, and I look forward to reviewing the results of this investigation and ensuring that these systemic failures are addressed in a timely and transparent manner. We owe it to the victims, survivors, and their families to ensure that these evacuation delays and failures are never repeated.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, Congresswoman Betty McCollum announced her support for legislation introduced by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro which would fund critical components of the Department of Homeland Security without providing additional funding for ICE or Customs and Border Protection.

“Congress needs to fund FEMA, disaster relief, cybersecurity, and other functions of the Department of Homeland Security that keep Americans safe,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “But I refuse to vote for another penny for ICE and Border Patrol while they bring chaos to our state, violate Minnesotans’ civil rights, and trample on the Constitution. Democrats in Congress are working together to insist on transparency, accountability, and constraints on ICE and Border Patrol agents as conditions for funding their agencies. While we fight for those reforms, I support Ranking Member DeLauro’s new DHS funding bill, which would fund the entire agency except for ICE, Border Patrol, and the Office of the Secretary — while prohibiting Kristi Noem’s use of taxpayer-funded luxury private jets.”

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

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, is introducing the U.S. Farmworker Protection Act, legislation to protect US farmworkers and migrant workers on the H-2A program, a temporary, agricultural guest worker program. 

“By allowing an unlimited number of workers to access the H-2A program without guardrails or meaningful oversight to protect workers, the administration has put these workers at risk of dangerous and exploitative practices from employers,” said Jayapal. “We have seen wage theft, human trafficking, and labor abuses, some of which have even led to death, run rampant in this program. Capping this program, with the exception of workers who have labor protections through unions, is a major step to protect workers and employers who are acting in good faith.”

The H-2A program is an opportunity for mutual benefit for U.S.-based companies and temporary workers. However, there have been reported cases of workers dying of heatstroke, being kidnapped and assaulted, and not receiving the wages, housing, or safety equipment they were promised. 

The fact that this program is uncapped allows bad-faith employers to abuse the system without repercussion, with a seemingly endless supply of workers. The U.S. Farmworker Protection Act would cap the program at 400,000 workers annually, with an exception for those who get labor protections through union membership. 

“The trafficking, abuse, and exploitation exposed within the H-2A guest worker program should anger every American,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “Yet this uncapped guest worker program continues to grow — undercutting local wages and jobs. This common sense legislation will impose a numerical cap on the H-2A guest worker program for the first time, stabilizing the runaway growth of the H-2A program in line with its original statutory intent. This bill is necessary to create an agricultural labor market more conducive to the needs of the farm workers who are already here and have been feeding America for decades.”

The legislation is also sponsored by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37).

It is also endorsed by United Farm Workers; UFW Foundation; AFL-CIO; Farm Labor Organizing Committee; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); CASA; PCUN; Farmworker Association of Florida.

Issues: Immigration, Jobs, Labor, & the Economy

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON — This week, Rep. Lauren Underwood announced that her legislation to rename the Plainfield Post Office in honor of Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. passed the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with unanimous bipartisan support. The legislation is now awaiting consideration by the full House of Representatives.

Underwood secured support from every member of the Illinois congressional delegation – Representatives Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Sean Casten (IL-06), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Bill Foster (IL-11), Mike Bost (IL-12), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Mary Miller (IL-15), Darin LaHood (IL-16), and Eric Sorensen (IL-17) – to honor her constituent by officially designating the Post Office Building at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, IL as the “Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. Post Office Building.”

Staff Sergeant Dueñez and three other U.S. soldiers were killed during an Army training exercise in Lithuania on March 31, 2025. His family described Dueñez as “someone who always wanted to protect people.” He was a beloved member of his community who enlisted right after high school and served his country for seven years.

“Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. represents the best of our community. He was an extraordinary hero who served his country with strength and resilience,” Rep. Underwood said. “I’m honored to lead this legislation to permanently commemorate his sacrifice and service. The Plainfield Post Office will bear his name as reminder of his contributions not only to his country, but to his community and family as a father, husband, brother, and son.”

Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. was born on April 8, 1999, and was raised in Joliet along with his five sisters. Dueñez was promoted five times over the course of his service, ultimately reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant in November of 2020. He served in three overseas deployments—Poland in 2019, Germany in 2022, and Lithuania in 2025—and was recognized with two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, one Certificate of Achievement, two Army Good Conduct Medals, and a National Defense Service Medal.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Speaker Johnson led a dedication ceremony for the newly designated Frederick Douglass Press Gallery in the U.S. Capitol. The ceremony featured remarks from Speaker Johnson, Rep. Byron Donalds, and Rep. Burgess Owens.

Rep. Donalds led the bipartisan initiative to rename the House Press Gallery after Frederick Douglass, the renowned abolitionist, orator, and scholar who became the first black journalist to report from the U.S. Capitol press galleries.

“Perhaps more successfully than any American of his time, Douglass built a life and legacy off the power of his pen and his powerful voice. He wielded that power to great effect in this institution and the halls that will now appropriately bear his name,” Speaker Johnson said. “I’m proud to have played a small part in the dedication of this treasured House institution alongside my dear friend, Byron Donalds, and I want to commend Congressman Donalds for his resolve in spearheading this effort.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s press conference remarks here.

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

Thank you all for being here. It’s an honor to welcome you to this very special event. It’s a day that’s been a long time coming. As Speaker, I have the distinct privilege of overseeing many of the institutional events and ceremonies and tributes that take place throughout the year right here in the U.S. Capitol Building – and it’s one of the fun parts of the job. Maybe the only fun part of the job now that I think about it. But today’s ceremony is a first, not just for me, but for the history of the Speakership and this building itself.

For nearly 200 years, since its inception in the 1800s, the House Press Gallery has always been named just that, the very bland, the “Press Gallery”. Neither the House Gallery nor the Senate Gallery has ever borne the name of any American in the history of this institution. That, of course, changes today with the historic unveiling of the Frederick Douglass Press Gallery.

Frederick Douglass, as you know, was an extraordinary American. I said upstairs in brief remarks that scripture is clear that we are to give honor where honor is due, and he’s certainly an American that is deserving of that honor. After escaping slavery, he prevailed through determination, grit, and brilliance. Frederick Douglass became many things. He was a renowned abolitionist, of course. He was an acclaimed journalist and editor. He was a prolific philosophical thinker. He was an orator of almost unparalleled stature in American history, almost as good as Byron Donalds. He was a trusted, close advisor to multiple presidents – most famously, of course, with Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday we celebrate today.

Perhaps more successfully than any American of his time, Douglass built a life and legacy off the power of his pen and his powerful voice, and he wielded that power to great effect in this institution and the halls that will now appropriately bear his name.

I’m proud to have played a small part in the dedication of this treasured House institution alongside my dear friend Byron Donalds, and I want to commend Congressman Donalds for his resolve in spearheading this effort. He would not let it go. He was doggedly determined to make it happen, and that’s what it takes around here.

And I want to thank as well, Chairman Graves for his involvement, the Press Gallery staff, and every one of our House colleagues who made this day possible. One of those champions is with us, a literal champion in every sense, Burgess Owens, the only Member of Congress who wears a Super Bowl ring, and he lets me wear it on occasion, and it hangs off my finger.

Byron will speak much more to the incredible legacy of this great American that we appropriately honor today, but first, I want to welcome Pastor Dennie to deliver our invocation.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), ), who serves on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, today hailed the passage of a House measure to end President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, America’s neighbor and close ally to the north, which has been significantly alienated over the past year by Trump’s tariffs, tantrums, bullying and threats. The measure now goes to the Senate, which previously passed similar legislation led by Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.

“President Trump’s tariffs have crushed our economy, raised prices, and alienated our allies for the past year. These effects have been particularly harmful to our strategic and economic relationship with Canada, one of our closest allies and largest trading partners. Despite the clear harm to American interests from these tariffs, House Republicans steadfastly refused to even allow a vote in Congress – which has sole authority under the Constitution to regulate taxes and trade – until now. And with this massive vote to rebuke Trump’s disastrous trade policy, everyone now knows why.

“The President admitted yesterday that he imposed tariffs on an American trading partner simply because he didn’t like a foreign leader’s tone. Donald Trump’s mercurial whims are not a national security emergency, yet his administration has dishonestly claimed in court that his tariffs are necessitated by a fictitious national emergency. In fact, new reporting strongly suggests that his latest feud with Canada is primarily motivated by a corrupt desire to benefit political allies of disgraced Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

“The American people see through all of this, which is one reason why Trump’s tariffs are deeply unpopular. I am glad that some of my Republican colleagues have finally chosen to do the right thing, although the vote says that Speaker Johnson is correct when he says ‘the vast majority of House Republicans agree wholeheartedly with the president’ on trade and will continue to ‘give him the latitude to continue’ his price-raising tariffs. We will have more votes to come on Trump’s tariffs, and I encourage Republicans to do the right thing, stand up to Trump, and vote to lower prices for their constituents.”

Economic analysis by the Tax Foundation finds that Trump’s tariffs cost American families $1,000 last year, while similar analysis from Congress’ Joint Economic Committee put the figure at $1,625.

Beyer chairs the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force, and is the sponsor of the Congressional Trade Authority Act, which would rein in presidential abuses of authorities under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

Beyer is the co-lead, with Rep. Suzan DelBene, of legislation to end abuses of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff authorities, and an original cosponsor of the Repealing Outdated and Unilateral Tariff Authorities Act, which would repeal Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930; the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, which would strike Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a law that currently allows the President to impose sweeping 15% tariffs on all imports under a “balance of payments” crisis; and the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, which would halt President Trump’s trade wars, repeal tariffs, and reclaim Congress’ lawful authority over tariffs.