Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), submitted a Congressional Record recognizing the solemn 25th anniversary of the Queen Isabella Causeway Collapse. On September 15, 2001, days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a ship struck a supporting pillar of the Queen Isabella Causeway. This bridge connects Port Isabel on the South Texas mainland to South Padre Island. A Congressional Record is a daily transcript of all proceedings of the United States Congress, including any remarks provided by a member in either chamber to commemorate notable events in the communities they serve. 

“Twenty-five years later and our community still mourns this painful chapter in our history that took the lives of eight South Texans. With this Congressional Recognition, we are preserving their memory and enshrining the strength and resiliency of a community that came together during an unimaginable tragedy into the record books of the United States Congress,” said Congressman Gonzalez. 

South Texas and the entire community of Port Isabel were shaken to its core when a tugboat tragically crashed into a support column of the Queen Isabella Causeway, causing two 85-foot sections of the causeway to fall into the water and leaving a 160-foot gap in the roadway. Eight of the 11 individuals on the Causeway at the time of the collapse did not survive, and the damage created significant challenges for residents, workers, and visitors who utilized the bridge for daily travel.  

Rebuilt in November 2001, the renamed Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway honors the victims, their families, survivors, and emergency responders while serving as a reminder of the profound impact this tragedy continues to have on South Texas communities. 

The full text of the Congressional Record can be found here.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) delivered a speech from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to urge Speaker Mike Johnson, President Donald Trump and his Administration to follow through with their promise to address the water crisis in Corpus Christi. 

On February 27, 2026, President Trump made an appearance at the Port of Corpus Christi. While there, he made the following promise regarding a request for federal water funding: “This is called a serious money ask, and I’m going to get that thing approved for you guys.”  

Watch the Congressman’s full floor speech HERE. 

Transcript Below: 

Mister speaker I urge you to make President Trump fulfill his promise to the Corpus Christi community. 

Corpus Christi heard him clearly. When the President visited our city, he called our request for federal water funding a “serious money ask.” He then made a commitment to the people of Corpus Christi: “We’re going to take care of it.”

Today, I am asking him to keep that promise. And I urge you to ensure he does. Water is not a partisan issue. It is not a luxury, and it cannot wait for another election or another round of political speeches. Reliable water is essential for our families, our hospitals, our schools, our military installations, our small businesses, and the thousands of workers who keep the Port of Corpus Christi moving.

I was born and raised in Corpus Christi. This is my hometown, and I know its people. They work hard, pay their taxes, and help power the economy of Texas and the United States. They should not have to wonder whether their community will have enough water to survive and grow. 

We need the Administration to immediately identify the federal funding available, designate the responsible agency, and provide a firm timetable for delivering the support the President promised. 

If congressional action is required, send us the request. I am ready to work with Republicans, Democrats, state leaders, and local officials to get this done! Everyone has a responsibility here. Local and state leaders must do their part, and the federal government must honor its commitment. 

Mister Speaker, remind the President that Corpus Christi welcomed him. Its people listened to him, and they took him at his word. Now is the time for action. Release the federal support. Help us secure a dependable, long-term water supply. A promise made in Corpus Christi must be a promise kept. Our families cannot live on promises. They need water—and they need it now! 

September 15, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD), encouraged Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford during a hearing to support the Ontario International Airport (ONT), provide its air traffic controllers with the pay and resources they need, and stood up for California’s labor laws requiring rest and meal breaks for the hard-working pilots, flight attendants, and aviation workers that keep Americans safe. She also invited Administrator Bedford to visit ONT and see its operations first hand

Torres highlighted ONT’s growth since 2016, when she helped pass federal legislation returning to local control. In the decade since, passenger numbers have nearly doubled to more than 7 million passengers and ONT now supports more than 24,000 jobs, contributes $5 billion to the regional economy,and has grown to be one of the nation’s busiest cargo airports. In this past year alone, Torres has helped secure $33 million in federal funding for ONT over the past year.

“Ontario International Airport is an economic engine for the Inland Empire, and its continued growth is something we should be proud of,” said Congresswoman Torres. “But as ONT grows, we need to make sure the federal resources supporting it grow too. That means investing in our infrastructure and ensuring the air traffic controllers who keep passengers safe have the staffing and resources they need.”

Torres also called on the FAA to work with her to reclassify ONT’s air traffic control facility, which is currently designated as a Level 5 facility, which results in less pay, worse training outcomes, and lower priority for technology upgrades. Torres noted that the current classification does not adequately reflect ONT’s complex operations, which include 24 hour operations, complicated overnight traffic and cargo demands, and having to operate in Southern California’s busy airspace. She also stated concerns with the fiscal year 2026 Workforce Plan that lowers the previous staffing target at ONT from 21 fully certified controllers to just 15.

“Our air traffic controllers make split-second decisions every day to keep the flying public safe,” continued Torres. “Their resources and staffing should reflect the complexity and demands of the work they are doing at ONT. I will continue working with the FAA to make sure they have the support they deserve.”

Lastly, the Congresswoman called on the FAA Administrator to withdraw its harmful proposal to override all state and local meal and rest break laws, including those in California. Congress explicitly did not grant FAA the authority for the proposal and multiple court rulings and Supreme Court precedent have protected California’s state laws. Limiting flight crews’ or flight attendants’ ability to be well-rested, utilize state-based benefits like meal and rest breaks, or even state-based family or sick leave does not make our aviation system safer. It in fact does the opposite and would harm pilots and flight attendants’ ability to be well-rested and alert.

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Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led all Democratic Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation to call on Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Jared Perdue to provide transparency around holding detainees in outdoor cages only slightly larger than telephone booths at the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” ICE internment camp.

The DHS Inspector General recently released a report which found that 79 detainees were held in “small metal enclosures” of roughly 4-by-4, or 16 square feet for up to 2 hours. Facility staff members described them as “calming areas” for “detainees to de-escalate and have time alone.” They also found numerous other concerning conditions, saying the facility “did not comply with standards related to: Environmental Health and Safety; Special Management Units; Medical Care; Food Service; Personal Hygiene; and Recreation.”

“This is not how America should treat human beings in our custody, regardless of their immigration status. We can enforce our laws without abandoning basic human dignity,” wrote the Members. “And in a nation of laws, there must be consequences when elected officials and their appointees rob taxpayer funds to inflict environmental damage, violate Constitutional protections, and commit acts of torture in our backyard. Those responsible for these conditions must be held accountable and we must make sure nothing like this happens again in Florida.”

The signers comprise all seven Democratic Members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation, including Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-09), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10).

Wasserman Schultz conducted a surprise oversight inspection of the facility in April prior to its closure in June. She also introduced the No Cages in the Everglades Act with fellow Florida Democrats to defund the Everglades internment camp, launch an independent investigation of any laws broken in its construction and operation, and ensure more robust Congressional oversight there and in all similar facilities.

Read the full letter here and below:

As Members of Congress representing the State of Florida, we are sickened by the revelations reported by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security regarding a wide range of human rights abuses at the Everglades camp operated by FDEM that was cruelly nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”.  

In particular, the Inspector General’s report found that people were locked in tiny metal enclosures—just 18 square feet—for up to two hours. The federal watchdog found these conditions unprecedented and a significant risk to detainees’ health and safety. People held in this type of cage, nicknamed “the Box,” were isolated and exposed to environmental hazards including extreme heat and insects. This is a clear violation of the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment in our Constitution, and human rights experts describe this practice as a form of torture. 

Many of us conducted oversight inspections at this facility, which was constructed and operated illegally, using over $1 billion in Florida taxpayer funds designated for responding to emergencies like hurricanes. We witnessed and exposed horrific, inhumane detention conditions that shocked the conscience of our State.  

During these visits, Members in our delegation were repeatedly denied access to view these punishment cages,and told by DHS and FDEM employees and contractors that detainee reports of their existence and use for punitive or coercive purposes were categorically false. We were deceived. It is now clear that this was intended to mislead public officials at public expense. 

The Inspector General report not only confirms many allegations of sadistic cruelty that we saw or were reported by detainees, but sheds light on why the Trump Administration and Florida’s state government worked overtime to block transparency and accountability.  

Shortly after our initial visit, we introduced the No Cages in the Everglades Act to prohibit the use of Federal funds for this appalling project or any other detention facility in the Everglades, require an independent investigation of State and federal laws violated in its construction and management, and permanently codify the rights of Members of Congress to conduct unannounced oversight visits wherever immigrants are detained.  

This is not how America should treat human beings in our custody, regardless of their immigration status. We can enforce our laws without abandoning basic human dignity. And in a nation of laws, there must be consequences when elected officials and their appointees rob taxpayer funds to inflict environmental damage, violate Constitutional protections, and commit acts of torture in our backyard. Those responsible for these conditions must be held accountable and we must make sure nothing like this happens again in Florida. 

In service to that goal, we request your response to the following questions as soon as possible:

1. How many individuals were subjected to treatment constituting torture under U.S. or international law at the Everglades internment camp or at other immigrant detention facilities in Florida?  
2. Has the Office of the Attorney General conducted an analysis of the State’s potential civil liability for cruel and unusual punishment without due process at this facility?  
3. How many other facilities used for immigrant detention in Florida have utilized isolation in small metal cages as a punitive or coercive measure?  

   1. Who instructed FDEM employees and contractors to deceive Members of Congress conducting lawful oversight with respect to the use of these cages?

   2. Will you commit to ceasing this practice and dismantling these cages, wherever they are used?  

4. Have the State government and its contractors involved in constructing and operating the Everglades detention camp appropriately retained and preserved photographic evidence, digital communications, documents, and other records that may be relevant in future investigations, pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes?  

   1. If so, please provide a list of all relevant evidence that you have retained. 

5. Do you commit to fully cooperating with future law enforcement investigations of Florida’s involvement in immigration detention abuses?

   1. If not, are you aware of the potential legal consequences associated with obstructing law enforcement investigations, failing to preserve or report evidence of wrongdoing, or violating court orders or Congressional subpoenas? 

We hope that you will take immediate action to bring these abusive practices to an end and begin repairing the damage you have inflicted on our neighbors, our beloved Everglades, and the State of Florida.

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