Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive three grants totaling $1,820,304 from three National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The first, for $737,231, is for research into race-specific cardiomyopathy risk prediction under the direction of Dr. Yadav Sapkota, from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. African Americans have a 2.5-fold higher prevalence of cardiomyopathy (a progressive type of heart disease) than Non-Hispanic Whites after successful treatment of childhood cancers with chest-directed radiation or anthracycline chemotherapies. The aim of this project is to better identify the genetic risk factors underlying the increased propensity to develop cardiomyopathies. 

The second, for $628,073, is for mechanistic dissection and targeting of non-cell autonomous tumor promotion under the direction of Dr. Mark Edward Hatley from the National Cancer Institute. The goals of this project are to understand the molecular mechanisms which increase the likelihood for developing cancers in patients with DICER1 syndrome.  DICER1 syndrome is a genetic disorder that makes a person more likely to develop certain types of benign and malignant tumors. This work aims to better identify molecular targets for treatment of this syndrome, and reducing the development of cancer.

The third, for $455,000, is for research into antibiotic tolerance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and how antibiotics help the bacteria break itself down (autolysis) under the direction of Dr. Elaine I. Tuomanen from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Her group aims to better understand how the LytA enzyme drives autolysis, especially in response to antibiotics. In response to antibiotics, bacteria develop resistance mechanisms. This work will better help uncover how bacteria develop resistance to the critical threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“I am always pleased to see these federal investments go towards important research at our premiere children’s research hospital and I’m impressed with the scope of research underwritten by these grants. I commend Drs. Sapkota, Hatley and Tuomanen, and St. Jude, for their dedication to this life-saving work.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led 27 members in a letter to the Office of Head Start, urging them to withdraw the proposed rule that would eliminate the wage and benefit standards finalized in 2024. These standards were designed to stabilize the Head Start workforce and improve program quality for children and families.

The members wrote, “At its core, this proposal asks the American people to accept that the teachers and staff caring for some of our nation’s most vulnerable children should continue earning wages so low that many cannot afford to stay in the profession. That is not flexibility; rather, it is a continuation of the workforce crisis already forcing classrooms to close and cutting off access for the families who depend on Head Start most.”

“The families who rely on Head Start — and the educators who make it work — deserve far better than a return to chronic underpayment and workforce instability. We recognize that implementing these standards requires adequate federal investment, and we are committed to working toward the appropriations necessary to make that possible,” they continued. 

“Reducing support for the Head Start workforce will not expand access — it will deepen staffing shortages and make it harder for programs to serve eligible children. When classrooms close because positions cannot be filled, children and families pay the price. Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start programs see these challenges every day, and we are grateful to the members of Congress who are standing up and demanding better for our educators,” said Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, Executive Director Illinois Head Start Association.

The full text of the letter is HERE and below: 

Director of Policy and Planning, Office of Head Start

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

330 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20201

Re: Comment to Proposed Rule “Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access” (ACF-2026- 0364 )

Dear Director,

We write as Members of Congress in strong opposition to the proposed rule, “Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access,” published on May 12, 2026. This proposal would eliminate the wage and benefit standards finalized in 2024 — standards designed to stabilize the Head Start workforce and improve program quality for children and families. We urge the Trump Administration to withdraw this rule immediately.

At its core, this proposal asks the American people to accept that the teachers and staff caring for some of our nation’s most vulnerable children should continue earning wages so low that many cannot afford to stay in the profession. That is not flexibility; rather, it is a continuation of the workforce crisis already forcing classrooms to close and cutting off access for the families who depend on Head Start most.

This proposed rule does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a broader, systematic effort by the Trump Administration to dismantle Head Start. In 2025, a leaked Administration proposal would have eliminated the program entirely. While that plan was never finalized, the Administration pressed forward on multiple fronts. Five of the program’s ten regional offices were shuttered, and by April 2025, the Administration had withheld nearly one billion dollars in federal grants to Head Start Centers nationwide. The consequences were immediate and severe: centers closed, families lost access, and teachers lost jobs. Then in July 2025, the Administration released a notice reclassifying Head Start as a “federal public benefit” — reversing an interpretation in place since 1998 — which blocks DACA recipients and those with Temporary Protected Status from enrolling in some Head Start programs. This proposed rule is the next step in that same effort to destroy Head Start piece by piece.

The Administration argues that the 2024 standards exceeded the authority provided under the Head Start Act. The statute itself directs the Secretary to ensure Head Start compensation is comparable to wages paid for substantially similar work in local communities and prohibits compensation from falling below the federal minimum wage. The 2024 rule did exactly that. It did not impose a one-size-fits-all national salary mandate. Instead, it created a locally calibrated framework tying compensation to comparable public preschool wages and encouraged programs to build sustainable salary structures based on training, experience, and responsibilities.

The proposed rollback ignores the economic reality facing the early childhood workforce. The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009 — a wage that, in 2025, falls below the poverty line for a household of any size. Yet, the Administration points to that same floor as sufficient protection for Head Start workers. Congress did not create Head Start for the educators delivering it to rely on poverty wages.

Head Start educators are highly skilled professionals responsible for supporting children during the most critical years of human development. They build language and literacy skills, strengthen social and emotional development, and prepare children for lasting success in school and beyond. It is critical that these educators are compensated at a level that reflects the importance of their work and allows them to stay in the classroom. 

Head Start exists to ensure that every family, regardless of circumstance, has access to high-quality early childhood care and education. It serves children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, and countless others whose families are navigating the hardest seasons of their lives. Since 1972, Head Start requires that at least ten percent of enrollment include children eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and more than one million young children who experience homelessness are automatically eligible for the program. This program is a lifeline for families working to get back on their feet — and the wages and benefits of Head Start employees must reflect the weight of that work.

According to the Urban Institute, the national average salary for Head Start teachers during the 2021–2022 program year was approximately $39,998, while Early Head Start teachers averaged roughly $34,449. Those averages, however, mask severe disparities across states. In Mississippi, Head Start teachers earned an average salary of just $26,964 annually — well below the national average pay of $56,060 for preschool teachers in elementary and school-based settings reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2023.

The 2024 rule addressed these disparities by requiring Head Start programs to move toward compensation levels comparable to local public preschool educators. Where no direct preschool comparison existed, programs could use 90 percent of local kindergarten teacher salaries as a benchmark. The rule also recognized longstanding pay inequities between preschool and infant-toddler educators by promoting wage comparability between Head Start and Early Head Start staff. The Office of Head Start projected that these locally calibrated standards would raise most Head Start teacher salaries by roughly $10,000.

Critically, these requirements were phased in over several years. Benefit standards were not scheduled for full implementation until 2028, and wage standards until 2031 — giving Congress time to work toward the necessary funding. Rather than allowing that process to move forward, the Administration is seeking to eliminate the standards before they are ever fully implemented.

Head Start is already experiencing a severe workforce shortage driven primarily by inadequate compensation. Data from the National Head Start Association found that in 2023, fifteen percent of Head Start staff positions were vacant and fourteen percent of classrooms were closed — with more than half of programs identifying compensation as the leading cause. Early childhood educators experience poverty rates far higher than K–8 teachers, despite performing work that is foundational to children’s long-term success. Eliminating compensation standards will not preserve enrollment slots. It will deepen the staffing crisis that is already causing children to lose access today.

Decades of evidence demonstrate that Head Start produces measurable improvements in educational, health, and economic outcomes. Children in the program make documented gains in language, literacy, and math. They demonstrate stronger social-emotional development and healthier outcomes by kindergarten. Long-term studies show Head Start participants are more likely to graduate high school, attend college, and earn postsecondary credentials.

Those outcomes depend on the workforce that delivers them. Educators cannot continue providing high-quality services while being asked to accept wages and benefits that leave many unable to afford housing, health care, or child care for their own families — and a study from the 2024-2025 program year confirms that low compensation remains the leading cause of staff turnover in Head Start. No program sustains quality when experienced teachers are continuously forced out of the field by economic necessity. The Trump Administration claims this rule change will allow Head Start to serve an additional 106,000 children, but that argument collapses under the most basic scrutiny: you cannot serve more children without more teachers. Cutting compensation does not serve more families, it accelerates the departure of the very educators that we need to expand access. 

We also reject the false choice this proposal implies: that the federal government must choose between supporting compensation and preserving Head Start access. Congress has both the ability and the responsibility to adequately fund Head Start so that programs can retain qualified educators and continue serving children — not one or the other.

Head Start has served families for six decades because the nation recognized that investing in children early produces stronger communities and a stronger economy. Weakening the workforce standards that make the program possible moves us in exactly the wrong direction. 

We urge the Trump Administration to withdraw this proposed rule and preserve the 2024 workforce standards. The families who rely on Head Start — and the educators who make it work — deserve far better than a return to chronic underpayment and workforce instability. We recognize that implementing these standards requires adequate federal investment, and we are committed to working toward the appropriations necessary to make that possible. We stand ready to work with the Administration to identify and secure the funding needed to ensure Head Start educators are compensated fairly. This is not an impossible problem — it is a question of will. The children, families, and educators who depend on this program deserve a federal government willing to meet the moment.

Respectfully submitted,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, joined Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, along with other members of Colorado’s congressional delegation, in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding plans to reorganize the Forest Service, including a proposed restructuring of the agency and reassignment of personnel.

The Colorado lawmakers requested answers to several questions about how the Agriculture Department plans to implement the reorganization, underscoring concerns about the timing of the decision as the Western United States—and much of the country—enters what is expected to be a severe wildfire season.

“We write to request information about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) that the agency announced on March 31, 2026. […] Given the significance of USFS land management to our state and the country, we would like to better understand how the proposed USFS reorganization will affect staffing, safe and effective public lands management, and the agency’s multiple-use mission,” wrote Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper and the lawmakers.

Neguse and Bennet have been leading the fight to ensure the federal government is prepared to respond in the face of record-high temperatures, drought conditions, and heightened wildfire risk. In April, they called on Trump administration officials to get serious about advancing a comprehensive federal approach to addressing the wildfire crisis, urging action to bolster response and preparedness work.

“We stand ready to work with you to ensure that any USFS reorganization is carefully and thoughtfully executed. […] However, several Colorado communities have expressed concerns that the USFS reorganization may reduce staff retention, delay critical hazardous fuels reduction work, and disrupt critical permitting, contracts, and agreements for ski resorts, guides and outfitters, and other businesses. We share the questions and concerns raised by Coloradans regarding the timing of the proposed reorganization as we enter what is likely to be a severe fire season.”

Neguse recently questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz about the agency’s staffing cuts and downsizing when he appeared before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a fully staffed workforce during the current wildfire season and urged Chief Schultz to support the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry program, which partners with federal, tribal, state, and local entities to manage wildland fire across national forests and grasslands.

President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hit Colorado’s public lands workforce harder than any other state, with Colorado experiencing more public lands agency job losses than any other state. Neguse introduced legislation to prohibit further mass terminations at land management agencies, including the Forest Service. 

The lawmakers concluded: “As the USDA and USFS reorganizations progress, we appreciate your continued engagement to ensure that the reorganization effort improves service delivery to the American public, increases coordination between Federal, state, local, and Tribal partners, and wisely uses USDA’s limited resources. Like you, we see Colorado as the obvious choice to support agriculture and forestry across the nation and look forward to partnering in the future to ensure the success of farmers, forests, and rural communities across the country.”

Read the full letter HERE and below: 

The Honorable Brooke Rollins

Secretary

United States Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write to request information about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) that the agency announced on March 31, 2026. USFS manages 16 million acres in Colorado, including White River National Forest, the nation’s most visited national forest. These lands provide drinking water to four major river systems and 18 other states while supporting recreation, grazing, timber harvests, and multiple other uses. Given the significance of USFS land management to our state and the country, we would like to better understand how the proposed USFS reorganization will affect staffing, safe and effective public lands management, and the agency’s multiple-use mission. 

We stand ready to work with you to ensure that any USFS reorganization is carefully and thoughtfully executed. We also appreciate your choice of Fort Collins, a city already central to agriculture and forestry research and education, as a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hub. However, several Colorado communities have expressed concerns that the USFS reorganization may reduce staff retention, delay critical hazardous fuels reduction work, and disrupt critical permitting, contracts, and agreements for ski resorts, guides and outfitters, and other businesses. We share the questions and concerns raised by Coloradans regarding the timing of the proposed reorganization as we enter what is likely to be a severe fire season. Additionally, we believe that any major reorganization of an agency should include public participation and substantive Tribal consultation, which we encourage you to initiate as soon as possible.

Therefore, we would appreciate your response to the following questions within 10 business days:

For more than a century, USFS has relied on experienced staff to make critical land management and wildfire response decisions affecting millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of acres of public land. Given the extensive USFS layoffs and reductions in force in 2025, including nearly 350 reported cuts in Colorado alone, we are deeply concerned by USDA’s June 2025 statement that its reorganization is “another step” in reducing its workforce. Furthermore, the President’s Budget proposes to eliminate key USFS programs such as Research & Development and State, Tribal, and Private Forestry.

• How will USDA ensure that USFS retains the institutional knowledge and expert staffing necessary to effectively manage the nation’s public lands? 
• Will USFS staff currently located in Colorado be retained in Colorado?
• How will you support staff required to relocate from the Lakewood Office to the new Fort Collins facility, roughly 70 miles away?

 This winter marked Colorado’s worst snowpack in recorded history, making it more important than ever for USFS to be proactive in addressing hazardous fuels reduction, and ready to respond to fires.

• What assurances can you provide that FY26 funding for hazardous fuels reduction will be deployed during the agency’s reorganization?
• What is the rationale for moving ahead on this reorganization now, rather than waiting until the end of the summer fire season? 

In 2025, USFS targeted only 3.6 million acres for hazardous fuels reduction, a 600,000-acre decline from its 2024 target of 4.2 million acres. Of its 3.6 million acre target, USFS treated only 3.3 million acres in 2025, a decrease of nearly 1 million acres from the 4.29 million treated in 2024. In short, hazardous fuels projects dropped by 23% year-over-year and prescribed burns saw a similar decline. This decline comes despite the administration’s repeated actions to limit its environmental review procedures, which the administration intended to expedite timber production and wildfire mitigation project planning and implementation.

• How will the reorganization assist USFS in returning to previous – ideally even higher – levels of fuels reduction? What is your timeline for offsetting the 23% decrease in USFS hazardous fuels reduction projects in 2025?
• In correspondence with Congress, USFS Chief Schultz referenced staff-driven “operational challenges” at the agency being partially responsible for decline in hazardous fuels reduction work. What are the “operational challenges” referenced by Chief Schultz and how will the reorganization rectify these issues?
• A provision of the President’s reconciliation bill (P.L. 119-21 § 10201(1)) rescinded $100 million provided to USFS to fund environmental reviews. How did the elimination of this critical funding, combined with USFS’s reduced staffing numbers, contribute to the decline in hazardous fuels treatments? 
• The proposed Wildland Fire Service consolidation includes plans to move wildfire mitigation from the Forest Service to the Department of the Interior. Many USFS land management professionals who work on wildfire resilience help meet other essential agency functions. If such a move were to occur, will USFS have sufficient staff to process special use permits, range improvement projects, and oversee wildlife habitat improvement?

Regional offices provide critical support services and often take on projects that are more complicated than a single Forest or Ranger District can handle alone, including permitting for ski resorts, forest planning, realty, permit appeals, and other specialized needs. Disrupting these services could jeopardize Colorado’s $18 billion outdoor recreation economy, grazing permittees across the state, and thousands of small businesses.

• What analysis was used to decide on a shift away from the regional model? What metrics will you monitor during the reorganization to demonstrate that you are meeting the objectives you originally set to achieve through this restructuring?
• What steps will the agency take to communicate with, and minimize disruptions to recreation groups, youth corps, mineral developers, grazers and livestock producers, ski resorts, and others that rely on and help support our National Forest System lands? 
• How will USFS ensure that decisions and work typically accomplished at the regional level do not stall during the transition?
• Currently, there are explicit references in federal law and regulation to specific USFS Regions and responsibilities of Regions, Regional Foresters, and regional programs that will be eliminated. How do you intend to address statutory and regulatory references to such regions, if they are eliminated?

What – if any – metrics are being used to determine ideal staffing targets at USDA and USFS? Please provide any economic analysis, government/Tribal/community consultation, and an analysis of workload relative to size of workforce used to measure workforce reduction viability. 

State, local, and Tribal governments, scientists, and communities are central to the Forest Service’s work to expand recreation, support jobs, and protect homes and businesses from wildfire across the 193 million acres it manages, including lands that provide drinking water to 80 million Americans. Any reorganization of USFS must involve close collaboration with states, sovereign Tribal nations, and local communities, while recognizing the diverse needs of different regions of the country. 

• How does USFS plan to solicit public comment as the agency implements its reorganization, and how will the agency continue engaging with the public?
• How does the USFS plan to incorporate a robust Tribal consultation period as the agency implements its reorganization, and how will the agency continue engaging with Tribes? 

As the USDA and USFS reorganizations progress, we appreciate your continued engagement to ensure that the reorganization effort improves service delivery to the American public, increases coordination between Federal, state, local, and Tribal partners, and wisely uses USDA’s limited resources. Like you, we see Colorado as the obvious choice to support agriculture and forestry across the nation and look forward to partnering in the future to ensure the success of farmers, forests, and rural communities across the country.

Sincerely,  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

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

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs, Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee, applauded the Committee’s passage of their comprehensive legislation to address the ongoing crisis in Sudan:

“Sudan remains the largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world due to the ongoing, brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Our legislation – which yesterday passed through the committee’s markup – would mandate sanctions on those perpetrating atrocities across Sudan, require the U.S. government to develop a strategy for protecting civilians and delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance, and extend the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan’s mandate to give this war the attention it requires.

“While more is needed to address the critical role external actors play in fueling Sudan’s conflict, the U.S. Engagement in Sudanese Peace Act sends a powerful signal that the U.S. has not forgotten the Sudanese people and remains committed to bringing their suffering and this conflict to a sustainable end. The Trump administration must use any and all leverage to do so. We look forward to bringing this bill to the House floor, where we are confident it will pass with broad bipartisan support.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) Faster Labor Contracts Act passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that when workers vote to form a union, employers are not allowed to drag out negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement.

“As a former police officer who organized my union, I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating this process can be for workers seeking a fair and timely contract,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “America’s workers are the backbone of our economy, yet too often employers delay negotiations or refuse to engage in good-faith bargaining when it comes to a first union contract. The Faster Labor Contracts Act will ensure employers come to the table quickly, and I look forward to seeing this legislation have a positive impact on countless union workers and their families across the Northland.”

According to Bloomberg Law, it takes an average of 458 days for unions and employers to agree on a first contract. 

The Faster Labor Contracts Act will amend Section 8(d) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to require the following: 

• After workers have voted to form a union, employers must begin negotiating with the new union within 10 days.
• If no agreement is reached after 90 days, a government mediator will step in to assist.
• If mediation fails 30 days after that, the dispute will be referred to a binding 3-person arbitration panel made up of one representative chosen by the workers, one representative chosen by the employers, and a neutral third member. 

This bill is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); American Compass; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW); International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; International Union of Operating Engineers; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA); Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.); National Employment Law Project; Transport Workers Union (TWU); Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM); United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA); United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC); United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW); United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); United Steelworkers (USW); Utility Workers Union of America

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), joined by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities and recognizing the contributions of Portuguese Americans across the United States.
Observed annually on June 10, Portugal Day celebrates Portuguese heritage, culture, and the legacy of Luís Vaz de Camões, one of Portugal’s most influential literary figures.
“As the grandson of Portuguese immigrants from the Azores, I am proud to help recognize the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities,”said Congressman Costa. “The Portuguese American community has played an important role in shaping the San Joaquin Valley and our nation, and this resolution honors the generations whose hard work and values continue to strengthen our communities.”
“As a proud Portuguese American and co-chair of the Congressional Portuguese Caucus, I’m honored to join Congressman Costa in recognizing June 10th as Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Central Valley is home to a strong Portuguese American community whose values, traditions, and work ethic have helped shaped our region for generations. As we honor the life and legacy of Luís de Camões, we also celebrate the countless contributions Portuguese communities continue to make in the Central Valley and across the nation.”
The resolution recognizes the more than 1.3 million Portuguese Americans living in the United States, commemorates Portugal Day, and reaffirms the longstanding friendship between the United States and Portugal.
Click HEREto read the full resolution.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to Congressional Republicans passing Trump’s budget that prioritizes expanding Trump’s out of ICE over lowering costs for Michigan families, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens issued the following statement:

“Instead of helping Michigan families who are struggling to afford health care, groceries, and housing, Trump and Republicans are ramming an additional $70 billion through Congress for ICE and Border Patrol.

“This Administration could not be further out of touch with what Americans need right now.

“After gutting health care and food assistance for working families, Republicans are now handing yet another blank check to agencies that have abused their authority, operated without accountability, and even killed American citizens in broad daylight. Rather than redirect the first $75 billion slush fund they gave ICE last year, Republicans have chosen to double down and balloon ICE’s windfall at taxpayer expense.

“Michiganders are worried about the price they see at the checkout line, the cost of filling up their gas tank, and whether they can afford their next prescription. They are not asking Washington to funnel tens of billions more dollars to Donald Trump’s out-of-control ICE.

“Taking away food assistance and health care to bankroll an unaccountable and out-of-control agency that has repeatedly terrorized communities and eroded trust is not leadership. It is a betrayal of the people who sent them to Washington.

“Michiganders deserve better.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) led a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, expressing support for her department’s response to the New World screwworm and highlighting Arizona’s unique ability to support long-term prevention, surveillance, and response efforts.

Following USDA’s announcement of the first confirmed New World screwworm detection on Wednesday, June 3, four additional cases have been confirmed in New Mexico and Texas. These revelations have caused great concern among Americans, who fear an outbreak would threaten cattle, sheep, goats, horses, wildlife, and pets while imposing substantial economic costs on producers and consumers. As the letter recognizes, USDA has demonstrated a willingness to act early, coordinate across agencies, and deploy available resources to protect American agriculture – rather than waiting for a crisis to emerge.

“I’m grateful for USDA’s proactive response to address the New World screwworm threat at our southern border,”said Congressman Biggs.“These decisive federal actions will certainly help protect America’s food supply and livestock industry. As the administration carries out its strategy, Arizona stands ready to support USDA’s long-term response. With our border access, transportation networks, livestock expertise, and university-led research, Arizona is well positioned to help prevent an outbreak, protect producers, and strengthen regional stability before this pest can take hold on American soil.”

One Arizona infrastructure pivotal to this national effort would be the Douglas sterile fly facility site, which remains a strategically valuable location for future production capacity and strengthens the state’s ability to support containment actions.

Joining Congressman Biggs on the letter to USDA are Congressmen Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08), Eli Crane (AZ-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-04).

Read the letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance (CHIA), sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Department of State to publicly oppose any effort by Turkey to codify the controversial “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine into Turkish law.  The lawmakers warned that formalizing Turkey’s expansive and heavily disputed maritime claims would threaten stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, undermine NATO cohesion, jeopardize regional energy cooperation, and negatively affect U.S. national security interests. 

The letter states: “The United States has a longstanding interest in promoting stability, security, and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey’s reported consideration of legislation to codify the Blue Homeland doctrine would further inflame regional tensions, challenge internationally recognized maritime norms, and threaten important partnerships that strengthen our collective security. At a time when NATO must remain united against growing global threats, actions that deepen divisions among allies serve only to benefit our adversaries.” 

Bilirakis and Schneider emphasized that codification of the Blue Homeland doctrine would directly undermine the objectives of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019, landmark legislation that strengthened strategic cooperation among the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel while advancing regional energy security and diversification.  They further noted that increased maritime tensions and legal uncertainty could discourage investment, delay critical energy and infrastructure projects, and weaken broader efforts to reduce strategic vulnerabilities throughout the region. 

“The Eastern Mediterranean remains a strategically vital region for the United States and our allies,” the lawmakers continued. “The United States must continue to champion freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute resolution, and adherence to internationally recognized legal principles. Any attempt to formalize disputed maritime claims through domestic legislation risks increasing instability, heightening the potential for conflict, and diminishing opportunities for diplomatic solutions.” 

 In the letter, Bilirakis and Schneider urged Secretary Rubio and the Department of State to: 

• Publicly oppose any Turkish legislation that codifies the Blue Homeland doctrine or otherwise formalizes disputed maritime claims; 

• Communicate U.S. concerns directly to senior Turkish officials; 

• Reaffirm U.S. support for freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute resolution, and internationally recognized maritime norms; and 

• Work with allies and partners to preserve stability, reduce tensions, and strengthen cooperation throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. 

 The lawmakers concluded that while Turkey remains an important NATO ally, codification of the Blue Homeland doctrine would represent a direct challenge to American strategic interests and the security of key U.S. partners in the region. They stressed that a clear and unequivocal response from the United States would reinforce longstanding American commitments to regional stability, alliance unity, and national security. 

The full letter is linked here and below. 

Dear Secretary Rubio, 

We write to express severe concern regarding reports that Turkey is considering legislation to codify the “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine into Turkish law. We urge the Department of State to oppose publicly any such effort and communicate directly to Turkish officials that formalizing expansive and heavily disputed maritime claims would undermine regional stability, energy cooperation, NATO cohesion, and U.S. national security interests. 

The United States has a strong interest in preserving peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and has long supported initiatives that strengthen energy diversification and resilience among allies and partners. Codification of the Blue Homeland doctrine directly challenges the intent of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019, which we worked so hard to get passed into law. Maritime tensions and legal uncertainty surrounding energy development and infrastructure projects will discourage investment, impede regional cooperation, and weaken broader efforts to reduce strategic vulnerabilities.

It would undermine NATO at a critical moment. As the Alliance continues to face unprecedented challenges, disputes among NATO allies divert military resources, diplomatic attention, and political capital away from shared security priorities. Alliance cohesion remains one of the United States’ greatest strategic advantages, and actions that deepen divisions among allies or risks conflict ultimately benefit America’s adversaries. 

Most importantly, it would increase risks in a strategically vital operating environment for U.S. forces. The Eastern Mediterranean remains essential to U.S. and allied military operations linking Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Escalating maritime disputes increase the likelihood of incidents, miscalculation, and crises that could threaten regional stability and require American intervention and diplomatic management. 

The United States has consistently supported freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute resolution, and the resolution of maritime disagreements through diplomacy and internationally recognized legal principles. Codifying controversial and disputed maritime claims into domestic law risks setting a troubling precedent and reducing opportunities for negotiated solutions. 

Accordingly, we respectfully urge the Department of State to: 

• Publicly oppose any Turkish legislation that codifies the Blue Homeland doctrine or otherwise formalizes disputed maritime claims; 

• Communicate U.S. concerns directly to senior Turkish officials; 

• Reaffirm U.S. support for freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute resolution, and internationally recognized maritime norms; and 

• Work with allies and partners to preserve stability, reduce tensions, and strengthen cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

Turkey is an important NATO ally, but codification of the Blue Homeland doctrine is a direct threat to American interests and steadfast American allies across the region. A clear statement from the United States opposing the codification of disputed maritime claims would reinforce longstanding American interests in regional stability, alliance unity, and American national security.