Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

For almost two years, the Congressman has echoed a clear warning in Washington. The Administration didn’t listen.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following scathing rebuke of House Republicans’ increased budget allocation to fund ICE:

“Donald Trump and Republicans simply do not care about the problems that the American people are facing. This week, the House will consider the Reckless Republican Budget that hands ICE a blank check to brutalize Americans and does nothing to lower the sky-high cost of groceries, gas, or health care. And it doesn’t stop there. Last week, at 5 o’clock in the morning, the Senate passed a budget that gives ICE and Border Patrol another $70 billion in addition to the over $170 billion they gave the agency last year – without the commonsense reforms New Yorkers are demanding.

“As a senior appropriator, this budget does nothing to decrease the burden felt by my constituents and families across the nation. Republicans have again failed to work collaboratively to bring down the cost of groceries, gas, or health care – which are all spiking due to their failed policies and Donald Trump’s war with Iran. And Senate Republicans voted against amendments that would have stopped the DOJ from giving $1.8 billion in taxpayer dollars to right-wing allies and violent insurrectionists.

Enough is enough– as ICE is brutalizing our communities, killing Americans in the streets, and locking up innocent families and children without due process or cause. While American families are struggling to pay the bills and make ends meet, Trump allies are getting richer. I am continuing my push for accountability and to lower costs for my constituents and families around the nation, not turning a blind eye to corruption and passing a budget that hands over billions of dollars for the Department of Homeland Security’s violent mass deportation policies. I maintain my opposition towards ICE and voted against this funding package that will bolster federal support for ICE without oversight.” 

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

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) today reintroduced the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, bipartisan legislation to expand federal paid leave to include 12 weeks of family and medical leave. Under current law, federal employees are eligible for paid parental leave, but family and medical leave continues to be unpaid.

“I’m proud to represent a district with one of the largest numbers of federal employees in the country, so I am especially conscious of how beneficial it would be to provide comprehensive paid family and medical leave to our public servants,” said Representative Beyer. “We’ve already made meaningful progress by securing paid parental leave for federal employees and expanding paid leave for service members who transition to the federal workforce. The next step is expanding family and medical leave to all federal workers, because every American deserves the peace of mind that comes from being able to take time off to care for their health or a loved one without losing a paycheck.”

“Unpaid leave may protect a job on paper, but for too many working families, it is not leave they can actually afford to take. When a federal employee faces a serious illness or needs to care for a loved one, the choice should not be between earning a paycheck and being present for their family. Without paid leave, workers can be pushed out of careers they have spent years building, agencies lose experienced public servants, and taxpayers lose operational expertise that cannot be easily replaced. Paid family and medical leave is a matter of fairness for federal workers and their families—and smart policy for a government that relies on experienced public servants to deliver for the American people,” said Representative Fitzpatrick.

“I was proud to help lead the charge in securing paid parental leave for our federal employees in 2020. This important bipartisan bill builds on that effort and ensures that medical and caregiving leave are also accessible,” said Representative Houlahan. “Federal workers should no longer be forced to choose between making ends meet or recovering from an illness or caring for a sick loved one. I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this commonsense bill become law.”

Following the enactment of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act in 2019, federal employees now receive paid parental leave, but family and medical leave continues to be unpaid. Studies have shown that providing paid leave for federal employees would save the government at least $50 million annually in turnover and replacement costs. With federal agencies struggling to recruit and retain young talent, family-friendly policies are necessary to maintain a robust workforce. Just six percent of the federal workforce is under the age of 30, while roughly 40 percent of the workforce is eligible to retire within the next three years.

The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act will guarantee 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal employees in all instances covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Specifically, the bill guarantees 12 weeks of paid leave in the following cases:

• Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the employee’s position; and
• In order to care for the spouse, child, or parent of the employee, if such spouse, child, or parent has a serious health condition;
• In order to care for the employee or a family member who is a survivor of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking;
• Because of any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the spouse, child, or parent of the employee is on covered active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty) in the Armed Forces.

The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act is supported by the American Association of University Women (AAUW); American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); A Better Balance; Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action); Caring Across Generations; Coalition on Human Needs; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Equal Rights Advocates; Futures Without Violence; Jewish Women International; MomsRising; National Alliance for Caregiving; National Council of Jewish Women; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Education Association (NEA); National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE); National Partnership for Women and Families; National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU); National Women’s Law Center Action Fund; Paid Leave for All; Reproductive Freedom for All; and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

“NTEU is proud to endorse the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act. This much needed legislation will allow federal workers to take the leave they need, when they need it, without worrying about losing a paycheck,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. “We appreciate the work Reps. Beyer, Fitzpatrick, and Houlahan have done to craft this legislation in a way that it puts the needs of working people and their families first.”

“Our federal workforce has faced unprecedented challenges to their livelihood under this administration over the past year, yet they have continued to serve with dedication,” said Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Federal workers should not have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for themselves and their families. They deserve dignity and respect in their roles as employees, as family members, and as people. The ability to take paid time off to meet caregiving responsibilities or protect their health and safety should not be an additional burden federal workers have to face now or in the future. We stand in support of Reps. Beyer, Houlahan, and Fitzpatrick and call for the passage of the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act to build on the protections for federal workers who are new parents to cover other forms of caregiving, health and safety needs – a critical next step toward providing paid leave for all.”

Full text of the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), longtime leaders of congressional efforts to decolonize Puerto Rico, issued the following joint statement opposing the status legislation introduced today by Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera:

“During the last three Congresses, we have led serious, legislative efforts to forge a path towards real self-determination for Puerto Ricans, underscoring that non-territorial, non-colonial options are the only options viable for true decolonization. Throughout the process of crafting legislation, we engaged in a series of meetings, hearings, and dialogues with Puerto Rican experts, academics, and stakeholders, the Diaspora, and Congress.

“Today, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico co-opted our legislation and introduced a bill that includes an option to maintain the current status of the island as a colony. Over the last three congresses, more and more members have come to acknowledge that the current colonial condition of Puerto Rico is a moral stain on our nation’s history that must be addressed. Our country cannot claim to be a bastion of democracy as we continue to hold colonies in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

“The Resident Commissioner’s bill denies the colonial character of the Commonwealth, erases historical realities, subverts Democratic consensus, and ignores Supreme Court decisions like United States v. Vaello-Madero, which reaffirmed that Puerto Rico remains subject to Congress’s plenary powers. We stand together in opposing this legislation and will continue to fight for a serious decolonization process for Puerto Ricans. This is too vital an issue to be sullied by individual political aspirations.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she was determined to get answers from the Joint Task Force-D.C., National Guard Bureau and D.C. National Guard (DCNG) about reports she’d received and videos she’d reviewed depicting troubling conduct, including the apparent mistreatment of the D.C. flag, the appearance of voter intimidation by National Guard personnel congregating near ballot boxes, and aggressive detention of D.C. residents. The president controls the DCNG, unlike state National Guard units which are controlled by governors. Norton has introduced legislation to give the D.C. mayor the same authority over the DCNG that governors have over their states’ National Guard units, which the House passed in 2021 as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

Yesterday morning, Norton requested a call to discuss the videos with Interim Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard, Brigadier General Leland Blanchard, and representatives from the National Guard Bureau and the Joint Task Force-D.C., the multi-agency federal and military command coordinating the deployment of thousands of National Guard personnel deployed in D.C. Norton also requested information regarding guidance and instructions being provided to National Guard units concerning their presence near D.C. ballot boxes. Norton has yet to receive a response.

One video shows a room full of National Guard members with the D.C. flag spread on the ground with what appear to be Sharpie markers placed on top of it, suggesting that the soldiers intended to sign the flag. Throughout U.S. history, soldiers have signed captured flags from enemy territories as war trophies, a practice dating back to the Civil War and most commonly associated with World War II. The video was posted on a National Guard website but was removed on Tuesday or Wednesday, following criticism on social media.

A second video and accompanying image shows a group of National Guard personnel gathered around a ballot drop box, with one individual stating that they had not received instructions to avoid the vicinity of drop boxes. A third video depicts three National Guard members aggressively detaining a woman who was seated on a bench outside a private residence.

“I gave the Joint Task Force and the D.C. National Guard 24 hours to respond to my urgent request to discuss these deeply troubling videos, and their silence underscores the fundamental problem with deploying a military force that is not accountable to D.C. residents or its elected leaders to perform policing functions in the nation’s capital,” Norton said. “The footage appears to show Guard personnel treating the D.C. flag as though it were the flag of a conquered territory. If that is what occurred, it reflects a profound disrespect for the more than 700,000 D.C. residents who have been forced to endure the militarization of their city.

“Equally concerning are videos showing armed National Guard personnel stationed around ballot drop boxes. At a minimum, such conduct creates the appearance of voter intimidation and risks discouraging residents from exercising their fundamental right to vote. The fact that Guard personnel reportedly had not been instructed to avoid ballot drop boxes suggests a troubling lack of awareness by leadership of the impact these deployments are having on the District and its residents.

“Finally, the video showing National Guard personnel detaining a woman outside a private residence highlights the dangers of using military personnel to carry out civilian law enforcement functions. National Guard units are not trained to perform routine policing duties. Deploying them in this manner risks undermining public trust, escalating tensions, and making the work of D.C.’s professional law enforcement officers more difficult.

“These videos are a stark reminder that D.C. residents are forced to endure a level of federal interference that Americans elsewhere would never tolerate. The deployment of military personnel into the District without the consent of our local government is an affront to home rule and democratic self-government. Whether Congress is overturning D.C. laws, restricting how the District spends its own locally raised funds, or imposing federal control over local affairs, D.C. residents are repeatedly denied the rights that citizens in the 50 states take for granted. This latest episode demonstrates once again why D.C. must have full self-government and statehood.”

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

Washington, D.C. — Today, the coalition of next-generation lawmakers behind the End Corruption Now legislative agenda marked one year since introducing a package of seven bills designed to put power back in the hands of the American people. The group is led by Congressman Joe Neguse, who at 42 years-old is the youngest Democrat in his state’s federal delegation, and includes Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13). 

The members’ fight to clean up Washington has been propelled by Donald Trump’s brazen levels of corruption while in office—with reports estimating the president has leveraged the office to generate billions of dollars in personal profits for himself and his family. Their agenda also seeks to put a stop to longstanding practices that have allowed for the selling of access and influence in government. 

“Donald Trump’s pervasive self-dealing is happening at the expense of everyday Americans. This corruption must end,” said Congressman Neguse. “A year ago, I was proud to join a group of common-sense lawmakers in the House to introduce legislation that would ban Members of Congress from trading stocks or becoming lobbyists, strengthen anti-corruption laws, and restore public trust in government. And today, we are just as committed to that effort as ever.” 

The End Corruption Now agenda includes Rep. Neguse’s Close the Revolving Door Act, which places a lifetime ban on Members of Congress from serving as lobbyists and is championed in the U.S. Senate by Senator Michael Bennet. It also consists of the Restoring Integrity in Democracy Resolution, the Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, the No Corporate Crooks Act, the Stop Millionaires Using Service for Kickbacks (MUSK) Act, the Integrity in Government (IG) Act, and the Closing Bribery Loopholes Act. Details about each proposal can be found HERE. 

“We’re over one year into Trump 2.0 and it’s more important than ever that we pass these common-sense reforms to combat government corruption into law,” said Congresswoman Craig. “The job of elected officials is to better the lives of their constituents – not enrich themselves. As the President continues to leverage his position to rake in billions of dollars in personal profit, we must enact reforms to protect Americans’ tax dollars and hold elected officials accountable. I’m proud to be a part of the effort in Congress to clean up Washington and restore trust in our government.”

“Corruption in Washington is the reason that politicians fail to deliver real results for the working people they were elected to serve,” said Congressman Magaziner. “If we want to lower costs and improve the lives of working people, we need to ban elected officials from trading stocks so they are not conflicted when making policy. I am proud to stand with Representative Neguse and like-minded members in this effort to bring real reform to Washington.” 

“Corporate power has rigged the system against the American people for a long time, and it’s sucking the life out of the American Dream,” said Congressman Deluzio. “This creeping corruption existed long before Donald Trump, but his Administration’s corruption would make even the robber barons blush. No one should be able to use the presidency to funnel billions in profits back to themselves, their family, of their donors. A year ago, my colleagues and I launched the ‘End Corruption Now’ Legislative Agenda—this fight is more important than ever. We’ve got to root out this corruption to restore the American Dream.” 

“For too long, politicians in both parties have put their own gain ahead of what’s best for the American people. The brazen corruption of the last year has only highlighted the need for urgent action. It is past time for comprehensive reform to ensure politicians serve the people, not themselves,” said Congressman Ryan. “No more getting rich off trading stocks. An end to Members of Congress becoming lobbyists. Getting rid of kickbacks for billionaire friends. I’m proud to keep fighting alongside this group of next-generation lawmakers who refuse to accept the status quo – we’re here to clean house.”

“Our democracy depends on transparency and accountability, and right now, we are watching corruption run rampant across this administration and its political allies,” said Congresswoman Scholten. “My Integrity in Government Act would protect the nonpartisan watchdogs who work on behalf of the American people and strengthen oversight of the White House, because elected officials should be working for the people they represent, not for themselves. No one is above the law.”

“A year and a half into Republican control in Washington, Americans are watching corruption flourish across this administration and its political allies while working families are left behind. The End Corruption Now agenda is about restoring trust and ensuring public office serves the people, not personal interests or political insiders. That is why I introduced the Closing Bribery Loopholes Act to close loopholes in federal bribery law and ensure public officials are held to the same standards as the people they serve. No one should be above the law,” said Congresswoman Sykes.  

The End Corruption Now agenda is endorsed by End Citizens United, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen, and Project On Government Oversight (POGO). 

“Our broken campaign finance system empowers greedy industries and politicians who cater to the whims of their donors,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “That leaves everyday people defenseless against today’s growing economic pressures. The End Corruption Now agenda cracks down on self-dealing and closes the loopholes that have allowed billionaires and special interests to gouge the American people. Congressman Neguse and his colleagues are bringing real leadership to this fight, and we are grateful for the critical work they are doing.”

“Donald Trump and his administration’s rampant corruption and self-dealing during the last year and a half since he returned to office are unprecedented in this nation’s history. Americans should be able to trust that their elected officials and senior policymakers are serving the public’s interest, rather than private financial interests,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “CREW applauds the leadership of Reps. Neguse, Craig, Magaziner, Deluzio, Ryan, Scholten and Sykes for their work on the End Corruption Now agenda. There has never been a greater need for Congress to take action on comprehensive anti-corruption legislation.” 

“The deluge of corruption spewing out of the Trump White House over the last year has disgusted voters and decimated public trust in government. The only way to prove to the American people that their leaders can be trusted is for Congress to act aggressively to attack pay-to-play politics in Washington.  We support passing the End Corruption Now slate of bills and urge Congress to stop wasting time,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

San Joaquin County has 16 health professional shortage areas, statewide shortage of over 500,000 health care workers

 

VIDEO from the announcement on reversing the Valley’s doctor shortage is available here

STOCKTON – Today, joined by local leaders, education advocates and health care professionals, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) helped announce that the first-ever medical school in the Valley is coming to Stockton’s University of the Pacific. In response to the severe and growing doctor shortage, Harder is fighting to secure federal funding for specialized equipment for the first M.D.-granting institution outside of the state’s largest population centers, as well as  financial assistance protections for local students.

Why Stockton needs its own medical school:

• Millions of people call the Valley their home, but all of California’s M.D.-granting institutions are located outside it, either in the Bay Area, Southern California, or the Sacramento area.
• Valley communities like Stockton are being hit the hardest by health care workforce shortages – San Joaquin County alone has 16 health professional shortage areas, which is being made worse by devastating cuts to Medi-Cal and Affordable Care Act tax credits.
• Statewide, more than 500,000 new health care workers are needed to meet demand by 2030 for a workforce that is also aging quickly, with one-in-four California doctors aged 65 or older.

“The Valley needs more doctors, nurses, and health care workers – it’s that simple,” said Rep. Harder. “Bringing the first medical school to the Valley is a huge step forward because it means training more doctors right here in our community. The people caring for Valley families should know this community, understand our challenges, and be able to build their lives here, too. I can’t wait to cut the ribbon on this historic investment in our community soon.”

Expected to be completed in 2030, the 100,000 square-foot medical school complex will unlock a world-class education for hundreds of Valley students, and establish a clinical partnership with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center, which is planning its own expansion as well. The partnership will place third- and fourth-year medical school students from the University of the Pacific in clinical rotations at St. Joseph’s and other hospitals across the region.

Harder is working to transform health care in the Valley:

• Training – Harder is working to secure funding for specialized, world-class medical equipment to ensure future doctors from this University have every tool and resource they need to excel.
• Financial Aid – In response to plans to cut financial aid programs that help local students become nurses, Harder is leading legislation to protect financial aid in communities with health care workforce shortages.
• Better Health Care – Harder is leading efforts to make it easier for providers to bring specialized services by designating places like San Joaquin County as “Health Investment Zones.”

“We are enormously proud of our tradition of providing top quality educational opportunities for all qualified students – no matter their background or socioeconomic status – and creating hundreds of caring, practice-ready health care professionals each year who are desperately needed in our communities and beyond,” said University of the Pacific President Christopher Callahan. “The new School of Medicine aligns perfectly with our mission. We are not only ready, willing and able to tackle the dangerous and growing problem of a lack of physicians, but we believe it is our duty and responsibility.”

Harder was joined by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom and David Ziolkowski, CEO of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and representatives of the University of the Pacific Board of Regents and leadership team.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. – In advance of the House GOP’s vote to extend FISA Section 702 with no meaningful reforms, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the House Floor opposing the legislation under the current leadership structure of the Intelligence Community, arguing that Congress must uphold the standards established after September 11th to protect national security and maintain confidence in America’s intelligence institutions.

In her remarks, Pelosi reflected on her decades of intelligence oversight experience and warned that appointments to positions of national security leadership must meet the bipartisan standards Congress created to ensure expertise, judgment and accountability in safeguarding the American people.

Watch Pelosi’s Floor remarks here.

Read Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks below:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise with a degree of sadness because I was present at the birth of this legislation.

For 30 years, I served either as a Member of the Intelligence Committee, Ranking Member or on the Gang of Eight. I bring extensive Intelligence experience to this discussion.

Following 9/11 with great care, we worked in bipartisan fashion to put together the legislation to advance what we are talking about here today: this FISA initiative.

In that legislation, we established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and set certain standards.

‘The Director of National Intelligence shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The individual nominated shall have extensive national security experience.

He shall serve as the head of the Intelligence Community and act as principal advisor to the President on the National Security Council, Homeland Security—’ and the rest.

Here we have a situation, and I have a list from the legislation of the criteria establishing him, and what do we have from the President?

Somebody who has no judgment on intelligence matters.

What an insult to our brave Intelligence Community who serve us so well to protect the American people.

So if you want us to vote for FISA—and you have Patel at FBI and Pulte as DNI—then: Pulte plus Patel equals no on this FISA legislation.

It can be done if there is an intention to do it right.

I yield back.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore praised the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, legislation that provides $64.9 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including $2.9 billion for defense activities, to strengthen America’s borders, bolster national security, and support the Trump Administration’s America First priorities.

The legislation funds the critical missions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, and other agencies responsible for protecting the homeland. The bill now advances to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“The safety and security of the American people is the federal government’s first responsibility. This legislation delivers the resources necessary to secure our borders, support our law enforcement personnel, strengthen our national defense, and ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the tools it needs to carry out President Trump’s America First agenda. House Republicans will prioritize the security and sovereignty of our nation. I was proud to support this bill in committee and look forward to its passage by the full House.”

Major Homeland Security Wins Including Priorities from Congressman Moore:

• $12,000,000 for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training, Testing, and Research Integration. Federal agencies evaluate detection and mitigation technologies across dedicated test beds, using these evaluations to develop protocols that protect critical infrastructure while strictly preserving privacy and civil liberties. 
• $50,000,000 for Next Generation Warning System. This is designed to modernize the nation’s public safety communications. It expands and upgrades emergency alerting capabilities to reach communities through diverse and emerging technologies.
• $2,000,000 for Cargo Theft – Crime Coordination Center. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unifies federal, state, and local law enforcement with private industry to track, investigate, and dismantle sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft rings.
• $3,100,000 for U.S. Secret Service Geospatial Technology. The use of geospatial technology is used primarily for protective intelligence, site security planning, and investigative mapping. The agency integrates GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and aerial mapping to map out protective routes, evaluate potential threats, and establish secure perimeters for events.

The Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides robust funding to enhance border security operations, combat transnational criminal organizations, strengthen immigration enforcement, improve maritime security, and protect the United States against evolving threats while supporting the dedicated men and women who serve on the front lines of homeland security.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids highlighted findings from the newly released 2026 Social Security Trustees Report, which shows the Social Security trust fund is now projected to become insolvent in 2032. If Congress fails to act, millions of Americans could face an automatic savings cut of roughly 20 percent, costing the average senior approximately $500 per month.

 

“Social Security is a promise that Americans earn over a lifetime of work, and it’s a promise we have a responsibility to keep,” said Davids. “This new report makes clear that the cost of inaction is simply too high — millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and families could see their savings cut through no fault of their own. We should be protecting and strengthening Social Security, not making it harder for people to access their earned savings or asking them to pay the price while billionaires get another tax break.”

The report comes as President Trump and congressional Republicans continue pursuing policies that undermine Social Security, including the largest staffing cut in program history and office closures at the Social Security Administration. President Trump previously called the program a “scam,” and earlier this week, Speaker Mike Johnson indicated Republicans could pursue additional changes to the program if they retain their House majority next year.

WATCH: Davids speaks this week on the importance of protecting Social Security

Last year’s report projected that Social Security would have a modest funding shortfall in 2034. Yet, after considering President Trump’s policies during his second term, this year’s report moves the date to 2032. Congress can prevent those cuts either by increasing revenue flowing into the program or by cutting savings. Davids has made clear that she opposes cuts and supports making billionaires pay their fair share.

Social Security is the foundation of retirement security for millions of Americans and provides essential benefits to families and people with disabilities. In Kansas’ Third District alone, 130,424 residents receive Social Security, including more than 105,000 retirees, nearly 10,000 disabled workers, and more than 6,000 children.

 

Davids has consistently defended Social Security and delivered real results:

• Helped pass the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, repealing outdated rules that cut savings for millions of public sector retirees, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
• Voted against extreme Republican budget proposals that would allow Trump to fire SSA workers, close local offices, and delay savings.
• Joined Kansans and local advocates at AARP’s Social Security 90th Anniversary Celebration last year.