Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

Today, the House Judiciary Committee advanced H.R. 4638, the BOWOW Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) to protect animals used by federal law enforcement agencies. The bill was introduced after Freddie, a Customs and Border Patrol agriculture detector dog, was assaulted in June by a non-citizen from Egypt. The BOWOW Act would make the assault of an animal used by federal law enforcement a deportable offense under Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It would also make applicants with such offenses on their record inadmissible to the U.S. under Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

“I appreciate my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee advancing the BOWOW Act and joining me in standing up for our law enforcement animals who help keep Americans safe,” said Rep. Calvert. “Coming to America is a privilege, not a right. Anyone who assaults an animal, like Freddie, simply has no place in our country. 

 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and a congressional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, issued the following statement following President Trump’s refusal to commemorate World AIDS Day, which is celebrated every year on December 1: 

“I am outraged by Donald Trump’srefusal to commemorate World AIDS Day!

“World AIDS Day is a day to remember the millions of people around the world who have died of AIDS and demonstrate our continuing support for people living with AIDS and our commitment to stopping the spread of HIV. World AIDS Day has been recognized by presidents of both political parties, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and even Trump during his first term. Yet this year, in an appalling abdication of America’s leadership, the State Department instructed employees and grantees to ‘refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels, including social media, media engagements, speeches or other public-facing messaging.’

“Donald Trump’s callous disregard of the global AIDS pandemic is threatening our progress against the disease. Trump halted funds for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – known throughout the world as PEPFAR – which was created in 2003 under the leadership of former Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the co-founder of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, working with President George W. Bush, myself, and congressional HIV/AIDS advocates from both political parties. PEPFAR supports HIV prevention and treatment in developing countries and is credited with having saved 26 million lives since its creation. Last year alone, PEPFAR provided life-saving HIV medicines to more than 20 million people and supported more than 342,000 health workers to deliver HIV prevention, treatment, and support services in more than 50 countries. An estimated 70,000 people have already died due to Trump’s budget cuts.

“As Bill Gates said, ‘We’re already seeing the tragic impact of reductions in aid, and we know the number of deaths will continue to rise.’

“Here in the United States – where I created the Minority AIDS Initiative to address devastating HIV/AIDS disparities, which has grown from an initial appropriation of $156 million in 1999 to more than $400 million per year today – Donald Trump is waging an all-out war on people living with HIV. Trump’s budget proposal completely eliminated HIV prevention funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and slashed funds for Ryan White AIDS care and HIV research! He even eliminated funding for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, proving he does not care if people with HIV are homeless! We cannot allow these devastating cuts to be implemented.

“We must fully fund PEPFAR and other domestic and international HIV/AIDS programs and take further action to stop the spread of this devastating pandemic. That is why I introduced two new HIV prevention bills in the House of Representatives this year. The HIV Prevention Now Act (H.R. 5126) will provide more than $2 billion for HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, and tuberculosis prevention, and The PrEP and PEP are Prevention Act (H.R. 5127) will require health insurance plans to cover PrEP and PEP as preventive services for people who need them.

“In honor of World AIDS Day, we must rededicate ourselves to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, caring for those who are infected, and searching for a cure. We must never give up until we put an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic once and for all.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and a congressional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day, which is celebrated every year on December 1: 

“On World AIDS Day today, I am proud to honor Rev. Elder Leslie Burke, a pioneering HIV/AIDS advocate who has served the Los Angeles AIDS community through her work with the Minority AIDS Project, since its founding 40 years ago. 

“I am especially proud to honor Rev. Burke for her work with the Minority AIDS Project because I began my journey as an advocate for people living with AIDS as a result of the work of Archbishop Carl Bean, the founder of the Minority AIDS Project, and I am proud to have supported the project’s work since its founding. Archbishop Bean took me to a place called ‘Catch One’ in Los Angeles, which was owned by Jewel Thais Williams. He introduced me to several young African American men living with AIDS who had been abandoned by their parents due to their diagnoses. I discussed what I witnessed with the Black Womens Forum, and Danny Bakewell at the Brotherhood Crusade. Danny and I decided to contribute $10,000 each to fund the new Minority AIDS Project. 

“As a Member of the U.S. Congress, I spearheaded the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative, which has significantly expanded HIV/AIDS prevention, screening, and treatment efforts among racial and ethnic minorities and reduced AIDS disparities. I am proud to report that funding for this critical initiative has increased from the initial appropriation of $156 million in Fiscal Year 1999 to more than $400 million per year today. 

“Unfortunately, our progress towards ending the AIDS pandemic is in grave danger as a result of the policies of Donald Trump. Unlike previous presidents of both parties, Trump refused to commemorate World AIDS Day this year, and his budget proposal slashed $2 billion from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports HIV prevention and treatment in developing countries and is credited with having saved 26 million lives since its creation in 2003. Trump’s budget proposal also eliminated HIV prevention funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and slashed funds for Ryan White AIDS care and HIV research! We cannot allow these devastating cuts to be implemented.

“We must fully fund domestic and international HIV/AIDS programs and stop the spread of this devastating pandemic. That is why I introduced two new HIV prevention bills in the House of Representatives this year. The HIV Prevention Now Act (H.R. 5126) will provide more than $2 billion in Fiscal Year 2026 for HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, and tuberculosis prevention, and The PrEP and PEP are Prevention Act (H.R. 5127) will require health insurance plans to cover PrEP and PEP as preventive services, without out-of-pocket costs, so they are free for people who need them.

“On World AIDS Day 2025, we must rededicate ourselves to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, caring for those who are infected, and searching for a cure. We must never give up until we put an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic once and for all.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, joined more than 1,000 participants at the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Los Angeles on November 22. The event, organized by the Alzheimer’s Association California Southland Chapter, raised nearly $440,000 to support care, support, and research programs for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most urgent public health challenges facing the nation. More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including hundreds of thousands of Californians, and nearly 12 million family members and friends provide unpaid care. In Los Angeles County, Alzheimer’s is the second leading cause of death among older adults.

At the opening ceremony of the Walk, Congresswoman Waters addressed participants and volunteers and highlighted the importance of sustained federal investment in research and caregiver support. “I have been honored to work with the Alzheimer’s Association over the years to promote Alzheimer’s research and improve the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients, families, and caregivers”, said Congresswoman Waters. “Together, we have made considerable progress. Funding for Alzheimer’s research through the National Institutes of Health has increased more than sixfold over the last 10 years, as we have been working so hard, from 586 million dollars in 2015 to more than 3.8 billion dollars today.”

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s began as the “Memory Walk” in 1989 and has grown into the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. At the Los Angeles Walk, participants took part in the Promise Garden ceremony, where they carried colored flowers representing their personal connection to the disease and their shared commitment to a future without Alzheimer’s.

“We stand at a defining moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s, when hope is stronger than ever due to FDA-approved treatments and breakthrough research that can change lives and rewrite the future of this disease,” said Lara Wickes, Walk to End Alzheimer’s Los Angeles Event Chair and Vice Chair of the Alzheimer’s Association CA Southland Board “Several of my dearest loved ones have recently passed away with Alzheimer’s or dementia, so this cause is very near and dear to my heart. I walk for those I’ve lost and to make a difference for the future. Together we can take bold steps toward new treatments and, ultimately, a world without Alzheimer’s.”

Congresswoman Waters has long been a champion for Alzheimer’s patients, families, and caregivers. Last year, she introduced the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act (H.R. 10192), which would authorize grants to expand training and support services for unpaid caregivers and ensure that women, minorities, people living with disabilities, and underserved communities benefit from the program. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, Congresswoman Waters continues to advocate for robust funding for the National Institutes of Health, stronger caregiver supports, and expanded access to high-quality care for those living with Alzheimer’s.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Los Angeles, CA – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), one of the hardest-working women in politics and one of the most respected leaders in Congress, joined thousands of constituents across the District this past weekend for a series of community events that highlighted her compassion and unwavering dedication to the families she represents. From health advocacy and small business development to food insecurity, veterans’ support, and youth empowerment, Congresswoman Waters demonstrated once again that she is present, engaged, and working tirelessly for CA-43.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Los Angeles (Saturday, November 22)

Congresswoman Waters began her morning at the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Los Angeles. Her remarks energized more than 1,000 participants to combat the disease. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, she delivered remarks underscoring the importance of federal research funding and caregiver support.

“I have been honored to work with the Alzheimer’s Association over the years to promote Alzheimer’s research and improve the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients, families, and caregivers,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Together, we have made considerable progress. Funding for Alzheimer’s research through the National Institutes of Health has increased more than sixfold over the last decade.”

Sports Basement South Bay/Hawthorne Grand Opening & SnowFest (Saturday, November 22)

Immediately following the Walk, Congresswoman Waters headed to Hawthorne for the grand opening and SnowFest celebration at Sports Basement South Bay, where she joined local leaders, families, and community partners for the ribbon cutting. The retail cooperative’s newest location provides expanded access to outdoor recreation equipment and community-based programming for families throughout the South Bay.

Congresswoman Waters celebrated the store’s commitment to local job creation, community events, and equitable access to outdoor activities. She congratulated Sports Basement on the successful launch and thanked them for choosing Hawthorne as their newest home.

“Wobble Before You Gobble” Zumba Community Event (Saturday, November 22)

Congresswoman Waters then made her way to Gardena to join the City of Gardena and Inka Lions for the “Wobble Before You Gobble” Zumba fitness celebration. The morning event brought families together for dancing, exercise, and community fellowship in support of local causes. Congresswoman Waters also joined volunteers in distributing canned goods to community members as part of the event’s giving effort.

“The spirit of our community is what makes the South Bay so special,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Anytime we can come together around health, joy, and unity, we strengthen the bonds that hold our cities together.”

Morris Kight Memorial Ceremony (Saturday, November 22)

Later in the afternoon, Congresswoman Waters delivered remarks at the memorial ceremony for the interment of LGBTQ+ civil rights activist Morris Kight’s ashes atop the Chapel of the Gower Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. A founding force behind the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, Kight’s legacy continues to shape Los Angeles and the nation.

Congresswoman Waters honored Kight’s lifelong activism and reaffirmed her commitment to equality and justice.

“Morris Kight devoted his life to dignity, fairness, and visibility for LGBTQ+ people,” she said. “Kight’s fight for equity and courage demonstrates an example for us all.”

Kinecta’s 52nd Annual Food Drive Distribution Day (Sunday, November 23)

On Sunday, Congresswoman Waters joined volunteers, nonprofit partners, and families at Jesse Owens Park for Kinecta’s 52nd Annual Food Drive. The drive-up distribution supports the region’s most vulnerable households and is one of the longest-running community giving traditions in the South Bay.

Congresswoman Waters thanked Kinecta and the local organizations for their commitment to serving families in need during the holiday season. “At a time when groceries, rent, and everyday essentials remain too expensive for too many families, this kind of community-centered generosity provides real relief,” she said. Communities looking after each other

Hawthorne VFW Post 2075 – 52nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Veterans (Sunday, November 23)

Following the food distribution, Congresswoman Waters traveled to Hawthorne VFW Post 2075 to serve meals at their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Veterans. Established in 1943, Post 2075 is one of the most historic VFW posts in the South Bay and has long provided a place of camaraderie, support, and service for generations of local veterans.

Congresswoman Waters helped plate and serve meals while personally greeting veterans and their families.

“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and I am always honored to spend time with them,” she said. “Post 2075 represents the very best of service, honor, and community.”

Jr. Dixon Annual Gospel Musical Fundraiser & Toy Drive (Sunday, November 23)

Congresswoman Waters closed out her weekend at the Jr. Dixon Annual Gospel Musical Fundraiser & Toy Drive at the Church of the Living God on Western Avenue. The event brought together faith leaders, musicians, families, and supporters to raise funds and collect toys for children in need this holiday season.

In her remarks, Congresswoman Waters applauded Jr. Dixon for more than 35 years of dedicated community service.

“This fundraiser is a testament to what love, faith, and consistent service can do for a community,” she said. “Our children deserve joy, support, and opportunity—and I’m proud to stand with the Dixon Family as they make that possible.”

A Weekend of Unmatched Energy and Service

Across two days, Congresswoman Waters participated in seven major community events, demonstrating her relentless commitment to the people of CA-43.

“This is the work I love,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Whether I am advocating in Washington or serving alongside my neighbors here at home, I will always show up for my community. I am inspired every day by the people I meet, the families I serve, and the organizations working tirelessly to uplift our district.”

From Alzheimer’s advocacy to small business development, veterans’ support, fitness and wellness, food security, LGBTQ+ history, and youth empowerment, Congresswoman Waters continues to be one of the most active, accessible, and hardworking public servants in the nation.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – On November 15, 2025, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, received the Mary Church Terrell Award at the NAACP of Henry County Branch’s 25th Branch Anniversary and 19th Annual Freedom Fund Gala. The award honors fearless advocates whose lifelong commitment to justice and equity reflects the legacy of a founding member of the NAACP and a pioneering civil rights leader who fought for racial and gender equality.  

“As a lifetime member of the NAACP, I would like to express my deep gratitude for being a part of such an incredible legacy”, said Congresswoman Waters. For 113 years, the NAACP has been on the front lines of every major fight for Black freedom and equality, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the fight for equity in education, housing, and the workplace. The Freedom Fund Dinner is a celebration of an institution that has given us 113 years of courage, sacrifice, and victory. The Mary Church Terrell Award belongs to the voiceless many who came before us, and to all those who followed. Those who marched, protested, voted, and sacrificed so that we could stand here free”.

Congresswoman Waters’ address energized attendees and bridged both legacy and rising generations of community activists, in the presence of many distinguished guests, including Ambassador Andrew Young, Mrs. Billye “Hank” Aaron, Lonnie Johnson, and Mack Wilbourn.  

“For more than 30 years, Congresswoman Maxine Waters has led with courage, compassion, and an unshakable love for our people, said Candace Walker, Branch President of NAACP Henry County. She has always taken care of her community, lifted others as she climbed, and stood boldly on the front lines of justice. She did exactly that at our Freedom Fund Gala by encouraging us to stand and fight for justice. I am deeply proud to call her my friend and “Auntie” – Candace Walker, President, NAACP Henry County Branch.  

Additionally, during the event, Mayor Sandra Vincent proclaimed November 15th Maxine Waters Day and presented the Congresswoman with Keys to the City of McDonough.  

“Presenting the Key to the City to Congresswoman Maxine Waters is not only a celebration of her remarkable impact but a reminder of how far we have come as a people”, said Mayor Vincent. “As the first African American and first female mayor of McDonough, I am deeply moved to honor a woman whose bold leadership has inspired countless others, myself included, to rise, reclaim our time, and authentically speak truth to power as we build community”.  

The Congresswoman solidified her remarks with this commitment:

“I promise you this: I will keep fighting with every ounce of strength I have to defend our people, protect our democracy, and secure a future worthy of our Children”. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Darren Soto (D-FL)

The Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act allows the island to receive the same treatment as the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) and Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28) released the following joint statement regarding the recent U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s decision to halt immigration applications:

“The Biden Administration’s reckless abandonment of border security and its systematic failure to properly vet nearly 10 million people were a betrayal of national safety and a direct threat to American lives. We condemned it unequivocally from the start.

For four years, our urgent warnings, both in writing and in person, about the consequences of the Biden Administration’s grotesquely irresponsible open-border policies and non-existent vetting were ignored. Today, we are unfortunately dealing with the consequences.

The chaos that unfolded at our southern border allowed over 300 known terrorists to enter the country, enabled hostile foreign operatives–including Cuban regime pilot Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez, recently indicted for immigration fraud–and led to the preventable murders of Americans in their own communities. The tragic deaths of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and Texas 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, the foiled Election Day 2024 terrorist plot by Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, and the murder of a U.S. National Guard soldier in our nation’s capital by another Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, are not isolated incidents—they are direct consequences of Biden’s incompetence and failed leadership. Criminals applied for and exploited U.S. immigration privileges under an administration that simply stopped enforcing the rule of law.

President Trump inherited a number of problems, including a broken immigration system made worse by the Biden Administration. President Trump is protecting national security by restoring order, enforcing the rule of law, and strengthening vetting. That leadership is saving American lives.

We remain fully committed to permanently fixing our immigration system once and for all. We also hope this process is thorough and done quickly so that individuals with legitimate asylum claims have the opportunity to have their cases adjudicated expeditiously, something that did not happen under the Biden Administration.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26), Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Department of State, and Related Programs of the House Committee on Appropriations, and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statements after the House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved their proposed Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that implements a new modernized strategy for designating the global Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a terrorist group.

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart said, “I am pleased that my bill to designate the entire Muslim Brotherhood globally as a terrorist organization has been approved by the full committee. This is a step in the right direction and further amplifies other efforts, like those of President Trump, to take decisive action against this insidious threat.

I thank Chairman Mast for his leadership and the HFAC committee for advancing this bill to protect U.S. national security interests and Americans by prohibiting U.S. dollars from enabling the Muslim Brotherhood’s dangerous and pernicious activities while ensuring that MB members are blocked from entering the United States.”

Congressman Jared Moskowitz said, “I’m proud to see our bipartisan bill to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization advance out of committee today. For decades, the Brotherhood has been tied to extremism and instability across the Middle East and around the world. Other nations have already taken steps to investigate the Brotherhood and its affiliates, and the United States must have the authority to do the same.

This bill gives our government the tools to investigate and—where appropriate—designate Brotherhood branches as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. I’m grateful to work with Rep. Diaz-Balart on this important national security measure and look forward to seeing it considered by the full House.”

The full text of the House bill can be found here.

The Senate Companion bill was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL)—alongside Appropriators Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV)—led a joint briefing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria with religious freedom and foreign relations experts.

This roundtable follows President Donald J. Trump’s October 31^stdirective to the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria and report back with their findings.

Participants included:

• Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairman
• Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman and Values Action Team (VAT) Chair
• Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair and leading religious liberty advocate
• Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
• Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee Chairman
• Honorable Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair
• Sean Nelson, Alliance Defending Freedom International
• Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, Council on Foreign Relations

Subcommittee Chairman Díaz-Balart said, “No one should live in fear because of how they worship. Defending religious liberty worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest. As Chairman of the subcommittee that funds U.S. national security interests and foreign policy priorities, I remain committed to advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one’s faith without fear of violence and retribution. I address this issue in my FY26 funding bill, and I intend to strengthen these efforts by passing a full-year funding measure, which is essential to advancing an America First agenda.”
 

Congressman Aderholt said, “The rising violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a crisis that can’t be ignored. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to protect the most vulnerable, including those whose lives and liberties are threatened simply because of their faith. We must stand firmly with Nigeria’s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy.”
 

Congressman Moore said, “Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted and slaughtered in Nigeria simply for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That’s why President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, and why he asked me, along with the House Committee on Appropriations, to look into the horrific persecution of Christians in Nigeria. I’m grateful to Chairman Díaz-Balart for convening this critical discussion to receive expert testimony and engage in an important dialogue to ensure we have a full picture of the ongoing crisis Nigerian Christians face every day. The world will no longer turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.” 
 

Chairman Mast said, “This is not merely ‘inter-communal violence’ or a ‘resource conflict,’ as many claim. This is a targeted campaign of religious cleansing. Whether it is Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, or radicalized nomadic Fulani militants, the objective is to drive Christians out of their ancestral lands in the Middle Belt and impose a radical Islamist ideology, as has already happened across the northern states, where blasphemy laws are used to oppress. As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I firmly stand with President Trump in his decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. We must demand that the Nigerian government disarm these militias, return displaced families to their homes, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
 

Congressman Smith said, “To be a Christian—or moderate Muslim—living in Nigeria means to be living under the constant threat of murder, rape, and torture by radical Islamist groups, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists. The most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world—as well as the systemic targeting and killing of moderate Muslims who speak out against radical Islamists or refuse to conform with their extreme ideals—occurs in Nigeria, the ground zero of religious violence. The Nigerian government has a fundamental, constitutional obligation to protect its citizens; however, the perpetrators of this persecution operate with complete impunity. The United States is committed to standing firmly with the persecuted, no matter where in the world. Under the strong leadership of President Trump, I am confident that the United States will hold the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the rampant religious persecution occurring within its borders. The Nigerian government is trying to run out the clock; we cannot allow this to happen. We must act quickly and decisively to save more lives.”

Expert witnesses provided key insight into the ongoing conflict in Nigeria and discussed ways Congress can support the Trump Administration’s efforts to help vulnerable religious groups in Nigeria and around the world.
 
Honorable Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair, illustrated the real and viable threat to religious freedom and the very lives of innocent people in Nigeria that is happening right now.

Hon. Hartzler said, “Religious freedom in Nigeria has been under siege in 2025 and, unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse. Just a few days ago, on November 22ⁿᵈ, 303 children and 12 teachers were abducted in an attack on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger State. A few days earlier in Kwara State, gunmen besieged a church and kidnapped several innocent people, including a pastor, and killed two others. Muslims, too, fall victim to such violence: in August, bandits abducted over 100 individuals, mostly women and children, from a mosque in Zamfara State and killed 27 worshipers in a mosque in Katsina State… No matter the group perpetrating the violence, we must be clear: religious freedom violations are rampant. They are horrible, egregious, violent, and Christians are the predominant victims. But no matter the religion of the victim, all killings must be stopped, and the government must take decisive action now to prevent any further killings.”

Hartzler detailed the importance of President Trump’s action designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a distinction reiterated in our Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill, and conveyed further steps the U.S. can take to encourage solutions in the region.

Hon. Hartzler continued, “The U.S. government should also work directly with the government of Nigeria to vastly improve its accountability and transparency, while better leveraging relevant U.S. security assistance such as police training and reform, and conflict mediation. Resources could also be invested in using early warning systems to reduce community violence, and the U.S. government should insist Nigerian government officials respond when there is an early warning. Too many times, local villagers learn of an impending attack and reach out for protection, only to have their cries for help ignored to their ultimate demise. Worse yet, there are stories of law enforcement being called during an attack, and yet no help is sent. This is unacceptable!… Washington has always seen Nigeria as the linchpin to West African economic prosperity, and the U.S. government should continue to work with the Nigerian government to provide technical expertise and other forms of assistance to train, support, and counter violent insurgent groups so the entire region can prosper. After all, peace not only promotes religious freedom but secures trade and markets so Nigeria can be more self-sufficient and achieve the great potential it has long sought.”

Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel, Global Religious Freedom for the Alliance Defending Freedom International, spoke to firsthand accounts from Christians in Nigeria he’s worked with of the violence and terror the Christian communities face, with no help from the government.

Nelson said, “Our cases have involved Christians unjustly imprisoned by Sharia courts, false allegations of crimes merely for evangelism or protecting Christian converts or operating charities, Christians kidnapped and tortured, girls taken from their parents and forced into marriages and forcefully converted to Islam, and both Christians and minority Muslims charged with blasphemy accusations. I have met with clients who have shared their heartbreaking testimony directly with me, many of whom barely escaped being murdered by extremists or even people that they knew within their communities. I have visited with villages directly attacked by Fulani militants and witnessed the aftermath of pastors beheaded, mass graves, widows and orphans, churches and homes torched, destroyed farmlands, and the pains of mass displacement and the constant sense that Christians are defenseless against these religiously-motivated attacks, and that the government has regularly failed to protect them.”

Nelson explained the Nigerian government’s failure to protect Christian communities, often leaving them to fend for themselves against heavily armed militant bands of terrorists.

Nelson continued, “Officials in Nigeria dismiss any consideration that religion plays a role in these attacks, and have put very few resources into the areas where Christians have been hit hardest, in the Middle Belt. When Christians report imminent attacks, their pleas are often ignored by law enforcement and officials, leading to tragic results. Nigeria also maintains and enforces one of the most draconian blasphemy laws in the world. In the 12 northern Sharia states, a person can be sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, one of only seven places in the world with such a law. These laws inspire terrible mob violence, including against Christians like Deborah Yakubu and Rhoda Jatau.”

Ebenezer Obadare, the Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, spoke to the root cause of the violence: unchecked jihadist terror groups, chief among them Boko Haram.

Obadare said, “The deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror, perpetrated by the Islamist group Boko Haram. Boko Haram translates to ‘Western education is forbidden.’ Boko Haram’s barbarous and implacable campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate in its stead is the source of Nigeria’s present discontents. Every proposal to solve the Nigerian crisis that does not take seriously the need to radically degrade and ultimately eliminate Boko Haram as a fighting force is a non-starter.”

Obadare also laid out an effective strategy to combat the terror groups, including pressuring the Nigerian government with incentives.

Obadare continued, “As recent events have shown, the Nigerian authorities are not impervious to incentives. Since the country’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation and President Trump’s threat of unilateral military action against Boko Haram, President Tinubu has made several moves, including ordering air strikes against Boko Haram targets, the recruitment of an additional 30,000 policemen, and, most recently, declaring a national security emergency in the country. Washington must keep up the pressure. The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralize Boko Haram. Second, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to (1) make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states where they have been adopted since 2000 and (2) disband the various Hisbah groups across northern states seeking to enforce and impose Islamic law on all citizens regardless of their religious identity.”

The House Appropriations Committee continues to work closely with the Trump Administration to combat religious persecution around the world. Appropriators have been investigating the massacre of Christians in Nigeria, per the President’s directive, and are preparing a comprehensive report to present to President Trump on ways Congress can support the White House’s efforts. 
 

###