Rep. Barragán’s Statement on the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Suspension of Operations at the Federal Correctional Institution
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that they were suspending operations at Federal Correctional Institution, at Terminal Island in San Pedro, over concerns about crumbling infrastructure.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), whose congressional district covers the Terminal Island facility, released the following statement:
“No one should be held in or work in unsafe conditions, and Terminal Island’s aging infrastructure has been neglected for too long.
The Bureau of Prisons needs to transfer the current prisoners to nearby facilities where their families and lawyers will be able to visit without additional hardship. The guards and support staff, including medical personnel, should be prioritized for transfer to nearby facilities as well.
And under no circumstances should the Terminal Island facility be considered, or converted for use, as an ICE detention facility.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) recently introduced the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act, legislation that would allow Medicare to reimburse licensed genetic counselors for services that would otherwise be reimbursable if provided by a physician.
Genetic counselors have extensive training in identifying which tests are most appropriate for a particular patient, and how to interpret test results to best inform the patient’s plan of care. With a wide variety of tests available on the market, leveraging the knowledge and experience of a genetic counselor can save both patients and the taxpayer money by avoiding unnecessary testing and allowing physicians to focus their time on what they do best – treating patients.
“Genetic counselors guide and support patients and their families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives with expertise and compassion, and are an integral part of the care team,” said Rep. Castor. “I am proud that the University of South Florida is home to the first and only Genetic Counseling Graduate Program in the State, preparing students with the technical knowledge and clinical expertise to treat our neighbors. The common-sense, cost-effective Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act would help grow the genetic counseling profession and ensure our neighbors get the most accurate care.”
“Expanded access to genetic counseling will improve the lives of seniors across the country,” said Rep. Smith. “Rapidly advancing technology and ever-growing knowledge of the human genome and its relationship with our health means seniors will be able to identify risks and diseases even earlier, improving outcomes and lowering treatment costs.”
“Genetic counselors are specifically trained to help patients understand complex test results, weigh options, and make informed decisions for themselves and their families,” said Deborah Cragun, PhD, MS, CGC, Director of USF Genetic Counseling Graduate Program.“Allowing Medicare to directly reimburse for services provided by genetic counselors is a practical step toward more equitable, person-centered genomic care. By supporting the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act, Representative Castor is advancing a policy that improves access, supports high-quality care, and uses health-care dollars more wisely.”
“Recognizing genetic counselors as Medicare providers would be tremendously valuable in ensuring patients receive timely, appropriate, and high-quality care. Many cancers have a genetic component, and it is genetic counselors who provide the critical expertise and reassurance families need to understand testing options and familial risk. That is why Cancer Partners of Nebraska proudly supports the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act, led by Congressman Adrian Smith and Congresswoman Kathy Castor, which will benefit countless seniors, including those here in Nebraska,” said Justin Rousek, PhD, MPH, MS, CEO at Cancer Partners of Nebraska.
“Genetic counselors serve as connectors to the personalized care that could make all the difference for Medicare patients and their families facing diseases like hereditary cancer and Alzheimer’s disease,” said Sara Pirzadeh-Miller, MS, CGC, President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and Texas-based Cancer Genetic Counselor.“We’re so grateful that Representatives Smith and Castor, plus many others in Congress, understand the tremendous value that genetic counselors offer for their constituents and America’s healthcare system.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and former Division I volleyball player, will introduce the College Athletics Reform Act (CARA), landmark legislation designed to stabilize college sports, protect athletes’ rights, and create a sustainable system for all schools and sports. Introduction of CARA comes as the House of Representatives is set to vote this week on the flawed SCORE Act, which will roll back the rights of college athletes and hand massive giveaways to the NCAA and powerful conferences.“Despite years of intense lobbying from the most powerful institutions in college athletics, Congress is increasingly divided on how to address the challenges threatening the industry. Too many proposals pushed by entrenched power brokers focus on regaining control at the expense of the athletes who drive college sports, rather than on creating a sustainable system, particularly for women’s and Olympic sports and smaller schools,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The College Athletics Reform Act recognizes that divide. It offers a clear, bipartisan path forward to tackle the toughest questions facing college sports and to build a stronger system for every athlete, every team, and every school.”CARA enshrines athletes’ NIL rights into federal law, implements guardrails to protect against predatory agents, expands opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports as well as smaller schools, including HBCUs, and sets college athletics on a path to an enduring governance model that centers athletes. Specifically, the bill:
Delivers for College Athletes: Establishes federal standards for name, image, and likeness rights and codifies rules for agents with both governmental and private enforcement. The bill also closes the international athlete loophole, ensuring all athletes can exercise the same NIL rights as their teammates.
Charts a Better Path Forward: Creates a bipartisan Commission to Stabilize College Sports with a two-year timeline to develop recommendations for an enduring governance model. The Commission will also review the state of Title IX and explore how to deploy new revenues generated through amendments to the Sports Broadcasting Act to expand opportunities in women’s and Olympic sports and support athletic programs at smaller schools. Its structure reflects input from current and former athletes, both chambers of Congress, multiple committees, conferences, schools, and experts in athletics, civil rights, labor, and Title IX.
Increases Revenue for All Schools: Amends the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to allow schools to pool media rights, strengthening revenue for all stakeholders, particularly non-Power Two schools and HBCUs, and ensuring resources for women’s and Olympic programs.
Protects Opportunities for Women: Enhances Title IX reporting requirements to improve transparency and accountability, including revenue sharing, roster spots, expenditures, and travel.
CARA is endorsed by a broad coalition of independent organizations representing athletes, legal experts, and advocates for fair competition. Supporters include professional Players Associations, National College Players Association, College Basketball Players Association, VOICEINSPORT Foundation, The Drake Group, American Association for Justice, The Center for Law and Social Policy, and the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws.A copy of the legislation can be accessed HERE.A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE.Statements of Support:“Today the Players Associations proudly announce our support of the College Athletics Reform Act. We are grateful to Congresswoman Trahan for her steadfast leadership and support for college athletes. Today’s college athletes will become tomorrow’s professionals, and many will become future members of the Players Associations. The College Athletics Reform Act would codify protections these athletes deserve. We urge its immediate consideration,” said the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA), and the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA).“The National College Players Association supports Representative Trahan’s College Athletics Reform Act as an important step toward protecting college athletes’ NIL freedoms and advancing comprehensive reform, including the enforcement of safety standards to prevent serious injury, abuse, and death among college athletes,” said Ramogi Huma, Executive Director of the National College Players Association.“We strongly endorse the College Athletics Reform Act and urge both sides of the aisle to provide nonpartisan support. The bill addresses the most pressing athlete protection issues in college sports – the regulation of sports agents, the assurance of athletes’ NIL rights, and an enforcement system (FTC and state attorneys general) more likely to protect all athletes rather than the commercial interests of a few. Importantly, it also provides a blueprint for moving forward with a bipartisan Congressional Commission that will have the time and data needed to develop solutions to those issues that have created the current legislative stalemate. This bill makes good sense and deserves the public’s and Congress’s support,” said Kassandra Ramsey, Esq., President of The Drake Group, an academic think tank working to better educate the U.S. Congress and higher education policymakers about critical issues in intercollegiate athletics.“Our nation’s college athletes are more than players—they’re a cherished part of American culture. But for too long, the NCAA and big institutions have profited off of their hard work while failing to empower and protect them. This critical legislation would finally ensure that college athletes have legally enforceable rights and the same economic freedoms as every other American. I thank Representative Trahan for her tireless work on behalf of college athletes and the schools that rely on them,” said Linda Lipsen, CEO of the American Association for Justice.“We are grateful to Representative Trahan for introducing the College Athletics Reform Act. This is an important step towards founding a truly fair and stable college athletics system that past and current athletes have spent so long fighting for, one in which students can actually benefit from the share of the billions raised off their labor. This legislation provides valuable opportunities for underrepresented students— including often-disproportionate shares of Black men participating in the sports who generate the highest annual revenues— to earn compensation and gain connections and skills that follow them past their time on campus,” said Elyse Shaw, Director of Education, Labor, and Worker Justice at The Center for Law and Social Policy.“COSAL applauds Rep. Lori Trahan for introducing the College Athletics Reform Act (CARA), which protects the dignity and rights of college athletes from the greed of the NCAA power brokers. CARA protects college athletes by prohibiting, at long last, the NCAA from interfering with athletes’ rights to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness. Critically, CARA allows athletes to continue to bring antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA when it abuses or exploits those athletes for its own private gain,” said Deborah Elman, President of the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL).###
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)
LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Lowell leaders announced $7,158,564 in federal funding awarded to the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) to support the purchase of six additional low emission buses. The new investment builds on the progress made last year when Trahan secured $6,859,296 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for LRTA to purchase seven state-of-the-art hybrid-electric buses, six of which have already been delivered and are in service.
“There’s been no shortage of political divisiveness and chaos in Washington lately, but my focus remains where it’s always been – on delivering for the hardworking families I represent,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “That means fighting for investments that make daily life more affordable and more efficient for folks across Greater Lowell. These new buses will help reduce costs for riders, improve reliability, and make it easier for families to get where they need to go. This is the kind of practical progress people deserve, and I’m proud to help bring it home.”
“This investment in Lowell’s transit system is an investment in our residents. Reliable, cleaner, and more efficient buses help connect our neighborhoods, support our workforce, and make it easier for families to get where they need to go. I’m grateful to our regional and federal partners for helping us continue to build a transit system that reflects the needs and values of our community,” said Lowell Mayor Daniel P. Rourke.
“This award highlights what can be accomplished through strong partnerships. The City of Lowell, the LRTA, and our federal delegation have worked closely to advance sustainable transportation options for our region, and this latest funding will move that vision forward. We’re proud to collaborate with the LRTA as they continue modernizing their fleet and improving service for the riders who depend on it every day,” said Lowell City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr.
“This federal grant award recognizes the successful and continuing collaboration between the LRTA, its legislative leaders, and community partners to provide safe, reliable and energy efficient public transportation to the Greater Lowell region. I am proud to say that the 2025 funding, coupled with a prior award to purchase new hybrid-electric buses, solidifies the LRTA’s bus-fleet modernization mission,” said LRTA Administrator Dave Bradley. “This could not be achieved without the dedicated advocacy of U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan.”
The investment announced today was secured through the Federal Transit Administration’s Law’s Low- or No-Emission Bus Grant Program, which was established after Trahan voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In addition to the seven buses acquired by LRTA last year, the federal program has helped other transit authorities upgrade their fleets, including the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority. A separate Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program known as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Bus Rebate Program has also supported fleet upgrades for Lawrence Public Schools, Fitchburg Public Schools, and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District.
This funding is the latest secured by Trahan over the past year to support projects in Lowell and across the region. In August, the Rourke Bridge Replacement Project officially broke ground, made possible thanks to $251 million Trahan secured through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds. Following the Trump Administration’s decision in May to revoke funding for the Lowell Folk Festival and Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Trahan led the charge to restore the funding, which was successful for the festival foundation. Last December, she secured $37,617 for the Lowell Police Department to retain vital support staff. In October 2024, Trahan celebrated $1.5 million in federal funds to support Community Teamwork’s YouthBuild program, which provides educational and vocational training to at-risk youth to help prepare them for careers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
Congressman Griffith’s Ninth District STAFF will be available at the following locations during the month of December.
In the event of inclement weather (heavy snow, sleet, icy rain, etc.), traveling office hours may be rescheduled to avoid putting constituents at risk. If a County’s or City’s schools are closed, then its office hours will be closed as well. Please contact the Christiansburg Office at 540-381-5671 or the Abingdon Office at 276-525-1405 with any questions or to schedule an appointment time in the event of office hour closure.
December 4, 2025
Bland County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Bland County Courthouse
First Floor Conference Room
612 Main Street
Bland, VA 24315
Wythe County: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Wythe County Sheriff’s Office
Conference Room
245 South 4th Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Smyth County: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Marion Town Hall
First Floor Conference Room
138 West Main Street
Marion, VA 24354
December 8, 2025
Bedford County: 9:00am – 10:30am
Town of Bedford Municipal Building
First Floor Conference Room
215 E. Main Street
Bedford, VA 24523
Franklin County: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Franklin County Government Center
Room B-23
1255 Franklin Street
Rocky Mount, VA 24151
December 9, 2025
Tazewell County (Bluefield): 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Town of Bluefield Council Chambers
112 Huffard Dr
Bluefield, VA 24605
Buchanan County: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Town of Grundy Offices
1185 Plaza Dr.
Grundy, VA 24614
December 10, 2025
Scott County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
County Administrator’s Office
Conference Room
190 Beech Street
Gate City, VA 24251
Lee County: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Conference Room
33640 Main Street
Jonesville, VA 24263
Wise County (Big Stone Gap): 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Big Stone Gap Municipal Complex
216 Wood Ave. E
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
December 11, 2025
Giles County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Town of Pearisburg Offices
Council Chambers
112 Tazewell Street
Pearisburg, VA 24134
Radford: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Radford Recreation Building
200 George Street
Radford, VA 24141
Pulaski County: 2:30 pm – 4:00pm
Pulaski County Administration Building
First Floor Conference Room
143 3rd Street NW
Pulaski, VA 24301
December 15, 2025
City of Martinsville: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
City Hall, Council Chambers
55 W. Church St
Martinsville, VA 24112
Patrick County: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Patrick County Administration Building
Conference Room
106 Rucker Street
Stuart, VA 24171
Floyd County: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Town of Floyd Government Offices
Community Room
203 East Oxford St
Floyd, VA 24091
December 16, 2025
Craig County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Craig County Courthouse
108 Court Street
New Castle, VA 24127
Dickenson County: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Center for Education & Research
First Floor Conference Room #155
Clintwood, VA 24228
Roanoke County: 11:30am – 1:00pm
South County Library
Meeting Room
6303 Merriman Road
Roanoke, VA 24018
Norton: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
High Knob Destination Center
Conference Room
1147 Laurel Avenue SW
Norton, VA 24273
Wise County (Wise): 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Wise County Courthouse
Law Library, Second Floor
206 E. Main Street
Wise, VA 24293
December 17, 2025
Carroll County: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Carroll County Administration Building
County Administrators Office, Conference Room
605 – 1 Pine Street
Hillsville, VA 24343
Galax: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Galax Municipal Building
Conference Room
111 E. Grayson Street
Galax, VA 24333
Grayson County: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Grayson County Administration Building
Board of Supervisors Room
129 Davis Street
Independence, VA 24348
December 18, 2025
Tazewell County (Tazewell): 10:00 am – 11:30 am
American Legion Building
226 Central Avenue
Tazewell, VA 24651
Russell County: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Town of Lebanon Government Offices
72 Gibson Street
Lebanon, VA 24266
** Please contact the Christiansburg Office at 540-381-5671 or the Abingdon Office at 276-525-1405 with any questions.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW’s The Weekend, where he emphasized that Democrats are committed to protecting everyday Americans in the face of rising costs, including by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
EUGENE DANIELS: Here to discuss it all and much more is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, thank you for coming on this holiday weekend. I want to get into, before we get into all of the things that you guys are gonna do when you get back here, I want to read a Trump post about him denaturalizing, in his word, migrants. This is from Thursday. He posts that he wants to denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility and deport any foreign national who is a public charge, security risk or, in his words, non-compatible with Western civilization. What is your reaction to the President of the United States using this kind of language, especially the non-compatible with Western civilization?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning, Eugene. Great to be with you. He continues to rant and rave in very unhinged ways, and I think the American people are sick and tired of it. What we want is a president who shows leadership, who brings people together, who addresses the problems that the American people want addressed—first and foremost, driving down the high cost of living—as opposed to constantly having meltdowns on social media, which is exactly what he did. And I believe that post was on Thanksgiving of all days. Now listen, we support a strong border. We support the notion that we need to fix our broken immigration system, but we should do it in a comprehensive and bipartisan way. We also are going to continue to stand by law-abiding immigrant communities, stand by our farmers, stand by our farm workers and stand by our Dreamers at the same time.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Leader Jeffries, Congress comes back into session tomorrow with the House and the Senate. And the big thing that it should be the first order of business is doing something about extending those Affordable Care Act subsidies. Doesn’t seem like there’s any appetite for it in the House, even though the President of the United States, even though President Trump has said he wants to do something. You’ve got twelve legislative days left in this calendar year to do something. How confident are you that one, something can’t get done, and two, that you and Leader Schumer in the Senate will meet with the President to get something done in twelve legislative days?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, you’re absolutely right. The clock is ticking in terms of making sure that we extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to prevent tens of millions of hardworking American taxpayers from experiencing dramatically increased healthcare premiums, co-pays and deductibles. In some cases, those health insurance costs will increase by a thousand or two thousand dollars per month. That is unsustainable. And we cannot have a situation where people will be unable to afford to go see a doctor here in America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. Now, Jonathan, as you asked, the interesting thing about this is that when Donald Trump usually says to House Republicans, ‘Do something,’ when he tells them to jump, they just say, ‘How high?’ And he asked them to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. They did it. He asked them to cut $186 billion from SNAP in the One Big Ugly Bill, literally ripping food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans. They did it. In that same One Big Ugly Bill, he asked them to enact these massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors and make them permanent. They did it. But when Donald Trump floats a possible proposal to try to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, now they want to act like they’re a separate and coequal branch of government. It’s extraordinary. And so, we need to find a handful of House Republicans to join us. We’ve got 212 Democrats on a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, and we need just a few of my Republican colleagues to show some guts and show some courage and stand up for the people that they represent.
JACKIE ALEMANY: Leader Jeffries, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth verbally ordered a military strike on Venezuela that legal experts are saying is tantamount to murder. Are you going to call for Pete Hegseth’s resignation?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, you know what’s interesting is that I called for Pete Hegseth’s resignation back in the spring. The guy is totally and woefully unqualified, the most unqualified so-called Secretary of Defense in American history. And so, it’s long past time that he’s got to go. Now the big challenge we have is, you know, what is the justification for what many people rightfully believe are extrajudicial killings off the coast of South America? We’ve had a few classified briefings that I’ve been a part of, and I’ve seen no evidence to actually justify the strikes that are taking place. We need a full congressional briefing as well. And the administration, if they believe they have the authority to do this, if they believe these targets undermine America’s national security, then they need to present that evidence. But we’ve seen nothing to date.
JACKIE ALEMANY: Should Democrats be drafting articles of impeachment against Hegseth right now? Is that something you’re considering for this week ahead?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I think the problem is we can’t even get Republicans to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. So the reality is that that type of accountability is not happening in this Congress with these people, who continue to be nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda. What we should be doing is making sure that there’s a strong bipartisan investigation as it relates to what’s happening under Pete Hegseth’s so-called leadership. And that’s been a challenge throughout the balance of this year. Moving forward, it seems like there’s some interest in the Senate amongst Republicans in scrutinizing the behavior of the Department of Defense off the coast of South America. So let’s see what emerges in the House of Representatives.
EUGENE DANIELS: Leader Jeffries, one of the things that I hear a lot, and I think maybe these two maybe as well, from immigration advocates, is that they wish that the Democratic Party was more vocally defensive and talked more optimistically about immigrants. We had Andrea Flores from—who was on just a week ago, saying something similar. And I’m curious, and I heard you talk about Dreamers and all of that, and so that’s why it popped into my head. So I’m curious when you think about the balance of voters wanting stronger borders, that immigration continues to be maybe the one category that Donald Trump is not underwater on, how does the Democratic Party talk about immigrants as beneficial to society and immigration as a net plus to the American experiment?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we want to continue to make clear as a country that hardworking immigrants, hardworking immigrant families are an important part of the fabric of communities throughout America. I think it’s actually one of the reasons why we’ve seen Donald Trump, even on immigration, in the most recent Gallup poll, underwater. The American people are of the view that of course, it is appropriate to deport violent felons, to deport people who present a safety risk to the American people. However, that’s not what we’ve been seeing from this aggressive extremism that Donald Trump has unleashed through his immigration policies all across the country. They’re not deporting violent felons by and large. They’re deporting families. In some cases, they’re actually deporting American citizen children or separating them from their parents. And the American people have zero interest in that. Now we’ve got to continue to balance, as we move forward, these two principles of America as a nation anchored in the rule of law, and we have to continue to uphold that, but also a nation of immigrants, a gorgeous mosaic of people who have come to America from all throughout the world and have made us the envy of the world because of the dynamism that that creates.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Speaker Jeffries, we’re out of time, but I can’t have you here without asking you about speaking of polls, a Marist poll out shows that if the midterm elections were held today, 55 percent said that they would vote for the Democratic candidate, 41 percent say they would vote for the Republican candidate. As with all polls, this is a snapshot in time. But there is a special election happening on Tuesday in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. How confident are you that State Representative, the Democrat, Aftyn Behn, will win that? And two, do you expect to be Speaker of the House before the midterm elections?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, you know, I’m confident that it’s gonna be a close race in the Tennessee special election, which is shocking in and of itself, because this is a district that Donald Trump just won by twenty-two points. And Republicans are scrambling to hold on to a deep red district. And so we’ll see what the voters of Tennessee decide, but it definitively is going to be a close race, and that in and of itself is a great surprise and, I think, evidence of the fact that we are on our way to taking back control of the House of Representatives. We’ll see what happens with Republican resignations and if something interesting occurs next year. But as Democrats, we’re going to continue to fight to lower the high cost of living, continue to fight to fix our broken healthcare system and continue to fight to make sure that in this country, you work hard, you play by the rules, you should be able to live the good life.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the Great State of New York, doing that gorgeous mosaic reference to the late Mayor David Dinkins of New York City. Thank you very much for coming back to The Weekend.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)
“We cannot have one set of laws for the rich and powerful and another set of laws for everyone else,” says Minnesota Congresswoman
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, by a vote of 427-1. Congresswoman McCollum voted in favor of the measure. Following passage of the bill that would compel the Department of Justice to release all unclassified DOJ documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) released the following statement:
“In America, all of us are subject to the same laws. We cannot have one set of laws for the rich and powerful and another set of laws for everyone else. Those who were engaged in Jeffrey Epstein’s disgusting crimes and efforts to cover them up must be held accountable for their actions.
“To be clear, President Trump has the power to make the documents surrounding this case public today. It’s appalling that Trump and Speaker Johnson worked to delay a vote to release the Epstein Files for over eight months. The Trump Department of Justice has completely ignored a Congressional subpoena compelling the release of the Epstein Files, which was issued earlier this year by the House Oversight Committee. Now, Trump has reversed his position. If he means what he says now, then he should direct the Department of Justice to release the files immediately. The Republican Majorities in the House and Senate must ensure that Trump and his Justice Department comply with Congressional oversight and follow the law.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
November 29, 2025
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres sent a letter to President Trump urging him not to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for crimes that devastated communities in Honduras, the United States, and beyond.
“Juan Orlando Hernández ran a violent, cartel-backed empire that trafficked hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States, stole taxpayer dollars, and terrorized communities across Honduras and Central America,” said Congresswoman Torres. “A pardon would erase years of work holding powerful criminals accountable, reward corruption at the highest levels, and betray every American family harmed by his crimes. He must serve his full sentence.”
Hernández’s trial and conviction marked a critical victory for international anti-corruption and anti-drug efforts, demonstrating the importance of U.S. oversight and Central American cooperation in combating transnational crime. His pardon would undermine these efforts and embolden violent networks across the region.
“Over his presidency, Hernández turned the Honduran government into a tool of violence and corruption,” Torres continued. “He deployed police and military forces to protect cocaine shipments, used death squads to intimidate opponents, and openly branded drugs with his initials while profiting from American deaths. Pardoning him would signal to the world that power and money can shield criminals from justice and that victims’ lives do not matter.”
Congresswoman Torres is calling on President Trump to stand with victims, law enforcement, and communities across the Americas, not shield criminals, and to ensure Hernández serves his full sentence.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California
Washington D.C. – This week, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined House Democrats in supporting three major Congressional efforts opposing the Trump Administration’s harmful changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) Programs. These changes could force more than 170,000 people back into homelessness and disrupt services in communities across the country. Pelosi’s support of all three initiatives underscores the significant stakes for San Francisco, where $55 million in federal CoC grants are central to keeping vulnerable individuals and families housed—supporting over 1,500 housing units in the Bay Area.
Pelosi signed on to three letters led by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Members Rosa DeLauro and James Clyburn, House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters, and Bay Area Congressman Sam Liccardo. Across these efforts, lawmakers raised alarms about HUD’s abrupt policy shifts, deep funding reductions for permanent supportive housing and a severely delayed FY2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that together threaten to destabilize homelessness systems nationwide.
Appropriations Committee Letter Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Ranking Member DeLauro, Rep. Clyburn and 203 House Democrats urged HUD to prevent service lapses caused by the latest NOFO. Their letter notes that the FY2025 NOFO is “the most delayed issuance of a NOFO for the CoC Program over the last 10 years,” and warns that the timing combined with major policy changes will result in “the most prolonged funding gap for this critical homelessness prevention program.”
The lawmakers highlighted that nearly $3.7 billion in FY2024 CoC grants begin expiring on December 31, 2025, raising urgent concerns that communities could face major disruptions through winter and into spring if the administration does not act.
Financial Services Committee Letter Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Ranking Member Waters and 52 House Democrats called on HUD Secretary Scott Turner to rescind a NOFO that “could push over 170,000 formerly homeless individuals back on the streets and exacerbate our nation’s homelessness crisis.” The letter highlights that HUD’s proposal would slash permanent supportive housing from 86% of CoC funding to just 30% and impose an extremely compressed application timeline that could create a half-year gap in critical services.
The lawmakers warned that the NOFO would worsen conditions for people with disabilities, veterans, domestic violence survivors, women with children, and others already disproportionately impacted by the homelessness crisis.
Rep. Liccardo Letter Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Rep. Sam Liccardo, and more than 30 House Democrats pressed HUD for answers on the Administration’s decision to cut billions from permanent supportive housing services in the CoC Program. The Liccardo-led effort notes that these cuts put 170,000 Americans at risk of homelessness, and emphasized that eliminating support without any transition plan would cause immediate disruption in cities that rely heavily on CoC investments to reduce homelessness.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California
San Francisco – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan urging strengthened communication, transparency and accountability in the long-running cleanup effort at the Hunters Point Shipyard Superfund site.
The letter comes amid renewed public concern after elevated plutonium-239 levels at the site were revealed in press reports rather than proactive outreach from the Navy to the Hunters Point community. While the Navy later conveyed that the readings posed no harm to San Franciscans, Pelosi noted that this reassurance arrived only after the fact.
“The continued cadence of misfires in communication and delays with the completion of the cleanup further erode the public trust in the Navy’s ability to complete this long-awaited clean up and redevelopment,” Pelosi wrote.
Pelosi emphasized that the project’s success hinges on coordinated oversight and transparent engagement with community stakeholders. She continued: “I am counting on your commitment to the Navy’s continued efforts in the Hunters Point Shipyard and will fight to ensure robust resources continue to be secured so that this project can be complete once and for all. That effort is entirely reliant on the Navy’s ongoing, frequent dialogue with total transparency.”
During her time representing San Francisco in the Congress, Pelosi has secured over $1 billion in federal funding for the clean-up of the Hunters Point Shipyard. Last year, Pelosi hosted then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to tour the site in preparation for the demolition of the remaining non-historic buildings.