Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) questioned Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon on HBCUs, as well as federal education grant administration and compliance, in the House Education & Workforce hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education.”

Video of Rep. Adams’s remarks is available for media use here.

Rep. Adams’s remarks are also available on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Full transcript of the remarks can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) questioned Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on enforcing child labor protections in the face of historic cuts, as well as the Department of Labor’s impact on HBCUs, in the House Education & Workforce hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Labor.”

Video of Rep. Adams’s remarks is available for media use here.

Rep. Adams’s remarks are also available on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Full transcript of the remarks can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) introduced the American Neighborhoods Protection Act to protect and improve family home ownership opportunities.

The American Neighborhoods Protection Act would require corporations that own more than 75 single-family residences to pay $10,000 per home annually into a Housing Trust Fund for down payment assistance grants to families purchasing homes. This would lower housing costs, increase housing supply, and provide financial assistance to families looking to buy a home.

Corporate housing ownership is agrowing problem nationwide. In 2021, corporations bought 33% of single-family homes in Georgia, 31% in Arizona, 30% in Nevada, and 29% in both California and Texas.

“A home should be a place for you to start a family and build your life, but unchecked corporate housing ownership is making that more and more unattainable for the average American,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Like so many communities across the country, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County face an affordable housing crisis, primarily driven by a small number of large corporations buying up housing, raising the costs and lowering supply. My bill would restore the opportunity of home ownership, an essential part of the American Dream, to all families, and especially our most economically vulnerable.”

The issue of corporate-owned housing in Charlotte has received local and national attention. In 2023, 26% of single-family homes were owned by corporations, a 53% increase since 2010. Meanwhile,a report by the NC Chamber Foundation found that North Carolina’s affordable housing crisis is expected to grow over the next five years, if left unchecked.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement on the Supreme Court of the United States granting DOGE access to sensitive Social Security Administration records.

“A group of unelected, unconfirmed private citizens has no business accessing your sensitive data,” said Congresswoman Adams. “The Supreme Court ruling granting DOGE access to Social Security Administration records is a blatant violation of the privacy of every U.S. citizen. Social Security is a lifeline for millions of Americans—seniors, widows, children, disabled workers—and we cannot and will not let it be undermined.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement on the White House deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles during the city’s protests.

“The president’s decision to deploy National Guardsmen to Los Angeles to stop American citizens from protesting was reckless and dangerous,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Neither Governor Gavin Newsom nor Mayor Karen Bass requested their support and this action only served to needlessly escalate the situation.”

“This decision was fueled by the president’s ego, not by what was best for the people of Los Angeles, and we cannot let him continue to weaponize the executive branch against our communities,” Adams continued. “Republicans in Congress should join Democrats in standing up for our citizens and reining in the executive overreach from the White House.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday evening, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed Representative Scott Peters’ (CA-50) legislation, H.R. 1948, to authorize the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept funding from other federal agencies as well as and non-federal sources for wastewater treatment, flood control projects, or other water conservation efforts. Currently, the IBWC relies almost solely upon annual appropriations from Congress or emergency funding to build and maintain its facilities. 

Rep. Peters and the San Diego Congressional delegation have now secured a total of $650 million for IBWC, which is enough to fully repair and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plan (SBIWTP). SBIWTP is the primary facility on the U.S.-side of the border responsible for treating cross-border sewage. Operations and maintenance projects are currently underway on both sides of the border to combat cross-border sewage pollution, and the region will see incremental improvements as each phase is completed. An increase in funding available from non-federal sources such as cities, states, or non-profits would support these projects, bolster future operation and maintenance of the SBIWTP, and strengthen coordination between local, federal, and binational agencies.  

“I’ve worked with our Congressional delegation and local advocates for years to bring attention to cross-border sewage pollution, and we now have enough money to fix the SBIWTP and double its capacity,” said Rep. Peters. “Our state and local partners have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of this environmental and public health crisis. Additional funding pathways for the IBWC provide the flexibility we need to better invest in the long-term health and well-being of our region. I urge my Senate colleagues to quickly pass this commonsense legislation.” 

“Together, our Congressional delegation has successfully secured over half a billion dollars in federal funds to combat cross-border pollution. Our legislation will open up additional funding pathways and help us send more resources to the Tijuana River Valley,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52). “I’m glad to see this critical bill pass the House and hope to see it swiftly passed in the Senate as well.” 

“Our San Diego congressional delegation has proudly brought home more than $650 million in federal funds to address the sewage and pollution flowing through the Tijuana River Valley – but we know it’s not enough,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51). “This fix would give the IBWC the permanent flexibility it needs for strategic, long-term investments to improve our health, well-being, and safety on both sides of the border.” 

This bipartisan legislation would allow other federal agencies or non-federal entities like the Department of Defense, the State of California, the City of San Diego and others to provide funding to IBWC. Specifically, it would: 

• Allow federal and non-federal entities to provide up to $5 million in funding to IBWC to invest in flood control infrastructure. 

• Include important legislative safeguards to prevent foreign entities of concern from contributing to the agency. 

“The passage of H.R. 1948 is a victory for our binational region. It provides the International Boundary and Water Commission with the long-needed ability to accept funding from federal, state, and local government agencies, unlocking resources to advance critical infrastructure that will help mitigate the ongoing transboundary pollution crisis,” said San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Chris Cate. “For far too long, communities in our region have faced devastating public health, environmental, and economic impacts from untreated sewage and urban runoff. With the passage of this bill, we take a meaningful step forward in safeguarding public health, protecting our shared environment, and supporting the region’s economy and community prosperity. We commend our congressional leaders for their ongoing leadership to address these issues.” 

Letters of support from the City of San Diego can be found here and from the City of Coronado here. 

A one pager of the bill can be found here. 

Further Background: 

Representative Peters has, for years, worked to address the cross-border pollution fouling San Diego’s coastal waters, including pushing for additional funding to fix and expand the dilapidated SBIWTP. The following are some recent actions: 

 

2025 

1. In March, Rep. Peters introduced legislation to authorize the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to accept funding from federal and non-federal entities for wastewater treatment, flood control projects, or other water conservation efforts. 

2024 

1. In January, Rep. Peters took to the House floor to demand that the President’s requested $310 million to fix and expand the dilapidated SBIWTP be included in any upcoming spending deal. 

2. In February, Rep. Peters joined members of San Diego’s Congressional delegation to ask U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro about the effects of cross-border pollution on Navy operations. 

3. In March, Rep. Peters celebrated the inclusion of $156 million, at his request, for the International Boundary and Water Commission’s (IBWC) construction budget in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bill. The IBWC is the federal agency tasked with operating and maintaining the SBIWTP. 

4. In May, Rep. Peters joined Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) in a bipartisan request for $278 million for the IBWC’s construction budget in the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bill. 

5. In August, Rep. Peters hosted Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma on a tour of the broken wastewater treatment plant. 

6. In September, Rep. Peters joined members of San Diego’s Congressional delegation to reiterate their call for a federal state of emergency declaration amid high levels of toxic gases. 

7. In December, Rep. Peters and the Congressional delegation successfully fought to include an additional $250 million to fully repair and expand the capacity of the SBIWTP in the government funding bill. This brought the total amount of funds secured to $650 million. 

2023 

1. In June, Rep. Peters led a letter with other members of the San Diego Congressional delegation to the governor of Baja California urging accountability for the Mexican government’s commitments to build wastewater treatment infrastructure. 

2. In July, members of the San Diego congressional delegation requested that the Environmental Protection Agency assist with directing environmental justice funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to help stop the flow of pollutants and urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to tour the broken plant. 

3. Also in July, they sent a letter to President Biden and submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, calling on the administration to declare this crisis a federal emergency. 

4. In August, he led two letters to the Office of Management and Budget and to OMB and the State Department, calling for urgent additional funding to confront this crisis.  

5. In September, he proposed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill to boost U.S.- Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program funding. Additionally, he proposed two amendments to the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill to boost annual construction funding to the USIBWC to $100 million. 

6. In October, Rep. Peters led a bipartisan letter to the Department of State demanding a complete account of how the SBIWTP fell into such a severe state of disrepair. 

7. In December, he led a letter urging leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to include President Biden’s $310 million supplemental budget request to repair the SBIWTP in any upcoming funding package. 

 

In previous years, Peters and colleagues have secured funding, introduced legislation, called for investigations, and arranged a visit by EPA Administrator Regan in response to the wastewater contamination crisis.  

  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Today, during an Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget, DOE Secretary Chris Wright agreed that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should give electric transmission lines the same fast-track, one-stop-shop permitting process, that natural gas pipelines and Liquid Natural Gas export facilities currently get.  

Large, high-voltage, interregional transmission lines are crucial for moving energy from all sources, including clean energy from renewables and nuclear, from where it is produced to where it is needed. Currently, the process to permit and build transmission lines requires reviews by states, localities, multiple federal agencies and can take more than two decades to complete. In comparison, natural gas pipelines go through one unified federal review at FERC and can be completed significantly faster as compared to transmission.  

During the hearing, Representative Peters asked Secretary Wright, “Since 2005, FERC has had the authority to act as the sole permitting agency for large multi-state transmission lines that your department deems to be in the national interest, but the federal government has not once used this authority due to litigation and endless bureaucracy regarding DOE’s role in the process. That’s Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, never use the authority. The backstop permitting authority for transmission is also a fraction of the authority that FERC has long had over natural gas pipelines and LNG, which always get their one-stop permitting shop at FERC. So, my question is, would you support bipartisan efforts in Congress to streamline this permit authority for large transmission lines, including would you be supportive of establishing permitting parity at FERC between natural gas and transmission? 

Secretary Wright responded, “Absolutely. The United States needs to build more energy infrastructure of all kinds and certainly including transmission lines.”  

Watch Rep. Peters’ full question line here.

Background: 

SPEED & Reliability Act 
Representative Peters’ and Senator Hickenlooper’s SPEED and Reliability Act would accelerate the siting and permitting of interregional transmission lines by:  

• Allowing individual transmission lines to be deemed as “national interest high-impact transmission facilities.”  

• Requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to conduct a single environmental review for these transmission lines, rather than requiring duplicative reviews by FERC and the Department of Energy. 

FASTER Act:  

Representative Peters’ FASTER Act will strengthen FERC’s permitting authorities by designating it as the lead agency for large, interstate transmission lines and by: 

• Giving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) siting authority and establishes it as the lead agency to coordinate state, local, and federal authorizations for National Interest Electric Transmission Facilities, defined as 345 kV or 750 MW, crosses two states, or a designation from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that the route proposed by a developer is consistent with the purpose of a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. 

• Incentivizing communities and project sponsors to negotiate an enforceable Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) and ensures greater community engagement by developing clear protocols to help communities negotiate a CBA. 

BIG WIRES Act 
Representative Peters’ and Senator Hickenlooper’s BIG Wires Act would update the country’s patchwork energy transmission system by:  

• Coordinating the construction of an interregional transmission system. 

• Establishing minimum-transfer requirements to move large amounts of energy from one U.S. grid region to another.  

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman David Scott (GA-13) and Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, urging the Department to preserve the highest standards of anesthesia care for our nation’s Veterans. The bipartisan letter was signed by more than 85 Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“After years of reviews and agency listening sessions, we know that removing physicians during anesthesia care, strips away a critical layer of medical expertise—particularly during high-risk or emergency scenarios where seconds matter and complications are unpredictable,” said Congressman David Scott. “I expressed deep concern with the previous Administration’s effort to diminish and depart from universally agreed upon anesthesia care standards, independent data, and the very voices of our Veterans who remain firmly opposed to this dangerous initiative. Secretary Collins can protect the integrity of the VA’s anesthesia standards and reaffirm the agency’s firm commitment to medical excellence. Veterans earned that commitment through their service. It would be unconscionable to think the government is now planning to compromise their care.”

“Our veterans deserve the highest standard of care, including careful oversight by trained physicians,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “The trend in medicine to allow nurses to assume certain responsibilities that medical doctors are trained to do is dangerous. The attempt to cut costs is noble, but doing so at the expense of quality and safety is unacceptable. I urge Secretary Collins to reconsider the proposed policy change that would authorize nurse-only anesthetic care without physician oversight.”

The 2025 letter comes in response to a VA department proposal to eliminate physician anesthesiologists from surgical anesthesia teams and adopt a “nurse-only” model. Currently, VA policy ensures that a physician anesthesiologist leads a team of certified registered nurse anesthetists, working together to deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care to veterans. This collaborative model is the standard of care at the nation’s leading medical institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and Emory University Hospitals, and is mandated by law in 46 states.

Cosigners (84) David Scott (GA), Greg Murphy (NC), Amodei (NV), Babin (TX), Barr (KY), Bean (FL), Bell (MO), Bice (OK), Boyle (PA), Bresnahan (PA), J. Brownley (CA), Burchett (TN), Carson (IN), Cisneros (CA), Yvette Clarke (NY), Conaway (NJ), Correa (CA), Crockett (TX), Cuellar (TX), Danny Davis (IL), De La Cruz (TX), Dunn (FL), Edwards (NC), Estes (KS), Ezell (MS), Feenstra (IA), Figures (AL), Fine (FL), Foushee (NC), Garbarino (NY), Gillen (NY), Gooden (TX), Griffiths (VA), Hamadeh (AZ), Andy Harris (MD), Mark Harris (NC), Hudson (NC), Hurd (CO), Jonathan Jackson (IL), Julie Johnson (TX), Hank Johnson (GA), John Joyce (PA), Kennedy (UT), Knott (NC), Krishnamoorthi (IL), Lawler (NY), Letlow (LA), Lieu (CA), Loudermilk (GA), Lutrell (TX), Mace (SC), Malliotakis (NY), McBath (GA), McCollum (MN), McCormick (GA), McDowell (NC), Messmer (IN), Meuser (PA), Miller-Meeks (IA), Moolenaar (MI), Barry Moore (AL), Tim Moore (NC), Morelle (NY), Newhouse (WA), Norman (SC), Olszewski (MD), Onder (MO), Owens (UT), Rouzer (NC), Rulli (OH), Salazar (FL), Schweikert (AZ), Austin Scott (GA), Sessions (TX), Strickland (WA), Suozzi (NY), Tenney (NY), Timmons (SC), Tlaib (MI), Turner (OH), Van Drew (NJ), Van Duyne (TX), Wagner (MO), Webster (FL)

View a copy of the letter HERE.

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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led nine members of New York’s Congressional delegation in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie urging the immediate passage of the New York for All Act. The legislation would prohibit collaboration between local and state government agencies and federal immigration enforcement, helping to protect immigrant families in New York from Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

“As members of New York’s Congressional Delegation, we believe that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, must be able to participate in their communities, provide for their families, and access critical support without intimidation,” the lawmakers wrote.

In the letter, the lawmakers urge state leaders to protect immigrant communities in New York in the face of a nationwide immigration crackdown and increasingly aggressive tactics by the Trump administration.

“We cannot stand idly by while our constituents and colleagues are ensnared by the Trump Administration’s mass deportation dragnet,” the lawmakers continued. “New York must be clear that it will establish critical guardrails to prevent local and state resources from being used for Trump’s mass deportation agenda.”

The New York for All Act would ensure that no New Yorker has to fear detention or deportation when accessing essential services, working with local government, or interacting with law enforcement. It does not prohibit ICE from enforcing federal law, nor does it limit local police from addressing criminal matters—it simply ensures New York’s resources are not diverted for federal deportation operations.

“We urge the New York State Legislature to reject Trump’s efforts to scapegoat our most vulnerable neighbors as a pretense for dismantling our core democratic institutions,” the lawmakers concluded.

In addition to Rep. Velázquez, the letter was signed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), George Latimer (NY-16), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Grace Meng (NY-06), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15).

For a full copy of the letter, click here.

We are deeply thankful for today’s call by Congresswoman Velázquez and eight additional members of the New York Congressional delegation for standing with us in imploring our state legislature to pass the New York for All Act now to protect New Yorkers from Trump’s mass deportation agenda,” said Linda Flor Brito, Senior Policy and Campaigns Organizer with the Immigrant Defense Project. “ICE entanglement with state and local agencies enables the separation of families, and further perpetuates a cruel double punishment of New Yorkers who are funneled from state prison sentences to ICE. To stop being complicit in this suffering, the legislature must pass New York for All – today – to create meaningful safety for all.”

 

“We thank Congressmember Velázquez and her New York colleagues for urging State lawmakers to pass the New York for All Act before session ends,” said Rosa Cohen-Cruz, Immigration Policy Director at The Bronx Defenders. “As public defenders who helped build the nation’s first immigrant defense program in New York City, we know that disentangling local law enforcement from ICE builds trust and makes all New Yorkers safer. It’s time for New York to lead with dignity and stand against the Trump-era playbook of fear and disappearance.”

 

Rosie Wang, program manager at the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative, said: “We applaud the members of the New York Congressional delegation who have shown up for immigrant communities and urged state leadership to swiftly pass the New York for All Act. New York for All would prevent state and local resources from being diverted to assist cruel and escalating federal immigration enforcement. These resources should be invested in strengthening our communities and keeping families safe, rather than tearing them apart. This legislation has never been so urgently needed, and time is running out to protect New York families and preserve trust in state and local institutions. New York State must pass New York for All now, before this legislative window closes, to take this critically needed step in defense of our values and immigrant communities.” 

 

“Leaders can’t just let the Trump administration wreak havoc on New York’s immigrant communities — the New York For All Act must pass now,” said Zach Ahmad, Senior Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “Between raiding workplaces, detaining children, and busting down people’s doors without a warrant, this anti-immigrant administration is hellbent on terrorizing New York’s immigrant communities. The Congressional leaders supporting New York 4 All are spot on: New Yorkers deserve to feel safe and protected — not watch the very people who are elected to keep them safe prioritize political interests over their wellbeing.”

 

Luba Cortes, Civil Rights and Immigration Lead Organizer at Make the Road New York, said, “In a climate of unprecedented ICE enforcement, and the administration’s reckless abuse of power to carry out its mass deportation agenda, state officials must take strong measures to ensure that our immigrant neighbors are safe. We thank the members of the New York Congressional Delegation for showing tremendous leadership by urging state lawmakers to pass the New York for All before the end of the legislative session. All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, should be able to go to school, work, church, and the hospital without fear that any interaction with law enforcement could lead to them being ripped away from their loved ones and funneled into deportation proceedings.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH-5), Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright discussed strengthening American energy policy during an Energy Subcommittee hearing. Congressman Latta emphasized the urgent need to unleash domestic energy production and secure U.S. energy dominance. 

To watch Congressman Latta’s opening statement, click here.

Below, please find excerpts from Latta’s conversation with Secretary Wright:

Congressman Latta: “Do we need to have more energy or less energy produced in this country?”

Secretary Wright: “Unquestionably more energy.”

Congressman Latta: “You know, as, we look at this, we’re looking at a widening gap between our projected reshoring of domestic manufacturing, the amount of reliable energy entering the system to meet that demand. As you know, record levels of base load generation are prematurely retiring. How is the department viewing this existential threat, and what do you see as a potential consequences for not meeting the moment?”

Secretary Wright: “If we’re to look at recent data, growth in electricity production and energy more broadly in China has been rapid. And in the United States, particularly in the electricity sector, we saw almost no growth in American electricity production during the four years of the last administration. Yet with almost no growth in production, we saw across the country an average 25 increase in electricity prices. This is clearly a pathway to losing the AI arms race. If we can’t grow our electricity production and keep prices in check, America’s in trouble. Our administration is entirely focused on unleashing private capital, getting the government out of the way to grow and expand our supply of reliable firm electricity. That’s what AI needs, 24/7/365 electricity. But, of course, that’s what the American electricity grid needs as well.”

Watch Congressman Latta’s questions here.