Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, today hosted a Shadow Hearing titled Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump’s Lawless Third Country Disappearances, to dive deeper into the cases of those lawlessly kidnapped and disappeared to third countries like El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, South Sudan, and Libya. This hearing was the first in a series she plans to hold on Trump’s immigration actions. 

“Since taking office in January, President Trump has shown nothing but utter contempt for the Constitution.  He has ignored and decimated the traditional role of Congress and defied and defamed the courts, doing untold damage to our democracy.  He has attacked the rights of all people, starting with and especially immigrants. In his obsession to deport as many immigrants—lawful and undocumented—as he can, he has violated multiple constitutional rights,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “Due process is the critical protection that requires anyone, no matter their citizenship status, to have their opportunity to present evidence, to be able to counter a government or any party falsely accusing them of being a terrorist or a gang member or of being kidnapped off the street and disappeared.”

The witnesses at this hearing included Lindsay Toczylowski the President and CEO of Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) and legal counsel for Andry Romero, Robyn Barnard, the Senior Director of Refugee Advocacy at Human Rights First, Lee Gelernt the Deputy Director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Beatriz Guzman, a Venezuelan-American immigrant and immigration attorney.

“The Trump administration has used a pattern of disappearances to detain, remove, and expel people to countries which are not their countries of origin, and for which no removal proceedings have been conducted nor the required fear screenings. These actions are part of a broader effort to subvert due process and the checks and balances that are central to the U.S. Constitution,” said Robyn Barnard, Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy, Human Rights First. “Before being disappeared to these third countries, many asylum seekers were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in unbearable conditions. They went days or weeks without any contact with the outside world. They were subject to medical neglect, physical and psychological mistreatment, and intolerable living conditions that are especially traumatizing for children.”

“Andry Hernández Romero’s story is truly a canary in the coalmine, a warning of what happens when the rule of law and due process are trampled upon. If being denied due process and sent to a third country happened to him – a gay makeup artist with no criminal record and targeted solely for having tattoos – it could happen to me, it could happen to you, it could happen to any one of us,” said Lindsay Toczylowski, CEO and President of Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef). “ Andry’s case, and those of the 230+ men who were disappeared to El Salvador’s CECOT gulag, is about whether we will fight to uphold the rights enshrined by the Constitution. It  is about the future of our democracy. If we fail him, we will have failed our country.”

“People that are detained have no knowledge of our laws, often don’t speak English, and if a habeas corpus petition is not filed, they are deported to a gulag in El Salvador with no due process,” said Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the ACLU’s legal challenges to the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. “At the same time the government has taken the position that once immigrants are deported to El Salvador, they can not be returned, no matter how many mistakes they have made. Even if immigrants are given due process, we do not think that this wartime authority can be used during peacetime.”

“Venezuelan immigrants have become a target despite the love we have for this country–the only place we can call home. Just like my kid clients who are now scared to go to school and who feel that pit in their stomach—that this country is not safe for them–now my parents and family feel that too. We feel it too even when we leave our homes with U.S. passports,” said Beatriz Guzman, Venezuelan-American U.S. citizen and immigration attorney for children.  “And this is all a flashback for my father–a reminder of the culture of fear that comes in the early days of authoritarianism. It is difficult for him to watch the first steps of those same changes that he fled over 20 years ago, happening now in his new home and country.”

The hearing was attended by Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Juan Vargas (CA-52).

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he emphasized that Democrats remain united against Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill which will rip away healthcare and food assistance from millions of Americans in order to give billionaire Republican donors a tax break.  

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, everyone. House Democrats continue to fight to stop the GOP Tax Scam in its tracks. Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill will rip away healthcare for more than 16 million Americans. Others across the country will pay higher premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of this unprecedented attack on Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. Hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down and people will die if the GOP Tax Scam ever becomes law. 

Republicans are also trying to jam the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history down the throats of the American people, are taking away more than $300 billion from SNAP, these extremists are literally ripping food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans in the United States of America. It’s shameful. 

All of this is being done so that Republicans can provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors, and then they want to stick the American people with the bill, including by exploding the deficit by more than $3 trillion, saddling our children and grandchildren with this type of fiscal baggage that will hurt their ability to have a prosperous future and sets America on a possible path toward bankruptcy. The GOP Tax Scam is indeed a disgusting abomination.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) introduced the Space Launch Noise Mitigation Study Act to require the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to assess the impact of space launch activity on neighboring communities and make recommendations for noise mitigation. The emergence of frequent sonic booms from the increase in space launches is a new phenomenon that requires additional studies to more comprehensively understand the impacts. This legislation will produce recommendations to inform a grant program that allows affected communities to install noise-mitigating technologies. 

“With space launches occurring more frequently, nearby communities have voiced concern over the intensifying noise and its effect on their quality of life,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This legislation is a crucial step forward in equipping communities with the necessary resources to reduce the disruptive impact of sonic booms and protect their well-being.”

As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Carbajal has worked to address space launch noise and its effect on local residents.

Last December, Rep. Carbajal secured language in the annual defense policy bill that – for the first time – acknowledged the impact of space launch noises on nearby communities and called for more resources to be allocated to communities impacted by the launches. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“Under Trump, the SEC isn’t protecting anyone. It’s not regulating. Its cases are being dictated by whoever is paying the president tens of millions of dollars’ worth of crypto bribes.”

“If this isn’t the definition of corruption, then what is?”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – In a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) slammed Donald Trump over his corrupt crypto venture for personal financial gain and his indirect and improper acceptance of bribes from companies being sued by the SEC who have later had their charges dropped.

The Congresswoman laid out how Trump’s moves are a clear abuse of power over the SEC and blatantly enrich himself and his allies at the expense of everyday American investors.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks, as delivered, is available below, and the full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley Slams Trump for Corruption, Bribery in Crypto Schemes

House Financial Services Committee

June 4, 2025

REP. PRESSLEY: Now in normal times, a U.S. president trafficking in corruption would be condemned by both Republicans and Democrats. In normal times, the appearance of bribery – even the hint of it – would be universally denounced. 

But these are not normal times. 

In fact, in this season of reverse Robin Hood culture, these are the worst of times.

The Trump family is engaging in mind-boggling levels of corruption – so blatant, so numerous, that we’re overwhelmed and can’t keep up, which is, in fact, the strategy.

Today I want to shed light on, specifically, the crypto bribery scheme happening in plain sight. 

Now, Trump launched World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform where 75% of revenues go straight to the Trump family’s pockets. This has become a pay-to-play corruption game. 

Trump has – Occupant Trump has – zero interest in lowering costs for working families but remains vigilant in his efforts to enrich himself. 

Now, further evidence of this pay-to-play corruption game.

Player one is Justin Sun. In 2023, the SEC sued him and his companies for defrauding investors, manipulating token prices, and secretly paying celebrities to promote tokens without disclosing payments. All of that is illegal.

But after Sun purchased $75 million worth of Trump’s tokens, he was appointed as an advisor to World Liberty Financial and, magically, Trump’s SEC dropped their case against him. 

Maybe that’s just a coincidence. But it sure does look like crypto-bribery. 

Then there’s Binance. The company’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, was convicted for failing to prevent terrorists, child abusers, and cybercriminals from using his crypto-exchange. Binance paid a $4 billion fine and the SEC also sued Binance for running an unlicensed exchange. 

Now that would have been a slam dunk case. 

One Binance executive literally messaged another: quote, ‘We are operating as a f—ing unlicensed securities exchange in the USA, bro’ end quote.

I must say, the constituency of ‘bros’ are certainly living their best life in Donald Trump’s America. But I digress. 

But yet again, that case magically disappeared after a $2 billion investment in Binance using Trump’s stable coin. And we’re supposed to think that this is just a coincidence. 

So let me ask a very simple question. I promise you, this is not a ‘gotcha’ question. This is straightforward. So, I’m looking for a straightforward answer. 

Should companies be able to bribe the President of the United States to make SEC lawsuits go away? Yes or no?

And we’ll begin with Mr. Massad and work back. 

MR. TIMOTHY MASSAD: Absolutely not. 

MS. KATHERINE MINARIK: No. Bribery is a crime. 

MR. ROSTIN BEHNAM: No.

MR. VIVEK RAMAN: No.

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: I’m not here to talk about –

REP. PRESSLEY: Let me just – let me say the question again, sir. Again, there’s no gotcha here. This is very straightforward. 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: Okay.

REP. PRESSLEY: Should companies be able to bribe the President of the United States to make SEC lawsuits go away? Yes or no? 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: I don’t think anyone should bribe anyone to make lawsuits go away. 

REP. PRESSLEY: Yes or no? 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: That’s my answer, ma’am.

REP. PRESSLEY: Yes or no? 

MR. ELAD ROISMAN: I think I just answered it.

REP. PRESSLEY: Under Trump, the SEC isn’t protecting anyone. It’s not regulating. Its cases are being dictated by whoever is paying the president tens of millions of dollars’ worth of crypto bribes.

And who pays the price? It’s not the billionaires or the foreign actors cutting deals behind closed doors. It’s the average Americans who use crypto for legitimate reasons, like remittances, who are left unprotected in a rigged system. 

And to be clear, these crypto scams are not simply about Trump and his billionaire friends making money. 

It’s even worse than that. 

It’s about them stealing money from everyone else. 

If this isn’t the definition of corruption, then what is?

I yield back.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s proposal to drastically slash international affairs funding—endangering Americans’ safety, economic security, and global standing:

“President Trump’s extreme plan to gut diplomacy and foreign assistance isn’t fiscal responsibility—it’s reckless and short-sighted. It will raise costs for American families, fuel global instability, and weaken our leadership in the world. Foreign assistance—less than one percent of our federal budget—prevents deadly diseases from reaching our shores, creates markets for American businesses, and helps keep our troops out of costly conflicts by addressing the root causes of violence and extremism. Meanwhile, China and other adversaries are ready to step in and fill the void we would leave behind.

Instead of rubber-stamping these dangerous cuts, Congress must work in a bipartisan, responsible way to pass a budget that reflects our values, protects our national interests, and strengthens our global leadership,”  said Rep. Frankel.

Rep. Frankel is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, which oversees funding for the State Department and foreign assistance.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is leading dozens of  Members of Congress in demanding information from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem regarding the kidnapping and disappearances of immigrants with no due process who have been removed to third countries including Panama, Costa Rica, South Sudan, and Libya.

“While we can all agree that the immigration system is badly outdated and in need of comprehensive reforms from Congress, it is not an appropriate solution to simply ignore the Constitutionally-protected right to due process, the laws that currently exist, and judges’ orders,” wrote the Members. “We have laws and procedures in place to remove people from this country. The administration cannot willfully ignore those laws and send people to third countries, in some cases, countries suffering from humanitarian disasters and armed conflict.”

In its efforts to quickly deport immigrants, regardless of legal status, criminal record, or any national security threat, the administration has been removing individuals with protection claims to countries they did not come from. The administration sent hundreds of non-Panamanian migrants and asylum seekers to Panama, including Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian national who secretly converted to Christianity, a crime punishable by death in Iran.

All persons in the United States are entitled to due process under the law, regardless of immigration status. These deportations have subverted that process and put people in potentially life-threatening situations.

You can read the full letter here. 

The letter was signed by Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Nikema Williams (GA-05). 

Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) launched the Rescissions Working Group, a team of RSC Members who will serve as the tip of the spear for House conservative’s efforts to codify President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescissions package. Chaired by Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV), the task force will also work to educate members and staff about the rescissions process & the President’s impoundment authority, as well as make the case for additional rescissions packages to be sent to Congress.

The RSC has long supported the use of rescissions to rein in out of control spending, formally endorsing President Trump’s first rescissions package when it was sent to Congress in 2017. Recognizing the need to honor the commitment we made to the American people to eliminate woke, wasteful, and weaponized spending, the RSC has decided to accelerate our efforts by establishing the Rescissions Working Group.

The committee is grateful to former RSC Chair and current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise for leading the effort to shepherd the rescissions package through the House, and our Rescissions Working Group stands prepared to support the Majority Leader in his determined efforts to get this package over the finish line.

“I’m thrilled to be chairing this task force for RSC and thank Chairman Pfluger for his support,” said Congressman Moore. “President Trump was given a historic mandate by the American people to restore common sense and end waste, fraud, and abuse. This rescission package is a key first step in codifying necessary cuts, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the White House as we continue to deliver for the American people.”

“The RSC’s Rescissions Working Group is the first of its kind, and signals to the American people that House conservatives are ready to meet the moment and assist President Trump in delivering on his historic mandate,” said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11). “The rescissions package sent to Congress serves as a critical opportunity for Congress to take immediate and decisive action to slash federal spending, and our Working Group will fight to make the case that this and future packages must pass.”

Watch Rep. Riley Moore highlight the importance and timeliness of this RSC Rescissions Working Group

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

Heritage Action: “The Republican Study Committee’s Rescissions Task Force will play a vital role to ensure the President’s mandate is enacted and corrupt government spending is cut. Heritage Action fully supports eliminating $9.4 billion in woke and wasteful spending from the likes of USAID, NPR and PBS. The time for fiscal sanity is now, and we look forward to working with this Task Force to ensure these rescissions are passed and signed into law. Heritage Action applauds RSC Chairman August Pfluger and Rescissions Task Force Chairman Riley Moore for their leadership.”

Citizens for Renewing America: “Citizens for Renewing America applauds RSC’s launch of this Recissions Taskforce to ensure that the $9.4 billion recission package is passed in full. It is imperative that the entire rescissions package, just sent to Congress by the White House, passes. If Congress fails to pass the rescissions package we lose our ability to rescind those funds later. The eyes of America are on Congress to see if, as a whole, they are serious about addressing the deficit and debt problem endangering the future for our children and grandchildren.”

Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer at Americans for Prosperity: “Our nation’s debt crisis wasn’t created overnight, and it will take more than one bill to solve this problem. We’re grateful to the President for proposing a first wave of commonsense cost-cutting measures, and we hope to see Congress approve them soon. It’s reassuring that RSC is standing up a Rescissions Working Group to address spending and taking a holistic approach to adopt a new culture of cost-cutting in Washington.”

David McIntosh, President of Club for Growth: “With the national debt now at $37 trillion, it’s critical that lawmakers use every available tool to reduce wasteful government spending and rescissions are a commonsense step in that effort. Club for Growth applauds the leadership of the Republican Study Committee and Rep. Riley Moore, and we encourage all conservatives to support this important initiative.”

BACKGROUND:

The Republican Study Committee is the oldest and largest conservative caucus in the House and represents the leading voice for conservative values in Congress. The RSC is home to over 180 strong members, fighting every single day for the American people. 

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

Latta Receives Icon Award for Leadership in Energy

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

Latta Meets with General Steven S. Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau and Ohio Native

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

This week, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues in sending letters to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Chair Amy Karpel in support of the American low-speed personal transportation vehicle (LSPTV) industry.

In the letter to Secretary Lutnick, Congressman Allen, Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) write: “We commend the U.S. Department of Commerce for its hard work in conducting the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on Low Speed Personal Transportation Vehicles from the People’s Republic of China. These investigations are critical to ensuring the unfairly traded Chinese imports do not continue to injure the American LSPTV industry.”

The Members continue: “We are very concerned, however, by the actions being taken by Chinese LSPTV producers to circumvent and evade the trade relief needed by the domestic industry. It is clear to us that, since the Department’s preliminary determinations, Chinese LSPTV producers have responded, not by abiding U.S. trade rules, but rather by re-labeling and re-organizing their supply chains in an effort to skirt those very trade disciplines… We ask the Department to take all steps necessary to ensure that Chinese producers do not continue to erode U.S. trade measures, especially given the significant levels of dumping and subsidization that the agency has already found to exist among LSPTV imports from China.”

In the letter to Chair Karpel, Congressman Allen and 24 of his colleagues write: “Facing large and increasing volumes of dumped and subsidized imports from China, the American LSPTV industry filed antidumping and countervailing duty cases in June 2024… With the aid of substantial Chinese government subsidies, these imported vehicles are being sold below U.S. market prices, taking sales and revenue from domestic producers and underselling and depressing U.S. prices.”

The Members conclude: “In short, it is critical that our trade remedy laws accurately address unfair trade practices so that U.S. workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field. Domestic LSPTV manufacturers represent a quintessential American industry, and trade relief is crucial to ensuring that they do not continue to be injured by unfair Chinese import competition.”

To read the full letter to Secretary Lutnick, CLICK HERE.
To read the full letter to Chair Karpel, CLICK HERE.

BACKGROUND: The Central Savannah River Area, encompassing Georgia and South Carolina, has long been the epicenter of U.S. golf cart manufacturing. It is home to two large producers that deliver electric vehicle models for personal and recreational transportation – PTVs, LSVs, and golf carts. Congressman Allen has been at the forefront of this issue since June 2024 and continues to seek relief for domestic LSPTV producers:

• June 2024: Allen Leads Letter to USTR Urging Ambassador Tai to Expand Definition and Combat the Importation of Chinese-Subsidized Electric Vehicles
• November 2024: Allen Leads Letter Urging Commerce Department to Stand by U.S. Manufacturers
• December 2024: Commerce Department Finds China Unfairly Subsidized Low-Speed Transportation Vehicle Industry
• January 2025: Commerce Department Establishes Antidumping Duties for Chinese LSPTV’s