MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

The 60th Presidential Inauguration will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. 

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is responsible for planning and carrying out the ceremony. 

For more general information about the day’s activities and inaugural history, please visit inaugural.senate.gov.

Please review the following information before submitting a request for tickets:

• Each House office receives a limited number of tickets. Consequently, submitting a request does not guarantee a ticket to the event.
• The vast majority of tickets will be for standing room only sections.
• The deadline to submit requests for tickets from our office is Friday, December 13, 2024. 
• To request a ticket to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, please email OH04IMA@mail.house.gov. 

If you are not a resident of Ohio’s 4th Congressional District you can find your U.S. Representative by visiting house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.

*Please note that tickets provided for the Inauguration will not include access to any of the inaugural balls or other related events. Tickets to the inaugural balls are provided through the Presidential Inaugural Committee in consultation with the President-Elect. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Statement of Chairman Michael Guest Regarding the Ethics Committee’s Release of the Report Regarding Former Representative Gaetz

Washington, D.C. – Chairman Michael Guest released the following statement:

“I believe, have publicly stated, and remain steadfast in the position that the House Committee on Ethics lost jurisdiction to release to the public any substantive work product regarding Mr. Gaetz after his resignation from the House on November 14, 2024.

While I do not challenge the Committee’s findings, I did not vote to support the release of the report and I take great exception that the majority deviated from the Committee’s well-established standards and voted to release a report on an individual no longer under the Committee’s jurisdiction, an action the Committee has not taken since 2006.

Representative Gaetz resigned from Congress, withdrew from consideration to serve in the next administration, and declared that he would not seek to be seated in the 119^th Congress. The decision to publish a report after his resignation breaks from the Committee’s long-standing practice, opens the Committee to undue criticism, will be viewed by some as an attempt to weaponize the Committee’s process, and is a dangerous departure with potentially catastrophic consequences.”

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Meridian, MS – Congressman Michael Guest and his staff hosted a staff development retreat in Meridian on Wednesday, November 6th. Staff from his Mississippi and Washington, D.C., offices were in the Queen City to learn more about Meridian and Lauderdale County priorities. 

While in Meridian, the team met with the Riley Foundation, Mississippi State University administration, leadership of the 185th Aviation Brigade and 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Mississippi National Guard, leadership of Naval Air Station Meridian, Mayor Jimmie Smith, and other community leaders. Congressman Guest’s highest military priority is to bring the KC-46 aircraft to Meridian.

Earlier in the week, the staff was traveling across Mississippi’s Third Congressional District to Starkville, Brandon, Magee, Brookhaven, Tylertown, and Meridian. The goals of these sessions were to meet with community leaders and discuss local priorities and the federal appropriations process. 

“I am honored to have dedicated staff who love Mississippi and work hard every day to make Mississippi a great place to live, worship, and raise a family. I am honored to represent Meridian, Lauderdale County, and the entire Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Making my staff and myself available in our communities will continue to be a high priority,” said Congressman Guest. 

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The U.S Air Force notified Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation that Key Field in Meridian is officially in the running to be the future home of the new KC-46 aircraft. The nation-wide candidate field has been narrowed to seven, in what is called a “down-selection.”

Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation has worked for years to make sure Key Field, an Air National Guard Base, is seen as a strong candidate for the selection.

“The 186th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in Meridian is a leader in aerial refueling, and I am pleased that Key Field Air National Guard Base is one of seven sites that is advancing in the KC-46A basing decision process,” said Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03). “I am grateful for the unity of our entire Mississippi Congressional Delegation—Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and Representatives Bennie Thompson, Trent Kelly, and Mike Ezell—as well as the support of our State and local leadership for this effort. I appreciate the Air Force’s consideration of Key Field and look forward to the opportunity to showcase the 186th ARW’s capabilities as we move into the next phase of this decision.”

“Making it this far in the down-selection process is an accomplishment. If Key Field is ultimately chosen, it would cement and extend the base’s role in our country’s national security infrastructure for decades to come,” U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said. “For the Meridian community, this would be a significant investment. It would bring more service members and families, as well as direct and indirect jobs, to the area. This is one of my top priorities.”

“We welcome this positive development for the future of Key Field and Lauderdale County.  As the process moves forward, we will continue to forcefully make the case that Key Field will be the best place for this important mission,” Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., said.

Key factors that have made Key Field a potential home for the KC-46s, a military refueling and strategic transport plane:

• Key Field is already home to KC-135 planes, which are air refueling tankers that provide rapid global mobility and combat support to the U.S. Department of Defense. The 186th Air Refueling Wing (ARW), which hosts over 1,200 officers and airmen, operates these planes out of Key Field. The KC-46s would replace the aging KC-135 tankers currently in service at Key Field.
• The 186th ARW is one of the few military installations that can handle the new plane without needing to make major changes to a base.
• The airfield is in a prime location in the vicinity of refueling tracks over the Southeastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico, enabling rapid servicing of Air Force and joint service aircraft fleets, including strategic communications aircraft.
• The Meridian community already has infrastructure and support services in place that will benefit next generation air refueling capabilities.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael Guest, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Early Migration Alert Program (EMAP) Act to require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to notify state and local law enforcement agencies and government authorities of an impending release of migrants into their jurisdictions.

“The Biden – Harris Administration has been releasing migrants into local communities without warning. The lack of communication can overwhelm law enforcement agents and public servants. As we continue to deal with a crisis on our border, an alert system like the one EMAP would establish is imperative,” said Congressman Guest.

The EMAP Act would fill the communication gap by requiring ICE and CBP to develop an alert system where State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial government authorities can receive information regarding the impending release of migrants. EMAP is designed to protect the identities of such persons and to alleviate privacy concerns from state and local government officials. Early notification to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial municipalities would assist local communities in preparing for the arrival of migrants.

The EMAP Act would require ICE and CBP to create an email subscription system to alert authorities and provide information regarding the impending release of migrants into local communities, including the:

• Number of migrants to be released
• Number of migrants with known criminal histories
• Initial destination of the migrants
• Final destinations and where they intend to settle

The legislation would require ICE and CBP to give municipalities at least a 24-hour notice before releasing an alien into the United States.

Given that migrants in ICE custody are released by court order, ICE does not have the ability to control when and where migrants are released. However, ICE and CBP are best positioned to provide advance notice to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial municipalities. EMAP allows better communication across local, state, territorial, and federal officials.

“Ensuring the safety and security of our communities starts with better coordination and transparency,” Ezell said. “The Early Migration Alert Program (EMAP) will provide real-time information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively. This bill will equip law enforcement with timely and comprehensive data, enabling them to proactively address public safety concerns and ensure better coordination in responding to illegal immigration activity. I’m proud to join Reps. Guest, D’Esposito, and Higgins on this vital legislation to help address the border crisis that continues to plague every state – not just border states.”

“The Biden-Harris administration’s self-inflicted border crisis has left every state vulnerable,” said Congressman Higgins. “Over the course of the past four years, every state has become a border state. This invasion has put unnecessary strains on state and local law enforcement across the nation. This common-sense legislation establishes better communication channels for ICE and CBP to alert state and local law enforcement of the impending arrival of illegal aliens. I’m honored to join my colleague Congressman Guest on this critical legislation.”

“Because of the Biden-Harris Administration, every state is a border state,” Guest continued. “The strain of the border crisis is felt across America in local towns and cities that are often unprepared for an influx of migrants in their communities. The strain has been felt in my district in Mississippi, and I’ve talked to both federal, state, and local lawmakers across the country who have seen the same problems in their communities. We cannot allow this to continue. This legislation would establish better communication channels between local and federal officials so that communities across our nation know who is coming and when they will arrive.”

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, the Committee on Homeland Security passed H.R. 9459, the “Producing Advanced Technologies for Homeland Security Act” or “PATHS Act,” by a unanimous vote. The bill was introduced by Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (D- Md). Under the legislation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be granted authority to enter into other transaction agreements, or OTAs. These legally binding agreements allow the Department to engage with non-traditional contractors that would not normally do business with the Federal Government, from small business innovators to public universities, to meet the Department’s research and development or prototype project needs.

Congressman Guest stated, “From prototypes to help CBP detect threats and illicit goods hidden inside vehicles at the border, to research to adapt machine learning practices that can identify supply chain anomalies to prevent the importation of goods that rely on forced labor, to a project conducted by the University of Mississippi to develop sensors for unmanned maritime vehicles for DHS and United States Coast Guard use – the applicability and usefulness of this authority cannot be overstated. The authority expires on September 30th of this year, and I’m happy that we are taking steps to reauthorize it.”

Congressman Glenn Ivey stated: “I am pleased that the Homeland Security Committee has unanimously passed the bipartisan PATHS Act. This bill will enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to develop cutting-edge solutions to strengthen our homeland security,” said Rep. Ivey “I want to thank Congressman Michael Guest for his partnership on this legislation and urge its swift passage in the House.”

This legislation would reauthorize DHS use of OTAs for three years, until 2027. This bill would require DHS to provide notification to Congress to explain all uses or extensions of the transaction authority involving artificial intelligence technology. To improve transparency, this legislation would decrease the threshold for what defines a ‘covered contract award’ under the DHS Contract Reporting Act from $4 million to $1 million. This would require DHS to report transactions valued at $1 million or more on its public website. This bill would continue to encourage private sector innovations and solutions to government bureaucracy.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Representative of Fort Bliss, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Representative of Buckley Space Force Base, Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Readiness Subcommittee, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) led a letter with six of their colleagues to President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, expressing urgent objections to plans to use our nation’s military installations as migrant detention centers. The letter can be read below or virtually here.

“Dear President Trump and Secretary Hegseth,

“We write to you with urgent concerns about and staunch objection to plans to use our nation’s military installations as migrant detention centers. As you know, the mission of the Department of Defense (DoD) is to protect and defend our nation against military threats, not to conduct migrant detention, immigration enforcement, or deportation operations.

“It is unfortunate that it has become necessary to remind the administration that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for enforcing immigration laws at and between ports of entry, as well as securing our nation’s borders. Further, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for interior enforcement, detention, and removal operations.

“Reports have outlined the Department of Homeland Security’s Request for Assistance (RFA) submitted to the DoD for resources to support ICE operations, to include migrant detention on military installations and migrant transfers. Further, we understand DHS has requested DoD provide support on a non-reimbursable basis – blatantly forsaking the intent behind Congressionally directed defense funds for the sake of little else but political theater. These reports also indicate Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, is expected to become a testbed for the administration’s reckless misuse of our military installations, personnel, and funds for migrant detention purposes. Even more disturbing is that your administration’s stated plans for Fort Bliss are intended to provide a framework for expansion at six named military installations, with potential expansion to include military facilities in at least five other states.

“Dramatically expanded use of U.S. military personnel and facilities to support mass detention operations, both domestically and overseas at Guantánamo Bay, has already diverted, and will continue to divert, military personnel and resources from the DoD’s core warfighting mission, the very same one you claimed to want to restore in your capacity as Secretary of Defense. This administration has already demonstrated unprecedented use of military assets for some of the operational responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security, to include the designation of military airlift for the purposes of conducting migrant deportation flights. Such actions are an incredible misuse of defense funds when usual ICE procedures for deportation purposes employ charter planes at a small fraction of the costs associated with operating a C-17 or C-130 military aircraft, as your administration has directed. Most glaringly, your administration has not sought to provide justification as to why such military assets and the costs accrued were considered necessary or fiscally sound. 

“Similarly, commandeering military funds and assets to support detention operations on military bases imposes a ludicrous mandate on our military personnel and installations. The administration has yet to issue even a passable justification for the misuse of DoD personnel, assets, or funds, further conflating the separate missions of DHS and DoD. In the past, DHS has awarded contracts to state, local, and even private entities to supplement its detention capacity. This administration has given no indication that it intends to forego these often lucrative contracts with partner entities, making the administration’s insistence on plans to misuse military installations for migrant detention purposes even more irresponsible.

“To note precedent, domestic military installations like Fort Bliss have been used to temporarily house refugees in instances of military evacuations – most notably, Operation Allies Welcome in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, that effort, though directly linked to a military operation, was not without costs; that mission alone significantly degraded readiness levels of the installation, resulting in a readiness shortfall of approximately two years. Further, our military installations have also been used to host an Emergency Intake Site (EIS) for unaccompanied migrant minors. In response to an influx of unaccompanied minors who arrived at the southwest border in early 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services set up temporary housing on Fort Bliss out of concerns for their safety.

“Current circumstances mirror none of those precedents, as border crossings have been steadily dropping for a year, and migrant encounters by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are at their lowest level in decades. Additionally, the only existing hardened facilities on Fort Bliss that could possibly be used for migrant detention currently house members of the New Mexico National Guard. Should such facilities be used, this administration would oversee the displacement of our service members to support migrant detention. 

“As your administration prepares its presentation of the Fiscal Year 2026 federal budget, you maintain authority to request increased funds across the Department of Homeland Security for these purposes and with respect to the jurisdiction of federal agencies. Instead, converting our military installations into migrant detention facilities drains DoD funds and resources in a manner that flies in the face of your administration’s stated goal of reducing federal spending while tanking military readiness and risking our national security. Plans for mass detention efforts, with few realistic goals to measure success, on a U.S. military installation risks costing DoD hundreds of millions of unbudgeted dollars — if not billions — and thousands of man-hours which cannot be regained. It will also severely strain the limited infrastructure on our installations that our service members depend on, and we strongly urge you to cease this misuse of DoD funds and personnel immediately.

“We urge the Department of Defense and, where appropriate, the Department of Homeland Security to supply answers to the following no later than 30 days after receipt.

1. Has an assessment been conducted to outline the deployment of active-duty troops,

military airlift, other military assets, and the use of our military installations for DHS

purposes as necessary- as opposed to utilizing DHS alternatives? If so, please provide the

results of that assessment.

2. Which funding accounts has DoD utilized to facilitate support operations as requested by

DHS to date, and what is the total cost to date of DoD funds expended for these

purposes?

3. How will DoD monitor the overall impacts of supporting DHS’s RFA – to include manhours,

expended funds, delayed or canceled training activities, and impacts to military

infrastructure?

4. Have or will any military construction or other programmed projects be paused, delayed,

or canceled as a result of the diversion of resources to DHS operations at our military

installations?

5. What steps will DoD take to ensure that Congress is kept appraised of readiness shortfalls

for each installation used to support migrant detention operations?

6. Which military units, if any, may be tasked with providing labor, manning, or other

logistical or operational support for the standing up of these migrant detention centers?

7. Should the construction, manning, and all other logistical or operational support of these

detention centers be conducted by private contracting entities, please outline the oversight

and transparency mechanisms your administration intends to put in place to ensure the

safety and security of migrants as well as any contracted personnel.”

The letter was signed by Representatives Sylvia Garcia, Herbert C. Conaway, Jr., Lloyd Doggett, Joaquin Castro, Gabe Vasquez, and Marilyn Strickland.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced opportunities for high school and college students for the upcoming summer. They include internships in her DC and El Paso offices, as well as her Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC).

“I’m thrilled to offer these opportunities to young El Pasoans,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Internships and my CYAC programs are ways for students to learn more about how our federal government works, build their resumes, and most importantly, give back to our community. I encourage all interested college and high school students to apply.”

Congresswoman Escobar offers both part-time and full-time internships in her El Paso office and full-time internships in Washington, DC office. Duties can include attending congressional committee hearings and legislative meetings, writing issue briefs, conducting research, drafting correspondence, performing administrative tasks, and assisting staff when needed. Responsibilities and projects are tailored to everyone’s interest over time and a concerted effort is made to ensure that students’ educational and professional goals are met.

Interns are accepted at both of Congresswoman Escobar’s offices on a year-round basis. Because interest is particularly high during the summer, applicants should submit their resume as soon as possible. Please note that all internships are currently in person. To learn more about internships, click here.

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar also started the Texas’ 16th Congressional District’s Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) as a leadership opportunity for high school students with an interest in public service and the legislative process. The CYAC offers a unique opportunity for student to learn about the federal government, debate policy, and participate in an interactive experience. The CYAC will work with Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s office to research topics and bills while collaborating alongside their peers. All students living in Texas’ 16^th Congressional district and in grades 10-12 are eligible to apply. To learn more about CYAC, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

This week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined U.S. Representative and fellow Texan Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) as well as 116 other House Democrats to introduce the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit to expand the care Medicare provides. 

“Expanding healthcare for our community has always been a priority for me,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “We live in the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. There’s no reason seniors shouldn’t have access to basic benefits provided by this legislation. I’m proud to join my colleagues in righting this wrong and ensuring Medicare provides the coverage seniors need.”

Expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision services is overwhelmingly popular: A Data for Progress poll conducted last year found that 92 percent of Americans supported expanding Medicare to provide dental, vision and hearing benefits. 

Over 26 million Medicare beneficiaries have no dental coverage at all and have to pay out-of-pocket or forego needed care. As a result, nearly one in five seniors over age 75 have lost all of their natural teeth. Further, more than one in three Medicare beneficiaries have difficulty seeing and more than two in five Medicare beneficiaries have difficulty hearing. 

While Republicans in Congress are preparing legislation to cut Medicaid by $880 billion in order to pay for tax breaks for the top 1 percent, these representatives are fighting to make it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to go to the dentist, audiologist and optometrist. 

The lawmakers’ legislation would expand Medicare to cover dentures, comprehensive vision care including eye exams and prescription eyeglasses, comprehensive hearing care to all Medicare recipients with moderate or profound hearing loss, and dental care to all Medicare recipients to cover cleanings, x-rays, fillings, and other procedures.

The legislation has been endorsed by several organizations, including Center for Medicare Advocacy, Community Catalyst, Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Center for Health and Democracy, MoveOn.org, Families USA, CareQuest Center for Oral Health, Justice in Aging, People’s Action, Medicare Rights Center and Advocates for Community Health. 

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with 7 other Democratic senators introduced a Senate companion bill. 

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Congresswoman Escobar Votes Against Republican Funding Plan