MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Today, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jim Baird (R-Ind.), along with U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), reintroduced legislation to support small meat and poultry processors throughout the U.S. The bipartisan, bicameral Strengthening Local Processing Act would make it easier for local livestock and poultry producers to process meat locally, by expanding access to federal resources and providing critical support for training and technical assistance to small processors.

“Access to USDA processing facilities remains a significant challenge for livestock producers in Maine and across the country. Their livelihoods depend on having somewhere to take their animals, but under the current system, their options are severely limited. Chefs, retailers, and consumers want to buy locally raised meat, and they’re frustrated by how difficult it is to get,” said Congresswoman Pingree, a longtime farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee. “Our bipartisan Strengthening Local Processing Act will increase processing, enhance opportunities for local producers, and help small slaughterhouses and butchers grow their businesses—delivering the quality, locally raised meat and poultry consumers expect at the store.”

Under federal law, farmers and ranchers are required to send their animals to one of a limited number of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or state-inspected slaughterhouses—often hundreds of miles away—in order to sell individual cuts of locally raised meats. As a result, many smaller meat and poultry processing plants are booked out for months, and small farms are unable meet new demand due to a lack of processing capacity. 

The Strengthening Local Processing Act will increase the federal cost share for both state facility inspections (from 50 to 65%), as well as the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (from 60 to 80%), thus encouraging more states to operate state inspection programs and participate in CIS. There are currently 29 states that operate a state inspection program, and 10 states that participate in CIS. 

The legislation would create a competitive grant program for small and very small establishments, state inspected facilities, custom exempt facilities, or new small-scale slaughter facilities to help increase processing capacity and grow resiliency. It would also create two new grant programs for meat processing workforce training—one for colleges, universities, nonprofits, worker training centers, and others to establish or expand meat processing training program and one for small and very small establishments or nongovernmental organizations to offset the cost of training new meat processors.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced legislation that would address the absence of Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for military service members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees stationed in California’s 19th Congressional District.  California’s 19^th Congressional District is home to seventeen military installations and more than 15,000 military and defense personnel, and is among the most expensive areas to live in the nation

Cost of Living Adjustments are additional compensation for servicemembers and DoD civilians assigned to high-cost areas, intended to offset regional price disparities.  While San Francisco receives one of the highest COLA rates at 5%, neighboring areas within California’s 19^th Congressional District, despite similar economic pressures, do not.  A recent report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis found that $100 worth of goods nationwide only buys $87 and $88 in the Salinas-Monterey and Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro areas.  That makes California’s 19^th Congressional District one of the ten most expensive regions in the country. 

“Many servicemembers and DoD civilians stationed in California’s 19^th Congressional District are struggling to keep up with the high cost of living in one of the most expensive regions in the country,” said Rep. Panetta.  “My legislation would push the Department of Defense to reassess how COLA is calculated and ensure that our region, and military families who call it home, get a fair evaluation.  Our national security professionals serve us day-in and day-out, the least we can do is ensure that they have the compensation they deserve to continue that steadfast service.”

The bill would direct the Pentagon to submit a detailed report to Congress assessing how COLA rates are determined, whether current methods accurately reflect economic realities, and if the district should qualify for COLA based on modern cost factors.  It would specifically require the Department of Defense to evaluate housing, groceries, transportation, and healthcare costs in California’s 19^th Congressional District, and to compare the treatment of Monterey with nearby Santa Clara County, where COLA is currently granted.  The legislation would also ensure that housing benefits like Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) are not factored into COLA eligibility, as they serve different purposes.

The legislation would not only provide Congress with transparency of how COLA decisions are made, but it could also prompt the Pentagon to reassess outdated formulas that fail to reflect the real cost of living on California’s Central Coast.

Installations in California’s 19^th Congressional District include:

• Naval Postgraduate School
• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
• Naval Support Activity Monterey
• Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center
• Naval Research Lab
• Coast Guard Station Monterey
• Camp Roberts
• Defense Manpower Data Center
• Presidio of Monterey
• Defense Personnel Security Research Center Operations
• 514th Signal Company
• Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic
• California Medical Detachment
• Army Analytics Group
• Fort Hunter Liggett
• Governor’s Military Council
• Monterey Bay Defense Alliance

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) released the following statement on the Administration’s first 100 days in office:

“The first 100 days of the Trump Administration have been chaotic, costly, created economic uncertainty, challenged our constitution, and weakened our institutions, alliances, and credibility.  During the campaign, the President promised that on day one that he would reduce inflation, end the war in Ukraine, bring home the hostages from Gaza, and support America’s working families.  Instead, he has failed to fulfill any of those promises, overwhelmed us with a deluge of executive orders, and tried to distract us from his failures by talking about stealing Greenland, annexing Canada, running for a third term, and more.  Although the most successful part of the Administration’s agenda, increasing immigration enforcement, has significantly reduced the flow of crossings at the southern border, his deportation policy has become mired in legal challenges by disregarding due process, administrative carelessness, and defying courts of law.  The President’s self-imposed, short-sighted, and sweeping tariff policies have hurt our economy and are set to raise prices even higher with retaliation from our trading partners.  By giving Elon Musk unbridled power to cut federal programs and jobs, the Administration has jeopardized vital services like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance, and scientific research.  Without a clear strategy in the Administration’s trade and foreign policies, our nation has pushed away our allies and created strategic opportunities for our adversaries.

“President Trump made his intentions abundantly clear during the campaign. However, his chaotic actions, including instituting massive tariffs, challenging our constitution and courts, continued cozying up to dictators, and pardoning January 6 rioters appear to have no long-term strategy, degraded our credibility, and led to a steady decline in his national polling numbers on all major issues over the past 100 days. 

“As I said from day one of this Administration, America’s system of checks and balances must flex its muscles. The courts don’t act as fast as the executive branch, but they continue to be the bulwark against the Administration’s overreach and violations of our Constitution.  Although the President has shown little interest in working with Congress to pass any long-term legislation, we will continue to work on bills that constrain the Administration’s destructive actions, investigate any abuses of power, and serve our constituents.  Over the past few decades, Congress has relinquished its authority to the executive branch on trade, commerce, agency oversight, and even warfare.  However, the actions of this Administration must be a wake-up call for Democrats and Republicans to come together and take back our constitutionally mandated power. But ultimately, as we have seen throughout the history of our nation, our democracy isn’t about one person, one court, or one legislative body.  It’s about the collective power of Americans.  The President’s first 100 days will not be anywhere near as important as the remaining 1360 days of his term, and why our system of checks and balances must stay strong, and we the people must stay together in our fight for our shared democratic values.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves as the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, today reacted to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) release of its advance estimate for the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. BEA found that: “Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025… In the fourth quarter of 2024, real GDP increased 2.4 percent.”

Beyer said:

“Trump’s chaos is clearly and significantly raising the risk of a recession, and the economic warning lights are all flashing red.

“The economy just shrank in the first three months of Trump’s presidency, after years of growth and a strong previous quarter. This GDP report also showed inflation rising, and all of this is before we even begin to see the worst impacts of Trump’s tariffs. Private sector hiring in April declined sharply, consumer confidence fell to its lowest point in three decades, and consumer expectations for the near-term economic performance are worse than they were at any point of the pandemic. Trump just had the worst stock market performance to start a presidency in over 50 years. Recession odds from economists and forecasters paint an increasingly grim picture.

“The economic news is so bad that Trump is trying to distance himself from his own economic performance and blame others for an economy he declared, upon being sworn in 100 days ago, would ‘flourish’ ‘from this day forward.’ Even his own supporters will not believe these flimsy excuses. Trump inherited a strong economy and is running it into the ground with stupid and disastrous tariffs, as Republicans in Congress refuse to stop him.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Axios’ Hans Nichols for a wide-ranging interview at an “Axios News Shapers” event. Speaker Johnson addressed the necessity of quickly codifying President Trump’s agenda into law, House Republicans’ efforts to strengthen and preserve Medicaid, and Democrats attempting to run their impeachment playbook again.

Watch the full interview here

On quickly codifying the Trump agenda into law:

The treasury secretary said July 4 this week in public statements, and we applauded that. But I really hope we do it sooner. And here’s the reason why: this has nothing to do with pride of authorship in the House or any of that, we just want to deliver for the American people, and so do all of our Senate Republican colleagues on the America first agenda. The vehicle to deliver that is reconciliation. And the sooner we do it, the better Hans, because I think this will be a very important thing for stability.

I think it’ll send a very important signal to the bond markets, the stock market, to investors and job creators here and around the world, and it’ll send a message to our allies and our enemies that America is serious. We have stabilized tax policy. Everyone will know what their tax rates are. That will be helpful for making decisions for companies and also, of course, we’re going to be deficit neutral or deficit reducing. We’re trying to reduce the debt. And I think that’s a really important message to send out there, that America is serious about our financial stability, and this bill is going to be that’s one of the many things that will be accomplished in it. 

On strengthening and preserving Medicaid:

The number of waste, fraud and abuse over a 10-year period, it’s $51 billion a year as an estimate. We think that’s a low estimate of just fraud, waste and abuse in Medicaid alone. Who could be for that? I mean, we have a responsibility to tighten this up. When you’re talking about work requirements, that’s over an 80% public approval rating. But you eliminate fraud, waste and abuse, you bring in work requirements, and you tighten up the program, and you can find a lot of savings. And the whole point here, the whole idea – make sure illegal aliens are not receiving it all the rest. The whole idea is that we’re trying to preserve the program.

Democrats were frankly lying about the intention of Republicans. It’s so much so that we were able to get their ads and billboards taken down in swing districts by a cease and desist letter because it was based on nothing, they just made it up. I’ve been saying just everybody, please reserve judgment till we get the product out, but you’re going to see what the President said yesterday, accurately, that Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security are programs that are sacrosanct the people. They depend upon these things, and our job is to shore them up and make sure that they’re there, that we preserve the programs for the people who genuinely need and deserve it. 

On Congressional Democrats impeachment theatrics:

You know, we’ve already seen the movie. They tried it twice already, based on absolutely nothing, and they would do it again. I mean, Al Green filed impeachment articles like, I don’t know, the fifth day of Congress. I mean, I think he did it before the President took his oath. So, it shows you where they are. It’s all raw politics, and it’s terribly destructive for the country. I mean, it’s a waste of time. We need the American people expect their Congress to work. They expect Congress to work with the President. They want big things done. And we had a first, a really impressive first 100 days of the Trump administration. We’re just getting started. We have a lot of work to do, and we don’t have time for nonsense. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) made the following statement on the Markup of Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Reconciliation Bill.

“This markup is just one small slice of a much larger, deeply dangerous reconciliation bill. But even this narrow portion tells you everything you need to know about Republican priorities.

Let’s start with just one example: the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program. This is one of the few federal programs specifically designed to repair the damage done by decades of discriminatory infrastructure policy—when highways were deliberately routed through Black and Brown neighborhoods and tore those communities apart. These grants fund real, shovel-ready projects that reconnect people to jobs, schools, health care, and each other.

And here’s what’s especially galling: half of this grant funding is headed to states that voted for Donald Trump—rural areas and small towns that have been left behind for generations and stand to benefit the most from these investments.

So why are Republicans attacking it? Because instead of delivering for their own constituents, they’re trying to scrape together offsets to fund their extreme, unpopular tax cuts for billionaires. And they’re doing it by targeting the very programs their communities rely on—Medicaid, SNAP, and other lifelines working families depend on to survive.

In fact, by passing a budget resolution instructing $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid and billions more to SNAP, Republicans are proposing the most devastating assault on the health and well-being of American families in modern history.
And let’s be very clear: in March, the CBO confirmed what we have known all along—the only way Republicans can cut at least $880 billion within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction is by making deep, harmful cuts to Medicaid. Additionally, we know that cutting waste, fraud, and abuse will not get you anywhere in the same universe as $880 billion.

The consequences of these Medicaid cuts would be catastrophic. Medicaid alone covers one in five Americans—nearly 72 million people. In New York, it protects nearly 5.5 million residents, including 44 percent of all children, half of all births, and two-thirds of our nursing home residents. For tens of millions of Americans, Medicaid isn’t just a line in a budget. It’s how they survive. It’s how they manage cancer treatment, vaccinate their children, or afford a wheelchair for an aging parent.

A new analysis from the Center for American Progress estimates that if Republicans succeed in slashing Medicaid’s federal match rate, more than 34,000 people could die each year. Their likely proposal to impose punitive work reporting requirements—which have consistently failed—would result in another 15,000 unnecessary deaths annually.

And behind these numbers are real lives. Patricia, 83 years old, lives in poverty in New York and relies on Medicaid just to get to her doctor. She told us, “I have no transportation other than help from Medicaid. I also live on only my Social Security and SNAP. If I lose this precious help, I will be homeless and surely die.” That’s the real cost of these cuts.

Nearly $9.3 billion in Medicaid payments go to New York hospitals each year, including billions in support for safety-net care. Half of New York’s community health centers’ revenue comes from Medicaid. If this bill passes, doors will close, jobs will vanish, and entire communities—especially in rural areas—will lose access to care altogether. It’s been reported that states like South Dakota, Missouri, and Oklahoma will face even more severe consequences from these cuts.

And perhaps most absurdly, even after all these brutal cuts, this reconciliation bill will still add over $3 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade. Why? Because the tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy cost more than the services they’re gutting to justify them. My Republican colleagues aren’t even reducing the deficit—they’re exploding it.

So my message to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is simple: reject these cruel cuts. Refuse to take food and health care away from the people who elected you. Each of you has the power to stop this. And let’s be honest—hitching your wagon to a president with the lowest 100-day approval rating in 70 years is not just morally indefensible, it’s politically reckless. Your constituents are watching—and so is history”.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

April 30, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) led 22 House Democrats in a letter to President Donald Trump highlighting how his immigration policies have increased the cost of living for Americans. The letter demands that the president reverse course or risk further economic turmoil.

“As President, you are tasked with improving the economy and growing the middle class,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, you have exacerbated Americans’ economic distress during your first 100 days in office.” 

Unpredictable enforcement of immigration laws has threatened immigrants with legal status, including TPS recipients, who rely on the United States for safe harbor and work, and pursue higher education at high rates. The Trump Administration has refused to focus on reducing food and housing costs, instead choosing to displace workers in essential sectors such as construction, maintenance, material moving, and transportation, causing economic hardship and instability throughout the country. 

Although the United States has long been a beacon for the world’s best and brightest, President Trump’s immigration policies have destabilized legal immigration and pushed those seeking to innovate, conduct research, and grow our economy away from the United States.

“We support protecting our borders and vetting individuals who wish to come to our country,” the lawmakers continued. “However, your immigration proposals are impractical and will increase costs for millions of Americans.”

In addition to Rep. Casten, the letter was signed by Reps. Beatty, Carbajal, Cisneros, Clarke, Connolly, Correa, Costa, Escobar, Espaillat, Fields, Sylvia Garcia, Goldman, Jonathan Jackson, McCollum, McGovern, Meeks, Norton, Quigley, Titus, Tonko, and Vargas.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear President Trump,

We write to you with concern about the negative humanitarian and economic impacts your immigration-related executive orders and policies will have nationwide.

Your immigration policies will increase costs for Americans, disrupt the job market, and slow economic growth. As President, you are tasked with improving the economy and growing the middle class. However, you have exacerbated Americans’ economic distress during your first 100 days in office.

Since your inauguration, the U.S. stock market is off to its worst start in a century. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down by more than seven percent, the S&P 500 index is off by more than eight percent, the Nasdaq composite is down more than eleven percent and small-cap Russell 2000 have slumped by more than fourteen percent.

During your campaign, you repeatedly promised to lower food prices “immediately” if elected president. Yet, the latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average cost of a dozen eggs reached a record high of $6.23 in March. These prices will only increase due to your recent immigration policies. 

Thus far, you have issued Executive Orders prioritizing strict enforcement of immigration laws, both at the borders and within the United States. For example, on your first day in office, you signed the Executive Order “Securing Our Borders,” which deploys the military within our own country and ends the CBP One process, which allows migrants to enter the country and be appropriately screened for internationally protected refugee status.

Additionally, you are recklessly attempting to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for as many as seven hundred thousand vulnerable individuals legally in the United States. This not only raises significant civil rights concerns but also risks serious economic consequences. Judge Edward Chen, who is presiding over a case brought on behalf of Venezuelan TPS recipients facing deportation, has noted that a reversal of TPS status would likely have an “adverse impact” on the economy, given that Venezuelan TPS holders pay taxes, hold jobs and pursue higher education at higher rates than the general public.

You also issued the Executive Order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” which directs a strict enforcement-first version of immigration policy, enlisting all departments to prioritize it above their own work, aiding the Department of Homeland Security in enforcing deportation and criminalization of immigrants. Your focus on deportation, rather than appropriate adjudication with regard to each immigrant’s unique circumstances, counters established international norms and damages our economy.

Data consistently shows that immigrants are primarily of working age, between 18 and 64 years of age, accounting for nearly 19% of the U.S. labor force in 2023, despite representing only 14% of the total U.S. population that year. According to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Monetary Policy Report, job growth has consistently outpaced the growth of the labor force over the last few years. Last year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed that immigration is a “big part of the story of the labor market coming back into better balance.” It is reasonable to conclude that removing working-age individuals from the economy will harm every business that seeks to build and grow in America.

We support protecting our borders and vetting individuals who wish to come to our country. However, your immigration proposals are impractical and will increase costs for millions of Americans. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that foreign-born workers are often employed in critical sectors such as construction, maintenance, material moving, and transportation. These sectors significantly influence housing costs. As housing inflation is expected to keep core inflation high, this effect will undoubtedly extend beyond the already overheated housing market, impacting the prices of other essential goods and services on which Americans rely.

According to a December 2024 Report from the Joint Economic Committee, it is projected that an aggressive deportation plan, similar to that outlined through the Executive Order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” would reduce the real Gross Domestic Product of the United States by 7.4% and increase prices for American consumers by 9.1% by 2028. These are significant costs to the American people. 

Your immigration policies will also severely undermine the American workforce and significantly affect vital sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and construction. Your proposals could displace 1.5 million construction workers, 250,000 laborers from the agricultural industry, 1 million workers in hospitality, over 800,000 in manufacturing, and more than 400,000 in transportation and warehousing. This would harm essential American industries that drive our economy.

America’s success has always depended on being the destination of choice for the best and brightest from around the world. As you are aware, there is bipartisan support for strong border security to keep the “bad guys” out. However, it is important to recognize that the overwhelming majority of people coming to America today are not different from our own ancestors; they are coming here to build a better life for themselves, to work, worship and love without fear, and to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas in a country where the rule of law allows them to benefit from their efforts. There are many humanitarian reasons to protect our immigrant communities, but there are also self-interested reasons. A country that attracts talent is a country that out-competes the rest of the world and retains wealth that would otherwise develop elsewhere.

In that spirit, we urge you to reverse your current immigration policies that are financially harming small business owners and the middle class while providing no actual solutions to fix our broken immigration system. We are ready to work with you to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes support for border patrol and enforcement, increases work visas to facilitate the flow of skilled labor, includes a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders and farm workers, grows our economy and maintains the promise of America as a place that has always been great – but who’s greatest days are still yet to come.

Sincerely,

###

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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, issued the following statement marking the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second occupancy of the White House.

“Donald Trump’s first 100 days have been a damning masterclass of cruelty, callousness, chaos, and corruption. From slashing essential services and attacking reproductive freedom to terrorizing immigrants and firing thousands of dedicated federal workers—Trump has governed with a reckless disregard for the Constitution and contempt for everyone who calls America home.

“In just 100 days, Trump has launched a full-scale assault on workers, families, and our most vulnerable communities. He is gutting Medicaid, slashing funding for Head Start, defunding life-saving scientific and medical research, and ending critical programs that put food on the table and keep our families safely housed. He has torn immigrant families apart through mass deportations and unlawful detentions—including the abduction and detention of my constituent Rümeysa Öztürk—and pushed through policies that would rip away healthcare, threaten access to abortion care, and restrict our bodily autonomy. And he has consistently sought to erase Black history, resegregate society, and roll back decades of civil rights progress—all while enacting tariffs that will raise the cost of groceries, housing, and other essentials.

“Trump has attacked everyone and everything except the rising cost of living, and now Republicans are marking the 100-day milestone by advancing a reconciliation bill that would end Medicaid as we know it and make the largest cuts to food assistance and other essential programs in American history. The cruelty is the point.

“As Congresswoman for the Massachusetts 7^th, I will not be silent, and I refuse to be complicit. I will continue using every tool at my disposal—legislation, litigation, and mobilization—to stand in the gap and fight for the dignity, safety, and economic wellbeing of my constituents and communities across this country.”

Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in Congress speaking out against Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s unprecedented assault on our democracy, and she has been a steadfast advocate for protecting the essential services that federal workers and agencies provide.

• On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s abrupt reinstatement of international student visas. 
• On April 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Markey and Rep. McGovern, published an op-ed in the New York Times in which they discussed their meeting with Rümeysa Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process.
• On April 24, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts lawmakers sounding the alarm on the Trump Administration’s cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities staff and grants.
• On April 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues visited the ICE detention facilities in Basile and Jena, Louisiana with her colleagues, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained, respectively.
• On April 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Markey and Warren demanded answers about the Trump Administration’s concerning pattern of ripping individuals from their communities and shipping them to jurisdictions more favorable to the Trump administration’s deportation agenda.
• On April 18, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Warren and Markey demanded the State Department release a memo and documents related to Rumeysa Ozturk’s arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying her arrest was false.
• On April 14, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Ed Markey and the Massachusetts congressional delegation demanding answers on the sudden termination of the federal staff responsible for administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
• On April 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed Trump’s Executive Order attacking Smithsonian museums – namely the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or Blacksonian – and his blatant attempt to erase Black history. 
• On April 9, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined the Massachusetts delegation in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers after the abrupt shuttering of the entire HHS Regional Office in Boston.
• On April 9, 2025, Rep. Pressley led lawmakers in sending a letter to Trump’s trade official demanding he resign from holding multiple positions with clear conflicts of interest that would further harm federal workers.
• On April 3, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Warren and Markey sounded the alarm on Rumeysa Ozturk’s medical neglect in ICE custody and renewed their urgent calls for her release.
• On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey led over 30 lawmakers demanding information from DHS about the arrest and detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and similar incidents across the country.
• On March 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s executive order to end collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
• On March 26, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. 
• On March 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.
• On March 21, 2025, Rep. Pressley led Massachusetts lawmakers in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sharply criticizing and demanding answers about the impact of the Musk-Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal workers in Massachusetts.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley spoke out against the U.S. Department of Education’s mass layoffs of over 1,300 workers, which effectively guts the agency.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley voted against Republicans’ shameful government budget bill, which would harm vulnerable families and provide a blank check for Elon Musk and Donald Trump to continue their unprecedented assault on our democracy. She later issued a statement condemning its final passage in the Senate.
• On March 11, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined 13 of her colleagues on a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers and the immediate release of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, whose illegal abduction is an attack on his constitutional right to free speech and due process.
• On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley walked out of the House chamber in protest during Donald Trump’s presidential joint address to Congress.
• On March 4, 2025, Rep. Pressley welcomed Claire Bergstresser, an Everett constituent, dedicated public servant, AFGE union member, and former HUD worker who was unjustly terminated as part of Musk and Trump’s assault on federal agencies as her guest to the presidential joint address to Congress.
• On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley led 85 lawmakers in a letter urging the Office of Special Counsel to immediate reinstate and expand protections for all unfairly fired federal workers.
• On February 28, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined over 200 Democrats in filing an amicus brief defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before a U.S. District Court.
• On February 26, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed what true government efficiency looks like and denounced Elon Musk and Donald Trump for utilizing DOGE to gut the essential services that keep people safe, fed, and housed.
• On February 25, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley condemned Elon Musk’s abuse of government efficiency through the fraudulent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• On February 25, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she railed against Republicans’ cruel budget resolution that would slash Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion.
• On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On February 13, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley emphasized the critical role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in safeguarding consumers and sharply criticized Donald Trump and Elon Musk for halting the critical work of the agency.
• On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, and advocates to protest Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s unlawful takeover of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• On February 11, 2025, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley criticized the Trump-Musk administration for halting the critical work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with crypto scams on the rise.
• On February 10, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming the Trump Administration’s harmful cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to support hospitals, universities, and research institutions conducting lifesaving research.
• On February 10, 2025, as Trump and Musk threaten to dismantle the essential work of the U.S. Department of Education, Rep.  Pressley delivered a powerful floor speech to affirm the role of public education in American democracy.
• On February 6, 2025, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful rebuke of Republicans’ efforts to gut diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and eliminate essential services for vulnerable communities.
• On February 5, 2025, Rep. Pressley rallied outside the U.S. Department of Treasury to protest Elon Musk’s unlawful assault on federal agencies and our democracy.
• On January 30, 2025, Rep. Pressley slammed Donald Trump for blaming the tragic plane crash at Reagan National Airport, which killed over 60 people, including some families from Massachusetts, on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• In January 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement slamming Trump’s illegal freeze on federal grants and loans and its harmful impact on vulnerable communities.
• On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech condemning Republicans’ cruel anti-abortion bill that criminalizes providers and denies families care.
• On January 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues to reintroduce the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, a bill to repeal an outdated law that has been used to target innocent immigrants without due process rights.
• On January 22, 2025, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s harmful executive actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

April 30, 2025

Amid Rising Threats to Immigrant Communities, Legislators Demand Comprehensive Solutions to Protect Due Process and Preserve Family Unity

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres, alongside her colleagues Congresswoman Grace Meng, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Congressman Robert Garcia introduced the Fairness to Freedom Act—legislation aimed at ensuring the right to federal legal representation for all immigrants facing deportation.

The stakes for immigrant communities have never been higher, as the Trump Administration is making it harder to get a fair process during immigration proceedings. The need for legal representation and the safeguarding of due process rights is more urgent than ever as anti-immigrant policies intensify under the Trump administration. Immigrant families are facing an increasingly harsh immigration detention system. President Trump’s threats of mass deportations are stoking fear and uncertainty, further escalating the anxiety within immigrant communities.

Despite these challenges, a clear solution is on the table: universal representation for immigrants. From voters to lawmakers and advocates, there is a shared vision for a dignified immigration system that upholds the values of fairness, freedom, and justice. Universal representation would ensure that immigrants are not left to navigate complex deportation proceedings alone, protecting their right to stay united with their families, keep their jobs, and remain rooted in their communities.

“No one should have to go through immigration proceedings alone. Unfortunately, under President Trump’s rhetoric and policies, the protection of due process rights has been undermined, and in some cases, denied entirely,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “ That’s why I introduced the Fairness to Freedom Act—to ensure that everyone has their fair day in court, fully understands their rights’ and can communicate with their loved ones. My constituents, and communities across the country, deserve to live with dignity, raise their families, access opportunities, and contribute to society. Universal representation is the key to making that a reality, standing as a safeguard against policies that threaten our shared values.”

“We are seeing an all out assault on immigrants and immigration in this country, and it has never been more important to ensure that immigrants have access to legal representation,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. “Due process and the right to an attorney are fundamental cornerstones of our legal system – and should be for all who have cases before it. By ensuring universal access to representation for all immigrants, we can take a major step to protect immigrants from the cruel and inhumane actions of the Trump administration.”

“As someone who has navigated our country’s immigration system, I know how overwhelming and complex it can be, especially when the consequences are deportation,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “Under the Trump Administration, countless individuals have been wrongfully deported without due process, and people facing removal proceedings are not guaranteed legal representation in the courtroom. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Fairness to Freedom Act because we must protect people’s fundamental rights and ensure that immigration proceedings are fair for all.”

“There is currently a backlog of more than 3 million deportation cases pending in our immigration court system. Most of these people—men, women, and children—do not have access to an attorney. This is not only inefficient, but inhumane,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “The Fairness to Freedom Act guarantees that everyone appearing before an immigration court has access to legal representation, understands their rights, and can communicate with loved ones throughout the process. I’m joining my colleagues in calling on Congress to pass this legislation to uphold due process-a fundamental right in our democracy-and ensure fairness in all courts throughout the United States.”

Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans, said: “Since Day One of his second term, President Trump has been causing harm through a chaotic and misguided attempt to govern. Instead of championing social and economic solutions, he has recklessly targeted immigrants, separated families, and brought chaos and uncertainty to people across the country. In the face of this, we need Congress to push back with solutions that bring safety and stability to everyone who calls the United States home. Congresswoman Norma Torres is doing just that—bringing forward legislation that upholds the right to due process and ensures that no one stands alone in defense of their freedom. We are proud to endorse the Fairness to Freedom Act that gives people their fair day in court, and we urge all members of Congress who oppose Trump’s lawless deportation agenda to support this urgently-needed legislation.”

Shayna Kessler, director of the Advancing Universal Representation initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice, said: “Across the country, horrifying stories emerge daily of ICE detaining people without giving them any chance to defend themselves in court. This is a violation of due process—a right guaranteed to everyone under the U.S. Constitution. But due process means more than just advance notice and a hearing. Unlike in criminal court, people in immigration court aren’t guaranteed a lawyer if they can’t afford one. The Fairness to Freedom Act would change that. No one should have to face the devastating consequences of detention and deportation without access to a lawyer to defend their rights and freedom. In defense of due process, keeping families together, and the integrity of our democracy, we urge Congress to pass this bill.”

###

La Congresista Torres Lidera La Introducción de la Ley de Equidad Para la Libertad: Un Llamado a La Representación Legal Universal Para Las Personas Que Enfrentan La Deportación

Ante las amenazas a las comunidades de inmigrantes, Legisladores exigen soluciones integrales para proteger las libertades judiciales y preservar la unidad de familias

Washington, D.C. – Hoy, la Congresista Norma Torres, junto Congresista Grace Meng, la Congresista Pramila Jayapal, y el Congresista Robert García introdujeron la Ley de Equidad a la Libertad-legislación destinada a garantizar el derecho a la representación legal federal para todos los inmigrantes que enfrentan la deportación.

Lo que está en juego para las comunidades de inmigrantes nunca ha sido más importante, ya que la Administración Trump está haciendo más difícil conseguir un proceso justo durante los procedimientos de inmigración. La necesidad de representación legal y la salvaguarda de los derechos del debido proceso es más urgente que nunca a medida que las políticas antiinmigrantes se intensifican bajo la administración Trump. Las familias inmigrantes se enfrentan a un sistema de detención de inmigrantes cada vez más duro. Las amenazas del presidente Trump de deportaciones masivas están avivando el miedo y aumentando aún más la ansiedad dentro de las comunidades de inmigrantes.

A pesar de estos retos, hay una solución clara sobre la mesa: la representación universal para los inmigrantes. Desde los electores hasta los legisladores y defensores, existe una visión compartida de un sistema de inmigración que defienda los valores de equidad, libertad y justicia. La representación universal aseguraría que los inmigrantes no tuvieran que enfrentarse solos a los complejos procedimientos de deportación, protegiendo su derecho a permanecer unidos a sus familias, mantener sus empleos y seguir en sus comunidades.

###