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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) are demanding the immediate return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father, husband, and union worker who was illegally removed to El Salvador despite having lawful protected status in the United States.

In a letter to President Trump, Rep. Gomez and CHC members condemn this outrageous violation of due process, calling it yet another example of the administration’s reckless disregard for the law. The fact that a father was torn from his family and exiled from the country mistakenly is not only unacceptable, but also a damning indictment of an immigration system being wielded as a blunt instrument of cruelty.

“Trump deported a legal U.S. resident and is openly defying the Supreme Court’s ruling,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “This isn’t just about one man — it’s about whether the rule of law and due process still matter in this country. If not, no American is safe.

Rep. Gomez and his colleagues are demanding full transparency on the policies and decisions that led to this egregious deportation, as well as a full accounting of how many other legally present individuals have been similarly targeted. The administration’s willingness to hide behind “errors” while dismantling lives and families is a disgrace and a direct threat to the rule of law. Without accountability, this government is not just failing to uphold democracy—it is actively undermining it.

The full letter to President Trump can be found HERE.

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

Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) introduced the Disclosing Aid Spent to Ensure Relief (DISASTER) Act, which would require the federal government to create and provide a detailed accounting of how disaster relief money provided by Congress is spent. This would allow Congress to more accurately budget for disaster relief funds in future years and better ensure the American people get the help they need when they need it most. 

Since 1980, the United States has endured 403 weather and climate disasters where overall damages exceeded $1 billion — altogether, those events cost $2.945 trillion. The federal government plays a vital role in helping communities recover from disasters of all kinds, yet we do not know the true scope of its involvement because the federal government produces no single estimate of how much it spends on disaster-related assistance. And much of this spending is unplanned and therefore not included in the annual federal budget. The DISASTER Act would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use data it already gathers under the Budget Control Act (BCA) to produce an annual disaster spending estimate for Congress. 

“When disaster strikes our communities, the recovery can be slow and costly,” said Rep. Peters. “The costs to the federal government are on the rise as disasters become more frequent and more devastating. We should know exactly how much recovery efforts cost, so our budget can correctly account for them, and better plan for future disasters.” 

“At a time when our national debt is soaring, Congress has a responsibility to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent effectively,” said Rep. Obernolte. “The DISASTER Act will bring much-needed transparency to federal disaster spending by requiring a clear accounting of where, how, and why these funds were spent. This commonsense reform will help us identify inefficiencies, strengthen preparedness, and improve coordination across federal agencies in times of crisis.” 

Original cosponsors from both parties of the legislation include Representatives Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3), Steve Womack (R-AR-3), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), and David Valadao (R-CA-22). 

“Disasters are getting larger, more widespread, and more expensive,” said Rep. Moskowitz. “It’s critical that we fully fund the preparation, response, and recovery for these disasters, but it’s also critical that Congress knows where these targeted funds are going. By passing the DISASTER Act, we can take a commonsense step towards transparency, ensuring that taxpayers and their representatives in Washington have a more comprehensive account of how federal disaster-related assistance is allocated.” 

“The Central Valley is no stranger to natural disasters—from severe droughts to flooding—and when disaster strikes, it’s critical we have a clear and accurate picture of where federal dollars are going,” said Rep. Valadao. “Unfortunately, that information isn’t currently easy to track. With better transparency and accountability, we can ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively to help communities recover and prepare for future disasters, and I’m proud to join Rep. Peters in support.” 

This legislation passed in the House of Representatives in 2019 by a voice vote.  

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

Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) introduced the Smart Ship Repair Act (SSRA) of 2025, a follow-up to Rep. Peters’ SSRA of 2023 and SSRA of 2024, which have both become law. This iteration of the SSRA would increase the amount of time a ship is allowed to stay in its homeport for repairs before the Navy can move a ship and its crew to other locations for maintenance work. 

The SSRA of 2025 would require the Navy to change its current practice of soliciting ship repair contracts on a coast-wide basis for work periods longer than 12 months to only those that are projected to last more than 18 months. Currently, ships homeported in San Diego that need more than 12 months of maintenance could be moved to other facilities along the West Coast if the Navy receives a more cost -effective bid from other companies to perform the work.  This makes it difficult for San Diego’s ship repair industry to recruit and maintain its workforce and invest in its facilities. It also forces sailors to possibly spend their time ashore away from their families after long deployments at sea. 

“San Diego is home to a vibrant ship repair industry that employs nearly 8,000 workers and supports the Navy’s force posture in the Asia-Pacific,” said Rep. Peters. “This bill will help protect those jobs and support a high quality of life for sailors and their families while also ensuring the Navy can meet its ship repair needs as it prepares for the threats of the future.” 

“From 2014 to 2024, the Navy’s surface fleet in Hampton Roads decreased from 48 to 28 vessels, creating challenges for our ship repair industry and causing a 30% workforce reduction,” said Rep. Kiggans. “One of the best ways we can support our Navy and bolster our ship repair industry is to ensure our ships are repaired within their homeports. I am proud to introduce this important legislation that will support the highly skilled men and women who repair our ships, strengthen our maritime industrial base, and provide a better quality of life for our servicemembers.” 

“PSDSRA enthusiastically supports the proposed legislation to extend the coast wide bid threshold to 18 months,” said Gordon Rutherford, President, Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association. “This not only keeps work in San Diego that supports all of our businesses, it also provides stability and better quality of life for the crews of San Diego based ships who already spend enough time away from home in defense of our country.” 

“Austal USA appreciates Congressman Peters continued efforts to support and bring stability to the ship repair industry in San Diego,” said Larry Ryder, Vice President of Business Development & External Affairs at Austal USA. “The Smart Ship Repair Act of 2024 will help San Diego continue to provide world class ship repair services to the U.S. Navy and support jobs in San Diego.” 

“BAE Systems appreciates Congressman Peters’ and Congresswoman Kiggans’ continued leadership in support of U.S Navy ship maintenance,” said Paul Smith, Vice President and General Manager of BAE Systems Ship Repair. “We believe the Smart Ship Repair Act of 2025 further enhances predictability and stability for necessary naval repair work. This would allow sailors to remain close to home during repair periods up to 18 months, while preserving shipyard worker jobs in the Navy’s key homeports.” 

According to the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association, the San Diego shipbuilding and repair industry contributed more than $3.7 billion to the region’s economy in 2023. The nearly 8,000 jobs in the industry support an estimated additional 7,430 jobs in related industries and the local economy. Nearly $474.8 million in tax revenues were generated by shipbuilding and ship repair in 2023. Approximately $307.1 million went to the federal government and $167.7 million went to state and local governments.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

WENATCHEE, WA – Yesterday,Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) convened a roundtable discussion with Chelan County healthcare organization leaders and providers to discuss the impact that proposed Medicaid cuts would have on the community. 

In Washington State, approximately 1.5 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid, also known as Apple Health. This number includes about 900,000 children. The House Republican budget has called for nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to essential programs, like Medicaid. These cuts would be devastating for all Washingtonians, especially those in rural communities. In this roundtable discussion, Congresswoman Schrier spoke directly with leaders and providers from North Central Washington healthcare organizations to hear their thoughts about the impacts of the proposed Medicaid cuts. The consensus was that dramatic cuts to Medicaid would have profound impacts on patient health, healthcare access, clinic survival, and the local economy.

“As a pediatrician, I have seen firsthand the benefits of access to regular, affordable medical care. That is why for the last 6 years, I’ve worked with colleagues in both parties to strengthen Medicaid,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. “Here in Washington’s Eighth District, I represent over 125,000 people on Apple Health who are at risk of losing their healthcare under Republican budget plans. If Republicans achieve their goal of cutting 880 billion dollars from Medicaid, we will be sicker, we will be poorer, we will leave our jobs to care for our parents, we will have longer wait times in the ER because that is where people go when they have nowhere else to go, our healthcare system will be pushed to the brink, and our rural hospitals will cut services or close. I’ll keep fighting to protect Medicaid and healthcare for our children, seniors, and most vulnerable.”

Cutting Medicaid, Senator Maria Cantwell said, “affects the programs, then affects the hospital, then it affects the workforce, then you end up with shortages, then you end up with deserts. Then you end up with, ‘Who wants to have a business there?’ It keeps cascading,” Sen. Cantwell said. “This is a crazy idea. This is not a sledgehammer — this is like a ticking time bomb that’s blowing up the foundation of the system. And we have to take your stories and go back [to D.C.] and convince these people that it’s not even worth thinking about.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

Termination of Naturalization Grants Leaves Legal Residents Without Support to Become U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) is leading 54 House Democrats in demanding the Trump administration reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program after it was fully terminated last month—just weeks after a surprise funding freeze. This move abruptly cut off support for local organizations helping lawful permanent residents become U.S. citizens, despite the fact that these grants were fully funded by Congress and legally awarded. A list of grant recipients impacted by the funding freeze is available — click HERE for FY23 recipients and HERE for FY24 recipients.

“We write to express our outrage regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to terminate all work under the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program,” wrote Rep. Gomez and the lawmakers. “We demand immediate action to restore funding for the C&A Program and a prompt response to our questions regarding the rationale and legal basis for its termination.”

“This action marks a significant escalation since an abrupt funding freeze was announced just weeks ago on February 4, 2025,” continued the lawmakers. “The sudden and unilateral decision to terminate legally awarded grants funded by Congressional appropriation, without prior notice to Congress or affected grantees, raises serious concerns about due process, legal authority, and the Department’s commitment to advancing naturalization services for aspiring citizens.”

The lawmakers’ new letter follows an effort led by Rep. Gomez on March 7 demanding answers after the program was frozen without warning. DHS has still not responded. Then on March 27, grantees were notified the program was being shut down — some immediately, others with just 30 days’ notice. Since 2009, the C&A Grant Program, previously known as the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, has funded organizations that assist immigrants with citizenship applications, English language instruction, and civics education. The lawmakers warn its sudden termination will disrupt services and harm immigrant communities.

Rep. Gomez was joined in demanding answers by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Chuy García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), John Larson (CT-01), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

The letter was supported by the following organizations: National Partnership for New Americans, NALEO Educational Fund, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), UnidosUS, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Language & Communication Workshop, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, CARECEN, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, CASA, Make the Road New Jersey, Make the Road Connecticut, Make the Road New York, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Make the Road Nevada, Make the Road States, Refugee Council USA, Welcoming America, Project Citizenship, Maine Immigrants Coalition Rights, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, Building Skills Partnership, Refugee Women’s Alliance, Asian Law Alliance, Jones Library, Inc., Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, Hamkae Center, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, MinKwon Center for Community Action, International Rescue Committee, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Woori Juntos, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc., HANA Center, The International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc, Korean Community Service Center (KCSC), Hispanic Federation, Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, GALEO Impact Fund, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Refugee Congress.

You can read the full letter here.

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

This week, Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR-01) introduced the VARIANCE Act, which allows for a 10 percent shift in weight variance along the axles of tank trucks carrying dry goods, without any increase in the overall federal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit.

Under current law, when stopped at a weigh station, a truck’s weight must be “evenly” distributed among each of the axles. However, with dry bulk goods, even when packed properly, the material often moves around in the tank, causing the weight on each axle of the vehicle to be different. The VARIANCE Act allows for a shift in variance, as long as the overall weight of the tank truck does not exceed 80,000 pounds. This will ensure trucks don’t have to unnecessarily reduce their loads.

“Providing this variance standard will give trucks more flexibility to transport critical products while ensuring they are still meeting safe weight limits,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The VARIANCE Act is a bipartisan solution that will go a long way toward lowering costs for consumers and reducing congestion on our highways.”

“Arkansas’s agriculture industry relies on the timely transport of goods to their end destination,” said Rep. Crawford. “These dry goods will inevitably shift in the transport process and current law must account for the unique characteristics of the goods being transported. This legislation is a commonsense solution for truckers transporting dry bulk by giving more flexibility. I appreciate Congressman Carbajal joining me to lead this effort to create more efficiency in transporting our nation’s key dry goods.”

“The National Tank Truck Carriers would like to thank Representative Crawford and Representative Carbajal for their leadership in introducing the VARIANCE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives,” stated Ryan Streblow, President and CEO of National Tank Truck Carriers. “NTTC applauds their efforts to authorize a 10% axle variance for dry bulk goods, which has been an important legislative priority for NTTC. This simple, commonsense solution that allows carriers to maximize payloads of materials such as grains, feeds, and plastics, without raising the federal maximum laden weight or disrupting the bridge formula. By accounting for product shift during transit, this legislation acknowledges the operational realities of dry bulk carriers and represents a significant step toward a more efficient transportation network. It will help reduce stress on the supply chain, alleviate highway congestion, and enhance safety and efficiency. We are grateful for the strong support from Representative Crawford and Representative Carbajal and for their commitment to addressing this critical issue for the North American tank truck industry.”

Read the bill text here.

Read the one-pager on the bill here.

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)