MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) members Ilhan Omar (MN-05) & Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) led 48 DWC members in a letter to U.S Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to stand with women workers by protecting and strengthening the Women’s Bureau at the DOL. In particular, the Members call on Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to preserve current staffing and strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to fulfill its mandate: advancing the rights and economic opportunity of women workers, as Congress intended.

The Women’s Bureau has formulated standards and policies to improve the welfare, working conditions, and opportunities of working women since Congress established the Bureau in 1920. It has fulfilled that mission through research, policy, and grants—improving outcomes for women across the workforce. In particular, it administers the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Technical Assistance (WANTO) Grant Program, which helps recruit, train, and retain women in high-wage, high-skill jobs where they are historically underrepresented, such as in the skilled trades and technical fields, and manages the National Database of Child Care Prices.

In their letter, Members explained the importance of the Women’s Bureau, especially at the current moment of increased economic challenges for women and families, and as Trump claims to prioritize American jobs: 

“Women gained only 43 percent of new jobs in February, a decline from 54 percent in 2023. And the gender wage gap has widened for the first time in two decades. These numbers are not just statistics; they reflect growing economic headwinds for women and families that must be addressed. Weakening the Bureau by reducing its already limited staffing or closing regional offices would severely undermine its ability to address these persistent and growing economic disparities.”

The Members continued:

“If the Trump administration is serious about bringing more jobs to America, it must ensure that women can access those jobs. That means investing in initiatives that address the structural barriers women face in the workforce—barriers the Women’s Bureau was built to dismantle. We urge you to preserve current staffing and strengthen the Bureau’s capacity to fulfill its mandate, as Congress intended. The choice before you is clear—and we urge you to stand with women workers.”

The full letter can be accessed here.

In addition to leads Ilhan Omar, Suzanne Bonamici, and Chrissy Houlahan, the letter was signed by Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Diana DeGette, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Lois Frankel, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, LaMonica McIver, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Brittany Pettersen, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Hillary Scholten, Terri Sewell, Mikie Sherrill, Melanie Stansbury, Haley Stevens, Emilia Sykes, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Nellie Pou.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led the Oregon delegation – including U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) – in a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to eliminate the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. The MEP program is a public-private partnership that helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers grow by streamlining operations and reducing their risk. 

Ten MEP centerswere recently notified that the Department of Commerce will not be renewing their cooperative agreements “due to a shift in departmental priorities.” In their letter, the lawmakers note that additional centers – including the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) – anticipate receiving the same notice as their agreements come up for renewal.

“Oregon manufacturers contribute nearly $40 billion to our state’s economy and support over 175,000 good paying jobs. Eliminating the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program directly undermines small and medium-sized manufacturers in Oregon, and threatens our local economic stability. We urge you to reverse course and sustain this vital program,” wrote the Members.

Over the past ten years, OMEP has strengthened Oregon’s manufacturing sector and delivered $3.9 billion in direct economic impact. OMEP supports over 530 businesses in Oregon with a significant presence in all six congressional districts. In 2024 alone, OMEP leveraged $2.2 million in funding to support $165.6 million in private investment – a 75:1 return on investment for U.S. taxpayers.

The lawmakers go on to emphasize how the MEP program saved Oregon manufacturers $24 million last year, allowing them to create or retain 1,400 jobs across the state.

They continued: “President Trump has made it a priority to support domestic manufacturing, and MEP is one of our most effective and cost-efficient programs to help these companies succeed. That’s why funding for this program has consistently received bipartisan support in Congress, including from our delegation. We respectfully urge you to reconsider any plans to reduce or eliminate funding for state MEP centers, and we stand ready to work together to strengthen Oregon manufacturing.”

To read the full letter, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led his Democratic colleagues in the Oregon delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—in urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to declare a federal fishery resource disaster for the 2024 Oregon troll salmon fishery.

“This declaration is critical to provide economic relief to Oregon’s fisheries and coastal communities in addition to protecting the sustainability of wild salmon populations,” said the lawmakers.

In 2024, Oregon’s troll salmon fishery struggled amid worsening effects of climate change, increased drought, shifting ocean conditions, and other impacts leading to poor salmon returns. Facing these significant challenges, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) estimates that 2024 Chinook salmon population levels were below forecasts, with 2025 Chinook salmon populations likely “not high enough to allow for target summer Chinook fisheries.”

The impact salmon loss has on Oregon’s economy cannot be understated, as the state’s commercial fishing industry generates more than $640 million in economic activity each year, equivalent to 9,200 jobs.

“Despite best efforts from our local fishermen and state and local partners, the economic consequences of this crisis threaten both salmon fishermen and the broader economy of Oregon’s coastal communities which rely on the fishery,” continued the lawmakers.

As the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) undergoes the process to finalize its 2025 salmon season management recommendations, the Oregon delegation is pushing for U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to quickly grant Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a federal fishery disaster under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The action is critical to access federal funding needed to ease the economic uncertainty for Oregon’s commercial troll salmon fishery, while recognizing the immense role salmon hold in the cultural heritage of Pacific Northwest Tribes, recreation, and as a treasured natural resource across the state.

The Oregon delegation has been essential in securing past federal fishery disaster declarations in the state through a series of actions, which led to the Commerce Department sending Oregon a total of $7,050,722 for the fishery disaster declared for 2018, 2019, and 2020 Oregon Chinook salmon ocean commercial fisheries. The lawmakers will keep pushing for federal support for this critical industry while local, state, and federal partners continue work on long-term solutions.

“We urge you to direct your attention to Governor Kotek’s request for a fishery resource disaster declaration. We look forward to your timely response, and our offices stand ready to work with you to recover and sustain Oregon’s commercial fisheries,” the Oregon delegation closed.

Full text of the letter can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Tim Moore (NC-14) introduced the Mobile Mammography Promotion Act, legislation that would exempt mobile mammography vehicles from motor fuel taxes.

Mobile mammography units serve a vital role by delivering diagnostic care directly to women at workplaces, community centers, and rural clinics. They can often reach patients who would otherwise forgo screening due to distance, lack of transportation, or other barriers. Under current law, these vehicles are subject to the same federal fuel taxes as commercial trucks despite their public health mission.

The Mobile Mammography Promotion Act aligns the tax treatment of mobile mammography units with blood collection vehicles, which receive a similar exemption. This commonsense fix will help providers maximize resources, increase outreach, and ultimately save lives through earlier detection and treatment.

“Preventive health care, like mammograms, is critical to catching diseases and conditions early. But many people struggle to access this care because it isn’t available nearby. Mobile programs like mammogram vans can meet people where they are. This bill will help make mobile mammograms more accessible. These are life-saving tests,” said DelBene. 

“We know women have a better shot at beating breast cancer when it’s caught early, but too many in rural and underserved areas can’t easily access the screenings they need,” said Congressman Moore. “The Mobile Mammography Promotion Act gives mobile clinics the same exemption already available to blood collection vehicles, helping them stretch their resources further. Instead of paying fuel taxes, that money can go straight into life-saving care.”

The cosponsors are Reps. Young Kim (CA-40), Jim Costa (CA-21), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06).

The copy of the bill text can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Dina Titus announced today that she and ten other members of Congress have sent a letter to the head of the General Services Administration asking for a response to reports that more than half of the GSA staff responsible for overseeing the nation’s fine arts collection have been laid off.

“We need answers,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Our national art collection is displayed around the country and reflects our rich cultural history. We need to know whether this national treasure is being properly cared for.”

The April 14 letter sent to Stephen Ehikian, Acting Administrator of the GSA, reads, “We are deeply concerned by reports that over half of the Fine Arts Program’s staff, who play a critical role preserving the collection and overseeing its care and preservation, have been put on leave. Furthermore, at least five regional offices, which are mandated to inspect these works every two years, have reportedly closed. The consequences of not having enough staff to take inventory of these works and help ensure that they are preserved properly would be long-lasting.”

The letter asks Ehikian for responses to the following questions:

1. How many employees from GSA’s Fine Arts Program were placed on leave?
2. What is GSA’s plan to ensure that the valuable works in this collection are accounted for and taken care of? How does GSA plan to reassign the duties of the staff who were placed on leave?
3. What is GSA’s plan to ensure that the works displayed at federal buildings across the United States are inspected every two years?

The letter was co-led by Rep. Chellie Pingree and signed by Reps. Hank Johnson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Paul Tonko, Nydia Velazquez, Jerry Nadler, Sydney Dove, James McGovern, Betty McCollum and Seth Magaziner, all of whom are members of the Congressional Arts Caucus.

The letter cited a March 11, 2025, Washington Post article that reported, “The future of a vast collection of public artwork is in doubt as the Trump administration plans to fire workers who preserve and maintain more than 26,000 pieces owned by the U.S. government, including paintings and sculptures by renowned artists, some dating to the 1850s.

Fine arts and historic preservation workers at the General Services Administration told the Washington Post that at least five regional offices were shuttered last week and that more than half of the division’s approximately three dozen staff members were abruptly put on leave pending their terminations.”

Background:

Through its Fine Arts Program, GSA maintains one of the oldest and largest public arts

collections in the United States. The civic artworks in the collection date back to the 1850s and

are displayed in federal buildings and courthouses across the United States. The program helps

preserve historic works of cultural significance, such as Alexander Calder’s 1974 “Flamingo”

which is on display at the C. Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago. In Las Vegas, the Lloyd

D. George U.S. Courthouse features “Eldorado,” a stunning landscape of the desert by Brent

Thomson commissioned by GSA in 2000, among other works that illustrate Southern Nevada’s

unique beauty.

Another important body of work that GSA’s fine arts program manages is art that was created

under New Deal programs. In 1934, the federal government began loaning or allocating artwork

created under these programs to public agencies and nonprofit institutions across the country.

When GSA was established in 1949, it assumed stewardship responsibility for this artwork.

Today, more than 20,000 New Deal works of art are on long-term loan to museums and other

nonprofit institutions.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

Stefanik, Ernst Reintroduce Legislation to Ensure Reporting And Public Disclosure of American Dollars Sent to Communist China | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

CONNEAUT LAKE, Pa. — On Saturday, April 12, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) honored Crawford County Treasurer Christine Krzysiak as the latest 16th Congressional District Community Champion for her decades of public service to Crawford County. Krzysiak will retire at the end of the year after serving as Crawford County Treasurer for 14 years.

“Christine embodies what it means to be a dedicated public servant,” Rep. Kelly said. “Whether it’s her role as Crawford County Treasurer, serving in her church, or becoming a mentor to young professionals across the region, she continues to put others first and strengthen our communities.”

Krzysiak serves on the executive board of the County Treasurers’ Association of Pennsylvania (CTAP) and has for the last 4 years. She was elected as CTAP president in 2023. Additionally, she has been a member of the Meadville Business and Professional Women since 2011, where she served as their Treasurer for seven of those years. Krzysiak currently serves on their Audit Committee. She also serves as an altar server at her church.

Previously, Krzysiak served as Venango Township (Crawford County) Tax Collector from 2005-2011.She first began working for Crawford County in the Clerk of Courts Office in 1984.

Krzysiak and her husband have three adult children and one grandchild.

BACKGROUND

The Community Champion Award is a citation instituted by the Office of U.S. Representative Mike Kelly in January 2015 to recognize and thank service-minded individuals throughout Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District for selfless and significant contributions to their surrounding communities. Each winner is presented with an official award plaque from Rep. Kelly’s office, a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building, and a statement of congratulations entered into the official Congressional Record.

In February, Rep. Kelly honored Erie businessman Chris Sirianni for his contributions to the Lake Erie Ale Trail and promoting the craft beer industry in Northwest Pennsylvania. During his tenure, Sirianni grew the group from four to 17 local breweries. He stepped down from his executive duties with the Lake Erie Ale Trail in January 2025.

Rep. Kelly co-chairs the House Small Brewers Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

On Tax Day, organizations and innovators are continuing to show support for the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) and John Larson (D-Connecticut) that permanently allows for immediate research and development expensing looking back to 2022 when the provision expired. Reps. Estes and Larson were joined by Reps. Rudy Yakym (R-Indiana) and Suzan DelBene (D-Washington) and the bill has an additional 70 cosponsors evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. The statements below are in addition to support expressed by the National Association of Manufacturers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers when Reps. Estes and Larson introduced the bill in March.

“The Aerospace Industries Association is grateful for the continued bipartisan support of the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act, which will restore immediate research and development expensing — allowing innovation to flourish among America’s aerospace and defense companies and ensuring we continue to outpace our adversaries. We thank Congressman Estes and Congressman Larson for championing these efforts and supporting American business by reintroducing this important bill,” said Eric Fanning, president and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association.

“Restoring full and immediate R&D expensing is essential to the future of American manufacturing and the competitiveness of the U.S. plastics industry,” said Chris Rager, vice president of government affairs, Plastics Industry Association. “Our sector supports over one million jobs and drives innovation in critical areas like healthcare, automotive, and sustainable packaging. This bipartisan measure will help ensure manufacturers can continue investing in next-generation technologies that strengthen our economy, advance sustainability, and keep the United States at the forefront of global innovation.”

“The American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act is a beacon of hope for U.S. manufacturers as we face unfair global competition,” said Eric Axel, executive director, American Medical Manufacturers Association. “By reinstating immediate R&D expensing, this bipartisan legislation empowers domestic makers of critical medical supplies to innovate, compete, and safeguard our public health and national security. It’s a crucial step towards ensuring America remains a leader in producing life-saving supplies, fostering economic resilience, and creating high-paying jobs nationwide.”

“Our research and development efforts drive advancements in magnetic technologies used across food processing, recycling, and advanced manufacturing. These innovations not only help protect equipment and ensure safety—they also support good-paying, skilled jobs in Kansas. Restoring immediate expensing for R&D, as proposed in Congressman Estes’ legislation, would give manufacturers like us the certainty and resources we need to keep hiring, expanding, and staying competitive. We’re grateful for his leadership and strong support of Kansas manufacturers,” said Robert Bunting Jr., president & CEO, Bunting in Newton, Kansas.

You can read the full text of the bill here.

Background
Rep. Estes has been a leader in advocating for American innovation. In the previous Congress, Reps. Estes and John Larson (D-Connecticut) reintroduced H.R. 2673 – the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act – on April 18, 2023. Rep. Estes delivered remarks on the House floor in April of 2023 and numerous organizations offered their support following the bill’s introduction. In June, Rep. Estes testified on the legislation in a Small Business Committee subcommittee, discussed the bill during a Ways and Means markup for the Committee’s Build It in America Act – an economic package that included a version of Rep. Estes’ bill and was reported out of committee and penned an op-ed for The Hill highlighting the then more than 100 cosponsors and touting the benefits of the legislation. In December, Rep. Estes spoke to Tax Notes about the expired provision and published an op-ed in Newsweek unpacking the positive outcomes – for individual taxpayers and across the economy – made possible by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 and explaining how his bipartisan bill offers a solution to the expired R&D expensing provision that would help restore America’s dominance in R&D and secure American jobs.

In April of 2024, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and Tax Subcommittee Chairman Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania) named Rep. Estes chair of the newly formed U.S. Innovation Tax Team, one of ten working groups comprised of committee members to study key tax provisions from the 2017 Trump tax cuts that are set to expire in 2025. Rep. Estes talked with innovators and manufacturers throughout Kansas in August and September and led a delegation with House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and then-Tax Team Vice Chair Michelle Steel (R-California) to Silicon Valley later in September to meet with U.S. innovators and stakeholders about the upcoming TCJA expirations.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

April 15, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last Friday, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), along with U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), led 117 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing strong opposition to the department’s proposal to reverse Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, a move that would significantly restrict access to affordable health coverage.

“The ACA makes all lawfully present immigrants eligible for marketplace coverage. When the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) first established the regulatory definition of lawfully present immigrants in 2010, it included all deferred action recipients, consistent with longstanding federal policies for Social Security benefits and driver’s licenses under the REAL ID Act. However, in 2012, the agency, without any statutory justification, added an exclusion for DACA recipients. We believe CMS made the wrong decision, arbitrarily excluding hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth from health coverage despite Congress’s intent in passing the ACA to widely expand access to health care,” wrote the lawmakers. 

In 2024, HHS finalized a rule correcting this error which resulted in ACA Marketplace and subsidy eligibility being granted to DACA recipients, “Prior to this rule, DACA recipients were nearly five times more likely to be uninsured compared to their U.S. born peers. The proposed regulation would reverse course and tear health coverage away from DACA recipients who have only had eligibility for less than a year.”

The lawmakers highlighted that President Trump has repeatedly recognized the value of DREAMers. In December 2024, President Trump made clear that Congress must “do something about the Dreamers, because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age, and many of these are middle-aged people now, they don’t even speak the language of their country.” 

“Congress must pass the Dream Act to create a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. In the meantime, CMS must not enact this proposed rule. Removing ACA eligibility undermines the law’s purpose, contravenes President Trump’s priorities, and jeopardizes the health and stability of hundreds of thousands of immigrant families,” the lawmakers concluded.

The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Brian Schatz, Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Adrian Espaillat (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Shri Thaneder (D-MI), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Scott Peters (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Becca Balint (D-VT), Judy Chu (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Sean Casten (D-IL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Yvette Clark (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Gerald Connoly (D-VA), Suzanna Bonamici (D-OR), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Andre Carson (D-IN), Mark Takan (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Lou Correa (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), John Larson (D-CT), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Adam Smith (D-WA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Greg Casar (D-TX), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Diana Degette (D-CO), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Greg Landsman (D-OH), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). 

The full letter can be read here.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), along with U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), led 117 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing strong opposition to the department’s proposal to reverse Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, a move that would significantly restrict access to affordable health coverage.

“The ACA makes all lawfully present immigrants eligible for marketplace coverage. When the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) first established the regulatory definition of lawfully present immigrants in 2010, it included all deferred action recipients, consistent with longstanding federal policies for Social Security benefits and driver’s licenses under the REAL ID Act. However, in 2012, the agency, without any statutory justification, added an exclusion for DACA recipients. We believe CMS made the wrong decision, arbitrarily excluding hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth from health coverage despite Congress’s intent in passing the ACA to widely expand access to health care,” the lawmakers wrote. 

In 2024, HHS finalized a rule correcting this error which resulted in ACA Marketplace and subsidy eligibility being granted to DACA recipients, “Prior to this rule, DACA recipients were nearly five times more likely to be uninsured compared to their U.S. born peers. The proposed regulation would reverse course and tear health coverage away from DACA recipients who have only had eligibility for less than a year.”

The lawmakers highlighted that President Trump has repeatedly recognized the value of DREAMers. In December 2024, President Trump made clear that Congress must “do something about the Dreamers, because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age, and many of these are middle-aged people now, they don’t even speak the language of their country.” 

“We agree with President Trump that Congress must pass the DREAM Act to create a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. In the meantime, CMS must not enact this proposed rule. Removing ACA eligibility undermines the law’s purpose, contravenes President Trump’s priorities, and jeopardizes the health and stability of hundreds of thousands of immigrant families,” the lawmakers concluded.

The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Brian Schatz, Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Adrian Espaillat (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Shri Thaneder (D-MI), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Scott Peters (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Becca Balint (D-VT), Judy Chu (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Sean Casten (D-IL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Yvette Clark (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Gerald Connoly (D-VA), Suzanna Bonamici (D-OR), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Andre Carson (D-IN), Mark Takan (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Lou Correa (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), John Larson (D-CT), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Adam Smith (D-WA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Greg Casar (D-TX), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Diana Degette (D-CO), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Greg Landsman (D-OH), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). 

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

Issues: Health Care, Immigration