MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON– A new federal audit, launched at the request of Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), confirms that $1 million in disaster relief intended to assist Puerto Rican fishers after the COVID-19 pandemic was never delivered. Each eligible fisher could have received between $2,419 and $15,000 for their losses.
 
“It is incredibly frustrating to see how these funds—which could have made a huge difference—were wasted,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “Puerto Rican fishers have spent years waiting for help, only to see those resources mismanaged. This confirms what they’ve been saying from the beginning and shows how opaque, unilateral administrative decisions in managing recovery funds directly harm the communities most in need.”
 
The audit, released by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Commerce, came in response to a 2022 request from Velázquez. It shows that the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture failed to distribute a large portion of a $3.9 million federal aid package. The funds were granted through two cooperative agreements with NOAA, funded by the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
 
The report found that the Department failed to distribute $2.9 million in direct payments under the second round of funding, even after NOAA granted multiple deadline extensions. Officials cited low participation due to mistrust of the process and concerns about submitting tax documents. However, the official application notice stated that tax returns were not required, raising questions about the Department’s justification.
 
The Department also attempted to use $1.5 million of the unused funds to purchase equipment, a request NOAA denied because it did not meet the purpose of the program. Later, the Department claimed nearly $400,000 in administrative expenses, which averages $682 per each of the 586 checks that were successfully delivered. The remaining $1 million will be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
 
Velázquez called for continued oversight of federal recovery funds in Puerto Rico. “We cannot let this become the norm,” she emphasized. “With only 27 percent of the $41 billion allocated for Puerto Rico’s recovery spent so far, every dollar must be monitored, and every agency must be held accountable.”
 
“The audit reflects the lack of urgency and commitment shown by the Department of Agriculture in managing funds from the Consolidated Appropriations Act—something the fishers have consistently denounced and one of the reasons they are calling on the Department to appoint a new director for the Fisheries Program. This is why they are demanding the immediate resignation of the current director, who is responsible for the loss of over $1 million and unjustifiable administrative costs in managing these funds,” said Juan Capella Noya, Community Consultant for Firmes, Unidos y Resilientes con la Abogacía (FURIA Inc.). He added, “Throughout this process, people both in the United States and Puerto Rico have echoed the fishers’ demands and taken action. Among them, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez’s irreplaceable oversight work stands out—something we know the fishers are deeply grateful for.”
 
For a full copy of the audit, click here.
 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

Washington—Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Vice Chair of the House Budget Committee and a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, released the following statement: 

“The Senate’s passage of the amended House resolution is a critical step forward. However, with $5.8 trillion in costs and only $4 billion required savings in their instructions, I cannot vote for it. We can and must do better. Let’s come together next week to craft a fiscally responsible solution.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Walnut Creek, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced today that he will host an Immigration Town Hall & Resource Fair in Danville to discuss the Trump Administration’s unconstitutional immigration actions and its threats to open an ICE detention facility in Dublin on Wednesday, April 16^th. The resource fair will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT where local agencies and organizations will share resources related to immigrant rights. The town hall will run from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PT.

 

Immigration Town Hall & Resource Fair
Wednesday, April 16^th
Resource Fair: Starting at 5:30 p.m. PT
Town Hall: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PT
Check-in for town hall begins at 5:30 p.m. PT
Danville, CA
RSVP for Location

 

The event is RSVP only and capacity is limited. To reserve your spot or request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660. 

This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 229^th town hall and mobile district office hours since coming to Congress in January 2015.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

This week, Representative Sharice Davids urged the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to listen to widespread Tribal opposition to their proposed school voucher program and fully fund Tribal education and BIE programs. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) and Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) also led the effort. 

“We urge the Department of the Interior and Department of Education to heed the call of dozens of Tribal Nations who continue to voice their opposition to the proposed efforts by the Administration to restructure tribal education and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) programs into school voucher programs,” the Members wrote. “As you heard during the March 14, 2025 tribal meeting held via Zoom, many Tribal Nations across the country oppose the proposition. The proposal would effectively defund BIE schools, threaten Tribal self-determination, and violate multiple federal statutes, including the federal trust and treaty responsibilities.” 

“The proposed voucher system would weaken BIE schools in profound ways … Over 90% of BIE-funded schools are located in remote locations with no alternative schools. Destabilizing and closing schools would be traumatic for the students and families in these communities,” the Members wrote. “BIE-funded schools are the schools of choice for Tribes and students because they reflect the cultures, languages, traditional belief systems, and priorities of the communities that other educational options cannot provide. These schools often provide critical support services for the most vulnerable in their community, such as housing, meals, and internet access.”

This week’s letter follows up on a February 11, 2025 letter from Reps. Davids, Stansbury, and Leger Fernández to Secretary Burgum, where they raised concerns about an executive order that could enable families with students eligible to attend BIE schools to use federal funding for other educational options — including private, faith-based, or public charter schools — as soon as the 2025–2026 school year.

The full letter is here or below: 

Dear Secretary Burgum and Secretary McMahon:

 

We urge the Department of the Interior and Department of Education to heed the call of dozens of Tribal Nations who continue to voice their opposition to the proposed efforts by the Administration to restructure tribal education and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) programs into school voucher programs. As you heard during the March 14, 2025 tribal meeting held via Zoom, many Tribal Nations across the country oppose the proposition. The proposal would effectively defund BIE schools, threaten Tribal self-determination, and violate multiple federal statutes, including the federal trust and treaty responsibilities. 

  

On February 11, 2025, we sent a letter to Secretary Burgum about our concerns regarding Executive Order 14191 on “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to “review any available mechanisms under which families of students eligible to attend BIE schools may use their Federal funding for educational options of their choice, including private, faith-based, or public charter schools, and submit a plan to the President describing such mechanisms and steps that would be necessary to implement them for the 2025-2026 school year.” It is clear that implementing Section 7 of Executive Order 14191, as discussed above would violate multiple federal statutes, and impact the fundamental education programs that serve tens of thousands of tribal students. It is also our understanding that the overwhelming consensus on the March 14th call was that Tribes are not supportive of this proposal or any proposal that would weaken or defund the BIE and tribal education systems, including moving to a lump-sum voucher system. Many tribal communities schools are distinctive in that they are often the only educational institution serving students within a 45+ mile radius.  

  

Therefore, the proposed voucher system would weaken BIE schools in profound ways. By redirecting federal funds away from BIE schools, it would create funding instability that will almost certainly lead to school closures. Over 90% of BIE-funded schools are located in remote areas with no alternative schools. For example, Seba Dalkai Community School in Arizona requires students and parents to travel over an hour round trip for services. Destabilizing and closing schools would be traumatic for the students and families in these communities. Redirecting federal funds would also bypass Tribal governance and oversight, particularly in the case of the nearly 70% of BIE-funded schools that are Tribally-Controlled Schools.  

  

As you know, the U.S. government has both trust and treaty responsibilities to provide Tribal education services. The BIE administers funding for hundreds of schools and programs that are vital to meeting the Federal government’s obligations to Tribes—obligations that in many cases predate both the Department of the Interior and the Department of Education. Congress has laid out a detailed system for funding this trust and treaty responsibility in P.L. 95-561 and P.L. 100-297. The proposed lump-sum voucher system stands in direct violation of these statutes.  

  

Congress has also already worked with Tribes to place school choice into the hands of Tribal communities through the Tribally Controlled Schools Act (P.L. 100-297), which President Reagan signed into law in 1988. We again urge you to review sections (a) through (d) of the Act, which clearly state that “Congress declares that a national goal of the United States is to provide the resources, processes, and structure that will enable tribes and local communities to obtain the quantity and quality of educational services and opportunities that will permit Indian children— (1) to compete and excel in areas of their choice; and (2) to achieve the measure of self-determination essential to their social and economic well-being.” In the words of the National Indian Education Association’s January 30, 2025, letter to you: “These schools are our schools of choice.” 

  

BIE-funded schools are the schools of choice for Tribes and students because they reflect the cultures, languages, traditional belief systems, and priorities of the communities that other educational options cannot provide. These schools often provide critical support services for the most vulnerable in their community, such as housing, meals, and internet access. And they serve as community centers for sporting and cultural events in rural areas where there are few other options. That is why, time and time again, Tribal leaders, educators, parents, and students have affirmed the importance of BIE programs and the need to increase—not decrease—funding for them. 

   

The proposed educational restructuring of the BIE and tribal school programs into a voucher system was not requested by Tribes, is not supported by Tribal nations pursuant to your consultation, and is a clear violation of federal law. We again urge you to abandon efforts to implement the voucher system and ensure that tribal education and BIE programs are fully funded, as appropriated by Congress. Further, we welcome your team to visit many of these BIE schools and learn more on their position on why this proposal is not fitting for the demographics being served.

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Members express outrage with Sec. Kennedy’s decision: “We find it appalling that your Department appears willing to disregard California’s duly- and fairly-awarded pilot, ignore the statute of a bipartisanly authorized program…and ultimately rip away a lifesaving safety net from our constituents, all in the name of funding Republicans’ tax cuts for the wealthy.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leading 27 of her Democratic California House colleagues, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) sent a lettertoday to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing scathing opposition to the Trump Administration’s recent cancellation of California’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pilot award and alarm that this action clears the way for devastating cuts to TANF to pay for Congressional Republicans’ tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy in impending legislation.

The TANF pilot program, authorized by the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, is intended to address longstanding limitations in TANF by testing ways to better promote work and improve family outcomes. The state of California was selected in November 2024 as one of five pilot states after a thorough, objective process. However, in early March 2025, HHS abruptly cancelled California and the four other states’ pilot awards and announced it would issue an entirely new solicitation for pilot proposals that better reflect the Trump administration’s goals and priorities.

In the letter addressed to Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Members note that this decision has no statutory or policy justification: “Your March 7th cancellation letter to California claims that it is possible to change course because the state is only in its first half of the first year of the pilot—however, there is nothing in the FRA statute that allows a pilot to be revoked simply because it is in the first year. Additionally, your letter states that the projects selected, particularly related to “views on work, performance measures, and indicators of family stability and wellbeing,” do not reflect your administration’s goals and priorities. However, you fail to describe what specifically you find objectionable, so we can only infer that you disagree that indicators like job security, health insurance coverage, and stable housing are good benchmarks for family well-being—a position we find deeply troubling. Regardless, as the FRA statute requires pilot states and HHS to negotiate performance benchmarks for work and family outcomes, there is no statutory or policy justification for your administration to cancel the pilot awards altogether rather than negotiating such benchmarks in good faith.”

As such, the Members note that revoking California’s pilot award appears to be a political maneuver to clear the way for Congressional Republicans to make massive cuts to TANF in their upcoming tax giveaway for the ultra-wealthy.

“Included in the House Republicans’ so-called “menu” of revenue raising policies for budget reconciliation is a proposal to make cuts to TANF over the next ten years by adjusting its work requirements,” the Members explain. “We note that the only way to guarantee savings related to TANF work requirements would be to alter the WPR such that states are virtually guaranteed to fail, thereby triggering financial penalties. As California receives among the largest of TANF block grants, it’s clear that California would need to remain subject to the WPR for the Republicans’ plan to work. Of course, if it were still a pilot state, California would have been exempt from the WPR over the next six years as it tested alternative performance measures. If this is indeed your motivation, it represents an utterly shameful scheme to take money directly out of the pockets of among the most vulnerable families in California and hand it to the ultra-wealthy.”

Click here to access the full letter.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Members express outrage at Trump administration claims that Title X is frozen because it is DEI, stating “A federal program’s ability to provide care to people from historically marginalized and underserved communities does not make it wrong or illegal”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Women’s Caucus Reproductive Health Care Task Force Chair & Liaison Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Reproductive Freedom Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01) & Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Reproductive Freedom Caucus Vice Chair & Whip Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), author of the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chief Whip Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05) sent a letter signed by 155 other House Members urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers and coordinate an urgent meeting on the matter. The Trump administration’s attack on Title X is yet another attack on women and reproductive health care. 

Title X, the nation’s only federal program dedicated to family planning, allows low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals to receive critical health care from a diverse network of providers. Title X health centers served 2.8 million people in FY 2023, administering high-quality family planning and sexual health care, including cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive services and supplies, pregnancy testing, and other essential health care services. In the letter, the Members ask Sec. Kennedy to immediately unfreeze funds for federal programs:

“We urge you to restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers and instead invest fully in the program which has helped people access essential health care for almost 50 years. On behalf of our 2.8 million constituents and women across the country who depend on Title X’s services, we also request a prompt reply to coordinate a meeting on this matter. We look forward to introducing you to the providers, community leaders, and patients from our districts who understand better than anyone else the importance of this program. We hope your agency will not be so reckless as to upend nearly half a century of bipartisan achievement and place Title X on the DOGE chopping block without hearing firsthand the consequences of that action.”

The Members also expressed their outrage at reports that the funding is frozen due to claims that it might support “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The Members explained:

“This is another way of saying that this program is used to help people of color access care. Nearly half of the people served each year by Title X are people of color, the vast majority are people with low-incomes and most Title X users are women. A federal program’s ability to provide care to people from historically marginalized and underserved communities does not make it wrong or illegal. To suggest otherwise implies that HHS would determine who is worthy of taxpayer dollars based on the color of their skin. Congress created Title X to address the needs of underserved populations across our country, regardless of background, and it has demonstrated success in doing so for 50 years.”

Click here to access the full letter.

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

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s The Weekend where he emphasized that Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs will raise costs on hardworking American taxpayers. 

MICHAEL STEELE: Joining us now to discuss is Democratic Leader and friend of the show, Hakeem Jeffries. Welcome, sir.

ALICIA MENENDEZ: Leader Jeffries, while we were on air, you had the President saying this on Truth Social. ‘This is an economic revolution, and we will win. Hang tough. It won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic.’ Do you think he means historic good or historic bad?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the results will definitively be historically bad. These Trump tariffs represent the largest tax increase on the American people since at least 1968. What we’re seeing is that he is crashing the economy in real time. Costs are going up. The Trump tariffs are likely to result in thousands of dollars in additional costs on the American people in terms of groceries and gas and goods. And at the same time, we’re seeing the retirement savings of the American people plummeting as well. This guy is driving us toward a recession. And this is not what the American people voted for or expected.

MICHAEL STEELE: Leader, I mentioned in the last hour conversations I’ve been having over the last few weeks with a buddy of mine who is a blue collar worker, been able, over the last 30 years, to save money in his retirement, his 401K. And he has lost about $32,000 in the last three weeks from his retirement savings for him and his wife. Talk to him. What would you say to him? What is the message he needs to hear from you as Leader of the Democratic Party in this hour as he’s watching, they’re now having to recalculate how he’s going to retire because Donald Trump has taken $32,000 out of his life savings.

LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s very painful. And as I travel the country, these are stories that I am hearing over and over and over again. And that is one of the reasons why we are going to continue to aggressively show up, stand up and speak up against these Trump tariffs, which are doing real damage to everyday Americans. And we’re calling upon both House and Senate Republicans to join us. In the House, all we need on any given bill is basically three House Republicans to stand up for their constituents and act like they actually work for the American people, as opposed to bending the knee consistently for Donald Trump or Elon Musk, even when these two out of control individuals are doing real damage to their constituents. This is one of the reasons why, as we travel the country, Democrats we’re going to continue to engage the American people, have town hall meetings in our districts and in Republican districts in blue states and red states and in purple states, so that we can raise awareness of what’s happening and make sure that these Republicans in Congress are being held accountable for their complicity and failure to act in the best interests of the people they were sent to Washington to represent.

SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: You know, Leader Jeffries, Congress could do something about this today if they wanted to. Have you, I know that House Democrats are ready to stand up for the American people. And you would vote, is it correct to say, that you would vote in support of taking back the power of deciding tariffs with Congress? You would, that’s something you would support.

LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s absolutely something that I would support. And we have legislative efforts that will intensify this week in response to these reckless Trump tariffs. I know that at least one Republican House Member, Congressman Don Bacon, has also introduced legislation or is planning to to address this. So we’re going to be in conversation with a handful of our Republican colleagues, because Congress can stop this carnage from happening. And one of the things that hopefully will cause some people to change their perspectives. You know, Donald Trump, the biggest lie that this guy ever told was that he cared about you, the American people. He does not. He cares about himself and his billionaire donors like Elon Musk. And as if we didn’t need any additional proof, but at the same time that the retirement savings is crashing, the stock market is crashing, the economy is crashing, Donald Trump is on the golf course? This is what he chooses to do? And so we have to continue to press our case aggressively on the economy, on health care, on social security. And we’ll continue to do just that.

ALICIA MENENDEZ: He’s on the golf course to the tune of $26 million, Symone. Taxpayer dollars.

SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: A lot of I mean, truly like bleeding the American people dry while their 401ks and pensions are plummeting. I just have to have to ask then. So Don Bacon, my Congressman, I’m from Nebraska. He represents district two. He is a very vulnerable Republican that could lose his seat next November. What about the Speaker? Has he indicated a willingness, because it’s about the people like Michael talked about. I’m also thinking about the small business owners, the taxes on food and beverage, the restaurants. I mean, I went out last night and I had to order some champagne because I didn’t know if I’d be able to get it three months from now given what Donald Trump is doing to this economy.

MICHAEL STEELE: Oh you would normally order champagne.

SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Here you go.

LEADER JEFFRIES: It does. I think one of the challenges that we’ll continue to have is that Republican leadership has shown no willingness to stand up to Donald Trump and his administration. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find rank and file Republicans to do it, joining us with a unified Democratic opposition, particularly as the pressure continues to intensify on them. They’ve already taken so many different reckless votes as it relates to the budget resolution that initially passed in the House. That’s the largest Medicaid cut in American history. Now they’re trying to dismantle Social Security, undermining veterans benefits, literally trying to take food out of the mouths of babies by cutting nutritional assistance. And what is this all being done for? To enact a massive tax break for billionaire donors like Elon Musk? The whole thing is a Ponzi scheme. That’s the Ponzi scheme that is being visited upon the American people right now.

ALICIA MENENDEZ: Just to put a finer point on what you have just said. There seems to be disagreement among Republicans in the two chambers about how to proceed on this question of the budget. Let me read you this from The Hill: ‘The budget debate revealed the biggest looming fight between Senate and House Republicans is over Medicaid. House Republicans have slated the program for tens of billions of dollars in cuts, something that several Republican senators have warned they would oppose in any final reconciliation bill.’ Where is this headed, Leader Jeffries?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re going to continue to stand up for the health care of the American people and point out that what House Republicans have already voted to do, and have not walked away from, is a potential Medicaid cut of up to $880 billion. Here’s what this means. Children will be devastated. Women will be devastated. Older Americans will be devastated. Everyday Americans with disabilities are going to be devastated. Hospitals and nursing homes and community health clinics are going to close. That affects people who are on Medicaid, almost 90 million Americans, but also people who get their health insurance in other forms, because if the hospital closes, it doesn’t matter whether you’re on Medicaid or not, you are going to be hurt. And so we will continue to be very clear that these Medicaid cuts are completely and totally unacceptable. I think the Senate Democrats have done exactly the same thing as this process unfolds. And we’re going to work as hard as we can to find just a handful of Republicans who are now on the run on this Medicaid issue to do the right thing by their constituents.

MICHAEL STEELE: Congressman, we have been talking about voting in the last hour or so minutes and the the reality of it is, we saw how Republicans, under Elon’s leadership and the president’s backing, dropped $26 million dollars into a race to try to convince voters to go with a MAGA candidate. They rejected it. We saw Democrats close the gap in Florida in two congressional districts, which are are R +30. Democrats took 14 points to 17 points off, respectively, closing that gap. So there’s momentum there, but there’s something even a little bit more close to the ground relative to your chamber. You’ve now threatened a lawsuit in the state of Texas over a delayed Texas special election, noting the Houston area district, Texas 18, which is a predominantly Hispanic and Black population, has now had its previous two members die in office, could go as long as seven months without representation in this Congress, unless the governor calls an emergency election. Talk to us about what’s happening there in terms of those two seats and why you think there’s an effort to stall this to get passed this Congress.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you, Michael, for that question. The Honorable Sylvester Turner, who was a great public servant, former Mayor of Houston, sworn into Congress this year on January 3rd, unexpectedly and tragically passed on March 5th, exactly one month ago. He was funeralized during his homegoing service on March 15th. Yet weeks have passed, and the governor of Texas is conspiring with House Republicans to keep the seat vacant. Why? Because they are on the run legislatively, and they know their margins are tight, and they’re trying to do everything they can to rig the system in order to jam their GOP tax scam down the throats of the American people and in the process, take away health care from everyday Americans and do a bunch of damage. This is what this is all about. There’s no reason that the governor of Texas has not called a special election over the last few weeks. It’s a fraudulent scheme, and it’s connected to what we’re seeing taking place all over the country, including in North Carolina right now. By the way, North Carolina is a particularly bad actor because the three seats that Republicans took away from Democrats in North Carolina, they were extreme partisan gerrymandering in the middle of the decade, after redistricting had already taken place, and it was sanctioned by this right-wing Supreme Court. Those three seats actually make the difference between Democrats being in the majority right now and the House Republicans. And so that’s a bad lesson that they’ve learned and they’re not going to walk away from it which is why we have to continue to raise the alarm, mobilize the American people and then hold them responsible, accountable for their anti-democratic actions.

ALICIA MENENDEZ: Very quickly sir then, are you concerned that Republicans across the board in key districts across the country will attempt to deny Democrats and frankly, you the Speakership, if you are successful in November. If the numbers from Florida hold, I mean, dropping a +30 district and a Republican only winning it by 15, 14, 17 points. That to me feels dangerous. So are you concerned that they might try to steal the election? And are you all prepared?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Yes. We have to be incredibly vigilant across the board to call out their schemes well in advance, which will help stop them. From the standpoint of public sentiment, from engaging in it, this is one of the reasons why the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race was so critical, because that’s a battleground state for next November, let alone in 2028. At least two competitive congressional seats in Wisconsin. And we got to make sure that we are protecting the integrity of the courts all across the country and in many of the battleground states where this next election will be decided, you do have enlightened State Supreme Courts. So that’s the good news. We’re also suing Donald Trump, I’m suing him personally, along with Leader Schumer, House Democrats, Senate Democrats, the Democratic Governors Association and the Democratic National Committee, all of us together to make sure that we can get his executive order, which is all about voter suppression, declared unlawful and unconstitutional. And I believe we’ll be successful in doing just that.

MICHAEL STEELE: All right. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you, sir, for your time. Really appreciate it.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig reintroduced the Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination (HUMBLE) Act to clean up Washington and prevent Members of Congress from profiting off their service.

Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-4) also co-sponsored this bill.

The HUMBLE Act would ban Members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks, prohibit the use of taxpayer funds for first-class airline tickets, prevent Members from serving on corporate boards while they are in Congress and eliminate access to Members-only perks for former Members.

Rep. Craig’s legislation also includes a new provision to eliminate automatic pay raises for Members of Congress.

“Members of Congress are elected to serve their constituents, not profit off of their positions, and Minnesotans want their elected officials to work for them, not special interests,” said Rep. Craig. “That’s why I’m reintroducing my HUMBLE Act to clean up Washington and make sure our tax dollars are spent on lowering costs, improving critical infrastructure and maintaining the essential services we all rely on.”

Rep. Craig’s legislation, one of the most expansive government reform proposals on either side of the aisle, is endorsed by multiple good government groups.

“Washington isn’t responding to the needs of working families because too many members of Congress have forgotten that public office is a responsibility, not a pathway to personal enrichment,” said End Citizens United Action Fund President Tiffany Muller. “While families struggle to make ends meet, lawmakers are cashing in on their positions of power––trading stocks using insider information, lining up their next jobs, and pushing policies that benefit the wealthy donors who keep them in power. Congresswoman Craig’s HUMBLE Act is a long-overdue and necessary step to restore integrity and root out corruption in Congress. We’re grateful for her continued leadership in fighting for these commonsense reforms.”

“Members of Congress, as elected representatives to pursue the public interest, should live by the strictest ethics rules to prevent using public office for personal gain. Rep. Craig’s HUMBLE Act would impose many sorely-needed ethics rules on Congress, from slamming close revolving door abuses to cashing-in on the stock market using insider knowledge gleaned from their positions in Congress. The HUMBLE Act offers a great leap forward,” said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen.

“American government is mired in a crisis of public confidence that threatens to undermine democracy. Congress must take bold action to stop this erosion of institutional legitimacy,” said Noah Bookbinder, President of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “Rep. Craig’s HUMBLE Act, which would, among many things, prohibit members of Congress from owning or trading stocks, would help fight back against the forces arrayed against democracy. CREW encourages Congress to expeditiously debate, discuss, and pass the HUMBLE Act.”

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