MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

Letter Comes After Woefully Inadequate Briefing from SpaceXAI Staff Last Month & Includes Request to Schedule Visit to Colossus Data Center Sites

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

BURNSVILLE, MN – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Angie Craig hosted her inaugural Unsung Heroes Recognition Event in Burnsville to honor union workers in Minnesota’s Second District. Rep. Craig was joined by Minnesota labor leaders to highlight their collective support for working class wins.

“Labor is the backbone of Minnesota’s economy, but right now it’s under attack,” said Rep. Craig. “From terminating union contracts to blocking the right to organize, the Trump Administration has made union-busting a primary part of its agenda. That’s why I’m honored to host this event – to double down on my support for Minnesota labor and make sure their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Rep. Craig was joined by Bernie Burnham, President, Minnesota AFL-CIO; Kim Nelson, Political Director, Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters; Amanda Heiser, Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters; John Burcaw, Director, Finishing Trades Institute; Laura Asklein, Political Organizer, AFSCME; Max Hall, External Relations and Planning Director, AFSCME; Rick Bartz, Business Manager and Financial Secretary, IBEW Local 949 and Denise White, President, AFGE Local 1969. 

Together, they recognized local union members for the following: 

• Demonstrating a commitment to service and community engagement.
• Demonstrating tremendous leadership skills.
• Devoting 15+ years of service.
• Going above and beyond every day and showing tremendous pride in their work.
• Being assets to their unions, dedicating themselves to outstanding organizing and continuously going above and beyond in the recruiting process.

Rep. Craig has stood with Minnesota’s labor unions and been a champion of organized labor since day one. She helped introduce the PRO Act, which protects workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain for higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions.

And she has penned her own legislation, like the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act, which would help increase enrollment in registered apprenticeship programs.

Rep. Craig also helped introduce the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which requires employers to begin negotiations with a newly certified union within 10 days of receiving a request, and the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act, which blocks large corporations who union bust from collecting tax breaks. 

Finally, she is a cosponsor of the Tax Fairness for Workers Act, which would create an “above-the-line” tax deduction for union dues and expenses.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Rep. Tim Kennedy and local leaders for a press conference, where he emphasized that House Democrats remain united in the fight against Republican efforts to rip healthcare away from everyday Americans and will continue working to lower the high cost of living.

LEADER JEFFRIES: What an honor to be here in the great city of Buffalo with your Congressman Tim Kennedy, who represents this community in such a phenomenal way. I think he’s one of the hardest-working Congressmembers in the United States of America. I call him Timmy on the spot because he’s always present, always fighting for all of you, always lifting up your voices and fighting to make sure that the quality of life here in Western New York can be the best possible quality of life here in our great country.

It’s certainly good to be back here in the 716 area code. I’m from Brooklyn. That’s the 718 area code. And even though our area codes may be different, the issues that you confront here in Buffalo, that we confront in Brooklyn, that the American people are confronting all across this nation, remain the same. Life has become too expensive. Healthcare, of course, inaccessible in ways that should not be the case here in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And we’re in the midst of the largest assault on healthcare in modern American history. Thankful, of course, for the work that’s done here at this amazing clinic by Ray and this great team. Thankful for Pastor Blue and your leadership and all the advocates who are here today and the people who have come together on one accord to make it clear we’re going to cancel the cuts, we’re going to lower costs and we’re going to save healthcare in the United States of America.

In the midst of this great assault on healthcare, the One Big Ugly Bill included a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, the largest cut to Medicaid or healthcare in American history, putting hospitals and nursing homes and community health centers like this at great risk. And we know, in fact, many are beginning to close all across the country, including in rural America. Republicans refused to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, putting in jeopardy the healthcare of more than 20 million hardworking American taxpayers all across the country, including right here in Western New York and in some cases resulting in premium increases of as much as $1,000 a month on working-class New Yorkers, middle-class New Yorkers and everyday Americans.

The same group of extremists, led by the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—they have launched an assault on medical research, an assault on the Centers for Disease Control, an assault on the National Institutes of Health, an assault on the Food and Drug Administration, an assault on vaccine availability and an assault on public health here in the United States of America. But they thought the American people would step back. We’re not going to step back. We’re going to fight back. And make it clear: hands off Medicaid, hands off Medicare, hands off the Affordable Care Act and hands off the healthcare of the American people.

This is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And as House Democrats, we’re going to fight to bring a reality to life that in this country, access to high-quality, affordable healthcare cannot simply be a privilege available only to the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Access to high-quality, affordable healthcare must be a right available to every single American.And that’s what we’re going to fight to bring to life here in Western New York and all across the country.

98 days until we can change direction in the United States of America. 98 days for all of us to show up and stand up and speak up to make this country the best version of herself. And I’m confident that that’s exactly what’s going to happen. We’re going to fight for an affordable America. We are going to fight to lower the cost of groceries and gas and housing. We’re going to fight to make healthcare affordable for every single American. And at the same period of time, we’re going to combat the corruption, the folks who are stealing from you to enrich themselves. And we have a message for those folks who were doing that: on day one of a new Democratic majority, we’re going to hold the crooks accountable.

So it’s an honor to be back here in Western New York, this great all-American city of Buffalo. I’m a long-suffering Jets fan, y’all, so I wish you all well. Now, long-suffering means we regularly lose to the Buffalo Bills. But as New York’s only resident football team, I got nothing but love for the Buffalo Bills. And certainly, after the Knicks won the championship, we’re looking forward to what comes next in Western New York. And together, together, we’ll do all that’s necessary to cancel the cuts, lower the cost, save healthcare. Keep your hands off of our Medicaid. Thank you very much.

Full remarks can be watched here.

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

Pressley Was One of First Members of Congress to Call for Closure of Dilley and Honored Children Detained by ICE as Honorary State of the Union Guests

Pressley Has Stood in Vigorous Defense of Immigrant Communities, Fought to Bring Detained Neighbors Home, and Led Efforts Address Childhood Trauma

Press Conference (YouTube)

SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) toured the ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas and renewed her calls for its immediate closure and the release of children and families imprisoned there. Following a Congressional oversight inspection of the facility, the Congresswoman held a press conference alongside Congressman Joaquín Castro, Democratic Women’s Caucus Representatives Lizzie Fletcher, Luz Rivas, and Yassamin Ansari, as well as Todd Schulte of FWD.us, advocates from Families Together, and Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD.

Congresswoman Pressley was one of the first members of Congress to call for the closure of Dilley and remains strident in her advocacy. In February of 2026 she honored children impacted by the cruel actions of ICE as her honorary guests for a Joint Address to Congress, including children imprisoned at Dilley with their parents.

“The world is watching as the Trump administration separates immigrant families, destroys the lives of children and parents, and locks them away without due process or access to adequate water, food, education, and medical care,” said Congresswoman Pressley in a statement. “What we witnessed in this facility was harrowing and horrific. I leave today clear as ever that Congress must close Dilley, end the practice of family detention, and abolish ICE now. We must put an end to Trump and ICE’s campaign of terror, and keep fighting for dignity, humanity, and freedom for every single one of our neighbors.”

“Today, I met again with the children and families being detained in Dilley. For months I have been visiting Dilley, where there still remains no access to proper medical care, food, or education. Despite repeated and continued calls from myself, my colleagues, and our communities demanding, this cruel and inhumane treatment continues. The children and families being held at Dilley must be freed and the center closed immediately.” – said Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20)

“What we saw today at Dilley was nothing short of horrific. No child, woman, or family should be locked up like this. We must close Dilley now and release these families. Children are being jailed and traumatized while private contractors profit from it, all at the expense of American taxpayers.” – said Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03)

“Every American needs to know what we saw at the ICE Detention Center in Dilley today because it is the opposite of what we say we stand for as Americans. What we saw when we went to the facility to conduct oversight was desperation and indefinite detention for some—many women waiting for months and months with no information about their cases.  By definition, no one at Dilley has a criminal record, but there we spoke with women who had little contact with the world outside, little information, and little hope.  They are experiencing trauma while the rest of the country goes on without insight into their conditions or their cases because the U.S. government is not being honest with the American people about what, how, and why it is doing what it is doing.  It must stop.  This mass detention of women, children, and families does not serve the interests of the American people and does not represent who we are or aspire to be as a people.” – said Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)

“ICE is being increasingly secretive about their actions at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. We were only allowed to speak to one child out of 112 children – and even that interaction was cut short.ICE is traumatizing over 500 individuals – including pregnant women, children, and infants as young as 2 months old – and subjecting them to inhumane conditions for extended periods of time. These individuals should be living their lives, welcoming their newborn children, playing with their friends, and raising their families outside of ICE detention. The Trump Administration must be held accountable for the trauma it is inflicting on immigrant families. Children should not be detained, and I am continuing to call for the Dilley Detention Facility to be shut down, immediately.” – Rep. Luz Rivas

“The inhumane conditions at Dilley are well-documented and we must end family detention. This includes shutting down Dilley and releasing these children and families immediately. Dilley lacks basic necessities for anyone, especially children: no access to clean water, medical care, or proper education. Dilley reflects a broader pattern that should not be expanded with additional, unprecedented taxpayer funding. Yet, Congress has committed more than $260 billion to expand enforcement, on top of the regular appropriations to ICE and CBP of roughly $30 billion for FY25. This will only cause irreparable harm to children and communities. Thank you to the Members who continue to call for the release of families and we join them in their calls for Dilley’s closure.” – said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us, at the press conference.

Following reports of inhumane conditions and treatment at Dilley and other ICE facilities, Congresswoman Pressley checked on the welfare of families imprisoned at Dilley and conducting Congressional oversight. She and her colleagues shared firsthand observations from the facility, discussed the conditions detained families face, and called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately release families held at Dilley and close the facility.

In Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in pushing back against Trump, defending our immigrant neighbors, and calling for ICE to be abolished. Rep. Pressley leads legislation to bring accountability to families whose loved ones have been murdered and harmed by ICE agents, including the DHS Use of Force Transparency Act and the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act.

A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is available below, and video of the press conference is available here.

Transcript: Rep. Pressley’s Remarks Following Oversight Inspection of Dilley ICE Detention Center

San Antonio, TX

July 28, 2026

My name is Ayana Pressley. I’m a Congresswoman representing the Massachusetts Seventh congressional district, which includes the city of Boston, also home to the third largest Haitian diaspora in the country. And so I’ve been on the front lines of this, these grave injustices in many ways.

I do want to also just commend Congressman Castro and his entire team, and Fwd.us, for your vigilance.

It’s so important that we not normalize this. It’s so important that we not acquiesce to this.

This, this fascist administration, this dictator in the Oval Office—history has shown us time again appeasement does not work. The only way to beat a dictator is with defiance. The only way to beat fascism is to refuse to accept this segregated, divided, dark, dystopian view that they have for our country. To reject it as an inevitability.

So we have to resist, reject, condemn at every turn, and shine a light.

And so I’m so grateful for the leadership of Congressman Castro. This is his eighth oversight visit to the Dilley detention facility.

I want to do some quick level setting here. So, and please correct me if my notes were inaccurate. So there are currently 539 individuals, 84 families. 50 out of those 84 families are male, head of household. 16 are female, head of household, and then there are 18 that are dual. There are also four pregnant women.

And I want to correct the record because earlier I said when we first came out of Dilley after our, after our oversight visit that they characterized all the detainees as low-level non-violent criminals. That’s inaccurate. They characterize them as low-level non-criminals.

That’s how they were all—that’s, that’s how, when we were getting our orientation and asking our questions of the officers, that’s how they characterize the detainees: low-level non-criminals.

So it seems their only crime is that they exist?

These are law-abiding people that are our neighbors, people we love, we live next to, we work and worship with, who were just going about their lives and met with such an aggressive disruption that they will be recovering from for the rest of their lives.

And I also just want to say that this these are two sides of a very evil for-profit coin. I have worked my entire life to dismantle mass incarceration, and I need people to understand that if you are outraged by the number of Black and low-income people that are incarcerated, the same for-profit system is driving the unlawful detainment and deportation of our immigrant neighbors.

CoreCivic is worth over a billion dollars, so this for-profit infrastructure, this for-profit evil, is for child abuse. They are for child neglect. They are for childhood trauma. They are for family separation.

One of the young women that I met with—and I have to say, every time I leave a detention facility, I am conflicted. Because I want to uplift these stories, but I don’t want to further endanger anyone. And I know very often when we leave these facilities, they are met with great hostility, and I don’t want to put them in any more harm’s way.

But one young woman that I met with, 30 years old, she is the mother of two children, a five-year-old girl and a three-year-old girl.

She fell into my arms within a matter of seconds, sharing with me that she was unable to wish her five-year-old daughter a happy birthday.

She also talked to me about how she arrived, how she ended up there. She was delivering packages. She’s a delivery driver, and there was a problem with her hazards. So she pulled over her car and had the lights blinking while she went in to deliver the package.

When she came out, law enforcement was there. They asked for an ID. She said, you know, “Why?” But she provided it. It was a Mexico ID. So this young lady, this 30-year-old young woman, she was here on a tourist visa from Mexico. Her mother, who brought her here at the age of four years old, developed cancer and died. So she’s been living here since the age of four, working, law-abiding.

She fell into an abusive relationship, and there were many, many times that the police were called on her husband, who was a violent abuser, and she is so upset because that abuser currently has the custody of her children.

So here she is, someone who is a survivor of domestic violence, law-abiding, making positive contributions, an incredible mom, and she asked me, “My husband was released on a bond of $150 after he beat me for hours and even tried to run me over with his car, and I was told that if I wanted to bond out, I would need to pay $9,000, and I’ve committed no crime.”

I asked her if her faith is some of what keeps her strong in this moment, and she said, “My faith in God is being tested every day. My faith in this country.”

And then just as I close this, I want to say, so many of the detainees that I have met, whether I was in Louisiana or Texas or in Massachusetts, they are some of the greatest patriots you will ever meet.

They love this country, and they are making positive, they have been making positive contributions to it every day, and it is a great betrayal.

And you see that. You see that betrayal in their eyes. You see the vacancy in their eyes. You see the trauma in their eyes.

So Dilley must be shut down. We have to abolish ICE, and then I’m going to take it one step further and say, any of those agents that have contributed to and caused the injury, the harm, and even fatalities, they must also be held accountable. And we should abolish qualified immunity for these federal law enforcement officers. There must be some recourse and some restitution.

And with that, we’ll now turn it over to another incredible member and colleague in the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Again, this is a joint oversight visit with Congressman Castro and the women of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Rep Rivas.

—

As immigrant communities have been under siege by the Trump administration, Rep. Pressley has been a leading voice in pushing back and defending our immigrant neighbors.

In the Massachusetts 7^th, Rep. Pressley has supported the many families torn apart and children suffering from the detention of a loved one—including harrowing attacks on Massachusetts families in their daily lives, abductions of dedicated workers at the Allston car wash, visiting Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk during her unlawful detention and pushing to bring her home, and more.

Rep. Pressley has shone light on the inhumane attacks by ICE on immigrant communities and pushed back against the reckless agency. During Oversight Democrats’ bicameral shadow hearing on the use of violence by ICE, Rep. Pressley highlighted the urgency of the moment by uplifting stories of traumatized community members she met with during her trip to Minnesota with Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and invoking the horrifying detention case of five-year-old Liam Ramos.

Rep. Pressley has stridently condemned the trauma that Trump’s terror ICE campaign is forcing upon children. Rep. Pressley’s advocacy to protect children from abuse and trauma dates back to her days as a Boston City Councilor. In her first term in Congress, she partnered with the late Chairman Elijah Cummings to hold the first Congressional hearing on childhood trauma on the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Rep. Pressley leads the STRONG Support for Children Act, which would support communities in addressing childhood trauma through healing-centered, neighborhood-based, gender-responsive, culturally specific, and trauma-informed approaches that acknowledge the impact of systemic racism and inequities over generations.

During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading advocate for a just and humane criminal legal system, and has visited prisons in Louisiana, Texas, California, and Massachusetts to hear from detainees, advocate for them, and conduct oversight on the conditions in which they are being detained. Rep. Pressley’s visit to Louisiana is a continuation of her advocacy for a People’s Justice Guarantee, her comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system.

• In May 2026, Rep. Pressley pushed for the closure of the Dilley Detention Center and other detention facilities committing human rights abuses. In a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley emphasized the state-inflicted trauma imposed on children by detention centers.
• In April 2026, the House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Pressley’s bipartisan discharge petition by a vote of 220-207 to extend Haiti TPS for three years. Congresswoman Pressley won a key procedural vote on the discharge petition and managed debate on the House floor prior to the successful final passage vote. Last month, Rep. Pressley’s discharge petition successfully met the 218-signature threshold to move forward with bipartisan support—only the 15^th discharge petition to do so in the last 40 years.
• In March 2026, Rep. Pressley visited the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Boston Field Office in Burlington, to conduct oversight of the operations and conditions of the facility.  Rep. Pressley engaged with ICE staff and leadership in a closed-door tour and discussion in the facility.
• In March 2026, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) introduced the DHS Use of Force Transparency Act of 2026 to ​​increase transparency and government oversight regarding injuries and deaths caused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.
• In February 2026, during Oversight Democrats’ bicameral shadow hearing on the use of violence by ICE, Rep. Pressley demanded Congress end qualified immunity to ensure federal law enforcement officers are held accountable for breaking the law and murdering civilians. Rep. Pressley called on her colleagues not to settle for bare minimum reforms in funding negotiations for the Department of Homeland Security, instead urging them to fight to rebalance power and restore accountability.
• In February 2026, Rep. Pressley convened immigrant entrepreneurs and small business owners, community advocates, and municipal leaders to hear of the essential role that immigrant-owned small businesses play in Massachusetts’ economy and communities and how they are suffering under Trump’s attacks.

• In January 2026, Rep. Pressley and Senator Markey held a field hearing with members of the Haitian community on the importance of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Testimony was documented in the Congressional Record.
• In January 2026, at the invitation of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Congresswoman Pressley went to Minneapolis to meet with organizers and community members impacted by ICE’s violent operation in Minnesota, where they have murdered bystanders, terrorized schools and small businesses, and abducted children and parents.
• Following the ICE murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, which builds on the lawmakers’ prior work by granting victims the right to sue federal law enforcement officers—not just state and local—for civil rights violations and abolishing the defense of qualified immunity in these suits. The expanded legislation would help deliver accountability for families abused by law enforcement, including ICE agents.
• Congresswoman Pressley delivered a floor speech on the need to end qualified immunity for federal law enforcement, including immigration officers. Watch the floor speech here.
• In January 2026, Congresswoman Pressley condemned the ICE murder of Renee Good in Minnesota and motioned to subpoena all records and footage related to the shooting, but Republicans obstructed it. Footage of Congresswoman Pressley’s motion to subpoena is here.
• In December 2025, Rep. Pressley convened and welcomed home the workers and families impacted by the cruel and unlawful ICE raid at an Allston car wash in November. Rep. Pressley delivered a powerful speech on the House floor condemning the Allston ICE raid and defended the vibrant immigrant communities who are being maliciously stolen from their homes, ripped from their families, and unlawfully detained and deported by the Trump Administration and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• In June 2025, Congresswoman Pressley convened immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, and impacted families to tell Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Hands off our immigrant neighbors. 
• Rep. Pressley has also been an outspoken critic against the unlawful detention of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts PhD student, Somerville resident, and constituent of the Congresswoman’s who was unlawfully detained for weeks in retaliation for her protected speech. After weeks of advocacy and Congressional oversight, including a visit to detention centers in Louisiana, Rep. Pressley and Senator Ed Markey welcomed Ms. Öztürk to Massachusetts following her arrival from ICE detention in Louisiana.

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

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

July 28, 2026

Leads Congressional Oversight Visit with Democratic Women’s Caucus

Hollywood Stars Mark Ruffalo, Ms. Rachel, Ilana Glazer, Busy Philipps, Cynthia Nixon, Jessica Alba, Ximena Sariñana Join Push

DILLEY, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, including Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Luz Rivas (CA-29) conducted a congressional oversight visit to the Dilley Trailer Prison in South Texas. Actors Mark Ruffalo, Ilana Glazer, Busy Philipps, Cynthia Nixon, Jessica Alba, Ximena Sariñana and prominent educator Ms. Rachel joined the push to shut down Dilley. In addition, countless lawmakers joined the push on social media, highlighting a letter signed by 111 House Democrats from earlier this month calling for the closure of the facility.

Watch press conference here.

The group was joined by Dr. Anita K. Patel, MD, critical care specialist and associate professor of pediatrics in Washington, D.C., for a press conference in San Antonio, where Congressman Castro delivered the following remarks:

Thank you for your incredible work in bringing the nation’s attention to the horrors at the Dilley Detention Center, what I call the Dilley Trailer Prison. It’s an honor to be here today and to have inspected Dilley today with members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus who have joined us in San Antonio and in Dilley for this inspection, and also with Dr. Patel, a pediatrician who has been very outspoken about the lasting trauma, both physical and mental, to the children, especially who were imprisoned at Dilley.

Recently, as many of you know, there were 110 of us in Congress who came together to demand that the Dilley Detention Center be shut down. We know that it’s possible because it’s been done before, during the Biden Administration.

The trauma, physical and mental, on those children will be harsh and long-lasting. Every single day that a child spends in Dilley, they are traumatized. And over the past several months—this was the seventh time that I’ve been to Dilley—I’ve seen it in their faces, as some of them are stone-faced, others are sobbing and clinging to their parents or begging to get out. The parents themselves are often despondent. There are just very sad and horrible stories about medical care that’s either denied or delayed, legal processes that people are not only unfamiliar with but also, they’re in legal limbo.

Remember, this is a system where you have young kids who will sometimes have to represent themselves in front of judges in court. Something that in the United States even a convicted killer doesn’t have to do, because they get legal representation. And so today it was no different.

Unfortunately, the numbers at Dilley have gone up. There are now more than 500 people there. The last time we were there, the numbers were probably about 100 less. There are now more children there than there were before. They were 96 in May. They’re now at 112. I believe that is the result of the ICE surge that we’ve seen over the last month or so. We’ve seen these raids on the street, we’ve seen families that have been torn apart on the street and brutality on the street. The result of that is that more families and more children are now imprisoned at Dilley.

Remember, every time a child is put into the Dilley detention center, somebody in America makes more money. We have commodified child imprisonment in our nation. CoreCivic is a private prison company whose investors include some of the largest asset managers in this country. That includes asset managers that manage firefighter pension funds and public teacher pension funds and so forth. They are making money. The more kids that are put in Dilley.

And then finally, a few quick stories because I told you there was incredible human trauma. I talked to a woman who had recently had a heart procedure done. She had had heart trouble before she went to Dilley, and then when she was there, it worsened. She had a heart procedure done, a kind of operation, and she was not given the follow-up appointment that she was supposed to have—she was not given the proper medication that she was supposed to have because of that heart situation.

We talked to another young woman, who a 16-year-old girl actually who was there with her father. She spoke about spending two days at the San Antonio Processing Center, Crosspoint. She mentioned that in that room where people are detained, that there are cameras that can see the entire room, and not only is there a camera in the main room, there’s a camera that’s pointed at the place where people use the restroom. That’s how dehumanizing the situation is for folks.

There were folks that have lost custody of their kids because they’ve been detained at Dilley. They’ve lost their apartments. Some over the past have told me that they’ve lost their homes. There’s another story of a woman, actually that same girl who was on her way to church with a friend here in San Antonio, and they took her to Crosspoint, the processing center. They told her dad that they were going to send her out of state if he didn’t come pick her up. Then he could come pick her up and take her home. When he showed up to pick her up, they took him in as well, and now they’re both in that trailer prison. This has been a system that has been duplicitous, that has made it a routine to lie not only to the detainees but also to the public and even to members of Congress.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Maryland Congressional Delegation members –  Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD)< and U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) – are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take action to ensure Marylanders are not forced to bear skyrocketing electricity costs due to increasing energy demand from data centers located outside of the state. The lawmakers urged FERC to require PJM Interconnection (PJM) to implement strong protections that would ensure fair energy costs for Marylanders after PJM, the grid operator responsible for coordinating electricity transmission in the region, assigned roughly $2 billion in costs to Maryland ratepayers for infrastructure that is needed primarily to serve out-of-state data centers. The lawmakers’ letter supports a complaint at FERC filed by the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel challenging PJM’s existing transmission cost allocation rules.

“As members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write regarding a pressing matter that has the potential to significantly raise energy costs for our constituents. PJM Interconnection LLC’s (PJM) existing transmission cost allocation rules result in the unjust assignment of billions of dollars in costs to Marylanders, contributing to unaffordable electricity bills,” the lawmakers begin. 

On the rising costs of electricity due to data centers outside of Maryland, the lawmakers write, “Data centers being built outside of Maryland are driving one of the largest transmission expansions in PJM’s history. Across its three most recent regional transmission planning rounds, PJM has advanced $22 billion in projects needed principally to serve data centers. Under PJM’s current cost allocation rules, roughly $2 billion of those costs have been assigned to Maryland ratepayers rather than the data centers that are driving the demand.” 

“Marylanders are already shouldering the immense burden of skyrocketing electricity costs, and it is unjust and unreasonable to force our constituents to subsidize the energy infrastructure needs of the wealthiest companies in the world. Unless the Commission acts, our constituents will pay an estimated $1.6 billion on their electric bills over the next ten years for these projects alone, and $823 million of that total cost will fall on residential customers, which equates to roughly $345 for the average customer,” the lawmakers continue.  

On PJM’s current cost allocation rules, the Maryland lawmakers note, “PJM’s cost allocation rules have not kept pace with the build out of hyperscale data centers, just one of which can equal the electricity demand of a small city. PJM’s current rules spread costs broadly across the region regardless of where, and for whom, the underlying projects are actually needed. Maryland regulators have no ability to assign such costs to data centers located in other states, and with tens of thousands of megawatts of additional data center demand growth projected across PJM over the next two decades, our constituents face billions of dollars in further charges absent Commission action to address this unjust and unreasonable cost allocation. Furthermore, because much of the forecasted growth in data center energy demand is speculative, our constituents bear the unacceptable risk of paying for projects built to serve potential data centers that are never built due to any number of external reasons.”

“We urge the Commission to act expeditiously to provide relief from these costs for Maryland ratepayers, including as requested in OPC’s complaint. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue that is essential to ensuring just and reasonable energy costs for our constituents,” the lawmakers conclude.   
 
The full text of the letter is available here and below. 

Dear Chairman Swett,

As members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write regarding a pressing matter that has the potential to significantly raise energy costs for our constituents. PJM Interconnection LLC’s (PJM) existing transmission cost allocation rules result in the unjust assignment of billions of dollars in costs to Marylanders, contributing to unaffordable electricity bills. This matter has been brought before the Commission by the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) (Docket: EL26-63), and the basic principle underpinning this issue is simple: our constituents should not be forced to pay for transmission projects that they did not cause and from which they will not meaningfully benefit.

Data centers being built outside of Maryland are driving one of the largest transmission expansions in PJM’s history. Across its three most recent regional transmission planning rounds, PJM has advanced $22 billion in projects needed principally to serve data centers. Under PJM’s current cost allocation rules, roughly $2 billion of those costs have been assigned to Maryland ratepayers rather than the data centers that are driving the demand.

Marylanders are already shouldering the immense burden of skyrocketing electricity costs, and it is unjust and unreasonable to force our constituents to subsidize the energy infrastructure needs of the wealthiest companies in the world. Unless the Commission acts, our constituents will pay an estimated $1.6 billion on their electric bills over the next ten years for these projects alone, and $823 million of that total cost will fall on residential customers, which equates to roughly $345 for the average customer.

PJM’s cost allocation rules have not kept pace with the build out of hyperscale data centers, just one of which can equal the electricity demand of a small city. PJM’s current rules spread costs broadly across the region regardless of where, and for whom, the underlying projects are actually needed. Maryland regulators have no ability to assign such costs to data centers located in other states, and with tens of thousands of megawatts of additional data center demand growth projected across PJM over the next two decades, our constituents face billions of dollars in further charges absent Commission action to address this unjust and unreasonable cost allocation. Furthermore, because much of the forecasted growth in data center energy demand is speculative, our constituents bear the unacceptable risk of paying for projects built to serve potential data centers that are never built due to any number of external reasons.

We were encouraged by the Commission’s June 18, 2026 orders directing PJM and five other grid operators to justify or reform how they assign the costs of serving large loads, which advance the essential goal of protecting ordinary consumers. Those orders, however, are forward-looking. We also seek to obtain relief for our constituents from the billions in costs PJM has already assigned, and because most of those costs have not yet appeared on customer bills, timely Commission action can prevent much of this harm before it occurs.

We urge the Commission to act expeditiously to provide relief from these costs for Maryland ratepayers, including as requested in OPC’s complaint. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue that is essential to ensuring just and reasonable energy costs for our constituents.

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

Monterey, CA – Following disturbing reports that the Department of Defense removed the names of four American troops from the official Iran War death toll, United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and 13 other fellow Democratic veterans in urging the Administration to accurately and transparently account for U.S. servicemembers killed and wounded in the Iran War.

“As veterans of America’s wars, we have serious concerns about reports that the Department of War is delaying, removing or otherwise mischaracterizing the release of information about wounded and killed U.S. servicemembers,” wrote the lawmakers.

“The U.S. government owes U.S. servicemembers, their families, and every American the truth about all U.S. casualties in the War with Iran,” continued the lawmakers. “It is imperative that these reports are timely, accurate and adequately explain the reason for amended or delayed reports. Inaccurate and delayed reports from the Department of War about U.S. casualties is bad for morale and undermines our U.S. servicemembers.”

Following public outcry, the Department of Defense quietly restored the names of the four U.S. servicemembers removed from the Iran War death toll over the weekend. The Administration has not provided an adequate explanation as to why the servicemembers were removed in the first place.

In addition to Panetta and Thompson, Reps. Pat Ryan (NY-18), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Derek Tran (CA-45), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jason Crow (CO-06), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), and Jared Golden (ME-02) signed the letter.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear President Trump,

As veterans of America’s wars, we have serious concerns about reports that the Department of War is delaying, removing or otherwise mischaracterizing the release of information about wounded and killed U.S. servicemembers.

The U.S. government owes U.S. servicemembers, their families, and every American the truth about all U.S. casualties in the War with Iran. It is imperative that these reports are timely, accurate and adequately explain the reason for amended or delayed reports. Inaccurate and delayed reports from the Department of War about U.S. casualties is bad for morale and undermines our U.S. servicemembers.

We urge you to commit to releasing timely and accurate information on all injuries and deaths of U.S. servicemembers.

Sincerely,

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

Lafayette, CO — Yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper penned a letter opposing the proposed lease of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands in Routt and Moffat Counties to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In doing so they joined a number of local leaders who have similarly raised concerns about the Forest Service’s plans to lease nearly 14,000 acres of USFS lands to the BLM, a decision that would open the door to future oil and gas development in the area and could jeopardize critical wildlife habitats, sensitive watersheds, and outdoor recreational opportunities. 

The Colorado lawmakers have been steadfast in their efforts to protect Colorado’s public lands, teaming up to stop President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ plan to mandate the sale of millions of acres of public land across the American West through the budget reconciliation process, while also introducing landmark legislation like the CORE Act to establish new wilderness areas and safeguard outdoor recreation in these treasured landscapes.

Neguse, who has represented Routt County since 2023 and currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, also recently introduced a bill to protect the right of local communities to provide input into proposed oil and gas lease sales on national public lands. The Local Input Act restores the Department of the Interior’s discretion to incorporate public comments and defer nominated parcels that conflict with the public interest. 

Changes enacted under the Trump administration last year effectively stripped local communities, landowners, and state and local officials of a meaningful voice in leasing decisions on public lands by eliminating BLM’s authority to defer lease parcels even if legitimate conflicts are identified. 

The proposed federal oil and gas lease sale underwent a 30-day public comment period that began June 18 and ran through July 17. As the Colorado lawmakers have made clear, it’s imperative the administration considers local feedback.

Read their full letter HERE and below: 

July 27, 2026

Forest Supervisor Dawn Laybolt

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and

Thunder Basin National Grassland

3838 Cherrywood East Loop

Laramie, WY 82070

Dear Forest Supervisor Laybolt, 

We write to express our concern with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)’s Routt National Forest Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), proposing to lease 10 parcels in northwest Routt and Moffat Counties in Colorado, to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The USFS has received Expressions of Interest to lease these 13,850 acres to the BLM for potential future oil and gas lease, exploration, and development, and initiated a public comment period last month.

Local leaders, including Routt County, members of the Steamboat Springs City Council, and the Western Resilience Center, have expressed concerns with this proposed lease. Six of the 10 parcels currently under consideration within the EA contain sensitive watersheds, and two contain cutthroat trout habitat. These proposed parcels also overlap significantly with habitat and migration corridors for elk, mule deer, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, golden eagles, and more.

The proposed lease of these areas for future oil and gas development threatens to disrupt critical wildlife habitats and wildlife migrating and living throughout the region, in addition to degrading important watersheds. These parcels overlap with the California Park Special Interest Area, an area of critical ecological significance for Northwest Colorado and where there is active watershed restoration work underway in collaboration with the USFS.

These areas are also important for recreation, and the outdoor recreation economy is a significant economic driver for Routt County and the surrounding communities. Several existing multi-use trails overlap with the proposed parcels, in addition to areas that are valuable for hunting and fishing. Prior oil and gas development efforts within Routt County have historically not been economically viable or demonstrated commercial viability in the areas proposed for lease. We are concerned that this proposed action would significantly jeopardize the existing economic drivers for the region, including outdoor recreation.

We are also concerned that Routt County was not notified of this proposed action prior to the agency’s announcement. Any proposed leasing actions should be accompanied by significant and meaningful public and community engagement, including with the local jurisdictions that would be impacted.

As you consider the proposed lease of these lands to the BLM, we request you take full and fair consideration of the concerns raised by the impacted community and the highest and best use of these public lands.

Sincerely,
 

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