MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Brooklyn, NY – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC’s This Week where he emphasized that while Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, he is instead crashing the economy and marching us toward a recession. 

JON KARL: I’m joined now by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Let’s start with the big news, Leader Jeffries, out of your home town. Mamdani won a big victory. Have you endorsed him yet?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I have not. We had a conversation on Wednesday morning where I congratulated him on the campaign that he ran, a campaign that clearly was relentlessly focused on the high cost of living in New York City and the economy. He outworked, he out-communicated and out-organized the opposition. And that’s clearly why he was successful.

JON KARL: So what’s holding you back from endorsing him right now?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we don’t really know each other well. Our districts don’t overlap. I have never had a substantive conversation with him. And so that’s the next step in terms of this process to be able to sit down, which we agreed to do in Central Brooklyn, discuss his vision for moving the city forward and addressing the issues that are important to the communities that I represent—a very diverse district that I represent in Brooklyn, including many African Americans, many Jewish Americans, many Caribbean Americans, who are dealing with a lot of challenges in the city and want to make sure that the next mayor of the City of New York, whoever that may be, is prepared to tackle them.

JON KARL: Mamdani calls himself a Democratic Socialist. He proposed obviously big tax increases, free mass transit, free bus fares, government-run grocery stores. Is this the kind of progressive socialism that is, we’re going to see as the future of the Democratic Party? Or is this unique to New York City?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I think that one of the things we’ve been clear about from the very beginning, as House Democrats, is that we need to relentlessly focus on addressing the high cost of living in the United States of America. This country is far too expensive for working-class Americans, for middle-class Americans, for all those who aspire to be part of the middle class. Imagine a country where every single hardworking American taxpayer can afford to live the good life, work hard, play by the rules, have a good-paying job, good healthcare, be able to afford a home, educate your children, go on vacation every now and then and one day retire with grace and dignity. The good life, the American Dream. That is not accessible to everyone. And so I think it will continue to be important for all of us on the Democratic side to address relentlessly the issue of the lack of affordability in this country. Donald Trump promised to lower cost on day one. Costs haven’t gone down, they’re going up. In fact, the guy is crashing the economy in real time, imposing these reckless Trump tariffs that are going to increase costs by thousands of dollars a year and he may even drive us toward a recession.

JON KARL: You mentioned the diversity of your district, including a lot of Jewish constituents. Mamdani has made comments that some have said gear towards antisemitism. His initial statement after October 7, he criticized the Israeli government but didn’t criticize Hamas. He defended the use of the word globalize—the phrase globalize the intifada and he even said that the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should be arrested, or he would if he were mayor, he would arrest Netanyahu if he visited New York City. Do these things concern you?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Globalizing the intifada, by way of example, is not an acceptable phrase, and he’s going to have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward. With respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the City of New York, which has been an unacceptable development. And any mayor, whether you’re a Democratic mayor, a Republican mayor, an independent mayor, has got to commit to the safety and well-being of all of the people of the City of New York. And when there are moments of crisis and a rise in anti-Jewish hate, that’s a threshold, of course, needs to be crossed. With respect to the African American and Caribbean American communities that I represent, it’s going to be important for our nominee to articulate the case for dramatically and decisively addressing the rise in gentrification and the housing displacement that threatens to continue to wipe out low and moderate income Black and Latino communities in New York City. It’s an unacceptable phenomenon, and the next mayor of the City of New York has to be able to articulate a clear plan and commitment to address these concerns, for the people that I represent and folks all across the great City of New York.

JON KARL: Alright, let’s turn to developments here in Washington. The Supreme Court’s big decision, empowering Donald Trump by limiting the power of judges to stop his executive orders or to freeze his executive orders. How big a deal is this? This was really the one way, the one restraint on his actions that’s been effective so far.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, it was an unfortunate decision from a procedural standpoint as it relates to what should have been a very clear case. If there is any instance where nationwide injunctions are appropriate, it would be in a manner like what we’ve just experienced in terms of birthright citizenship, which is clearly a part of the Constitution. If you are born as a child in the United States of America, you are a citizen. So it was a procedural setback that was quite unfortunate. And it was a reckless decision in my view. However, in terms of the fight judicially to protect birthright citizenship—that remains alive and well. And we’re just going to have to intensify our efforts now in district court after district court, or to get a class action certified on behalf of people who may be adversely impacted by this reckless Trump executive order.

JON KARL: And you were at the briefing, the classified briefing Friday on Iran and on the U.S. airstrikes. Did you get satisfactory answers? And do you have a sense now, was the program really—I mean, the President says “obliterated,” but what did you learn?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let’s be clear. Iran is a sworn enemy of the United States of America, as well as our allies in the Middle East, like Israel and Jordan. And we can never allow Iran to be a nuclear-capable power. That said, there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered, in my view, as it relates to the actions that the Trump administration took relative to Iran. Why did they not seek the congressional authorization required by the Constitution for this type of preemptive strike? I still haven’t seen facts presented to us as a Congress to justify that step, and I certainly haven’t seen facts to justify the statement that Donald Trump made that Iran’s nuclear program has been completely and totally obliterated. We also need the case to be made by the administration, to the American people, as to how to best accomplish the objective of preventing Iran from becoming nuclear capable. Why did they abandon the aggressive diplomacy that was successful under the Obama administration? And what is their plan to stop us from getting into another failed Middle Eastern war? A lot of questions that need to be answered, and those answers haven’t been compelling to date.

JON KARL: All right. A lot of questions for sure. Leader Jeffries, thank you for joining us.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Canoga Park, CA – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) hosted an in-person Town Hall at Canoga Park Senior High School, drawing hundreds of residents for a wide-ranging discussion on the national and local issues weighing on the country. From economic instability to radical immigration enforcement, constituents voiced concerns—and Sherman made clear his continued opposition to what he called “Donald Trump’s extreme and costly policy agenda.”

“Our communities deserve a representative who shows up, fights back, and keeps them informed,” said Congressman Sherman. “That’s why I continue to hold these town hall meetings regularly, to hear from my constituents directly, give them straight answers, and help keep them connected to what’s happening in Washington that affects their lives.”

During the event, many constituents shared personal stories and voiced their fears about Trump’s renewed and frenzied push for mass deportations and the recent I.C.E. crackdowns that have rattled families throughout Los Angeles. Sherman condemned the raids as “cruel, unnecessary, and undermine the values this country was built on,” and reassured the attendees of his firm support for immigrant rights, while also outlining the steps he and his Democratic colleagues are taking to combat such crackdowns.

Another focal point was Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” Act—a sweeping proposal that Sherman dubbed “One Big Ugly Bill” and criticized as a “reckless blueprint for corporate giveaways and political theater that will harm our economy.” He warned the bill would gut social safety nets while ballooning the national deficit. 

A Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Sherman also addressed the current global concerns facing the United States. Several attendees questioned U.S. involvement in the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East. Sherman called for a return to diplomatic leadership and cautioned against Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and erratic foreign policy. “We need a steady hand guiding our foreign policy—not one that tweets us closer to war,” he said. 

Throughout the Town Hall, residents raised a vast array of issues from protecting healthcare rights, achieving housing affordability, improving public education and more. Sherman answered each directly and laid out his legislative priorities moving forward. And despite some interruptions by a few anti-Israel agitators, Sherman was able to keep the focus on the concerns raised by the Town Hall attendees. 

The Canoga Park Town Hall is the latest in a long-running series of Town Hall meetings Sherman has consistently hosted throughout his tenure in Congress, reinforcing his belief that government should be accountable, transparent, and engaged with the people it serves. “Our democracy only works when we show up, listen, and speak the truth,” Sherman concluded. 

During the Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts and concerns.

The results of the survey questions are as follows:

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A) Do you support the passage of Congressional Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act that provides a tax cut of $82,000 to those who make over $1 million per year, takes away healthcare from 14 million Americans, and increases the U.S. debt by over $5 trillion?

– Yes: 1%

– No / Hell No: 96%

– Unsure: 3%

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B) Metro has recently released details for a mass transit line through the Sepulveda Pass and given the community until August 30th to identify its preferred option. Which of the following options do you like best?

-ALTERNATIVE 1: An entirely Ariel Monorail along the 405 freeway (with no direct connection to UCLA) that will take 28 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside. This option costs $15.4 billion and takes 12 years to build. (Metro estimates 65k daily boardings.): 13%

-ALTERNATIVE 3: A mostly Ariel Monorail along the 405 freeway -but includes an underground segment connecting directly to UCLA- that will take 32 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, costs $21 billion, and takes 14 years to build. (Metro estimates 86k daily boardings.): 7%

-ALTERNATIVE 4: Aboveground Heavy Rail in the Valley -running along Sepulveda Blvd.- which then dives underground at Ventura Blvd and continues underground through the Sepulveda Pass to UCLA. This option will take 20 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, cost $20 billion, and will take 14 years to build. (Metro estimates 120k daily boardings.): 18%

-ALTERNATIVE 5: Entirely underground Heavy Rail -below Sepulveda Blvd. in the Valley- and continuing underground through the Sepulveda Pass to UCLA. This option will take just 19 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, costs $24 billion, and will take 14 years to build. (Metro estimates 121k daily boardings.): 17%

-ALTERNATIVE 6: Entirely underground Heavy Rail -running below Van Nuys Blvd in the Valley- and continuing underground through the Sepulveda Pass to UCLA. This option will take 18 minutes to get from the Valley to the Westside, cost $24.4 billion, and take 15 years to build. (Metro estimates 107k daily boardings.): 26%

-Unsure: 14%

-Do Not Build: 6%

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C) Do you support Republican’s proposal in the “big, beautiful bill” to prohibit states from enacting any safety regulations against AI for 10 years?

–Yes, we should have a ban on states regulating AI for 10 years: 2%

-No, states should be able to enact safety regulations related to AI if their residents support it: 92%

-Unsure: 6%

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to name the post office located at 3401 12^th Street NE after musician and singer Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go,” who holds particular significance to D.C. residents for creating and popularizing go-go music and for his support of D.C. statehood.

“As the ‘Godfather of Go-Go,’ Chuck Brown gave D.C. a unique hometown sound that was distinctly our own and brought enjoyment to all who heard him here and throughout the nation,” Norton said. “Go-go is the beat of D.C., giving D.C. its own musical identity and reminding the nation that D.C. has always been the hometown of talented artists. We’ll never forget the free concert in 2010 Chuck Brown played in front of the Capitol for D.C. statehood and voting rights. He loved the District, and naming post office after him is a way D.C. can honor him in return.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

on the Introduction of a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3401 12th Street Northeast in Washington,

District of Columbia, as the ‘‘Chuck Brown Post Office’’

June 23, 2025

Today, I introduce a bill to name the post office at 3401 12^th Street NE in the District of Columbia for go-go legend Chuck Brown.

Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go,” is beloved by D.C. for his innovative and unique sound, which gave us go-go music. Go-go is the beat of D.C., giving D.C. its own musical identity and reminding the nation that D.C. has always been the hometown of talented artists.  Chuck Brown was a strong supporter of D.C. statehood, including playing a concert on a hot and humid day on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in 2010 in support of statehood.

Chuck Brown was born on August 22, 1936, and passed away on May 16, 2012.  He was a D.C. resident most of his life.  He taught himself to play guitar, becoming a virtuoso singer, songwriter, guitarist and band leader.  His musical catalogue spanned 22 studio albums over three decades.  He earned a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the song “Love” from his album “We Got This,” and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2005.

D.C. named a park located at 2901 20^th Street, NE, for Chuck Brown, and named a street near the historic Howard Theater for him.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As ranking member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that it conduct a comprehensive study on the causes and effects of railway noise pollution. Additionally, Norton asked GAO to propose ways that the federal government can reduce the negative effects of railway noise pollution. The request is similar to a bill Norton reintroduced in April to require the GAO to submit recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes.

“D.C. residents contact me regularly about the negative impacts train noise and vibrations have on their health, quality of life and even the structural integrity of their homes,” Norton said. “Although trains provide an essential mode of transportation, we can’t simply ignore the harms suffered by those who live near them, which can include structural damage, reduced property values and negative health effects. We must examine whether there are viable, cost-effective ways to mitigate the harms caused by long-term exposure to train noise and vibrations.”

Norton’s letter follows, with personal contact information redacted. 

June 23, 2025

The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro
Comptroller General
U.S. Government Accountability Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548

Dear Comptroller General Dodaro:

Passenger and freight railway traffic is a top contributor of unwanted and excessive sounds and vibrations (i.e., noise pollution). Noise pollution is emitted from train movements on tracks, horns and warnings, braking and engine idling and accelerating.  Noise pollution can reduce property values and labor productivity and have adverse health effects.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is responsible for regulating railway noise pollution.  For example, the Federal Railroad Administration enforces regulations that set maximum sound levels from railroad equipment and locomotive horns. The Federal Transit Administration develops guidance for assessing noise pollution from transit projects that receive federal funding, including conventional rail lines.

I am requesting that the U.S. Government Accountability Office conduct a comprehensive review of railway noise pollution.  The review should address the following questions: 

1. What factors contribute to railway noise pollution, and how much noise pollution can such factors emit?
2. What actions can railway manufacturers and operators take to reduce railway noise pollution, and what are the costs and benefits of such actions?
3. How can the federal government reduce negative effects associated with railway noise pollution? 

Thank you for considering this request. 

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

The bill would give D.C. the authority to appoint all members of its zoning commission, which currently has seats for two federal officials.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today, during Pride Month, reintroduced her District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act. The bill would clarify that D.C. residents may not be excluded or disqualified from jury service in D.C. Superior Court on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, the bill would clarify that “sex,” which is a protected class under the non-discrimination law that applies to jurors in D.C. Superior Court, includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

The District has one of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the country, including protecting individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, the District cannot make its anti-discrimination law applicable to jurors in D.C. Superior Court. Under the Home Rule Act, only Congress has the authority to regulate local jury service.

“During Pride month we are reminded of the many contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Nobody, including D.C. jurors, should be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and D.C. juries should not be deprived of the service of LGBTQ residents,” Norton said. “Until the District is given control over its local courts, it is up to Congress to pass this important bill.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton On the Introduction of the District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2025

June 20, 2025

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2025.  This bill would clarify that D.C. residents may not be excluded or disqualified from jury service in the local D.C. trial court, the D.C. Superior Court, based on sexual orientation or gender identity.  Specifically, this bill would clarify that the term “sex,” which is a protected class under the non-discrimination law that applies to jurors in the D.C. Superior Court, includes sexual orientation and gender identity.  The term “sex” would also include a sex stereotype; pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition; and sex characteristics, including intersex traits.  In the 117^th Congress, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed a version of this bill.

D.C. has one of the strongest non-discrimination laws in the country, including protecting individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  However, under the D.C. Home Rule Act, the D.C. Council does not have the authority to amend title 11 of the D.C. Code, which contains the non-discrimination provisions that apply to jurors in the D.C. Superior Court.  Therefore, until D.C. is given authority to amend title 11 of the D.C. Code, which one of my bills would do, an act of Congress is required to clarify that LGBTQ+ jurors in the D.C. Superior Court are protected from discrimination. 

As the Supreme Court said in Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Company, “discrimination within the courtroom raises serious questions as to the fairness of the proceedings conducted there…. [B]ias mars the integrity of the judicial system and prevents the idea of democratic government from becoming a reality.”  Similarly, the Court, in Batson v. Kentucky, which was a juror discrimination case based on race, said, “The harm from discriminatory jury selection extends beyond that inflicted on the defendant and the excluded juror to touch the entire community.  Selection procedures that purposefully exclude black persons from juries undermine public confidence in the fairness of our system of justice.”

            I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

SEATTLE, W.A. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.

“The Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti is out of touch with reality. 

“The Department of State currently has a ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory in place for Haiti due to rampant violence, kidnappings, and political instability. Yet, this administration wants to deport 

hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals—people who have lived here lawfully for years, raised families, contributed to our economy, and become deeply rooted in our communities — back to those same deadly conditions.

“Forcing people to return to dangerous, life-threatening conditions is inhumane and un-American. I stand with the Haitian community and TPS holders across this country. We have a moral obligation to pass permanent protections for TPS holders and to hold this administration accountable for its relentless attacks on immigrant communities.”

TPS is a designation that temporarily allows foreign nationals who are already in the United States to remain lawfully during periods that would prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely. TPS for Haiti will now end on September 2, 2025. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
June 28, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN OVER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO END PROTECTIONS FOR HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (VI-AL) today strongly condemned the Trump administration’s announcement that it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 300,000 Haitian immigrants currently living in the United States, calling the decision “morally unconscionable and recklessly shortsighted to our national interest.”

“The Trump administration’s decision to end TPS for Haitians is not just cruel—it is potentially deadly. Haiti remains in a state of complete collapse, overrun by gangs, wracked with violence, and under a state of emergency. The State Department itself warns Americans not to travel there due to widespread violent crime. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department has been in negotiations with multiple country partners to find ways to stem the continued collapse of the country. How can this administration claim it is safe to deport hundreds of thousands of people to a country they themselves have designated as too dangerous for American tourists and a threat to regional stability?

“The Department of Homeland Security’s announcement on Friday that the protections, which have shielded Haitians from deportation since 2010 following the devastating earthquake, will expire on September 2, 2025. The administration justified the decision by claiming that, ‘the environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home’—a statement that directly contradicts the State Department’s actions regarding Haiti. 

“This administration is playing politics with people’s lives. These are families who have built lives here, contribute to our communities, pay taxes from their wages and deserve our protection—not deportation to a nation in chaos. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have worked tirelessly to ensure that our immigration policies reflect our values of compassion and humanity. This includes my work as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus to push back against discriminatory policies, to recognize the national security threat to the United States from a de-stabled Haiti, and my efforts to secure humanitarian aid for the Caribbean region.

“This is part of a systematic campaign to dismantle protections for the world’s most vulnerable people. Congress must act swiftly to provide legislative protections for these families. We cannot stand by while this administration turns its back on our moral obligations and puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. Additionally, the financial support those in the United States provide to families back in Haiti through remittances have been key to staving off poverty and additional instability in the country. In 2023, U.S. remittances to Haiti were over $3.8 Billion dollars. 

Plaskett went on to discuss, “As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I have focused quite a bit on our third border—the Caribbean region—and threats to the United States. Instability in the Caribbean presents threats of increased human and drug trafficking into the mainland, democratic collapse with malign influence of China and Russia, and reduced economic trade.” 

“This action does not advance American interests.  The administration’s actions betray the best of American values, Western Hemisphere interests and Caribbean solidarity.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
June 28, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT APPLAUDS RUM COVER OVER PERMANENCY EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 2025 IN LATEST SENATE RECONCILIATION BILL

Washington, DC – Early this morning, the Senate released the latest version of the Senate companion to H.R. 1, the Reconciliation package known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which cuts Medicaid massively and provides massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. The bill now provides a provision which permanently provides the increased rum cover over rate of $13.25 for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

On May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and since that time, the Senate has drafted several versions of the reconciliation bill. The Senate is expected to begin voting as early as this afternoon, and if passed, it will return to the House of Representatives, where it will receive a vote on the House floor. If the bill is passed by the House of Representatives, it will be sent to the President’s desk for signature. Republicans’ reconciliation bill will make everyday life more expensive for Americans, and it also removes programs which gave opportunities and support for working Americans and those trying to get ahead. 

Congresswoman Plaskett shared, “While I cannot support the bill in its entirety, I applaud the Senate’s provision to permanently provide the increased rum cover over rate of $13.25, effective December 31, 2025. This provision is not retroactive to the last expiration of the increased rate on January 1, 2022, which means the increased rate of $13.25 will not be recovered for that period of January 2022 to December 2025.

“I am pleased that the Senate has recognized the importance of the rum cover over to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and that at this stage, the provision is included. However, this is a fluid situation that is constantly evolving. This is not the first version of this bill, and we cannot guarantee that this provision will be included in the final version. I am hopeful that the increased rum cover over rate remains in the bill.” 

Rum cover over is the rebate of federal excise taxes on distilled spirits produced in or imported into the rest of the United States from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Under current law, excise tax collections on imported rum are transferred to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the rate of $13.25 per proof gallon; $10.50 per proof gallon is in permanent law, and the remaining $2.75 per proof gallon requires periodic reauthorization by Congress. These funds, which represent nearly 25% of the Virgin Islands Government’s annual budget, are critical for stabilizing the government employees’ pension program, supporting infrastructure projects, and attracting investments to diversify the economy beyond tourism. 

In the 119th Congress, Congresswoman Plaskett and Congressman Ron Estes (KS-4) introduced rum cover legislation (H.R. 1378), which is supported by 24 of her colleagues – 16 Republicans and 8 Democrats. During the 18-hour markup in the Ways and Means Committee for the tax provisions of the House-version of the reconciliation bill, Congresswoman Plaskett offered an amendment to increase the rate of the rum cover offer, to publicly demonstrate the bipartisan support for this provision. Both Democrats and Republicans, including the Ways and Means Chairman, Jason Smith, acknowledged the importance of the increased rum cover over rate. The House version placed in provisions to fix tax issues in the Virgin Islands and also stop effective tariffs on rum coming into the United States 

Congresswoman Plaskett shared, “I would like to thank our partners for their collective advocacy for the increased rum cover over rate, including Congressman Ron Estes, Congressman Pablo Hernandez, Governor Albert Bryan, Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Senator Cassidy, and the rum industry.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– This week, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens has been speaking out about her ‘Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power’  legislation that would block the President from deploying active-duty military forces within U.S. states or territories without the consent of their governors or local leaders. 

Watch what Congresswoman Haley Stevens has to say about her proposed legislation.

SiriusXM: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) on Her Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act

• “I’m just very simply looking at legislation to make sure the President can’t override the wishes of local law enforcement or state officials in terms of deploying the American military on federal Americans.”
• “We are a nation of laws Steve and frankly the President has got to start following them.”
• As an elected representative of the great state of Michigan,  here in our nation’s capitol I am acting. I am putting forward a stop to this abuse of power and chaos that we are getting with Donald Trump and his administration.”

WZZM: Amid federal military mobilization in L.A., MI’s Rep. Stevens to unveil bill seeking limit presidential authority to deploy troops

• “We need to ensure that if the president is taking these actions, it is—particularly, deploying the military and the Marines into a situation—that it comes and meets the needs of local law enforcement and state officials.”
• “I certainly am known as a very bipartisan member of Congress,” she said, “and I plan to have practical and reasonable conversations with my colleagues across the aisle as well.”
• “This is just a step in that direction to curb and check and reestablish what we, you know, a long held tradition and rule of law in this country, which is that we have three branches of government.”

Michigan Public Radio  

• “The Oakland County Democrat says her bill is in response to the Trump administration sending marines to Los Angeles during anti-immigration raid protests. ‘I’m going to continue to stand up and I’m going to continue to force these conversations when this level of chaos and disruption is wreaking havoc.’”

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