MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

New York Times 

By Ken Bensinger and Reid J. Epstein

Last week, Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, invited Carlos Eduardo Espina, a left-wing influencer who delivers news updates in Spanish and has 12.3 million followers on TikTok, to be his guest for Mr. Trump’s speech to Congress and to post videos commenting on the event. The 11 videos Mr. Espina uploaded to the site about the event have racked up more than 17 million views.

But Mr. Khanna argues that until more members of his party begin to see social media influencers as an integral part of the movement, it will be impossible to catch up.

“I think the right has really created a space in the digital world where people feel they’re part of a community,” he said. “And the left has not done that.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Semafor 

By Max Tani

Other Democrats individually have taken engagement with left-leaning podcasters and posters a step further. Rep. Ro Khanna this week invited Carlos Eduardo Espina, a human rights advocate with over 13 million followers, to be his guest at Trump’s speech to Congress.

In an interview with Semafor on Tuesday, the California congressman said that Democrats need to view left-leaning creators like Espina as part of Democrats’ political movement, not simply as vehicles to get the party’s message out. He said that while he believed the recent initiatives are a step in the right direction, the relationship between the party and creators is still a one-way street. His decision to invite Espina to the speech on Tuesday was meant to signal to his followers that they are important parts of the political conversation.

“That’s what the right does better than us. We treat our podcasters, our influencers, as, ‘Oh, there’s an election coming up. We got to get to the young voters, let’s go schedule a bunch of interviews with them,’” he told Semafor, referring to content creators. “The right takes their podcasters, whether it’s Charlie Kirk or whether it’s Ben Shapiro or others, and says, ‘You’re part of our actual movement. You’re going to help determine who makes up our Cabinet, and take part in the governing of this country.’ And that’s what I think we need to do with our base of influencers.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC – Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) announced that he will introduce the Drain the Swamp Act, a new bill to ban White House officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists or becoming lobbyists during the Trump term. He also announced The Telehealth Coverage Act that he will soon introduce to make Medicare coverage for telehealth permanent. See Rep. Khanna’s remarks announcing the legislation below. 

The Telehealth Coverage Act

Mr. Speaker, the Trump administration is stripping millions of American seniors of their coverage of telehealth on March 31. That’s right, if you’re a senior on Medicare starting April 1, your doctor’s visits on video conference or zoom or phone will no longer be covered. This is going to impact over 12 million Americans, and the crazy thing is that the inspector generals have found that there’s only 0.2% of fraud in telehealth. So why are we taking telehealth away from millions of seniors who are homebound or who have difficulty leaving their homes. It is most devastating for rural Americans. That is why today I’m introducing the Telehealth Coverage Act. It will require Medicare to pay for telehealth services permanently. Let us pass this act in a bipartisan way so that millions of American seniors aren’t deprived of telehealth services because of the actions of the Trump administration. 

The Drain the Swamp Act

Mr. Speaker, President Trump campaigned around the country to drain the swamp, yet one of the first things he did was reverse President Biden’s executive order that banned White House officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists. So today I am introducing the Drain The Swamp Act. It’s pretty simple. It will ban any White House official from accepting gifts from lobbyists, and it will ban White House officials from becoming lobbyists during the Trump term. I believe that this bill will have support, not just from progressives, not just from independents, but from the MAGA movement. That is why I’m calling on my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, to pass the drain the swamp act and send it to President Trump’s desk so he can fulfill his promise.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Don Beyer (VA-08) reintroduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act to establish 18-year term limits on any Supreme Court Justices approved after the bill is signed into law. 

Current justices would be exempt from the term limits. Going forward, the bill would then create a regular appointment process to allow every president to nominate a new justice to the Supreme Court during each odd year, guaranteeing each president the opportunity to nominate two justices per four-year term.

An Annenberg Public Policy Center poll found that 68% of Americans support term limits for Supreme Court Justices. A Fox News poll found that 78% of Americans support an 18-year term limit for the justices. 

“The public’s trust in the Supreme Court has plummeted. Extreme conservatives on the Court have stripped away Americans’ fundamental rights,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “Term limits and a binding code of ethics will rebalance the Court and rebuild confidence in our institutions. I’m proud to have led this effort with Rep. Beyer and my colleagues.” 

“Rampant, blatant ethics violations and increasing politicization have made it clear that the U.S. Supreme Court is broken – and that reform is urgently needed to restore Americans’ faith in the integrity of the Court,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Our legislation would restore meaningful balance and public trust in our nation’s highest Court by establishing term limits and ending lifetime tenures.”

 “Rep. Khanna’s and Rep. Beyer’s legislation obligating senior status for future Supreme Court justices after 18 years on the high court is both constitutional and prudent,” said Gabe Roth, Executive Director, Fix the Court. “The Court itself has upheld the creation of senior status in the lower courts, and no one in a democracy should serve in such a powerful position as justice for 30-plus years as is now the norm. (It’s a fitting moment to introduce the bill since just last month, Justice Breyer followed in the footsteps of many retired justices before him and heard cases on a lower federal court.) At a time when poll after poll shows the American people are hungry for change at the Supreme Court, I applaud Reps. Khanna and Beyer for once again demonstrating that Congress can assert its Article I power to set reasonable constraints for what’s become a woefully antiquated and unaccountable institution.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, along with Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) led their California colleagues in demanding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reverse harmful federal program cancelations and freezes impacting state food banks and farmers.

Despite encompassing less than 4% of the country’s farmland, California generates over 11% of the U.S. agricultural value; over a third of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. The Trump Administration’s discontinuation of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreements for 2025, the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program, and the freeze of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funds threatens the livelihoods of more than 600 California farmers and jeopardizes food assistance for more than six million Californians. A network of 49 food banks, serving 58 counties in California, have already seen over 300 food loads paused or cancelled. 

“These programs provide critical support to farmers and food producers in California while ensuring access to nutritious, locally sourced food for families, students, and communities, which we feel are in line with this Administration’s stated goals to provide more opportunities for Americans to eat healthy, support farmers, and boost domestic demand for produce,” wrote the Members. “We remain committed to working with USDA to find solutions that sustain and expand market access for American farmers while ensuring that families and communities continue to benefit from fresh, locally produced food. We respectfully request that you revisit these decisions in light of the millions of our constituents who would be impacted.”

Additional signers of the letter include: Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Ami Bera (CA-06), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adam Gray (CA-13), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Scott Peters (CA-50), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and George Whitesides (CA-27).

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Madam Secretary, 

We write regarding recent decisions to discontinue the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreements for 2025, the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program, and the freeze of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funds. These programs benefit producers of all sizes, expand market opportunities, and increase resilience in our local food systems, particularly as farmers continue to navigate rising input costs and economic uncertainty. With these cancellations, more than 600 California farmers will lose a vital market, and families and children will lose an important lifeline and access to healthy, locally grown food. We request and encourage you to reverse this decision and continue to fully fund and support these important initiatives. 

As Members of the California Delegation, we proudly represent the farmers and producers that contribute to California’s agricultural abundance and the nation’s food supply. Despite encompassing less than 4% of the country’s farmland, California generates over 11% of the U.S. agricultural value; over a third of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. It is important that this Administration continues to support California producers and bolster their access to local markets. 

Given the significant role that USDA plays in bolstering local and regional agricultural supply chains in California and across the country, we urge your reconsideration of the discontinuation of the LFPA Cooperative Agreements for 2025 and LFS Cooperative Agreement Program. As you know, LFPA strengthens agricultural supply chains by facilitating the purchase of regionally grown food, while LFS helps schools and childcare facilities provide fresh, local options to students. These programs provide critical support to farmers and food producers in California while ensuring access to nutritious, locally sourced food for families, students, and communities, which we feel are in line with this Administration’s stated goals to provide more opportunities for Americans to eat healthy, support farmers, and boost domestic demand for produce. 

Additionally, both the freeze and cancellation of TEFAP funds will significantly impact our state’s food banks who partner with their network of churches, schools, and food pantries. As of the writing of this letter, we are aware that food banks across the state have had over 300 food loads paused or cancelled across the network of 49 food banks for distribution to eligible individuals and households within 58 counties. This means less food than expected for food banks who are serving more than 6 million Californians each month. 

We remain committed to working with USDA to find solutions that sustain and expand market access for American farmers while ensuring that families and communities continue to benefit from fresh, locally produced food. We respectfully request that you revisit these decisions in light of the millions of our constituents who would be impacted. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response. 

Sincerely,

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

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), a Member of the House Subcommittee on Trade, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement of expansive new tariffs on more than 100 trading partners, including key U.S. allies:

“President Trump’s tariffs will hurt hard-working Americans and abdicate the long-time role of America as the leader of the global trade system.  By imposing these broad tariffs, the highest rates since World War II, President Trump is ignoring the potential economic consequences of shrinking our international trade and slowing growth for domestic businesses, workers, and consumers.  Instead of creating jobs and strengthening our industries, President Trump’s tariffs will most likely raise prices, disrupt supply chains, and invite costly retaliation from our allies and trading partners. 

“The impact of President Trump’s tariffs will be felt locally as our agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and small businesses rely on stable trade relationships and foreign markets.  President Trump’s tariffs will not only shrink those markets but also will invite retaliation and reduce our competitiveness.  As America retreats from global trade relationships, other countries, including China, will happily step forward and fill the void with more bilateral trade deals and regional agreements to suit their own ends, potentially leading to an entirely new global trade structure without the United States. 

“Despite the economic harm caused domestically and the abrogation of the United States leadership on trade internationally, Congress must continue to reclaim our authority over trade as mandated under the U.S. Constitution.  Although it will be difficult with the Trump Administration and obsequiousness of Speaker Johnson’s majority, Congress must continue its fight for responsible trade policies that support working families, stimulate our economy, and bolster the credibility and leadership of our country.”

This week, Rep. Panetta introduced legislation that would modernize outdated trade authorities and ensure that Congress, not the Administration, has the final say when it comes to imposing broad tariffs. 

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

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced the Reclaim Trade Powers Act which would modernize outdated trade authorities and ensure that Congress, not the Administration, has the final say when it comes to imposing broad tariffs.  This legislation was introduced ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned widespread tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act would strike Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which currently allows the President to impose sweeping 15% tariffs on all imports in the event of a so-called balance of payments crisis.  This provision, originally intended to address a scenario in which a nation’s currency is backed by a commodity or foreign currency, is no longer applicable since the United States is no longer on the gold standard.

“The balance of payments authority has been mischaracterized and misused to justify broad, indiscriminate tariffs that bypass Congressional oversight,” said Rep. Panetta.  “The Reclaim Trade Powers Act would close that loophole and help establish a trade policy that reflects modern economic realities rather than outdated statutes.  This legislation would protect our economy from unnecessary and harmful tariffs, ensure major trade decisions are not made solely by executive branch, and restore Congressional authority over trade.”

In recent years, the Trump Administration misused the term “balance of payments issue” to justify imposing tariffs based on trade imbalances, rather than genuine economic crises.  This misuse underscores the need for Congress to reassert its Constitutional role in trade policy.

By repealing Section 122, the Reclaim Trade Powers Act would:

• Modernize U.S. tariff authorities to reflect current economic conditions;
• Reclaim Congressional authority over trade powers;
• Restrict the Administration from unilaterally imposing broad, across-the-board tariffs without Congressional approval.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act is co-sponsored by: Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Don Beyer (VA-08), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Terri Sewell (AL-07).

“Outdated laws are providing President Trump with the opening to argue that he can unilaterally impose huge tax increases on American consumers without congressional approval,” said Rep. DelBene.  “This legislation is one of several that would reaffirm Congress’ constitutional role in trade policy and ensure the president alone cannot impose broad-based tariffs, which are taxes, on our trading partners,” said DelBene.  

“No one should be under any illusion that the Trump administration would require an actual balance in payments crisis to levy these across the board tariffs,” said Rep. Beyer.  “Pretextual and dishonest justifications are this president’s stock-in-trade, which makes this executive authority simply too dangerous to leave on the books.”

“It’s long past time that Congress assert its constitutional responsibilities and put a check on President Trump’s reckless, arbitrary, and punitive approach to trade policy, which is only hurting our consumers, companies, and economy,” said Rep. Schneider.  “We must close outdated loopholes—like Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, among others—that Trump is using to impose sweeping tariffs while punishing our small businesses, retirement accounts, and economy.”

“In a few short months, President Trump has abused multiple trade authorities as he initiates trade wars with our allies,” said Rep. Sewell.  “Congress must act to draw back trade authorities from this administration in order to protect American consumers, farmers, and manufacturers from President Trump’s reckless trade agenda.  I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort to strengthen our checks against this administration.”

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

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) led the Democratic Members of the California Congressional Delegation in demanding the United States Department of Agriculture reverse harmful federal program cancelations and freezes impacting state food banks and farmers.  Co-leading this effort alongside Rep. Panetta are Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11).

Despite encompassing less than 4% of the country’s farmland, California generates over 11% of the U.S. agricultural value; over a third of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California.  The Trump Administration’s discontinuation of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreements for 2025, the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program, and the freeze of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funds threatens the livelihoods of more than 600 California farmers and jeopardizes food assistance for more than six million Californians.  A network of 49 food banks, serving 58 counties in California, have already seen over 300 food loads paused or cancelled. 

“These programs provide critical support to farmers and food producers in California while ensuring access to nutritious, locally sourced food for families, students, and communities, which we feel are in line with this Administration’s stated goals to provide more opportunities for Americans to eat healthy, support farmers, and boost domestic demand for produce,” wrote the Members.  “We remain committed to working with USDA to find solutions that sustain and expand market access for American farmers while ensuring that families and communities continue to benefit from fresh, locally produced food. We respectfully request that you revisit these decisions in light of the millions of our constituents who would be impacted.”

Additional signers of the letter include; Reps. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Ami Bera (CA-06), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adam Gray (CA-13), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Scott Peters (CA-50), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and George Whitesides (CA-27).

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Madam Secretary, 

We write regarding recent decisions to discontinue the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreements for 2025, the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program, and the freeze of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funds. These programs benefit producers of all sizes, expand market opportunities, and increase resilience in our local food systems, particularly as farmers continue to navigate rising input costs and economic uncertainty. With these cancellations, more than 600 California farmers will lose a vital market, and families and children will lose an important lifeline and access to healthy, locally grown food. We request and encourage you to reverse this decision and continue to fully fund and support these important initiatives. 

As Members of the California Delegation, we proudly represent the farmers and producers that contribute to California’s agricultural abundance and the nation’s food supply. Despite encompassing less than 4% of the country’s farmland, California generates over 11% of the U.S. agricultural value; over a third of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. It is important that this Administration continues to support California producers and bolster their access to local markets. 

Given the significant role that USDA plays in bolstering local and regional agricultural supply chains in California and across the country, we urge your reconsideration of the discontinuation of the LFPA Cooperative Agreements for 2025 and LFS Cooperative Agreement Program. As you know, LFPA strengthens agricultural supply chains by facilitating the purchase of regionally grown food, while LFS helps schools and childcare facilities provide fresh, local options to students. These programs provide critical support to farmers and food producers in California while ensuring access to nutritious, locally sourced food for families, students, and communities, which we feel are in line with this Administration’s stated goals to provide more opportunities for Americans to eat healthy, support farmers, and boost domestic demand for produce. 

Additionally, both the freeze and cancellation of TEFAP funds will significantly impact our state’s food banks who partner with their network of churches, schools, and food pantries. As of the writing of this letter, we are aware that food banks across the state have had over 300 food loads paused or cancelled across the network of 49 food banks for distribution to eligible individuals and households within 58 counties. This means less food than expected for food banks who are serving more than 6 million Californians each month. 

We remain committed to working with USDA to find solutions that sustain and expand market access for American farmers while ensuring that families and communities continue to benefit from fresh, locally produced food. We respectfully request that you revisit these decisions in light of the millions of our constituents who would be impacted. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response. 

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Reps. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Craig Goldman (TX-12) to introduce the Romance Scam Prevention Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill enhances user safety on online dating platforms by requiring service providers to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

“Online dating has become an increasingly common way for people to connect, but unfortunately, it’s also a tool for scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users,” said Congressman Valadao. “Romance scammers use fake identities to build trust and exploit their victims financially, which has cost Americans over a billion dollars per year. This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides transparency, empowers users to make informed decisions, and reinforces best practices to prevent online scams. I’m proud to help lead the effort to make online dating safer and protect Americans of all ages from financial fraud.

“Dating apps are still a new frontier for criminals and scammers looking to exploit vulnerable individuals online and regulations are lagging behind,” said Rep. Pettersen. “Notifying users if they have been in contact with a potential scammer is a basic security feature that every online dating service should provide. This bill is a great step towards reducing online crime and keeping Americans safe.”

“The exploitation of users on online dating apps is emblematic of the dark side of the digital age,” said Rep. Suozzi. “As Americans increasingly turn to online applications, lawmakers across chambers and across the aisle have a responsibility to crack down on scammers who use the internet for extortion, fraud, and other malign purposes.”

“As millions of Americans turn to online dating services for meaningful connections, a troubling report finds that fraudulent accounts have deceived and exploited innocent Americans out of more than a billion dollars,” said Rep. Goldman. “I’m proud to support Rep. David Valadao’s Romance Scam Prevention Act, which requires online dating services to implement stronger safeguards to prevent these devastating scams. It’s important to protect Americans from malicious online users who seek to defraud them.”

Background:

Over 60 million Americans reported using an online dating service in 2023. As Americans continue to go online to find meaningful relationships, scammers are following suit. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing over $1.1 billion in 2023 alone.

Criminals have become exceptionally sophisticated when it comes to finding and exploiting their victims online. They use false names and stories to lure individuals into conversation before manipulating them to give up sensitive information. When an online dating service provider becomes aware of a user committing fraudulent activity, like illegally obtaining money, the online dating service provider immediately deactivates the fraudulent user’s account. However, individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, an individual might not know they are still communicating with someone who has been banned from the dating platform.

This bill was written to ensure no part could interfere with an active law enforcement investigation. Fraud ban notifications are already active in Vermont, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New York.

Read the full bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

Congressman Valadao Reintroduces Legislation to Recognize the Armenian Genocide