Congresswoman Maxine Waters Statement on the Passing of Raúl Grijalva

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued the following statement upon the news of the death of Congressman Raúl Grijalva: 

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and colleague, Congressman Raúl Grijalva. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, his family, and his friends during this difficult time. 

“Congressman Grijalva dedicated over 50 years to public service and was one of the strongest advocates for environmental justice. As the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, he tirelessly fought to protect our natural resources and sacred lands.  

“Over the decades that we have served in Congress together, we’ve become close friends. From lifting the voices of progressives across the country with the Congressional Progressive Caucus to working on legislation together, I’ve enjoyed my time fighting for the American people with Congressman Grijalva. 

“Although we lost a progressive giant yesterday, his legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders and climate activists to fight for a better future for everyone. He was a wonderful and loving spirit that will be sorely missed in the halls of Congress.” 

Congresswoman Waters Denounces Trump’s Unconstitutional Executive Order Abolishing the Department of Education

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order abolishing the U.S. Department of Education. 

“Once again, Donald Trump has issued another reckless and appalling executive order. This time, it’s abolishing the U.S. Department of Education. As any high school student knows, Trump cannot singlehandedly abolish the Department of Education. This blatantly unconstitutional executive order is just another piece of evidence that Trump has absolutely no respect for the Constitution, which he took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend when he was sworn in as president. 

“We cannot allow Trump to ignore the Constitution, steal funds that belong to our schools, colleges, and universities, frighten students, confuse teachers and administrators, and threaten the very fabric of our nation’s educational system.

“It’s reckless and cruel for the president to even consider abolishing the Department of Education. Last year, the state of California received over $10 billion from the Department of Education. These funds were appropriated by Congress and allocated for key programs like Title I assistance for local schools, Pell Grants for low-income college students, special education, and grants for schools that need the most support. This funding helps ensure students across the state have access to vital resources and opportunities.

“California’s 43rd District alone serves nearly 180,000 students, and this federal support plays a critical role in funding programs that support basic education in reading, math and science, assist students with disabilities, provide financial aid for higher education, and help schools in underfunded areas improve educational outcomes. Trump will put all of this funding at risk.
 
“In my district, we are fortunate to be served by several dedicated school districts that are working tirelessly to provide quality education, including Torrance Unified School District, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Compton Unified, Inglewood Unified, Hawthorne School District, Lawndale Elementary School District, Wiseburn Unified School District, Centinela Valley Union High School District, and Lennox School District. These school districts, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, are committed to fostering an environment where all students, whether they are from South Los Angeles, Watts, Willowbrook, or the diverse cities and communities of the South Bay, can thrive.

“I will continue working tirelessly to strengthen the Department of Education and make sure that it continues to do its job for the American people.” 

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Congressman Jordan Announces 2023 Congressional Art Competition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

MANSFIELD, OH — Today, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) announced details for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. High school students who live in Ohio’s Fourth Congressional District are encouraged to submit a piece of art for this year’s competition.  The contest began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to support and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.  Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.
 
Students wishing to participate should submit their artwork to one of the Congressman’s district offices in Mansfield (28 Park Avenue West, Suite 100A, Mansfield, OH 44902) or Lima (3121 West Elm Plaza, Lima, Ohio, 45805) by Friday, April 28, 2023 by 5:00pm Judging will take place on Thursday, May 4, 2023. First, second, and third place winners will be chosen along with one honorable mention. The winning piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Each student is allowed one entry.  Eligible artwork includes the following:

  • Paintings; oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Drawings; pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers.
  • Collages; must be two-dimensional.
  • Prints; lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
  • Mixed media; use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, etc.
  • Computer-generated art
  • Photography

All entries must meet the following criteria:

  • If selected as the winning piece, it must arrive in Washington, D.C. framed. 
  • The submission must be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide and 4 inches deep, including the frame.
  • It must have a wire attached to the back suitable for hanging on a wall.
  • The submission must not weigh more than 15 pounds.
  • The submission must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws.

It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.  Work entered must be in the original medium; that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing.  Framing rules apply only to the winning artwork.

District staff also is available to pick up artwork from students’ high schools. Students may access the Student Information and Release Form and competition guidelines online here. For further information or to arrange a pick-up/drop-off arrangement, please contact the Mansfield office at 419-982-8045.

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Congressman Jordan Announces 2023 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

MANSFIELD, OH  Today, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) announced Mallory Huffman, a junior from Marysville High School, as the 2023 Congressional Art Competition winner for Ohio’s 4th District. Her oil painting titled, “To Be an Artist,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside artwork from every Congressional District across the country.

The annual competition is open to all high school students who live in the 4th District. The second place winner is Ava Hefner from Lima Central Catholic High School with a monochromatic painting of Harry Styles titled, “Painting in Style.” The third place winner is Xander Wells from Ada High School with a photo titled, “Victoria.” An Honorable Mention went to Charley Hardman from Benjamin Logan High School for her scratchboard work titled, “Temple on the Water

Mallory Huffman with her winning piece titled, “To Be an Artist.”

“Every year, the students of the Fourth District show off their artistic talents as part of the Congressional Art Competition, and this year was no exception. We had an outstanding group of students submit their artwork and we’re thrilled to announce that Mallory Huffman took home first place in this year’s competition. All the students that competed did great work and we look forward to their continued success.” – Rep. Jim Jordan

The winners were announced during a reception on May 4, 2023, at the Warren G. Harding Presidential Museum.

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Jordan Statement on Severe Storms in Ohio and Where to Find Help

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

“We are praying for all of the families impacted by the severe storms in Logan County and Western Ohio. Ohioans are the toughest people around and we will all get through this together.”

Some resources that may be helpful:

The American Red Cross of Central and Southern Ohio: 1-800-RedCross The Salvation Army: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/help-disaster-survivors/

Ohio Division of Emergency Management: 614-889-7150

Logan County Emergency Management: 937-593-5743

Follow the Ohio Emergency Management account for the latest updates: @Ohio_EMA

We’ll continue to update as meetings with emergency officials happen.

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Chairman Jordan Announces Run for House Speaker

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

“Dear Colleague:

The American people have entrusted us to lead in the House of Representatives. Our majority has had success in the first nine months of the 118th Congress. We should be proud of what we have achieved together in these divided times.

But our work is not done. Far-left progressive policies are destroying our communities, our security, and our future. We have soaring crime across the country. We have an administration with open-border policies that have caused chaos and left our country vulnerable. We’ve seen federal agencies turned on the American people silencing speech online, targeting parents at school board meetings, and flagging pro-life Catholics as potential threats and we’ve witnessed blatant double standards in federal law enforcement. We continue to spend too much money and Americans are suffering under President Biden’s economy.

The Republican majority must continue to address the issues that matter to the American people. We must address rising crime in major cities and reject soft-on-crime, pro-criminal policies. We must get our fiscal house in order and reduce spending so that we can leave more to the next generation than a crushing deficit. We must do our constitutional oversight of the federal bureaucracy to ensure they work for the American people-not the other way around. And we must continue working to secure the border and protect our national security.

We agreed at the beginning of the Congress that there are three fundamental things the House must do: pass the bills that need to be passed, do the oversight, and rein in the spending. Working with Chairman Green and our leadership, I helped to deliver the most significant legislative accomplishment this Congress: the strongest immigration and border enforcement bill ever. With other committee chairs and the members of the Judiciary Committee, I am doing the oversight and holding the Administration accountable. And I have been among the leaders in pushing for fiscal discipline my entire career.

We are at a critical crossroad in our nation’s history. Now is the time for our Republican conference to come together to keep our promises to Americans. The problems we face are challenging, but they are not insurmountable. We can focus on the changes that improve the country and unite us in offering real solutions. But no matter what we do, we must do it together as a conference. I respectfully ask for your support for Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

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60th Presidential Inauguration Ticket Requests

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

The 60th Presidential Inauguration will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. 

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is responsible for planning and carrying out the ceremony. 

For more general information about the day’s activities and inaugural history, please visit inaugural.senate.gov.

Please review the following information before submitting a request for tickets:

  • Each House office receives a limited number of tickets. Consequently, submitting a request does not guarantee a ticket to the event.
  • The vast majority of tickets will be for standing room only sections.
  • The deadline to submit requests for tickets from our office is Friday, December 13, 2024. 
  • To request a ticket to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, please email OH04IMA@mail.house.gov

If you are not a resident of Ohio’s 4th Congressional District you can find your U.S. Representative by visiting house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.

*Please note that tickets provided for the Inauguration will not include access to any of the inaugural balls or other related events. Tickets to the inaugural balls are provided through the Presidential Inaugural Committee in consultation with the President-Elect. 

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Statement of Chairman Michael Guest Regarding the Ethics Committee’s Release of the Report Regarding Former Representative Gaetz

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Statement of Chairman Michael Guest Regarding the Ethics Committee’s Release of the Report Regarding Former Representative Gaetz

Washington, D.C. – Chairman Michael Guest released the following statement:

“I believe, have publicly stated, and remain steadfast in the position that the House Committee on Ethics lost jurisdiction to release to the public any substantive work product regarding Mr. Gaetz after his resignation from the House on November 14, 2024.

While I do not challenge the Committee’s findings, I did not vote to support the release of the report and I take great exception that the majority deviated from the Committee’s well-established standards and voted to release a report on an individual no longer under the Committee’s jurisdiction, an action the Committee has not taken since 2006.

Representative Gaetz resigned from Congress, withdrew from consideration to serve in the next administration, and declared that he would not seek to be seated in the 119th Congress. The decision to publish a report after his resignation breaks from the Committee’s long-standing practice, opens the Committee to undue criticism, will be viewed by some as an attempt to weaponize the Committee’s process, and is a dangerous departure with potentially catastrophic consequences.”

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

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Congressman Guest Hosts Staff Retreat in Meridian for his Washington, D.C., and Mississippi Staff

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Meridian, MS – Congressman Michael Guest and his staff hosted a staff development retreat in Meridian on Wednesday, November 6th. Staff from his Mississippi and Washington, D.C., offices were in the Queen City to learn more about Meridian and Lauderdale County priorities. 

While in Meridian, the team met with the Riley Foundation, Mississippi State University administration, leadership of the 185th Aviation Brigade and 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Mississippi National Guard, leadership of Naval Air Station Meridian, Mayor Jimmie Smith, and other community leaders. Congressman Guest’s highest military priority is to bring the KC-46 aircraft to Meridian.

Earlier in the week, the staff was traveling across Mississippi’s Third Congressional District to Starkville, Brandon, Magee, Brookhaven, Tylertown, and Meridian. The goals of these sessions were to meet with community leaders and discuss local priorities and the federal appropriations process. 

“I am honored to have dedicated staff who love Mississippi and work hard every day to make Mississippi a great place to live, worship, and raise a family. I am honored to represent Meridian, Lauderdale County, and the entire Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Making my staff and myself available in our communities will continue to be a high priority,” said Congressman Guest. 

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.

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ICYMI: Key Field is Officially in the Running for KC-46 Selection

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The U.S Air Force notified Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation that Key Field in Meridian is officially in the running to be the future home of the new KC-46 aircraft. The nation-wide candidate field has been narrowed to seven, in what is called a “down-selection.”

Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation has worked for years to make sure Key Field, an Air National Guard Base, is seen as a strong candidate for the selection.

“The 186th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in Meridian is a leader in aerial refueling, and I am pleased that Key Field Air National Guard Base is one of seven sites that is advancing in the KC-46A basing decision process,” said Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03). “I am grateful for the unity of our entire Mississippi Congressional Delegation—Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and Representatives Bennie Thompson, Trent Kelly, and Mike Ezell—as well as the support of our State and local leadership for this effort. I appreciate the Air Force’s consideration of Key Field and look forward to the opportunity to showcase the 186th ARW’s capabilities as we move into the next phase of this decision.”

“Making it this far in the down-selection process is an accomplishment. If Key Field is ultimately chosen, it would cement and extend the base’s role in our country’s national security infrastructure for decades to come,” U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said. “For the Meridian community, this would be a significant investment. It would bring more service members and families, as well as direct and indirect jobs, to the area. This is one of my top priorities.”

“We welcome this positive development for the future of Key Field and Lauderdale County.  As the process moves forward, we will continue to forcefully make the case that Key Field will be the best place for this important mission,” Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., said.

Key factors that have made Key Field a potential home for the KC-46s, a military refueling and strategic transport plane:

  • Key Field is already home to KC-135 planes, which are air refueling tankers that provide rapid global mobility and combat support to the U.S. Department of Defense. The 186th Air Refueling Wing (ARW), which hosts over 1,200 officers and airmen, operates these planes out of Key Field. The KC-46s would replace the aging KC-135 tankers currently in service at Key Field.
  • The 186th ARW is one of the few military installations that can handle the new plane without needing to make major changes to a base.
  • The airfield is in a prime location in the vicinity of refueling tracks over the Southeastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico, enabling rapid servicing of Air Force and joint service aircraft fleets, including strategic communications aircraft.
  • The Meridian community already has infrastructure and support services in place that will benefit next generation air refueling capabilities.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.