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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), alongside all U.S. House Democrats in Michigan’s congressional delegation, raised alarms over reports of an alleged ongoing hunger strike at the North Lake Processing Center (NLPC) in Baldwin, Michigan. The center is the largest ICE facility in the Midwest; nearly 1,400 people are currently being held here. In a letter to the Trump Administration, the Michigan Democrats uplifted the concerns over facility conditions following a plethora of reports of dangerous conditions, poor medical care, and limited opportunities for legal recourse for detainees.

“The claims by detainees about the conditions at the facility are troubling and follow reporting in March 2026 that called medical care at the facility into question, given the NLPC placed 87 emergency calls between June 2025 and January 2026, many of which were for “sick unknown” cases and unconscious or unresponsive detainees,” the lawmakers said. “On April 23, 2026, ICE told reporters that “there is no hunger strike at the ICE North Lake Processing Facility” and “any claim that there are subprime conditions at the North Lake Facility… is false.”  We are troubled that the repeated reports from detainees and their advocates stand in such stark contrast to the statements from ICE.”

The lawmakers are pressing for answers to a series of questions from the Trump Administration, including information on the alleged hunger strike currently occurring at the facility.

In addition to Congresswoman Dingell, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), and Haley Stevens (D-MI-11).

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Lyons:

This letter is seeking answers about the alleged conditions faced by detainees at the North Lake Processing Center (NLPC) in Baldwin, Michigan, as well as the alleged hunger strike currently occurring at the facility. We are deeply concerned that reports of a possible hunger strike are not aligned with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) statements. We urge ICE to provide greater oversight of this privately-operated facility to ensure the health and wellbeing of the people being held there. 

The North Lake Processing Center is the largest detention center in the Midwest. It is a privately-owned GEO Group facility that previously operated as a prison under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. During this time, numerous alleged hunger strikes took place at the facility over demands for adequate food and medical care for detainees. Nearly 1,400 people are currently being held at the NLPC. 

It has been reported that detainees began a hunger strike at the North Lake Processing Center on April 19, 2026, over “dangerous” detention conditions, poor medical care, and limited opportunities for legal recourse. The claims by detainees about the conditions at the facility are troubling and follow reporting in March 2026 that called medical care at the facility into question, given the NLPC placed 87 emergency calls between June 2025 and January 2026, many of which were for “sick unknown” cases and unconscious or unresponsive detainees. On April 23, 2026, ICE told reporters that “there is no hunger strike at the ICE North Lake Processing Facility” and “any claim that there are subprime conditions at the North Lake Facility… is false.”  We are troubled that the repeated reports from detainees and their advocates stand in such stark contrast to the statements from ICE. ICE has a responsibility to be transparent in its operations and to clearly communicate with local communities about their policies and activities.

This disconnect between media reports and official statements comes at a time when the Trump Administration has gutted the offices that were in place to safeguard against violations to detainee’s rights, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the Office of the Immigration Detention ombudsman (OIDO). Since January 2025, staffing for the CRCL has dropped by 80% and staffing for OID has dropped by 96%.

Given these concerns, we would like to request your responses to the following questions no later than May 1, 2026:

• Is there a hunger strike occurring at the North Lake Processing Center?
  • If so, how many detainees are participating in the strike or refusing food?
     
• If there was a hunger strike occurring at the North Lake Processing Center, how would ICE handle the situation?
   
• What policies are in place by ICE and the North Lake Processing Center regarding detainee protests?
   
• How does ICE define adequate food? How does ICE define a meal?
  • Are privately run facilities contracted by ICE required to use these same definitions?
  • How do ICE and the NLPC manage dietary restrictions, including those for religious practices, for detainees?
  • How many meals are offered every day?
     
• How does ICE define adequate drinking water?
  • Are privately run facilities contracted by ICE required to use this same definition?
     
• How does ICE define adequate medical care?
  • Are privately run facilities contracted by ICE required to use this same definition?
  • How many medical personnel are on site at the NLPC to handle the needs of detainees?
     
• Are detainees at the North Lake Processing Center receiving adequate food and medical care, in line with ICE requirements?
   
• How many detainees have had to be taken to medical facilities outside NLPC for care since the NLPC opened? And for what reasons?
  • How many detainees have been denied medical care at NLPC?
  • What are the current wait times for non-emergency medical care for detainees at NLPC?
     
• Has anyone died at the North Lake Processing Center?
  • If so, how many and why?
     
• How many translators are employed at the North Lake Processing Center?
  • When do detainees at NLPC have access to a translator?

Thank you for your attention to this issue. We look forward to your response.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) and Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the Providing Resources and Oversight to Ensure Confidentiality of Those who serve (PROTECT) Act to strengthen data security and to prevent targeted threats against public officials. The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and disseminate best practices for protecting the personally identifiable information (PII) of public servants across all levels of government.

Congressman French Hill said, “Public servants sign up to better their country and communities. Unfortunately, more and more are becoming the targets of threats and harassment, and some have already been hurt, like my friend Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Others have been killed, as we saw in Minnesota with the horrific assassination of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.

“This past weekend, a would-be assassin targeted the president and administration officials. Yet while violence targeting politicians gets the most attention, this threat impacts public servants at every level, from local police officers and Border Patrol agents to county judges and game wardens. The PROTECT Act will give agencies at the state, local, and federal level the guidance they need to better protect the people who serve our communities.”

Congressman Dan Goldman said, “In a time of rising political violence, bad actors are taking advantage of the wealth of online information to attack public figures. The bipartisan PROTECT Act will direct the DHS to provide guidance to public servants across government agencies with the best practices to protect themselves. Public servants should be able to serve those whom they represent while feeling safe and secure.”

Background:

Over the last ten years, public servants at every level of government have been increasingly targeted with violence, doxxing, and harassment enabled by the exposure of personal data, often in their own homes and communities. In 2017, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several colleagues were shot during a targeted attack at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2020, a gunman went to the home of federal Judge Esther Salas and killed her son, Daniel Anderl, who answered the door.

In 2022, an armed man traveled to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home intending to kill him after locating his address through public records. That same year, an intruder broke into the home of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and violently assaulted her husband. In 2025, an arsonist firebombed the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro while he and his family slept inside. And in 2025, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot by the same assailant the same night. In each case, the attacker knew where to find them.

No public servant should have to wonder if their home address is the reason their family is in danger.

However, there is currently no standardized, government-wide approach to protecting this information. By leveraging DHS expertise, this bill ensures that federal agencies and state and local governments across the country have access to clear, actionable guidance to better safeguard sensitive data and protect the individuals who serve their communities.

What the PROTECT Act Does:

• Establishes DHS Guidance: Requires DHS to develop and share guidance on best practices for handling personally identifiable information of government personnel.
• Focuses on Public Servant Safety: Includes recommended actions that officers, officials, employees, and contractors can take to protect themselves and their personal information.
• Applies Across All Levels of Government: Disseminates guidance to federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.

The Gap This Bill Fills

There is currently no standardized, government-wide approach to protecting public servants’ personal data. Agencies often rely on inconsistent or outdated practices, leaving vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

This bill equips agencies with actionable guidance so they can make informed, proactive decisions to reduce risk and prevent targeted violence.

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding an Environment Subcommittee hearing titled, A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Thank you, Chairman Franklin and Ranking Member Amo for holding this important hearing on NOAA’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request. And thank you Dr. Jacobs for appearing before us today. 

As Members of this Committee, we understand the importance and significance of NOAA. The agency is tasked with providing critical information for our communities to prepare, respond, and adapt to severe weather events and the changing environment while managing and protecting our nation’s coastal and ocean resources. 

However, it’s not clear that this Administration recognizes or values the importance of NOAA. The President’s Fiscal year 2027 Budget Request cuts NOAA’s budget by more than 26%. Like FY 2026, the request attempts to get rid of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, terminate critical research programs, and closes cooperative institutes and research labs that support NOAA’s mission.  

Just last month, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere developed a cutting-edge forecast system that will improve precipitation forecasts of atmospheric rivers in the San Francisco Bay area. Experts at the University of California San Diego and Colorado State University worked with NOAA to develop an advanced rainfall forecast system that gives emergency managers and water agencies in the Bay Area more accurate and timely warnings about potential flooding and runoff from heavy rainfall events. It has already been incorporated into the National Weather Service’s toolbox. This is particularly timely given that NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which is also slated to be cut, indicated that a super El Nino is likely to emerge this summer in the Pacific. 

To further exemplify what the FY 2027 budget request is attempting to eliminate, this Administration wants to close the Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory, or AOML, and the National Severe Storms Laboratory. AOML is home to the Hurricane Research Division which aids NOAA in improving the understanding and prediction of a hurricane’s track, intensity, and structure. The National Severe Storms Laboratory improves the understanding and prediction of severe weather, most notably tornadoes. This lab developed the radar the National Weather Service uses today to detect hail and tornado circulation.  

These labs are among the few dozen research facilities that make up the backbone of NOAA’s operations, yet this Administration wants to terminate them in the name of “eliminating funding for the globalist climate agenda.” By its own admission, NOAA states these labs and cooperative institutes advance the National Weather Service’s prediction capabilities and improve its ability to provide more accurate and timely warnings and forecasts for life-threatening weather events. 

Cutting programs that improve hurricane and tornado forecasting is the very definition of pennywise and pound foolish.  

While NOAA’s labs and cooperative institutes provide the research and development of new and improved forecasting tools, it is NOAA’s operational environmental satellite systems that provide the foundational data in weather and climate models. Decisions made now will affect forecasting capabilities for decades. Nevertheless, this Administration abruptly undermined a well-vetted and scientifically backed plan by cancelling contracts and changing the system infrastructure without any real analysis or assessment. Moreover, NOAA failed to inform Congress of these changes. While these decisions were made prior to your confirmation, Dr. Jacobs, I look forward to working with you to ensure there will be no further lapse in communication and better partnership moving forward.  

We can see the improvements and successes of our nation’s forecasting capabilities due to investments in research and technology. Dr. Jacobs, I believe you can agree that there is still more work that needs to be done. This year, we have already seen several weather disasters that have unfortunately caused the loss of life. This proposed budget will not help. We can and must do better. 

With that, I yield back. 

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

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) introduced an amendment to The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 that would add the text of her bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This legislation, re-introduced by Lofgren and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) in May 2025, would create a workforce solution for America’s agriculture industry by reforming the H-2A guestworker program to provide more flexibility for employers while ensuring protections for workers and providing legal status to the existing workforce. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act was negotiated over nine months with input from employers and the United Farm Workers union, and it passed the House with strong bipartisan support in 2019 and 2021.

“Farmers across the country are being adversely impacted by the agricultural workforce shortage. That’s leading to unpicked crops and increased food prices,” said Rep. Lofgren. “I’ve worked across the aisle for years to pass this labor solution, including with my late colleague Doug LaMalfa. It’s critical that this Farm Bill includes the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and I’m hopeful that Congress can finally bring some stability to our agricultural sector.”

Rep. Lofgren’s district includes San Benito County, the Pajaro Valley, and the Salinas Valley, an agricultural region commonly referred to as “America’s Salad Bowl”. The area produces over 70% of the nation’s lettuce and almost 30% of the strawberries.

Lofgren’s amendment is being co-sponsored by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Angie Craig (MN-02), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24). The text of the amendment can be read here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, the House Appropriations Committee Chairman, Tom Cole, and Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP), will lead the full committee markup at 10:00 AM ET.

Items to be considered:

Click here to watch live.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced H.R. 8462, National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act (NQIA), legislation to strengthen America’s leadership in quantum science and technology, bolster national security, expand workforce development, and counter growing competition from the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries.

The legislation reauthorizes and modernizes the landmark National Quantum Initiative, first signed into law in 2018, to advance a coordinated federal strategy to move quantum research beyond basic science and into applied research, commercialization, and deployment. The bill expands programs across the federal government, supports domestic quantum supply chains, strengthens partnerships with U.S. allies, and formally incorporates NASA into the initiative.

The legislation is scheduled for markup before the full House Science, Space, and Technology Committee on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

“Quantum technology will help define the future of economic strength, scientific discovery, and national security,” said Rep. Weber. “The United States must lead in this mission-critical field and not cede ground to the Chinese Communist Party. This legislation builds on the success of the original National Quantum Initiative by strengthening research, growing the workforce of tomorrow, and helping move breakthrough technologies from the lab into the real world.”

“I want to thank Congressman Randy Weber for his leadership in advancing the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act,” said Chairman Brian Babin, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. “As we consider this legislation at Wednesday’s full committee markup, it’s clear this bill strengthens America’s position in a rapidly evolving global race by modernizing our quantum research enterprise, supporting a skilled workforce, and deepening partnerships with our allies. Ensuring U.S. leadership in quantum technology is critical to our economic competitiveness and national security, and this legislation takes an important step forward.”

The bill also includes provisions to:

• Require a strategy to expand cooperative quantum research efforts with U.S. allies;
• Authorize up to three National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) centers focused on quantum sensing, measurement, and engineering;
• Strengthen National Science Foundation (NSF) traineeships, fellowships, and workforce development programs;
• Authorize new quantum testbeds and a multidisciplinary coordination hub through NSF;
• Support the development of quantum foundries and domestic supply chains; and
• Formally authorize quantum research and development activities at NASA.

Quantum technologies have the potential to transform computing, secure communications, sensing, and defense capabilities. As global competition intensifies, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act will help ensure America remains at the forefront of one of the most consequential technological frontiers of the 21st century.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, and Mike Thompson (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, to strengthen and modernize the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Whistleblower Awards Program.

The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“Today’s vote is a win for the American taxpayer and the American worker,” said Rep. Kelly. “Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation ensures the integrity of our Nation’s tax laws. When individuals come forward to expose wrongdoing by tax cheats and fraudsters, they help ensure our voluntary tax system remains fair for all Americans. Strengthening this program is a smart way to recover unpaid taxes while improving efficiency and accountability across the system.”

“Whistleblowers play a critical role in government oversight – whether it be uncovering bad actors within government or, in the case of the IRS Whistleblower Program, tracking down those in the private sector who are defrauding American taxpayers,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “At a time when it appears we need an all-of-the-above approach to combatting fraud across various government programs, improving the IRS Whistleblower program will better protect whistleblowers and appropriately award them for their contributions to stopping tax fraud, tax evasion, and other similar crimes. Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee Chairman Kelly’s IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act builds on his long-standing commitment to reform and to combatting the epidemic of fraud we see stealing hard-earned dollars from the American people.”

“Whistleblowers often face uncertainty and long delays. And in some cases, they face real personal and professional risk just for coming forward. We need to be doing everything we can to fix those problems,” said Rep. Thompson. “The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act will support the IRS’s crackdown on tax cheats and protect the brave whistleblowers who are helping to make our tax system more fair. I look forward to continuing my work with Rep. Kelly to get this through the Senate and signed into law.”  

BACKGROUND

The IRS whistleblower program has enabled the agency to collect more than $7.5 billion from individuals and businesses caught dodging taxes, while also serving as a powerful deterrent against sophisticated tax evasion schemes. The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act reinforces and modernizes the program by improving the appeals process, protecting whistleblower anonymity, encouraging timely award payments, and strengthening oversight and reporting to Congress.

These reforms aim to keep the program focused, predictable, and effective, ensuring a fair shake for taxpayers while maximizing the return on enforcement efforts without expanding broad-based audits.

You can watch Rep. Kelly’s remarks on the House floor here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Marc Veasey Slams DOJ Decision Ending Deportation Protections for DACA Recipients

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Veasey (TX-33), who has conducted several ICE detention and processing center visits in recent weeks, released the following statement on the outrageous new actions by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that make it easier to deport individuals protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):

“The Department of Justice’s latest move to weaken protections for DACA recipients is deeply concerning and undermines the stability of hundreds of thousands of young DACA recipients who call this country home,” said Congressman Veasey. “Dreamers have lived, studied, and worked in this country for their entire lives. They are essential members of our communities, but most importantly, they are human who deserve to be treated with compassion. I urge my colleagues in Congress to oppose this DOJ policy and act swiftly to provide permanent protections for Dreamers—not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it is integral to our economy and the future of our country.”

According to recent reporting, appellate immigration judges sided with the Department, making it easier for the federal government to pursue deportation cases against DACA recipients by limiting their ability to challenge removal orders

Weakening DACA protections would also have significant economic consequences—particularly for Texas. Dreamers contribute over $412 million in state and local taxes and more than $441 million in federal taxes annually, while holding a collective spending power of approximately $2.9 billion. Without protections like those proposed in the Dream Act, Texas could lose up to $6 billion in GDP each year.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) introduced the Taxpayers Resources Used in Emergencies (TRUE) Accountability Act – a bipartisan piece of legislation to require agencies to develop plans to prevent fraud during an emergency or crisis. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) joined as a co-lead on the bill.

The bill requires that two U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports – A Framework for Managing Improper Payments in Emergency Assistance Programs and A Framework for Managing Fraud Risks in 20 Federal Programs – be incorporated into agency plans so they have a proven, data-driven framework for preventing fraud. GAO estimates that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud. In 2020-2023 alone, GAO estimates that over $300 billion in fraud occurred across COVID-19 relief government programs, and that 19 different pandemic relief programs were targeted and defrauded as of 2024.

“For decades, fraud has run rampant in bloated government programs,” said Congressman Biggs. “American taxpayers work extremely hard for their money, and they deserve to know that government agencies are committed to wisely stewarding their dollars – not allowing the funds to be stolen by fraudulent entities, especially in times of emergency or crisis. This is an issue that Members of both parties can support, and I am grateful for Congressman Subramanyam’s leadership in pushing the TRUE Accountability Act. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to send this legislation to the U.S. Senate and then to the White House.”

“We must ensure that federal agencies are prepared to handle emergency funds as effectively as possible,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “The American public deserves confidence that emergency funds are going to the people who need it the most, not ending up in the hands of fraudsters. This commonsense bill will increase accountability and improve fiscal management at federal agencies.”

The TRUE Accountability Act will be marked up in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this week before being transmitted to the full House for consideration.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Nadler Introduces Bill To Ban Donald Trump’s Name From Federal Buildings

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) introduced a new bill, the Prohibiting Repressive Officials from Titular Engravings, Commemorations, and Tributes (PROTECT) Act to ban every federal building from being named after America’s most corrupt, least democratic President – Donald J. Trump.