MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON—Congressman James P. McGovern, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s new Executive Order withdrawing the United States from the U.N. Human Rights Council:

“Pulling out of the U.N. Human Rights Council is reckless and shameful. Instead of leading the fight against human rights abuses, Trump is handing a victory to dictators and despots. Walking away doesn’t make the world better—it makes it easier for the worst regimes to act with impunity. Once again, Trump weakens America and betrays our values.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Last week, the Trump administration moved to eliminate the Department of Education, a key provision of Project 2025. The Trump administration has been implementing plans laid out clearly in Project 2025. In line with the Project 2025 education agenda is the elimination of Title I grants, and we should all be concerned an announcement about this may soon follow.

“The effects of Title I being rescinded would be devastating for our community,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Local schools rely on over $85 million in federal funding through Title I. It is despicable that instead of focusing on his promises of lowering costs, President Trump is instead focused on destroying our education system, firing thousands of dedicated educators, and setting our children back a generation.” 

What is Title I?
Title I provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps by allocating federal funds for education programs and services.

Title I was created in response to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 was signed into law by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. By enacting Title I, Congress recognized that students in high-poverty schools have greater educational needs—which continues to be a reality—and states lacked the resources to close this divide; therefore, federal aid was required to provide the academic services and opportunity necessary for these students. 

Estimates provided by the House Appropriations Committee on the federal funding and the number of teachers at risk of losing their jobs if Title I is eliminated can be found here for each congressional district.

TX-16: $85,348,754 in federal funding for schools at risk; 1,293 teachers at risk of losing their jobs

TX-23 (which includes part of El Paso County): $219,223,437 in federal funding for schools at risk; 3,321 teachers at risk of losing their jobs

Total Texas Estimates: $1,843,353,405 in federal funding for schools at risk; 27,930 teachers at risk of losing their jobs

Total National Estimates: $18,406,802,000 in federal funding for schools at risk; 278,891 teachers at risk of losing their jobs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) sent a letter to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer, requesting a hearing to examine the growing operational issues at the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its inability to effectually serve rural America. This letter was sent in response to a rising number of complaints the Congressman has received from residents across Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. 

“I have been very concerned by the reports of postal issues across Greater Minnesota,” said Congressman Stauber. “Rural Minnesotans rely heavily on mail delivery and any disruption in this service can have a detrimental impact on people’s businesses, livelihoods, and health. My repeated requests for USPS leadership to fix the causes of these mail delays – such as staffing shortages and poor working conditions for mail carriers – have fallen on deaf ears for far too long. A hearing on this matter will allow Congress to hear directly from those impacted and ultimately, provide valuable insight into how the agency can improve its operations to better serve the needs of rural America.”

Read the full letter HERE.

Congressman Stauber has frequently contacted USPS leadership to raise concerns over persistent mail delays and reports of poor working conditions for mail carriers. Most recently, Congressman Stauber sent then-USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy a letter condemning his plans to allow slower mail delivery to rural areas to cut costs.

Most of the Congressman’s communications with the USPS have either gone unanswered, or he has been given unsatisfactory responses. 

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

“I have waited many, many years to see the day where we can be certain that Amache, as a place of reflection, remembrance, honor, and healing, is protected for our current and future generations. President Biden’s signature on the Amache National Historic Site Act today brings me hope that we are finally closer to this certainty. My parents did not live to see this day. The time is not only right; it is long overdue.” – Bob Fuchigami on the enactment of the Amache National Historic Site Act (2022). 

Lafayette, CO — Today, Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Senator Michael Bennet issued a statement on the passing of Bob Fuchigami:  

“We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Fuchigami, a dear friend and an inspirational advocate. 

“Bob was just eleven years old when his family was ordered to leave their home in California with no explanation of their destination and sent to the Granada Relocation Center on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, known as Amache. At such a young age, he was victim to one of the darkest scars in our country’s history—the unconscionable incarceration of Japanese Americans.  

“After surviving Amache, Bob served our nation in the U.S. Navy, and then dedicated much of his adult life to ensuring the story of his family and others like them were never forgotten or repeated. We were honored to support him in this effort—standing by his side when visiting Amache in 2022 and celebrating with him when our work together designated Amache as a National Historic Site.  

“We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Fuchigami family and to all those who knew and loved Bob, as we did. His grace, fortitude, and endless wisdom will leave a lasting legacy.”

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

Lafayette, CO — Today, Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02) issued a statement celebrating the Sundance Institute naming Boulder, Colorado as the new host of the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027: 

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome the 2027 Sundance Film Festival to one of the best cities in the country, Boulder, Colorado, which I’m proud to represent. This announcement is a tremendous win for the state of Colorado, and I’m proud to have partnered with Governor Polis and local civic leaders to help make it a reality. The festival will elevate our state’s small businesses and tourism industry, and spur economic development for all of Colorado. A big win all around!”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) held a press conference to discuss the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act that would prevent inmates from using contraband cellphones in prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems.

Click here to watch the full press conference or read Congressman Kustoff’s remarks as prepared:

Good morning and I want to thank all of you for being with us. Today, in the House of Representatives we will introduce the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act. I’m glad that we are able to do this today.

I want to thank so many people, all the correctional leaders, the Correctional Leaders Association, the American Correctional Association, our State Attorneys General, our Governors, and so many others across the nation who are supporting our efforts.

I think this is a simple issue; I think it is one we can all get behind. Frankly, it’s a no-brainer. 

It should not be possible for people behind prison bars to order hits on people, to conduct gang activity, and to traffic drugs while behind the walls of the prison. The extent of coordinated criminal activity carried out by inmates is a serious threat to everyone — those who guard and protect those in prison and those in our communities. 

In my home state of Tennessee, we had an inmate who used a contraband cellphone to organize and orchestrate a drug conspiracy by shipping packages full of drugs to his girlfriend. Now, this is outrageous. You can tell these stories and hear these stories in all 50 states across the country.

I’m a former United States Attorney — it was an honor to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee — I know first-hand how dangerous this activity is and how prevalent it has become. If we want to stop crimes from behind bars, then we must allow state and federal prison officials to jam these signals.

When criminals go to prison, their days of calling the shots are over. They shouldn’t be able to do it from behind the prison walls. If there is no cell signal, there is no crime. 

It is critical that the federal government support, defend, and provide the necessary resources for correctional facilities to operate effectively and to ensure the well-being of the public. That’s why we are introducing the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act today.

By preventing criminals from conducting operations from behind bars, we can crack down on crime in this nation and we can protect inmates, the guards, and the public at large.

Congress should act now—because each and every day that we wait, innocent lives remain at risk.

 

Click here to read the full text of the bill.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement on the mass firing of 10,000 federal workers at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

“Amid major health challenges, including outbreaks of bird flu and measles Trump and RFK Jr. are undertaking an extreme and dangerous purge of health and medical expertise from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“They’re taking a hatchet to medical research for cures to diseases and gutting the workforce that administers Medicare and Medicaid and supports individuals with disabilities and new moms. And they’re drastically undercutting our ability to fight future epidemics, if they should arise, and present-day health crises including the opioid epidemic and massive strains on America’s mental health infrastructure.

“I am also horrified to see the functional elimination of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, our point agency on research to improve the health care delivery and efficiency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, which leads efforts to improve access to care for the uninsured. They’re making these cuts to essential health-providing agencies to put more money into billionaires’ pockets.

“Meanwhile RFK Jr. is bringing in a team of kooks, loons, and weirdos to throw out sound science on vaccines that has saved tens of millions of lives. The American people will undoubtedly suffer harmful consequences if this plan is carried out.”

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D, NJ-06) joined Representatives David Rouzer (R, NC-07) and John Rutherford (R, FL-05) in launching the bipartisan Coastal Communities Caucus for the 119th Congress. The caucus is a bipartisan group highlighting the unique concerns of those who live, work, and do business along America’s coasts, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and island states and territories.

The launch event, held on Capitol Hill, featured a panel of community leaders and state and local officials, including representatives from New Jersey, who provided insight into the economic, environmental, and infrastructure needs of coastal regions. Pallone emphasized that the Coastal Communities Caucus will serve as a resource for lawmakers seeking to develop policies that protect coastal economies, ecosystems, and communities.

“Growing up on the Jersey Shore, I’ve seen firsthand how vital our coastal communities are—not just to New Jersey’s economy, but to the entire country,” Pallone said. “From strengthening storm resilience and providing healthy fisheries to supporting a thriving tourism industry, our coastal communities face distinct challenges that require tailored solutions. Our caucus will ensure those challenges remain a bipartisan priority in Congress, so we can continue advocating for the people who live and work along our shores and the millions who visit them each year.”

The Coastal Communities Caucus provides Members of Congress with education and networking opportunities  to facilitate bipartisan cooperation on legislative solutions that bolster coastal economies, promote environmental sustainability, and strengthen infrastructure. 

Today’s event included:

• Grace Hanlon, Executive Director, Jersey Shore Partnership
• Derek Brockbank, Executive Director, Coastal States Organization
• Nick Angarone, New Jersey Chief Resilience Officer
• Alex Reed, Director, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Amber Westerbur, Program Manager, Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Gary Jones, Director, Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors
• Nicole Elko, Executive Director, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association

“A thriving and resilient coast is critical to New Jersey’s communities and economy,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey Chief Resilience Officer and Coastal Manager. “I am grateful for the opportunity to bring attention to the growing challenges faced by our coastal communities at today’s Coastal Communities Caucus launch event, and look forward to working together towards long-term solutions for our vulnerable coasts.”

“The American Shore & Beach Preservation Association applauds the Coastal Communities Caucus for educating Members of Congress to the economic benefits of U.S. shores and beaches.  For example, beach tourists annually generate $520 billion in economic output, $240 billion in direct spending, and $36 bil­lion in taxes to federal, state, and local governments.  Continued federal investment in our nation’s coastal infrastructure is critical to sustain this important economic engine.” – Nicole Elko, Ph.D., Executive Director, and American Shore & Beach Preservation Association

“America’s coastal communities are an economic driver producing $10 trillion and goods and services, and home to 40% of the American population. They are represented at the state and congressional level by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Coastal States Organization is pleased to support the Congressional Coastal Communities Caucus, which convenes Members of Congress to discuss the unique concerns of those who live, work, and do business along the coast, and seek bipartisan solutions to support these important communities.” – Derek Brockbank, Executive Director, Coastal States Organization

“As a Floridian, I know just how important our coastal communities are to our state and our country,” said Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL-05). “In Northeast Florida, we are blessed to have miles of coastline, running along the Atlantic Ocean, and shorelines along the intracoastal waterways and St. Johns River. We are also not strangers to natural disasters and dangerous algal blooms that threaten the livelihood and wellbeing of our coastal communities. I remain committed to working with local, state, and federal leaders, including my fellow members of the House Coastal Communities Caucus, to protect our coastline. It’s critical we ensure our water quality and beaches stay healthy so all Floridians, and Americans who visit our shores, can enjoy everything our beautiful state has to offer.”

“As a key pillar of our economy and the nation’s leading textile producer, North Carolina’s textile industry is vital. It sustains thousands of jobs, strengthens rural communities, and fuels innovation. The bipartisan Textile Caucus is committed to protecting our domestic industry, advocating for fair trade, and supporting America’s cotton growers,” said Congressman Rouzer (R-NC-07)

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

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and his Democratic colleagues have forced the Trump Administration to delay a controversial plan to eliminate phone-based services at the Social Security Administration (SSA) — a move that would have created massive barriers for millions of Americans, especially seniors and people with disabilities who rely on live phone support to access their benefits.

The delay follows a hard-hitting letter from Pallone and signed by over 60 House Democrats, demanding that SSA reverse course. The lawmakers warned that stripping away phone-based services would gut a vital access point at an agency already strained by surging workloads, staff shortages, and widespread field office closures.

“This Administration is rightly feeling the heat,” said Pallone. “Trump’s plan would have been devastating for the seniors and disabled New Jersayans who don’t use the internet and can’t get an appointment at a field office. It’s unacceptable for the Trump Administration to force them into a broken digital system with no backup. Public outcry has bought us time, but we’re not letting up.”

Last week, Pallone wrote to SSA Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek, raising alarm over reports that the agency, under pressure from the White House, was rushing to implement sweeping changes without sufficient planning, transparency, or input from the public. According to the agency’s own data, SSA receives nearly 80 million calls each year, and roughly 40 percent of all Social Security claims are processed over the phone.

The proposed changes would have eliminated a key method of identity verification by phone, requiring individuals to either prove their identity online — despite technical issues and access gaps — or travel to in-person offices that are often understaffed or closed altogether.

Following the outcry, SSA announced it will delay the changes until at least April 14 and partially roll back its identity verification requirements for Medicare, disability, and SSI applicants. But Pallone made clear this is only a temporary reprieve.

“Trump and Musk have made no secret of their desire to dismantle Social Security, and this was one more step in that direction,” Pallone continued. “We’re not going to let them sabotage the system in plain sight. Americans who’ve worked their whole lives and paid into the system deserve real service, not endless hold times and website error messages.”

Read the full letter Pallone sent SSA here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)