MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), highlighted provisions he helped secure in the most recent appropriations package, which was signed into law,  that prevent federal health agencies from delaying or canceling grants by cutting the staff needed to administer them: 

“South Texas depends on federal health and research dollars to keep clinics open, support rural providers, and protect public health. I worked to stop disruptions that would have hit Laredo and communities across our region. 

“This bill includes enforceable guardrails to make sure agencies cannot undermine grants by cutting the personnel needed to process and manage them. That means funding administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, among many others, can keep moving as Congress intended.

“These dollars are not abstract. They support patient care, mental health services and frontline public health work. I will keep fighting to ensure federal health funding reaches South Texans reliably and on time.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.  

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke at a press conference, where he emphasized that ICE, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security are harming the American people and should all be dramatically reformed before continued funding for DHS is passed.

KATY TUR: Joining us, House Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. Thank you very much for joining us, sir.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Great to be with you.

KATY TUR: All right. Let’s talk about a deal. The White House says one thing. You say another. Republicans say a third. Are you going to get there?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the ball is in the Republicans’ court right now. We’ve made clear that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them. That shouldn’t be a controversial proposition. We know that ICE is completely and totally out of control. They’ve gone way too far, and they need to be reined in so that immigration enforcement in this country is fair, is just and is humane. And the only way to bring that about right now is for there to be dramatic changes in the way in which DHS conducts itself before any funding bill moves forward on Friday.

KATY TUR: There’s talk in the Senate about maybe extending this CR even further if there are good-faith negotiations. Some Democrats have said they believe that the White House and Republicans are trying to get there, and they may be willing to extend the CR. Do you believe the Republicans and the White House are negotiating in good faith? And would you agree to extending the CR?

LEADER JEFFRIES: I’m not supportive of a continuing resolution extension, in part because I haven’t seen any evidence that the White House and Republicans are willing to negotiate in good faith. We sent over a very detailed list of demands, common-sense proposals, including but not limited to a judicial warrant requirement that they’ve chosen to reject out of hand. The Fourth Amendment is not optional. It’s not inconvenient. It’s something that everyone should comply with. And our basic premise here is that ICE should be compelled to act like every other law enforcement agency in the country. That’s what we need to bring about. They’ve got legislative language that Senate and House Democrats have sent over to them. We’ve heard nothing but crickets in response in terms of a serious counterproposal. And so were we to agree to a continuing resolution in the absence of good-faith negotiations, that’s just a delay and a stall tactic that this administration will be utilizing.

KATY TUR: It sounds like you think there’s going to be a partial government shutdown on Friday.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we can either have dramatic reform of DHS, ICE, CBP and the way in which immigration enforcement is undertaken here in the country. Listen, these people, Katy, they promised that immigration enforcement was going to target violent felons who are here illegally. That’s not what’s taking place. They’re targeting American citizens, law-abiding immigrant families and American communities, which is why the American people are so horrified. And so, we either need dramatic change on the one hand, or listen, Republicans are going to make the decision to shut down FEMA, shut down the Coast Guard and shut down TSA, and that would be very unfortunate.

KATY TUR: I was going to ask about that, but again, it does sound like you’re pessimistic. What we understand about the White House’s counter-proposal is that they—it’s a non-starter, the judicial warrants. What else can you tell us about their counterproposal?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, they’ve indicated that they’ve got a problem with judicial warrants. They have a problem with any reform of the manner in which detention is being conducted. They’ve got a problem with prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks. By the way, police officers don’t wear masks. State troopers don’t wear masks. County sheriffs don’t wear masks. Again, ICE should conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. The White House apparently has a problem with independent investigations. Our view is that when ICE agents, under the color of law, are actually violating the rights of American citizens or law-abiding immigrant families, when they’re breaking state and local law, they should be held accountable. So, state and local officials should have the ability to investigate or prosecute violations of their law. These are all areas where the White House has indicated they’re not willing to go down that road, which basically means they wanna shut down DHS.

KATY TUR: Well, that to me sounds like there’s no compromise. There’s no middle ground. You’ve asked for a slew of things, and the White House is denying all of those things. So there’s nothing there that you guys can agree on as of now?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the White House has indicated that there’s some openness to mandating body cameras. That’s important, but that can’t be the only thing that is done moving forward. That’s not dramatic change, and the White House has not even gone as far as saying we agree, mandatory body cameras, no exceptions. Their response, even in that area, has been ambiguous.

KATY TUR: I’m curious if I can ask you more broadly about immigration while I have you, because we’re obviously in an election season. Immigration is a very hot topic right now. It’s one that Republicans have used to try to paint Democrats as weak on the border and weak on immigration. And they say that Democrats are harboring criminals and putting Americans’ lives at risk. I obviously know Democrats would deny all of those counts. I wonder, though, if you have thought of a strategy on immigration for your party going into the midterms. And I’m just curious if we could put it between these two poles here. On the one hand—I’m going to play this—a sound bite from President Obama back when he was running for office the first time—I think it’s 2008—in a debate with Hillary Clinton. And then the second one is, I believe, Delia Ramirez, who spoke today at this House hearing with ICE and CBP, saying what she believes should happen to that agency. Let me play both.

RECORDING OF FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: It is absolutely critical that we tone down the rhetoric when it comes to the immigration debate because there has been an undertone that has been ugly. Oftentimes, it has been directed at the Hispanic community. We have seen hate crimes skyrocket in the wake of the immigration debate as has been conducted in Washington, and that is unacceptable. We are a nation of laws and we are a nation of immigrants, and we can reconcile those two things. So, we need comprehensive reform. We need comprehensive reform, and that means stronger border security.

RECORDING OF REP. DELIA RAMIREZ: As I’ve said before, DHS, ICE and CBP, they’re not really rogue. Congress designed DHS to violate our rights under the pretense of securing our safety. I’m going to say it loud and clear, and I’m proud to stand by what I say. DHS cannot be reformed. It must be dismantled, and something new must take its place, because if we let DHS persist, there will continue to be a weapon that can be pointed at anyone the government considers the public enemy.

KATY TUR: So, among the things that President Obama proposed back then was that immigrants had to learn English. He believed that anybody who crossed here illegally had to get to the back of the line. There was a fine that should be paid as well. It’s not something you hear generally speaking from Democrats today. So if you’re looking at the two polls that we just put in front of you, where do you believe the Democratic Party messaging should be?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, first, we believe that the border should be safe, it should be strong and it should be secure. We certainly believe that our immigration system is broken and it needs to be fixed, but it should be fixed in a comprehensive way and in a bipartisan way. At the same period of time, we are a nation of immigrants and, of course, a nation of laws as well, as President Obama indicated, and we can reconcile the challenges there. That means that we, as Democrats, we’re going to always stand up for Dreamers, stand up for farm workers, stand up for law-abiding immigrant families who are contributing to this country in so many meaningful ways. And the American people know it, which is why they supported the notion of targeting violent felons who are here illegally and figuring out a pathway towards citizenship for others who are here working hard in their communities in order to bring to life that notion that we have been a nation of immigrants, are a nation of immigrants and part of our exceptionalism will continue to be as a nation of immigrants.

KATY TUR: Leader Jeffries, I know I’ve run out of time with you, but I appreciate you joining us, and if you ever want to have a longer conversation about immigration and where the party should stand on it, I’d love to have you back, sir. Thank you so much for coming on today.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you so much.

Full interview can be watched here.

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

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor, where he emphasized that the American people are suffering under the Trump-Republican economy and that President Trump’s tariffs are making life unaffordable for many Americans.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule, another reckless effort by the Republican majority to stop this House from doing something to stop the reckless Trump tariffs.

Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives, part of this Congress, is a separate and co-equal branch of government. We don’t work for Donald Trump. We don’t work for JD Vance. We don’t work for Republican billionaire donors. We work for the American people. And the Constitution, Mr. Speaker, gives this House the explicit authority with respect to tariffs. And yet, because apparently my Republican colleagues have been ordered by the current President not to allow an up-or-down vote on whether his tariffs are harmful to the American people, once again, we find ourselves discussing a rule to limit the ability of this Congress to act on behalf of the American people. This is consistent with what we’ve seen from the Republican majority, Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning of this Congress, which unfortunately continues to act like nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda, an agenda that’s not helping the American people. It is hurting the American people.

Yes, we have a cost-of-living crisis in this country. I know the President doesn’t wanna talk about it. He thinks it’s a Democratic hoax. No, the affordability crisis in this country is not a hoax. It is very real. Working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans are suffering because of the failed Trump-Republican economy. Donald Trump—his words—promised to lower the high cost of living on day one. More than a year later, in the United States of America, Mr. Speaker, costs haven’t gone down. Costs have gone up. Housing costs out of control. Healthcare costs out of control. Child care costs out of control. Electricity bills out of control. And the price of groceries and everyday goods completely out of control. And one of the reasons why the cost of living continues to crush the American people is because of the Trump tariffs, which have imposed thousands of dollars in additional costs on everyday Americans, making life even more expensive than it had been when this presidency began.

Why is it so complicated for Donald Trump to keep his promise to the American people to lower costs, to focus on making life more affordable? Instead, he’s gone the opposite direction, imposing tariffs on our allies in Canada and Mexico, in Europe, across the world, without any clear strategy, having an adverse effect on the pocketbook of everyday Americans. And this Congress is charged constitutionally with the ability to say yes or no as it relates to tariffs that have been imposed. In fact, the President should have sought our authorization. Instead, he’s using a fake emergency authority that hopefully the Supreme Court will make clear he does not have. And we certainly await that decision, but we don’t need to wait for that decision. We don’t work for the Supreme Court either. 

The House, the Article 1 branch of government, the institution that the framers decided should be the part of government that’s closest to the American people, that reflects the hopes, the dreams, the aspirations, the fears, the concerns, the anxieties, the passions and the life experiences of the American people who are suffering right now in this failed Trump-Republican economy. That’s not just my simple observation. Fox News, the President’s favorite news source, in a recent public opinion survey, concluded that more than 70% of the American people believe, correctly, the economy is a disaster under this President. And one of the reasons why it’s a disaster is because of the reckless Trump tariffs. And the Republican majority, Mr. Speaker, won’t even allow an up-or-down vote. That’s what this rule is about: silencing debate and the will of the people’s representatives to do something meaningful to make life more affordable for the American people.

And so, I asked some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who know that this so-called mandate that Republicans apparently believe they had in the aftermath of the November 2024 elections—parenthetically, by the way—what mandate do you really think you have in this House when you have the narrowest majority that any party has had since 1930 during the Great Depression? In fact, we also know you wouldn’t even be in the majority right now had you not stolen three seats from the people of North Carolina with mid-decade gerrymandering in 2024. So we don’t want to hear anything about mandate. The only mandate we have collectively is to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, to drive down the high cost of living, to stop burying your head in the sand, to stop being a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda, to stand up to him every now and then as part of a separate and co-equal branch of government. Stop the cult-like behavior, Mr. Speaker. It’s hurting your very constituents.

And so we have an opportunity, if we vote down this rule, to actually take up for consideration the resolution put forward by Congressman Meeks that would wipe out the unnecessary tariff imposed on our ally to the north in Canada. It’s a step that should have been taken a long time ago, but Republicans have been blocking this vote. And I just hope that a handful of Republicans will join every single House Democrat in opposing this rule so we can get to a debate on the actual substantive effort to stop the reckless and dangerous and harmful Trump tariffs as part of our commitment as Democrats to do what’s necessary to lower the high cost of living and to make sure that every single American in this country, when you work hard, when you play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life and live the good life. Not too much to ask for in the wealthiest country, America, in the history of the world. Work hard, play by the rules, live the good life. Good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education for your children and a good retirement, which means backing off your extreme attacks on Social Security and Medicare. That’s the Democratic commitment. And in order to help bring about that good life, Mr. Speaker, one of the most meaningful things that we can do as a body is to stop the harmful Trump tariffs. Vote no against this rule.

The Floor speech can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) participated in a Ways and Means Committee hearing on the growing trend of foreign actors exploiting the tax-exempt sector by funneling millions of dollars to U.S. non-profits with the goal of creating, supporting, and fueling disruption and illegal activity across the country. Congresswoman Miller joined her colleagues in calling for more transparency, accountability, and oversight of foreign money flowing through U.S. nonprofits to ensure the American tax-exempt privilege is protected. A video and full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks can be found below. 

Congresswoman Miller began by highlighting the Federal Election Campaign Act and questioned the witness, Ms. Caitlin Sutherland, Executive Director, Americans for Public Trust, on the practice of ‘donor-scrubbing’ and the disclosures 501 (c)(4)s must make with regards to their donors. 
 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after the National Lab of the Rockies (NLR) announced an involuntary Reduction in Force (RIF): 

“Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Now, electricity prices have spiked 13% since he took office. Yet, his administration has declared war on renewable energy projects that save Americans money, putting enormous stress on labs like Colorado’s National Lab of the Rockies. 

“NLR’s track record speaks for itself: the lab has delivered $1.9 billion in economic impact to Colorado and supports thousands of high-tech jobs in our state. Its innovations helped cut solar energy costs by 99.6% and slash air conditioning bills by 45% — breakthroughs that strengthen energy independence while lowering costs.  

“Just a month ago, President Trump signed an executive order declaring critical minerals a national priority. Now, staff at the one lab that can deliver on that priority are being let go.

“NLR is fundamental to Colorado’s leadership in clean energy, grid modernization, and innovation. If the administration really wants to prioritize affordability and critical minerals, they ought to be supporting the work at labs like NLR.” 

The National Lab of the Rockies (NLR) is a critical node in U.S. national security and energy policy—the only lab in the nation stewarded by the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, giving it a unique federal mandate to secure America’s critical minerals supply chain. It’s also a key center for protecting the power grid from cyberattacks.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky announced that she has secured $12,552,000 in funding from the House Appropriations Committee for 15 projects across the 9th Congressional District.

“One of the best parts of my job is bringing funding home where it matters most,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “This year, $12,552,000 will support 15 projects across the 9th District, upgrading roads and bridges, improving schools and parks, strengthening public safety, and enhancing water infrastructure. Listening to residents and delivering for our communities has always been the heart of what I do in Congress, and I can’t wait to see the difference these investments will make for families across the 9th District.”

Congresswoman Schakowsky championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Illinois’ 9th District. These include:

• $250,000 for the Niles Howard Street Bridge Replacement Project
• $850,000 for the Cook County East Lake Ave Bridge Project
• $1.25 million for the Niles Township Respite Center Renovation Project
• $1.2 million for the McHenry County Police Social Work Program Headquarters Project
• $850,000 for the Chicago Fire Department Engine House 71 Ambulance Annex
• $850,000 for the McHenry County Conservation District Fox Bluff Conservation Area Public Access Enhancement Project
• $250,000 for the Fremont Township Critical Road Resurfacing Project
• $250,000 for the Chicago Public Schools Mosaic School Improvements Project
• $250,000 for the Evanston Beck Park Expansion Project
• $1.092 million for the Buffalo Grove, Illinois – Mill Creek Subdivision Utility Resiliency Project
• $1.092 million for Lake County Public Works – Water System Improvements (Hawthorn Woods/Glennshire & Forest Lake)
• $1.092 million for Skokie, Illinois – Storm Water Infrastructure Enhancement Project
• $1.092 million for Algonquin, Illinois – High Hill Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project
• $1.092 million for Morton Grove, IL – Lead Service Line Replacement
• $1.092 million for Cary, IL – PFAS Mitigation and Water Resiliency Project

By directing federal resources to projects that matter most to residents, this funding will help strengthen communities, improve quality of life, and ensure that local neighborhoods continue to grow and thrive.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Washington, DC) — On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Congressman Al Green, a Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, shared remarks during a Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE, CBP, and USCIS.”

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s remarks to the witness by clicking here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden, Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Val Hoyle (OR-04)—in reintroducing the Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education (Soil CARE) Act. Their bicameral bill would create a training program and curriculum to ensure that farmers and ranchers have access to information and tools to improve long-term soil health management, navigate degraded lands, promote profitability, and increase resilience to climate chaos-fueled extreme weather events like floods and droughts.

“Oregon’s world-class agriculture industry deserves strong federal support to continue thriving, and that includes supporting the health of our lands and ecosystems, which have defined our state for generations,” said Merkley. “As climate chaos continues to make the West hotter and drier, we must ensure our farmers, ranchers, and land stewards have the resources and tools they need to keep their lands adaptable and resilient, leading to healthy and regenerative soils.”

“From our Christmas trees to our hazelnuts, Oregonians produce some of the best crops in the world. However, with the growing threat of climate change and extreme weather, access to new technologies like regenerative agriculture and soil health management are essential to maintaining our world-class products,” said Salinas. “Our bill would guarantee USDA personnel and third-party service providers are trained to help producers restore degraded lands, increase profitability, and build generational resilience.”

“Drought and all the radically unseasonable weather impacts of the climate crisis have landed hard on farmers in Oregon and nationwide,” said Wyden. “That’s why federal support for tools like those in this legislation is so urgently needed to support U.S. agriculture continuing to grow crops that are renowned around the globe.”

“Healthy soil is key to growing a healthy agricultural economy,” said Bonamici. “Climate change, runoff pollution, and extreme weather threaten this foundation, risking farmers’ livelihoods and their ability to put food on the table for people in NW Oregon and across the country. Managing soil health will help to mitigate these effects by absorbing carbon in soil, producing more resilient crops, safer food, and cleaner air.”

“Oregon’s farmers and producers are on the front lines of climate change, facing more intense storms, flooding, drought and unpredictable growing seasons—especially in our coastal and rural communities,” said Hoyle. “The Soil CARE Act invests in the education, training, and soil health tools farmers need to build resilience, protect their land and maintain a thriving business. We’re supporting the backbone of our local economy and helping ensure Oregonian farmers and their families can thrive for generations to come.”

As farmers, ranchers, and federal land personnel continue to deal with the impacts of climate chaos, training and education are crucial components to support these stewards of the land and conservation efforts across the nation. The Soil CARE Act would invest in expanded technical assistance and provide U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff and personnel with the latest knowledge, tools, and innovations to help producers produce and boost healthy soil. 

The Soil CARE Act would:

• Develop and deliver curriculum on soil health management systems within one year of passage;
• Develop a nationally-available online training curriculum;
• Encourage all relevant personnel—such as a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff and third-party technical service providers (TSPs)—to complete online training every two years to learn about the latest soil health innovations and scientific and technological advancements.
• Hold annual soil health workshops and training sessions;
• Dedicate resources to providing required continuing education for all NRCS and TSPs; and
• Require NRCS to use the training curriculum to develop soil health education materials for producers.

In addition to Merkley, Salinas, Wyden, Bonamici, and Hoyle, the Soil CARE Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT).

The bicameral bill is endorsed by Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network (OrCAN), Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD), Bob’s Red Mill, Earthjustice Action, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Green America / Soil & Climate Alliance, American Sustainable Business Network, United We Eat, Climate Reality Project Regenerative Agriculture Coalition, US Composting Council, Compost Manufacturing Alliance, InCommon Group, Green Mountain Technologies, Inc., New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group, CA Association of Compost Producers, Terra Regenerative Capital, World Centric, Eco-Cycle, and Naturepedic Organic Mattresses.

“Healthy soil is essential for resilient farms, strong local economies, and thriving businesses. The Soil CARE Act provides practical support for farmers adopting regenerative practices, helping build productive, resilient working lands that benefit farmers, communities, and the broader economy,” said Liza LaManna, Manager of Ag & Water Policy, American Sustainable Business Network.

“Healthy soil is a top priority for the many American farmers that Bob’s Red Mill sources from, but they need the right support to implement effective practices. The Soil CARE Act would provide essential education needed to help more farmers improve soil health, providing critical tools for farmer prosperity and resilience. We applaud Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, and Congresswoman Salinas for their efforts in championing this important bill,” said Julia Person, Sustainability Manager, Bob’s Red Mill.

“Farmers and ranchers can regenerate our working lands but only with targeted support. The Soil CARE Act would educate NRCS staff and third party technical service providers about biological soil health and regenerative agriculture principles, and in turn, provide American producers with the tools they need to steward ecosystems and become more prosperous,” said Jessica Hulse Dillon, Senior Director Soil & Climate Alliance and Regen Policy Initiative.

A summary of the Soil CARE Act can be found by clicking here.

Full text of the Soil CARE Act can be found by clicking here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON – House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) led 71 of their House and Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter slamming Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s new rule that would make child care more expensive and less accessible for working families.

Specifically, the proposed rule would repeal Biden-era regulations that place a seven percent cap on child care co-payments for families and require child care providers to be paid based on enrollment rather than attendance.  By removing these guardrails, child care will be more expensive for working families who receive subsidies and destabilize funding for child care providers.

“Across the country, working families are demanding high-quality, affordable child care. However, child care has been hard to find and expensive for families for years, while many child care providers struggle to stay afloat,”wrote the lawmakers.  “An estimated 4.2 million children lack access to a formal care slot in their local community.  In many states, depending on the age of the child and child care setting, the cost of child care exceeds annual, average in-state cost of college tuition, rent payments, or even mortgage payments.”

“The proposed rule pushes the child care sector in exactly the wrong direction,”continued the lawmakers.  “At a time when our child care system is struggling to stay afloat, this proposal could bring many working families and providers to the brink.  We urge you to withdraw the proposed rule and retain policies to actually help children, families, and child care providers.”

Prior to the 2024 Biden Administration rule, families who were already living paycheck to paycheck faced co-payments as high as 27 percent of their family income.  By repealing the Biden-era rule, the Trump Administration threatens to further exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis by forcing families to grapple with increased child care costs.

In the House, the letter was signed by: Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Judy Chu (CA-28), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Takano (CA-39), Daniel S. Goldman (NY-10), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Christopher Deluzio (PA-17), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Seth Moulton (MA-06), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Katherine M. Clark (MA-05), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Haley M. Stevens (MI-11), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Timothy M. Kennedy (NY-26), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), William R. Keating (MA-09), Gabe Amo (RI-01), and Donald S. Beyer (VA-08).

In the Senate, the letter was signed by: Senators Bernard Sanders (D-VT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Cory A. Booker (D-NJ).

To read the full letter, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Raskin, Bonamici, Colleagues: Trump continues his effort “to destroy independent art and music in our nation.”