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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

White Departs After Serving Pressley, Boston, and Massachusetts 7th for Over 13 Years

WASHINGTON – On the House floor, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) delivered a speech in honor of her outgoing District Director and longtime aide Eric White for an incredible 13 years serving Bostonians and the people of the Massachusetts 7^th. Congresswoman Pressley commended Eric, a lifelong Boston resident, for his impactful tenure as her aide while she was on the Boston City Council and his innumerable contributions as District Director in her congressional office.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s speech is available below, and the video is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Statement on Trump Administration Denying Flood Mitigation Funds Following December Floods

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

During yesterday’s National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Subcommittee markup, Ranking Member Lois Frankel (FL-22) spoke against House Republicans’ proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) NSRP bill, which would cut critical funding that strengthens America’s soft power, prevents the spread of conflict and disease, and protects our national security.

“This is a bill that is supposed to project American leadership—through diplomacy, development, and humanitarian aid—but instead, it’s pulling back at exactly the wrong time,” said Ranking Member Frankel.

“After four years of cuts totaling $14.4 billion—a staggering 23 percent—this bill cuts another $2.7 billion. At the same time, President Trump is requesting hundreds of billions of dollars more for war. My son served in the Marines and was deployed to two wars. I know it’s important for the military to remain strong. But bombs and drones respond to threats—they do not prevent them. Soft power does.”

Frankel stressed that cuts to programs such as family planning, humanitarian assistance, global health initiatives, the United Nations, and peacebuilding efforts would make America and the world less safe, while increasing the likelihood of costly military intervention.

“Diplomacy prevents costly, deadly war. Global health programs stop outbreaks before they reach our shores. Food aid and development programs reduce desperation that fuels extremism and migration. Alliances ensure we do not face threats alone,” Frankel continued. “This bill walks away from that strategy.”

“Security at home is only possible with effective, robust engagement abroad,” she said. “If we want a safer America and a more stable world, we need both: We need the strength of our military—and the power of our leadership. This bill fails that test.”

For Ranking Member Frankel’s full remarks, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) led 23 Members in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the U.S. government to conduct a thorough, credible, and independent investigation into the killing of Khamis Ayyad, a U.S. citizen who was killed during Israeli settler raids in the West Bank last summer.

“Mr. Ayyad was a U.S. citizen who raised his five children in my district. As with all Americans killed abroad, his family deserves at minimum a credible and independent investigation into his death. But no serious steps have been taken by this or any administration to ensure accountability for the nine Americans killed in the occupied West Bank since 2022,” said Congressman García. “I join Mr. Ayyad’s family in demanding an investigation into his killing, and I urge the U.S. government to protect American citizens in the West Bank and to stop enabling Israeli settler violence.”

“At the age of twenty-four, Khamis made the difficult decision to leave his homeland and move to the United States in search of a better future. Over the years, his dedication earned him U.S. citizenship, making him a true example of a hardworking, law-abiding man striving to build a dignified life,” said Laith Ayyad, brother of Khamis Ayyad. “[When] settlers attacked [Kilwad], […] Khamis rushed to help—both to save his brother and to assist neighbors whose homes and children were threatened by the spreading flames. He risked his life to extinguish the fire and rescue those in danger. […] His passing left behind a grieving family, a heartbroken community, and countless people who loved him deeply. He remains a symbol of courage, kindness, generosity, and righteousness—a man who gave without limits and sacrificed his life for others.”

A copy of the letter can be found here.

A copy of Laith Ayyad’s full statement can be found here.

In addition to Congressman García, the letter was signed by: Representatives Becca Balint (VT-00), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), John Garamendi (CA-08), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Summer Lee (PA-12), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Paul Tonko (NY-20).

Organizations endorsing the letter include: Center for International Policy (CIP), J Street, and Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the leading Congressional advocate for decriminalizing marijuana, today welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice decision to loosen restrictions on medical marijuana by rescheduling state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III. But he said more needs to be done to remove recreational use of marijuana from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act in the following statement:

“Today’s DOJ decision is a small step in the right direction but is limited in its application since it doesn’t affect recreational marijuana possession under federal criminal law, nor remove the disproportionately harsh life-altering criminal penalties associated with it. Those include not qualifying for federal nutrition assistance and restrictions on federal housing. As a longtime advocate for removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, I will continue to work to get marijuana reclassified so that the lives upended by misguided federal prosecutions can be avoided.”

Congressman Cohen held a press conference on Monday (4/20) with individuals formerly incarcerated in Federal Prison for marijuana offenses alongside Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), and Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), and advocates for decriminalizing and declassifying cannabis at the federal level. There he reiterated his call for Trump to expedite the descheduling of cannabis. Later, he participated in a policy briefing with men incarcerated for marijuana possession who had their sentences commuted. There are still 3,000 federal prisoners serving time for marijuana offenses, and I am heading up a letter to Trump and his pardons czar Alice Marie Johnson seeking the release of those sentenced for non-violent marijuana offenses – a group less dangerous than the January 6 insurrectionists he pardoned on his first day back in office.

On March 27, Congressman Cohen wrote to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrance Cole seeking clarity on how and when President Trump’s demand that marijuana be rescheduled was being implemented. See that letter here.

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

The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act (H.R. 4690), Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act (H.R. 5587), and Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act (H.R. 6387), along with the failed attempt to pass the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act (H.R. 1897).

“House Republicans chose to celebrate the week of Earth Day by continuing their crusade against the bedrock environmental and wildlife protection laws that have served and benefitted the American people for more than 50 years. We wish this was just a cruel joke, but unfortunately, the Republican assault on our fundamental right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment is deadly serious.

“The Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, and National Environmental Policy Act are our nation’s foundational environmental protection laws. These essential laws were passed by a bipartisan Congress and a Republican president more than half a century ago, but gone are the days when Republicans would stand up for democracy, fight corruption, and work across the aisle to secure a clean and healthy environment for our communities to live in. The Endangered Species Act – which has long been overwhelmingly popular with the American people – is a critically important tool to protect our nation’s imperiled wildlife and plants. It’s why our nation’s iconic bald eagle, American peregrine falcon, and Florida manatee are still with us today. Yet, Republican leadership decided this would be the week to try to gut critical protections for America’s most endangered wildlife.

“This Earth Day, the American people reiterated loud and clear that we will stand up for America’s iconic wildlife, leading to Republicans cancelling the vote on the ESA Amendments Act at the last moment. But even if there were enough Republicans who were willing to say no to gutting the ESA, they were still gleeful to pass other bills that would mask the true severity of air pollution and eliminate transparency for major projects. By providing exemption after exemption from our environmental protection laws, it will be Trump’s billionaire donors who benefit while the Trump Administration turns a blind eye as Americans get sicker and sicker.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Maine’s Congressional Delegation is calling on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to immediately resolve its payment issue with a Maine contractor that serves island communities. In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden condemned USPS for failing to pay the Rockland-based Penobscot Island Air (PIA) more than $349,000 for mail-delivery service and demanded answers about why USPS has, according to PIA, repeatedly failed to make timely payments for several years. After PIA announced it would not make its scheduled deliveries on Tuesday in protest, USPS agreed Wednesday to immediately pay 25% of the outstanding balance, and PIA promptly resumed service. But questions and concerns still remain. 

“For decades, Penobscot Island Air has helped the USPS deliver essential mail to Maine’s island residents. We urge you to immediately resolve the outstanding back payments and provide clarification on how these payment lapses occurred, as well as how delays can be prevented in the future,” the delegation wrote. “From Matinicus to Vinalhaven, island communities in Maine rely on the USPS to pay bills, receive life-saving medications, and stay connected with friends and family. Penobscot Island Air is an indispensable bridge between the mainland and islands that helps the Postal Service fulfill its promise of reaching every American, even in the most rural communities.”

USPS’s failure to pay PIA is the latest example of recent disruptions to mail delivery in Maine. Over the past several months, delegation offices have received hundreds of complaints from constituents about delayed and inconsistent deliveries—particularly in rural communities.  

Together, these issues underscore the importance of ensuring that USPS has the necessary resources and staff to fulfill its mission of providing all Americans with reliable, affordable, and universal mail service—and that its agreements with contractors like PIA are fully honored.  

The letter is available here and is copied below. 

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Dear Postmaster General Steiner:

We write to seek clarification regarding reports of Penobscot Island Air’s (PIA) payment issues with the United States Postal Service (USPS). For decades, Penobscot Island Air has helped the USPS deliver essential mail to Maine’s island residents. We urge you to immediately resolve the outstanding back payments and provide an explanation of how these payment lapses occurred, as well as how delays can be prevented in the future.

From Matinicus to Vinalhaven, island communities in Maine rely on the USPS to pay bills, receive life-saving medications, and stay connected with friends and family. Penobscot Island Air is an indispensable bridge between the mainland and islands that helps the Postal Service fulfill its promise of reaching every American, even in the most rural communities. 

On April 21, Penobscot Island Air alerted island residents that they would be halting mail deliveries for the day due to the back payments they are owed by the USPS. According to PIA, these back payments amount to over $349,000. While PIA had received partial payments for the balance, the last payment they received was on March 13. They had also made numerous attempts to resolve these payment issues through direct outreach to the USPS. The amount owed, the ongoing delay in payment, and the failure to resolve these issues in a timely fashion are alarming and unacceptable. 

Mail deliveries for the USPS account for almost a fifth of PIA’s annual revenue. We are concerned that PIA’s operations will continue to be disrupted without reliable processing of this critical stream of income. The USPS cannot afford to jeopardize a dedicated, decades-long partnership, and Maine island residents cannot afford any discontinuation in service, even for a few days.

Penobscot Island Air is one of many contractors in the state that deliver mail to island communities by air and sea. This incident raises concerns over whether the USPS is faithfully fulfilling the terms of all these contracts.

While it is promising to hear that the USPS has reached a partial payment agreement to pay Penobscot Island Air about 25% of its outstanding balance, we need greater assurance from the USPS that Maine island contractors will receive fair and prompt compensation for the services they provide. We respectfully request detailed answers to the following questions and ask that USPS continue to work urgently with Penobscot Island Air to resolve these back payments immediately and ensure that future payment processing is timely and consistent.

1. What is the current balance of back payments USPS owes to Penobscot Island Air?

2. Can you provide a timeline of the USPS payments to PIA over the past three years, including when payments were due and when they were paid?

3. Can you provide an explanation for these delays in payment to PIA?

4. What specific steps will the USPS take to prevent lapses in payment from occurring in the future and to ensure that payment is processed in a timely and consistent manner?

5. Can you provide a list of all the USPS contractors in Maine who deliver mail to island communities?

6. Do any other island contractors have balances owed to them by the USPS?

Thank you for your attention to this time-sensitive issue. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As communities across the country mark Earth Day and Arbor Day this week, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the Neighborhood Tree Act, legislation that would establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund at the United States Department of Agriculture and authorize $2 billion in federal grants for tree-planting programs nationwide. According to the EPA, trees and vegetation in urban areas can lower energy use, clean the air, limit stormwater runoff and enhance quality of life, and 73% of Americans wish their neighborhood had more trees.  

“Sacramento is the City of Trees, and our communities know how much trees can enhance quality of life. They improve air quality, lower temperatures, and make our neighborhoods healthier and more welcoming,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This is especially important as climate change drives longer and more intense heatwaves, while too many communities are left without vital shade trees. The Neighborhood Tree Act will address this gap by giving local governments the federal support they need to plant and care for trees. It’s a simple idea with real impact: when the federal government partners with local communities, we can build healthier neighborhoods and a stronger future for all Americans.”

“In cities like Cleveland, where you live often determines how much tree cover you have, and too many of our neighborhoods are being left behind. Trees do real work: they keep our air clean, lower energy costs, reduce summer heat, and even improve mental well-being. But for too long, people in low-income and Black and Brown neighborhoods haven’t had the same tree cover as the suburbs,” said Congresswoman Brown. “It’s time to take a big swing at this big challenge, and that’s why I’m so excited to introduce the Neighborhood Tree Act with Senator Booker and Congresswoman Matsui. This legislation would create a new grant program to close the tree equity gap and invest in healthier, cooler, and more livable neighborhoods.”

“During my years as Mayor of Newark, I witnessed how trees can change the trajectory of a neighborhood. Trees clean the air families breathe, reduce flooding on streets, lower energy bills, cool overheated blocks, and support the mental well‑being of entire communities,” said Senator Booker. “The Neighborhood Tree Act highlights these benefits shouldn’t be a privilege. They should reach the neighborhoods that have been overlooked for far too long, helping build healthier, stronger, and more resilient urban communities across the country.”

The Neighborhood Tree Act

• Establishes the Neighborhood Tree Fund and authorizes $2 billion in federal grants

• The Neighborhood Tree Fund will be administered by the USDA.

  • Eligible grantees are: states, tribal governments, local governments, and local community tree and volunteer organizations

• The Secretary of Agriculture is to give priority to entities that propose projects that:

  • serve low-income areas or communities with a lower tree canopy percentage and higher temperatures than surrounding areas;

  • projects that support climate mitigation and resilience;

  • and projects that advance community led urban forestry, tree-based local food production, reduce urban heat, and improve public health and environmental outcomes

The bill is endorsed by American Forests, Holden Forests & Gardens, the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, the Trust for Public Land, and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.