MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) introduced the bipartisan Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act, legislation that would improve access to postsecondary education for older and transition-age foster youth by strengthening and modernizing the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (“Chafee program”). 

“Education and Training Vouchers (ETVs) provide essential financial support to foster and transition-age youth pursuing postsecondary education. However, the value of these vouchers is too low, and current data shows that only about one-third of eligible youth who attend college even receive an ETV,” said Rep. Judy Chu. “By strengthening the value of these vouchers and addressing the barriers we know youth face in accessing them, this bill will make meaningful progress in ensuring all foster youth can obtain a degree and follow their dreams.”   

“I’m proud to co-lead the Foster Youth Postsecondary Education and Success Act with Congresswoman Chu. This legislation makes much needed improvements to the Chafee program by increasing the annual education vouchers amount from $5,000 to $12,000 and allow states the ability to establish a grace period for youth. These budget-neutral, common-sense policies recognize the challenges foster youth face and seek to remedy them to ensure foster youth have the resources to pursue their calling in life,” said Rep. Nathaniel Moran.

Under the Chafee ETV program, states may provide vouchers towards the cost of attendance of postsecondary education for eligible foster youth. However, the maximum value of the voucher has not changed since the program was created in 2001 and has not kept pace with costs. Additionally, foster youth continue to face undue barriers to accessing ETVs, including challenges navigating the application process and maintaining their eligibility for the voucher for the full duration of their education. Moreover, too many foster youth are not aware of the ETV program, which can adversely impact their decision or ability to pursue postsecondary education.

To address these challenges, the Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act would:

• Increase the maximum allowable value of the voucher from $5,000 to $12,000 per year.
• Allow states to establish a grace period during which students can continue to receive their voucher if reasonable circumstances have temporarily prevented the student from meeting their state’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements. This would enable students to get back on track instead of losing their ETV.
• Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consult with youth who’ve experienced foster care in order to develop model guidance for states on implementation of the grace period.
• Require that the form youth use to apply for ETV be simplified, user-tested, easy to understand, and available electronically.
• Require states to make reasonable efforts to ensure eligible youth are aware of ETV and its benefits.
• Allow states to use their general Chafee program funds toward ensuring eligible youth are aware of ETV, including by conducting outreach.

This bill is endorsed by the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI), FosterClub, Journey to Success, Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), and the National Association of Counties (NACo).

“Belief in the potential of foster youth and transition age youth must extend beyond words. Real commitment means putting resources, policies, and accountability behind that belief. The Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act does exactly that, strengthening pathways to higher education while investing in the future of our nation’s workforce. We thank Rep. Chu for her continued leadership and for setting a standard for translating commitment into lasting systems change for foster youth,” said Rebecca Louve Yao, CEO, National Foster Youth Institute.

“Foster youth have the same college dreams as their peers but fewer supports. Education and Training Vouchers help level the playing field, and this bill expands access. We’re grateful to Representatives Chu and Moran for listening to young people,” said Celeste Bodner, Executive Director of FosterClub, the national network for youth in foster care.

“This bipartisan bill takes a long-overdue step toward modernizing the Education and Training Voucher program so it works for today’s students. By increasing the value of the voucher, simplifying access, and ensuring eligible youth are aware of the support available, Congress is addressing real gaps that have held too many foster youth back. These practical fixes will help more young people build stable futures by creating success in school and work,” said Hope Cooper, campaign manager, Journey to Success.

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

(Washington, DC) — On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Priced Out of the American Dream: Understanding the Policies Behind Rising Costs of Housing and Borrowing.”

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s remarks 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 Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Reps. Riley Moore (R-WV) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, along with leading lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457), today. The bill will require the U.S. Secretary of State to compile and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on U.S. efforts to address the ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities against Christians in Nigeria.

Cosponsors of the legislation include House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL), Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security and Related Programs Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Foreign Affairs South and East Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga (R-MI). 

The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 comes in the wake of extensive focus on the issue from Congress and President Trump, who has been leading the global charge to end the persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria.

“For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced unspeakable violence—churches burned, villages destroyed, families slaughtered—while the global community looked away. As part of the investigation President Trump asked me to lead, I visited Nigeria and witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and saw the security challenges Nigeria faces,” stated Rep. Moore, the author of legislation to condemn the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and support President Trump’s CPC designation.

“That is why I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Representative Chris Smith. This legislation makes clear that the United States stands with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and seeks to help Nigeria address its many challenges,” said Rep. Moore.

“I applaud the Nigerian government for working in coordination and cooperation with the Trump Administration to address the security challenges throughout the country. I stand ready to continue working to deepen and strengthen our relationship with Nigeria, as we work to save Christian lives,” Rep. Moore continued.

“The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders has only enabled the religious-based violence in the country to fester, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented numbers,” said Rep. Smith, who has chaired 13 congressional hearings on the religious persecution crisis in Nigeria.

“Now that President Trump has rightly redesignated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC), the United States has a responsibility to do its due diligence in ensuring that the Nigerian government is taking the proper steps to address and punish the systemic violence against Christians and non-radical Muslims by Islamist extremists, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists,” Rep. Smith added.

“Inaction on the parts of both the Nigerian and U.S. governments only emboldens these radical Islamist thugs to inflict even more misery, suffering, and death upon Christians and non-radical Muslims in Nigeria. That is why it is paramount that the United States remain steadfast in its mission to promote and protect religious freedoms throughout the globe—by ensuring that we are doing all that we can to end this crisis, we set an important example for the rest of the international community,” concluded Rep. Smith.

“The free world cannot stand by as Christians face mass murders, kidnappings and brutal assaults at the hands of terrorist thugs and armed militias in Nigeria. The Nigerian government must do their part to eliminate the scourge of religious persecution plaguing the country,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast. “This bill aligns with President Trump’s steps to hold them accountable and signal to the world that the U.S. stands firm in defending religious freedom.”

“Defending religious liberty in Nigeria and worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest. Moreover, this bill, as well as President Trump’s ongoing efforts, does just that,” stated House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole. “The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 makes it clear: religious persecution will not be tolerated.”

The new Smith-Moore bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to issue a report detailing the following components:

– An assessment of Nigeria’s compliance with the International Religious Freedom Act, including specific actions taken, or not taken, by the Government of Nigeria to prevent persecution, prosecute perpetrators, repeal blasphemy laws, protect vulnerable communities, and facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons.

– Identification of all individuals and entities sanctioned, or under consideration for sanction, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act or the Entities of Particular Concern list.

– A description of co-investments and collaborative efforts between the Governments of Nigeria and the U.S. to provide and deliver humanitarian assistance to Christians displaced by the attacks from Fulani-ethnic militias, through faith-based or nongovernmental partners, including amounts, recipients, type of assistance provided, and measurable outcomes.

– An evaluation and description of historical, ongoing, and planned U.S. security assistance to Nigeria, and a comprehensive assessment of whether such assistance risks enabling or exacerbating religious persecution.

– An investigation into whether the Nigerian government is taking appropriate steps to cease enforcement of blasphemy laws, and to look into instances of non-Muslims, Muslims, and dissenters being subjected to Sharia law or blasphemy laws.

– An assessment of internally displaced persons (IDP) conditions, including safety, humanitarian needs, and prospects for return.

– Recommendations for further executive actions or congressional authority deemed necessary and most helpful to halt the religious persecution and mass atrocities occurring in Nigeria.

– An evaluation of any steps taken by the Government of Nigeria during the reporting period to address religious persecution, dismantle extremist networks, prosecute attackers, reform security forces, or improve protection for at-risk communities.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, announced the introduction of the Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would place into law a clear use of force policy for federal law enforcement. 

This legislation would codify the Justice Department’s own Deadly Force policy, found in the Department’s Policy on Use of Force which was updated in May 2022 and adopted by law enforcement agencies across the federal government. This bill would set equally high standards and ensure accountability for federal law enforcement officers, including immigration officers, any time they used force that led to the loss of human life.  

“Department of Homeland Security agents are terrorizing schools and small businesses, racially profiling people, tearing children from their parents, and killing Americans. Congress cannot allow them to continue to operate this way without real oversight or accountability, and Democrats have come to the table with proposals that both safeguard everyone’s constitutional rights and protect public safety,” said Congresswoman Meng. “The tragic shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, along with the lack of transparency and dishonesty from both DHS and DOJ, have shown that politically motivated agency leaders cannot be trusted and that Congress must set clear guardrails. As the top Democrat of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, the bill I am introducing supports these reasonable proposals by turning the DOJ’s existing deadly force policy into law. This should not be controversial. I am prepared to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that this commonsense reform becomes law.”

This legislation would help address use-of-force standards that House and Senate Democratic Leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer highlighted in their letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, which outlined Democrats’ demands in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill currently under negotiation.

The House Appropriation Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies oversees funding for several federal agencies, including the Department of Justice.

A copy can be viewed here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

 Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) introduced the New Good Neighbor Act, calling for the annulment of the Monroe Doctrine and the establishment of a “New Good Neighbor” policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean. The resolution comes in direct response to the Trump administration’s aggressive interventionism across the hemisphere under what they’ve dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine.”

“This administration’s aggressive stance toward Latin America makes this resolution critical,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. “Their ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is simply a more grotesque version of the interventionist policies that have failed us for two centuries. The United States and Latin America face shared challenges in drug trafficking, migration, and climate change. We can only solve these through real partnership, not coercion. We need to finally leave the Monroe Doctrine behind and pursue a foreign policy grounded in mutual respect and shared prosperity.”

“For more than 200 years, the United States has used the Monroe Doctrine to justify a paternalistic, damaging approach to relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. As a result, the legacy of our nation’s foreign policy in those regions is political instability, deep poverty, extreme migration, and colonialism. It is well past time we change our approach,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. “We must recognize our interconnectedness and admit that the Monroe Doctrine undermines the partnership needed to confront the complex challenges of this century. We must become better neighbors. That is why I am proud to join Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez to develop an approach to foreign policy that advances our collective interests and builds a stronger coalition throughout the Americas and the rest of the world.”

The resolution responds to recent Trump administration actions including the illegal military operation in Venezuela, President Trump’s claims over Venezuelan oil reserves, and the pardon of convicted drug trafficker and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

In addition to Velázquez and Ramirez, the resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Summer Lee (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Greg Casar (D-TX), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sylvia García (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Lateefah Simon (D-CA).
 
From the invasion of Puerto Rico in 1898 to U.S. support for coups and dictatorships in Latin America throughout the 20th century, the resolution details the harmful effects of the policy over the past 200 years. 
 
The resolution calls for:

1. The Department of State to formally confirm that the Monroe Doctrine is no longer a part of United States policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean.
2. The Federal Government to develop a ‘‘New Good Neighbor’’ policy in place of the Monroe Doctrine.
3. Developing a new approach to promoting economic development.
4. The termination of all unilateral economic sanctions imposed through Executive orders, and working with Congress to terminate all unilateral sanctions, such as the Cuba embargo, mandated by law.
5. New legislation to trigger the suspension of assistance to a government whenever there is an extraconstitutional transfer of power.
6. Prompt declassification of all United States Government archives that relate to past coups d’états, dictatorships, and periods in the history of Latin American and Caribbean countries characterized by a high rate of human rights crimes perpetrated by security forces.
7. Collaboration with Latin American and Caribbean governments on a far-reaching reform to the Organization of American States.
8. Supporting democratic reforms to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and other international financial institutions.

Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research: “President Trump is waging a new offensive against Latin America and the Caribbean— conducting illegal and unprovoked military attacks and extrajudicial killings and brazenly intervening in other countries’ domestic affairs in an undisguised effort to exert control over the region’s resources and politics. But while Trump’s actions are especially egregious, they are just the latest chapter of a centuries-old story of US military political and economic interference that has subverted democracy and fueled instability and human rights crimes across the hemisphere. It is in the interest of the US to reject this doctrine of unilateral domination and chart a new course for US-Latin American relations — to treat our Latin American siblings as vecinos, not vassals.”

Colleen Moore, Director of Peace With Justice at The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society: “The Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church (UMC) rejects the use of war as an instrument of foreign policy and repents for the Church’s involvement in colonialism and neocolonialism. As followers of Jesus Christ and our official UMC Social Principles, we unequivocally reject any militarized ideology that deepens political instability anywhere in the world. Church and Society welcomes the reintroduction of this resolution from Congresswoman Velázquez that outlines a U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America based in diplomacy, rule of law, and cooperation.”

Cavan Kharrazian, Senior Policy Advisor at Demand Progress: “President Trump’s recent unauthorized military interventions and continued threats in the Western Hemisphere make clear that the legacy of the Monroe Doctrine still shapes U.S. foreign policy in harmful ways. We commend the cosponsors of this resolution for confronting that history and advancing a new framework for U.S. engagement in the region grounded in mutual respect, sovereignty, and cooperation rather than coercion or threats.”

George Escobar, Executive Director of We are CASA: “For many of our community, the long history of US intervention is a deeply personal experience. Our members have family, loved ones, and roots in the region that continues to be a target of military intervention and forced regime change. The US’s foreign policy in Latin America continues to undermine sovereignty, self-determination, and the rule of law, while placing lives at serious risk. As people are forcibly displaced from their homes due to violence and instability, they come to the US seeking safety for themselves and their families. They now face the risk of being sent back to the very same dangerous conditions created by the US, as the current administration attacks humanitarian programs, such as the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status. It is well beyond the moment for the US to turn away from the doctrine of violence and look towards building a better future together with Latin America.” 

Text of the resolution can be found here.

A recording of the press conference announcing the resolution can be found here.

 
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Congresistas Velázquez y Ramírez encabezan a un grupo de legisladores en la presentación de una resolución que llama a poner fin a la Doctrina Monroe

Washington, D.C. – Hoy, la congresista Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) y la congresista Delia Ramírez (D-IL) presentaron la New Good Neighbor Act, que exige la anulación de la Doctrina Monroe y el establecimiento de una “Nueva política del Buen Vecino” hacia América Latina y el Caribe. La resolución nace como una respuesta directa al agresivo intervencionismo de la Administración Trump en todo el hemisferio, bajo lo que han denominado la “Doctrina Donroe”.
 
“La postura agresiva de esta Administración hacia América Latina hace que esta resolución sea fundamental”, afirmó la congresista Nydia M. Velázquez. “Su ‘Doctrina Donroe’ no es más que una versión aún más grotesca de las políticas intervencionistas que han fallado durante dos siglos. Estados Unidos y América Latina enfrentan desafíos compartidos en materia de narcotráfico, migración y cambio climático. Solo podemos resolverlos mediante una verdadera cooperación, no mediante la coerción. Debemos dejar atrás de una vez por todas la Doctrina Monroe y avanzar hacia una política exterior basada en el respeto mutuo y la prosperidad compartida”.

“Durante más de 200 años, Estados Unidos ha invocado la Doctrina Monroe para justificar un enfoque paternalista y profundamente perjudicial en sus relaciones con América Latina y el Caribe. El resultado ha sido un legado de inestabilidad política, pobreza estructural, migración forzada y colonialismo. Ya es hora de cambiar de rumbo”, afirmó la congresista Delia C. Ramírez. “Debemos reconocer nuestra interdependencia y admitir que la Doctrina Monroe socava la alianza que necesitamos para enfrentar los complejos desafíos de este siglo. Es momento de convertirnos en mejores vecinos. Por eso me enorgullece unirme a la congresista Nydia Velázquez para impulsar una política exterior que avance nuestros intereses colectivos y fortalezca una coalición más sólida en las Américas y en el resto del mundo”.

La resolución surge como respuesta a una serie de acciones recientes de la Administración Trump, entre ellas una operación militar ilegal en Venezuela, las declaraciones del presidente Trump reclamando las reservas petroleras venezolanas y el indulto otorgado al expresidente hondureño Juan Orlando Hernández, condenado por narcotráfico.

Además de Velázquez y Ramírez, la resolución cuenta con el copatrocinio de los representantes Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Summer Lee (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Greg Casar (D-TX), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sylvia García (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) y Lateefah Simon (D-CA).

Desde la invasión de Puerto Rico en 1898 hasta el respaldo de Estados Unidos a golpes de Estado y dictaduras en América Latina a lo largo del siglo XX, la resolución documenta de manera detallada los efectos profundamente nocivos de esta política a lo largo de más de 200 años.

La resolución exige:

1. Que el Departamento de Estado confirme formalmente que la Doctrina Monroe ya no forma parte de la política de Estados Unidos hacia América Latina y el Caribe.
2. Que el Gobierno Federal desarrolle una “Nueva política del Buen Vecino” en reemplazo de la Doctrina Monroe.
3. El desarrollo de un nuevo enfoque para promover el desarrollo económico.
4. El fin de todas las sanciones económicas unilaterales impuestas mediante órdenes ejecutivas y el trabajo conjunto con el Congreso para poner fin a todas las sanciones unilaterales establecidas por ley, como el embargo a Cuba.
5. Una nueva legislación que active la suspensión de la asistencia a un gobierno cada vez que se produzca una transferencia de poder extraconstitucional.
6. La pronta desclasificación de todos los archivos del Gobierno de Estados Unidos relacionados con golpes de Estado, dictaduras y períodos de la historia de países de América Latina y el Caribe caracterizados por altos niveles de violaciones a los derechos humanos perpetradas por fuerzas de seguridad.
7. La colaboración con los gobiernos de América Latina y el Caribe en una reforma profunda de la Organización de los Estados Americanos.
8. El apoyo a reformas democráticas en el Fondo Monetario Internacional, el Banco Mundial, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo y otras instituciones financieras internacionales.

Alex Main, Director de Política Internacional del Center for Economic and Policy Research:
“El presidente Trump está librando una nueva ofensiva en contra de América Latina y el Caribe: llevando a cabo ataques militares ilegales y no provocados, ejecuciones extrajudiciales e interviniendo de forma descarada en los asuntos internos de otros países en un intento explícito de ejercer control sobre los recursos y la política de la región. Pero aunque las acciones de Trump son especialmente graves, no son más que el capítulo más reciente de una historia de siglos de injerencia militar, política y económica de Estados Unidos que ha socavado la democracia y alimentado la inestabilidad y los crímenes contra los derechos humanos en todo el hemisferio. Es en interés de Estados Unidos el rechazar esta doctrina de dominación unilateral y trazar un nuevo rumbo para las relaciones entre Washington y América Latina: tratar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas latinoamericanos como vecinos, no como vasallos”.

Colleen Moore, Directora de Peace With Justice en la Iglesia Metodista Unida — Junta General de Iglesia y Sociedad:
“La Junta de Iglesia y Sociedad de la Iglesia Metodista Unida (UMC) rechaza el uso de la guerra como instrumento de política exterior y se arrepiente de la participación de la Iglesia en el colonialismo y el neocolonialismo. Como seguidores de Jesucristo y de acuerdo con nuestros Principios Sociales oficiales de la UMC, rechazamos de manera inequívoca cualquier ideología militarizada que profundice la inestabilidad política en cualquier parte del mundo. Iglesia y Sociedad celebra la reintroducción de esta resolución por parte de la congresista Velázquez, que plantea una política exterior de Estados Unidos hacia América Latina basada en la diplomacia, el Estado de derecho y la cooperación”.

Cavan Kharrazian, asesor principal de políticas en Demand Progress:
“Las recientes intervenciones militares no autorizadas del presidente Trump y sus amenazas continuas en el hemisferio occidental dejan claro que el legado de la Doctrina Monroe sigue moldeando de formas dañinas la política exterior de Estados Unidos. Felicitamos a los copatrocinadores de esta resolución por enfrentar esa historia y promover un nuevo marco para la relación de Estados Unidos con la región, basado en el respeto mutuo, la soberanía y la cooperación, en lugar de la coerción o las amenazas”.

George Escobar, director ejecutivo de We Are CASA:
“Para muchas personas de nuestras comunidades, la larga historia de intervención de Estados Unidos es una experiencia profundamente personal. Nuestros miembros tienen familiares, seres queridos y raíces en una región que sigue siendo objeto de intervención militar y de cambios de régimen forzados. La política exterior de Estados Unidos en América Latina continúa socavando la soberanía, la autodeterminación y el Estado de derecho, al tiempo que pone vidas en grave riesgo. A medida que las personas son desplazadas por la fuerza de sus hogares debido a la violencia y la inestabilidad, llegan a Estados Unidos buscando seguridad para sí mismas y sus familias. Hoy enfrentan el riesgo de ser devueltas a las mismas condiciones peligrosas creadas por Estados Unidos, mientras la actual Administración ataca programas humanitarios, como la cancelación del Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS, por sus siglas en inglés). Hace ya mucho que Estados Unidos debería apartarse de esta doctrina de violencia y mirar hacia la construcción de un futuro mejor junto a América Latina”.

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