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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

Rep. Gomez Blasts Trump’s Travel Ban as “Cruel Political Stunt”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

You can watch Rep. Gomez and his colleagues attempting to get in HERE.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, Representatives Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Norma Torres (CA-35) and Lou Correa (CA-46) were unlawfully denied entry to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building while attempting to conduct congressional oversight of reported ICE detentions of immigrant families under unsafe and degrading conditions in the federal building. Rep. Gomez is calling on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to immediately investigate the unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and the reported mistreatment of migrants.

“Under federal law, we have the authority to access these facilities—and ICE broke the law by blocking us,” said Rep. Gomez. “We’re not here to protest. We’re here to investigate reports that law-abiding migrants—moms, kids, workers, and asylum seekers—are being held in a basement with no beds, no food, no water. This isn’t martial law, and Secretary Noem must explain why her agency is operating in the shadows. We will not stop until we get answers.”

A recent CBS News report revealed that immigrant families—including children and pregnant women—were being detained in the Roybal Building’s basement without beds, food, or water after routine ICE check-ins. Lawmakers arrived to investigate, but ICE and DHS officials unlawfully blocked their entry. Outside the building, they were joined by attorneys, advocates, and family members of those detained. Rep. Gomez and witnesses started coughing—a sign that made them suspect a chemical irritant had been deployed nearby.

Rep. Gomez’s district includes downtown LA and the Roybal Federal Building where the detentions occurred. As the son of immigrants, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has been a strong advocate for immigrant families. Rep. Gomez filed an amicus brief earlier this year urging the Court to uphold the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship. He’s a proud supporter of the Dream and Promise Act of 2025, which would provide a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. He has called on the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately halt efforts to misuse confidential taxpayer data for immigration enforcement. He is also leading the effort to reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program, which supports organizations that help legal residents become U.S. citizens.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“Grocery checkout lines and the fear of falling ill are still major sources of financial anxiety for families, yet the Republican response is to give the wealthiest Americans a tax break windfall and pay for it by taking affordable health care and food assistance from millions of people. It’s a cruel, deplorable and fiscally irresponsible response, and we heard that message loud and clear today in Pennsylvania,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Far from lowering costs, Trump’s chaotic economic policies are driving recessionary fears, and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ would steal health care from 16 million Americans and deny food assistance to millions more. The net effect makes life even harder for paycheck-to-paycheck workers.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

LOS ANGELES – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) is demanding immediate accountability from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after he and Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46), Luz Rivas (CA-29), and Norma Torres (CA-35) were unlawfully denied entry to the ICE detention facility inside the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on June 7.

“What happened on June 7 was a flagrant, unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. This is not a gray area. This is black letter law—and your department broke it,” wrote Rep. Gomez in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Gomez reminded DHS of federal law, which explicitly prohibits the Department from denying Members of Congress access to any DHS detention facility, without requiring prior notice. He also raised urgent concerns about reports that asylum seekers and families are being held in basement holding cells for up to 24 hours without food, water, or sunlight.

“These conditions are not only inhumane—they are morally bankrupt and legally indefensible. …Detaining human beings under these conditions has no place in this country—and I will not stand for it. I expect an immediate response,” said Rep. Gomez.

Rep. Gomez outlined three immediate demands from DHS and ICE:

• Full and unimpeded access to the Roybal facility for Members of Congress, including walkthroughs and interviews with detainees.
• A written explanation of who authorized the illegal denial of entry and why.
• Full compliance with oversight laws at all DHS facilities nationwide.

You can read the full letter HERE.

Rep. Gomez’s district includes downtown LA and the Roybal Federal Building where the detentions occurred. As the son of immigrants, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has been a strong advocate for immigrant families. Rep. Gomez filed an amicus brief earlier this year urging the court to uphold the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship. He’s a proud supporter of the Dream and Promise Act of 2025, which would provide a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. He has called on the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately halt efforts to misuse confidential taxpayer data for immigration enforcement. He is also leading the effort to reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program, which supports organizations that help legal residents become U.S. citizens.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Reporting from The Guardian alleges UnitedHealth Group is paying nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers and promote do-not-resuscitate orders to increase profits

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) introduced legislation to require full back pay for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who were unjustly fired and later reinstated. The Reinstating Employee Salaries to Original Rates and Entitlements (RESTORE) Act (H.R.3192) would apply to all VA employees who were terminated and later rehired on or after January 20, 2025.

In January, the President issued an Executive Order calling for significant reductions in the federal workforce in conjunction with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).” Department communications show that as of March, VA officials had already fired 6,000 employees, and were planning to cut another 80,000 jobs, which would return staffing to 2019 levels. In addition to career civil servants, these actions have mainly targeted probationary employees, who have been in their positions for less than two years or recently received a promotion. As a result, thousands of veterans and federal workers have been terminated across multiple federal agencies, including the VA. These employees were responsible for providing core VA services, including health care, benefits services, housing loans, and burial and memorial services, among others.

This year, Meng invited Luke Graziani, a constituent from Woodside, Queens and a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who was unjustly fired from his job as a public affairs officer at a New York City veterans’ hospital, as her guest to President Trump’s address to Congress in March to stand against the ongoing mass firings of federal employees and veterans. He was among the tens of thousands of federal workers that the Administration has unfairly terminated across the federal government since January. 

“VA employees, like Luke Graziani, take an oath to serve our veterans, regardless of who is in the Oval Office. Without them, veterans would be left without the care and benefits they were promised when they made the commitment to serve and protect our nation,” said Meng. “These dedicated public servants, many of whom are veterans themselves, should never have been fired from their jobs. The RESTORE Act guarantees back pay for thousands of these illegally fired VA employees who have devoted their careers to serving our communities. They are not government waste, nor are the salaries they rely on.”

Graziani was abruptly laid off in February as the Administration began its attempts at sweeping cuts to the federal workforce. Meng had intervened with the VA on his behalf, urging the agency to reinstate him. He was rehired in April after a federal judge ordered the VA and other federal agencies to reinstate probationary workers who were fired. Fortunately, Graziani was reinstated with backpay, but many VA employees haven’t had the same experience, and current federal law doesn’t mandate the Administration provide it in this circumstance. 

Across the country there are about 2.3 million federal workers who serve their communities each day. Approximately 6,000 federal workers live in Meng’s Congressional District alone.

Now introduced in the House, the RESTORE Act must be passed by the House Committee on Veteran Affairs before it can be brought to the floor for a vote.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) hosted his annual Educators Luncheon in Upper Marlboro recently to honor 17 exceptional educators, teachers, and education professionals in the Fifth District. Honorees included recipients of several leadership awards, including the Washington Post Finalists for the Teacher of the Year and County Educators of the Year Award Winners.

“I am proud to celebrate the outstanding educators and support staff who work hard every day for Marylanders in the Fifth District,” said Congressman Hoyer. “America’s teachers continue to face challenges of today with grace and resilience – as they have done for many years. Despite the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks on the Department of Education and higher education, I will continue to fight for the funding needed to ensure all our students – no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability status – receive equal treatment under the law and in the classroom. I thank them for meeting with me to discuss our shared commitment to the next generation of Marylanders.”
 

The following education professionals were honored:

Anne Arundel County
1. Heather Garris, George Arlotto Leadership Award, Principal of the Year (2023-24)

Calvert County
1. Bill Voshell, Calvert County Teacher of the Year (2025)
2. Rebecca Bowen, Washington Post Principal Finalist (2025)  
3. Wendy Badgley, Educational Support Professional of the Year (2025)

Charles County
1. Alison Cheney, Charles County Teacher of the Year (2025)
2. Georgia Green, Washington Post Teacher Finalist (2025)
3. Nicholas Adam, Washington Post Principal Finalist (2025)
4. Melissa Revell, Outstanding Employee of Charles County Public Schools (2025)
5. Melanie Sokol, Outstanding Employee of Charles County Public Schools (2025)

Prince George’s County
1. Lafiya Tunstall, Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year (2025)
2. Kathy Russell, Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year (2024)
3. Dr. Ryan Daniel, National Distinguished Principal (2025), Washington Post Principal of the Year (2024)
4. Lashawn James, Maryland’s Pupil Personnel Worker of the Year (2025)

St. Mary’s County
1. Hunter Martin, Washington Post Teacher Finalist (2025)
2. Dr. Deborah Dennie, Washington Post Principal Finalist (2025)
3. Vivian Johnson, St. Mary’s County Public Schools Educational Support Professional of the Year (2025)
4. Kelly Bridges, Leader of Excellence (2025)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) recently reintroduced the bipartisan Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act, which will expand Medicare coverage for diabetes self-management training services. These services reduce diabetes-related deaths and heart attacks, lead to improved self-care, and lower care costs for hospitals. Congresswoman Schrier is joined in introducing this legislation by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12). This legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME). 

“I’ve had type 1 diabetes for 40 years and still remember the lessons I learned in 1985 about managing my blood sugars. So I know firsthand the importance of education in navigating this disease. Without a proper understanding of the roles that insulin, food, exercise, medications, and illness have on blood sugar, individuals with diabetes can quickly end up in the hospital,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “We know that self-management training helps people with diabetes live healthy lives, and I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to introduce this important bill and remove barriers to self-management training.”

The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act will: 

• Allow the initial 10 hours of diabetes self-management training (DSMT) to remain available until fully used.
• Permit DSMT and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services to be provided on the same day.
• Exclude DSMT services from Part B cost-sharing and deductible requirements.
• Permit physicians and qualified nonphysician practitioners (e.g., podiatrists, emergency department providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists) to refer for DSMT services.
• Establish a Center for Medicare Innovation demonstration program to test the impact of covering virtual DSMT under the Medicare program. 

“By providing diabetes patients with these self-management resources, seniors will be empowered to take control of their own health and well-being, and we can help mitigate the negative impact this disease has on them and their families,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “Supporting our seniors in managing chronic conditions like diabetes is not just good policy—it’s a commitment to health, dignity, and independence.”

“The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) extends our sincere appreciation to Representatives Kim Schrier, MD, and Gus Bilirakis for leading efforts to expand access to diabetes education and care for Medicare beneficiaries,” said ADCES President Veronica Brady, PhD, RN, FNP-P, BC-ADM, CDCES. “Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) supports people living with diabetes in improving their health outcomes and preventing complications—benefits that can also contribute to lowering overall health care costs.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and all Democratic Health subcommittee members called for an urgent hearing with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), amid growing concerns over sweeping disruptions to the agency since the beginning of the second Trump Administration. 

In a letter sent to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), the Members requested a hearing to examine “significant staff reductions at the agency, the documented delayed or canceled research activities at NIH, and policy changes that have taken place in the first months of the Trump administration.”

“Congress has a constitutional responsibility to oversee executive actions that fundamentally alter the structure, capacity, and mission of agencies established in statute, in a bipartisan manner. The current trajectory of NIH under the Trump administration is alarming, marked by political interference, anti-science rhetoric, and destabilizing personnel and funding decisions,” the letter reads. 

The Members outlined sweeping and destabilizing changes at NIH since January, including: 

1. Attempting to push out at least 2,500 NIH staff as part of broader HHS-wide staff reductions totaling more than 20,000 employees;
2. Cancelling over 800 research grants—totaling billions of dollars—impacting research into cancer, mental health, rare diseases, infectious disease, and health disparities;
3. Freezing NIH grant-operations and external communications, stalling the agency’s ability to carry out its mission; and
4. Proposing a nearly 40% budget cut to NIH in the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget, despite strong bipartisan support for biomedical research.

The letter continues, “It is critical the Energy and Commerce Committee convene a hearing with Director Bhattacharya to examine these actions and assess whether the NIH remains equipped to serve the American people and maintain its leadership in global biomedical research. We are deeply concerned the disruption at NIH and our biomedical research enterprise will have untold costs in terms of lost innovation and treatments and cures for the American people.”

The Members sent the letter following the publication of the “Bethesda Declaration” in which hundreds of current and recently terminated NIH employees expressed deep concerns to Director Bhattacharya about the direction NIH has taken under President Trump. 

Read the Member’s full letter here.

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