MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Washington, DC — One year after Kristi Noem was confirmed as Donald Trump’s Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Troy Carter (LA-02) are leading House Democrats in calling on President Donald Trump to remove her from office, citing a year of mismanagement that has weakened the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and led to copious deaths and destruction.

 

“Secretary Noem’s first year at the helm of DHS has been its own kind of disaster. We have witnessed unforced errors and disturbing choices, including a pattern of decisions leaving FEMA less capable of fulfilling its obligation to American disaster survivors. This year of her tenure has been marked by unnecessary challenges that have hampered every stage of our National Preparedness Goal mission areas – prevention, protection, preparedness, response and recovery. And we saw the infuriating, deadly results experienced in Texas, New Mexico, California, North Carolina, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, and most recently in Washington,” the lawmakers wrote.

 

In a letter sent to the White House on January 14, the Democratic lawmakers point to newly reported draft plans to cut FEMA’s workforce by more than half, along with recent firings and contract nonrenewals, as evidence that Secretary Noem is undermining the agency’s ability to respond to disasters. Current and former FEMA officials have warned that the proposed cuts would severely damage disaster response and recovery nationwide.

 

The Democratic lawmakers argue that the proposed workforce reductions violate reforms enacted after Hurricane Katrina, including the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act, which was designed to protect FEMA from political interference and ensure professional emergency management. They also cite the Stafford Act, which directs FEMA to maintain a nationwide workforce capable of supporting communities before, during, and after disasters.

 

The members urged President Trump to remove Secretary Noem immediately and nominate qualified leadership for DHS and FEMA, warning that continued mismanagement risks repeating past failures that cost lives.

 

The letter was signed by Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. (NJ-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).

The full letter can be found here and below:

 

Mr. President: 

 

We urge you to immediately fire Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. The United States cannot weather another year of her misguided leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Protecting our nation when disaster strikes and supporting Americans’ recovery from personal and economic trauma is a profound responsibility. Instead, Secretary Noem has shown she is planning an illegal  and systematic sabotage of FEMA’s vital work.

 

Secretary Noem’s first year at the helm of DHS has been its own kind of disaster. We have witnessed unforced errors and disturbing choices, including a pattern of decisions leaving FEMA less capable of fulfilling its obligation to American disaster survivors. This year of her tenure has been marked by unnecessary challenges that have hampered every stage of our National Preparedness Goal mission areas – prevention, protection, preparedness, response and recovery. And we saw the infuriating, deadly results experienced in Texas, New Mexico, California, North Carolina, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, and most recently in Washington.

 

Her egregious choice to personally sign off on any spending over $100,000 is a slap in the face to families in need. During the July 4^th floods, her policy prevented search and rescue from being deployed until four days after the floods began and caused FEMA’s call center contract to expire resulting in seventy percent of calls from survivors seeking aid to go unanswered.  

 

In 2006, after the notorious mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act (PKEMRA) to strengthen FEMA. PKEMRA held DHS leadership to a higher standard by putting an end to meddling by political appointees in organizational and workforce processes that are foundational to the work that keeps Americans’ safe and secure. While every crisis offers a new opportunity for learning how to better handle disasters, for the last twenty years, Americans have benefited from the higher standards at FEMA set in place by Congress through PKEMRA.

 

Unfortunately, Secretary Noem has created chaos and brought troubling mismanagement back to FEMA. We condemn her latest decision to illegally subvert PKEMRA guardrails by firing FEMA employees at the end of December and her leaked plans to fire 11,500 workers – roughly half the agency’s workforce. Recent reports indicate the Secretary plans to fire 1,000 disaster response staffers later this month. If you allow the Secretary to continue in her leadership position, the nation is at risk of repeating mismanagement disasters reminiscent of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy and delays in helping families and communities rebuild.

 

As directed by the Stafford Act, FEMA’s ability to carry out its mission to help communities in crisis is bolstered by thousands of federal employees and contractors stationed at headquarters and across the country. Their patriotic work is the difference between life and death, economic ruin and a new, more secure beginning. These illegal threats to their livelihoods will only endanger FEMA’s core mission and the disaster survivors they serve.

If your Administration cares about the nation’s emergency management system, instead of slashing FEMA’s workforce, we strongly urge you to remove Secretary Noem and install a competent professional to be in charge.

 

We applauded the resignation of FEMA’s former Acting Administrator David Richardson after forceful public condemnation of his disastrous job performance and lives lost on his watch.  Kristi Noem has proven herself no better suited for a leadership role, and we urge you to immediately remove her and submit qualified nominees to lead DHS and FEMA to the Senate as soon as possible. The American people deserve better. 

 

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

Know Your Immigration Rights

If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) released a statement on the Department of Justice Investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell:

 

“Chair Powell serves with dignity, honor, and integrity, and has done so throughout his tenure, remaining focused on the Fed’s dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment.

 

It is increasingly clear that the weaponized Department of Justice criminal investigation is a political attack and yet another attempt by Donald Trump to undermine and seize control of the Federal Reserve, putting the stability of the economy and household finances at risk.

 

Over the last year, President Trump has demonstrated a disturbing pattern of politicizing the Fed, attempting to intimidate members of the Federal Open Market Committee into lowering interest rates, threatening to unlawfully remove Chair Jerome Powell, attempting to push out Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook, and appointing partisan individuals to the Board whose views on monetary policy align with his political agenda.

 

The strength of our economy depends on an independent Federal Reserve, and every American should be deeply alarmed by the Trump Administration’s blatant politicization of our central bank and interest rate decisions—consequential decisions that must be driven by evidence, data, and economic reality, not partisan political pressure. This is guaranteed to negatively impact American households through inflation, the labor market, savings, and housing costs.”

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) introduced a resolution honoring the 113th Founders Day of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. The Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 at Howard University by 22 visionary college women and has grown to over 1,050 chapters and 350,000 members worldwide.  

 

“For 113 years, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has never waited for permission to lead or for justice to come slowly. From marching up Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., demanding the right to vote, to leading the global fight for equitable education, health, economic opportunity, and political power for Black women, Delta women have always met the moment with purpose and courage.  As a proud Delta, I carry that legacy with me every day in Congress. This resolution honors not only our Founders, but the generations of women who turned sisterhood into service, and service into lasting change. Delta’s history is not just something we celebrate; it is something we continue to live, “ said Congresswoman Beatty.

 

“On Founders’ Day, we celebrate a legacy built by courageous women and carried forward by generations of dedicated sisters. As a Delta, I am proud of the Sorority’s unwavering commitment to justice and community empowerment. As we mark 113 years, I’m honored to introduce this resolution with Rep. Joyce Beatty recognizing the decades of sisterhood, excellence, and service,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee.

 

“Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded 113 years ago by 22 visionary collegiate women at Howard University,” said International President Cheryl W. Turner. “Their courage, conviction, and commitment to the tenets of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action have grounded our organization for more than a century and continue to inspire generations of women to lead with purpose and impact. Today, with more than 350,000 initiated members and over 1,050 chapters worldwide, we proudly advance our Founders’ vision as One Delta, One Mission: Anchored in Legacy, Evolving with Intention. We thank our members, Congresswoman Summer Lee and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, for honoring this legacy and for their leadership in recognizing the transformative work of our Sorority.”

 

The resolution celebrates Delta Sigma Theta’s dedication to addressing critical issues through its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust, which focuses on economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. The organization has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, including the establishment of the Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital in Kenya and its designation as a special consultative non-governmental organization to the United Nations. 

 

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1913 by 22 trailblazing women committed to promoting academic excellence and advocating for marginalized communities. Over the past 113 years, Delta Sigma Theta has led transformative initiatives such as the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, which prepares young women for leadership roles, and Financial Fortitude programs that address wealth inequities. 

 

The sorority’s members have included trailblazers such as Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Secretary Marcia Fudge, and Dr. Dorothy I. Height. Its global footprint spans across the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, embodying the Founders’ vision of impactful sisterhood. 

 

A copy of the resolution text can be found here.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of the recent ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) killings in Minnesota, Congresswoman Beatty is holding ICE accountable and demanding full transparency for the Columbus community members that have been detained.  Last week, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued a letter to Secretary Kristi Noem of the Department of Homeland Security and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, condemning the recent surge of ICE activity and raids in Central Ohio.

“Since the start of “Operation Buckeye” on December 17, 2025, ICE officers have detained at least 214 people in the Columbus area – over 80% were Latinos and 10% were Black. These racially targeted raids began right before Christmas as a way to strike fear into the immigrant community and have largely targeted individuals without a criminal record. Furthermore, I have serious concerns surrounding the process and legal justification for this ICE operation,” Congresswoman Beatty said in the letter.

“During this operation, ICE has claimed that individuals detained are the ‘worst of the worst,’ yet investigations and on-the-ground reporting from Columbus contradict this claim.  ABC 6 discovered that the majority of the detainees they investigated had no criminal records. One report even found that on December 17, 2025, ICE agents allegedly detained two U.S. citizens and a Mexican immigrant with a valid work permit, including a woman with an 8-month old child, and all three of these individuals did not have a criminal record.”

“Operation Buckeye is also specifically targeting sensitive locations as a way to increase fear and anxiety within the immigrant communities of central Ohio. There have been multiple first-hand reports of ICE targeting schools with large Hispanic populations. Furthermore, there has been a dramatic drop in attendance at churches and mosques as parishioners are afraid to attend,” Congresswoman Beatty continued in the letter.

“Any operation of this scale demands full transparency regarding the legal basis and the status of those detained.”

The full letter can be found HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Davids Also Secures Funds to Expand Truck Driver Training and Tackle Workforce Shortage

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced a resolution that calls on the Secretary of Defense to authorize Dreamers to serve in the armed services.

“For many Dreamers, the United States is the only home they have ever known. Every American deserves the right to serve their country through military service, and Dreamers should be no exception,” said Foster. “Allowing Dreamers to enlist would ensure our armed forces benefit from some of our nation’s best and brightest young minds. I strongly encourage the Secretary of Defense to review the current policy and authorize these patriotic individuals to serve their country.”

A copy of the resolution can be found here. 

Cosponsors of the resolution include Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Lou Correa (D-CA).

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, issued the following statement:

“Without a stable, responsible, and independent monetary policy, the United States risks losing the primacy of the U.S. dollar and becoming uninvestable. Trump’s politically-driven ‘investigation’ of the Federal Reserve is a deliberate assault on that independence.

“There is no more important financial role of Congress than preserving the independence of the Federal Reserve, and Democrats, at least, understand what is at stake and are willing to fight to preserve the integrity of the U.S. monetary system.”

“This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. It is not about Congress’s oversight role; the Fed through testimony and other public disclosures made every effort to keep Congress informed about the renovation project. Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congressman Mark Messmer (R-Ind.) to call out Congressional Democrats’ record of failure when it comes to lowering costs for hardworking Americans. Leader Scalise also touted the work by President Trump and House Republicans to decrease costs by making housing more affordable, unleashing American energy production, cutting wasteful spending, and addressing increasing health care premiums.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
On House Republicans’ work to lower costs:“We have another busy week on the House floor addressing problems that were created under Joe Biden, dealing with cost of living. As our conference chair, Lisa McClain, talked about, we have brought so many bills to start unraveling the damage that Joe Biden created that led to all these cost increases in so many areas, to finally start bringing them down, so we could put more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans. You look at a great housing package last week to lower housing costs. Bills that came out of French Hill’s committee to address some of those problems. We have some more bills coming out of the Financial Services Committee to address that problem. This week, we’re bringing a number of bills that came out of Education and Workforce to help workers, to help small business owners, to address some of the rules and regulations that added so much to the cost of things when you go buy things all across the spectrum.”On Democrats’ record of failure on affordability:“It’s really interesting when you hear Democrats yelling and screaming about the cost of things. My question is, where were those Democrats when they were jacking up all those costs on families for four years under Joe Biden? Did Democrats forget, and do they think voters are going to forget, that under Joe Biden for four years, gas prices doubled? Yes, doubled. Did they forget that under Joe Biden for four years, mortgage rates doubled? Where were the Democrats who are complaining now, then when they were helping jack up with all their spending and their corruption that they supported, and then those mortgage rates affected hardworking families under Democrat control here in Washington? Inflation under Joe Biden hit its highest level in 40 years. Where were those Democrats that are talking about it now as it’s finally going down? Where were they when they were jacking it up? Interest rates reached their highest level in 22 years. Oh, and by the way, under Joe Biden and Democrats, when they were running this town, real take-home pay by workers had decreased under Biden by $3,000. Less money in your pockets under Joe Biden, and not a word, crickets, from Democrats in Washington.”On fixing the mess that Joe Biden and Democrats created:“Now, when you hear them, what they’re really complaining about is the fact that Donald Trump is working with a Republican [Congress] to finally mop up the mess they created to lower those costs, think about this: Gas prices at their lowest level in five years. Five years. And by the way, it wasn’t just magic and pixie dust that did that. It was real policies that every Democrat voted no on to lower gas prices. We, Republicans, lowered gas prices. Every Democrat voted no. Not most of them, not some of them. Every single one of them.“We brought a bill to lower health care costs. You’ve heard a lot about that from Democrats, right? There was a bill on the House floor just a few weeks ago to lower health care costs by 11%, according to CBO. Every single Democrat voted no on that bill.“Core inflation is at its lowest level today in five years. Five years. Democrats voted against all the bills that we passed to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, which had a lot to do with lowering inflation. Everybody knows when you saw Democrats go on this crazy spending spree for four years, trillions of dollars in new spending, jacking up inflation, we finally said, we’re going to get control over spending. And not only that, we’re going to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. And guess what? Every Democrat voted no on those bills.“And by the way, what is the ultimate result for families? And we’re just getting started, by the way, we’re not even at one year of President Trump’s next term in office. Real wages, that’s money in your pockets. It was down $3,000 under Joe Biden. Under just the first year of Donald Trump, real wages are up, up, $1,200. More money, real money in the pockets of hardworking families, and every Democrat voted no. I can see why they’re yelling and screaming. They don’t want the American people to know not only what’s happening to finally unravel and mop up the mess they created after four years. They don’t want the American people to know that they have voted no every step of the way to fix the mess they created.”

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

“I thank the gentleman for recognizing me. I presume this is a message amendment. I presume that because I know that the gentleman who offered it is bright, knowledgeable, and knows this amendment is clearly unconstitutional. I’m sure he’s read the Constitution. He talks about it from time to time, and, of course, the language of the Constitution is very clear for exactly the reason that the founders did not want us to be able to monetarily penalize them for judgments with which we disagreed because they wanted an independent judiciary; ‘a nation of laws, not of men.‘ A nation of laws that are not compromised by threats of cutting salaries, changing lifestyles so that the judiciary would be unlike England, who had a king who made the laws, [but] that it would be the Parliament and the courts. So, I would suggest that we withdraw this amendment. With all due respect to my friend from Texas, because surely, he would not want to go against the Constitution of the United States of America.
 
“I also want to say that I am honored to serve as the Ranking Member. I’d rather be Chairman, but I’m honored to serve as the Ranking Member with the distinguished Member of this body, Mr. Joyce. And, if he would like me to yield to him now, I will. If not, I want to thank him for his leadership of our committee, which has been collegial and positive, and I think has led to this resolution today. But I urge strenuously – and by the way, let me mention to the gentleman from Texas, he is protected by the Constitution of the United States. Mr. Chairman, I thank the Chairman, Mr. Sessions, from the great state. I want to tell him that the gentleman who offered this amendment is protected by that same Constitution of the United States from having this done to him. And surely, he would want to do unto others as he would want done to him. I urge strenuously [for] the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”