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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, hosted a recognition evening and exhibit on Thursday night to announce the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition in Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District.

The first-place winner for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition is Alyssa Wang of Woodbury, for her graphite piece entitled “Color Me Happy.” Saint Paul’s Rebecca Maas placed second for her oil painting entitled “While I Sleep In.” Lily Kroeger of North St. Paul took third place for her colored pencil piece entitled “Puppeteer My Own Limits.”

“Over the weekend, more than 6,400 people took the opportunity to view the amazing talent and creativity of the more than sixty young artists from across the Fourth District who competed in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition,” said Congresswoman Betty McCollum. “I’m grateful to all the students who applied their time, effort, and creativity to submit a piece of artwork, and I commend them for showing the courage to showcase their talents to our community. Congratulations to Alyssa, Rebecca, and Lily! 

Wang’s first place work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from across the United States. Maas’ work will be displayed in Congresswoman McCollum’s Washington, D.C. office, and Kroeger’s piece will hang in the Congresswoman’s Saint Paul office. The competition was open to all Fourth District high school students and attracted dozens of entries which were displayed at the Atrium Gallery of the Schmidt Artist Lofts as part of the 2026 Spring Saint Paul Art Crawl. 

A panel of Fourth Congressional District Resident Artists generously volunteered their time to judge the students’ art. The winners were announced during a recognition evening on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, at the Schmidt Artist Lofts. 

All 2026 entries can be viewed online here.

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

Congresswomen and Mayor Hold Classroom Visit and Roundtable Discussion at Horizons for Homeless Children

Photos | Story Hour Video | Media Availability

ROXBURY – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) visited Horizons for Homeless Children in Roxbury for a classroom visit and roundtable conversation with early childhood educators. The Congresswomen were joined by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Horizons leadership and staff, and families for a tour of the facility and a story hour with children.

“Providing high-quality, accessible early childhood education is essential to the success of our babies, families, and communities writ-large,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I am always grateful to spend time with our educators and families and today we were reminded how powerful our community is. We will continue to show up for each other and carry the stories of families here in Roxbury and across the Massachusetts 7^th with us to Congress. I’m grateful to my sisters in service, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and Mayor Wu, for their partnership and leadership in this work.”

“When we invest in our children, we invest in our country’s collective future,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “I was honored to spend the morning in Roxbury with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Mayor Michelle Wu talking to educators about the need for robust federal investments in early childhood education facilities.”

“Part of making Boston the best city to raise a family is making sure every child gets a strong start in life,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Horizons for Homeless Children is a shining example of what’s possible when we invest in families, and in the educators and organizations who show up for them every day. I’m grateful to have strong partners in Congresswoman Pressley and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez as we work together to ensure universal access to high-quality early education is part of the foundation for making Boston the best city for families.”

“We were so pleased to welcome Congresswomen Pressley and Ocasio-Cortez and Mayor Wu to Horizons today,” said Kate Barrand, Chief Executive Officer, Horizons for Homeless Children. “Spending time in the classroom together is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake, these are young children who need stability, care, and access to specialized early learning experiences, including STEM, that help put them on a path to succeed in school and beyond. Every day, we see how much that matters for families experiencing homelessness. We’re grateful to have leaders who understand how critical it is to invest in early education and advance policies like higher pay and stronger support for early educators — priorities Horizons has long championed.”

Photos from the event are available here and footage of the Congresswomen’s media availability at the event is available here. Footage of the Congresswomen and Mayor reading to children is available here.

Congresswoman Pressley has been a longtime proponent for robust federal investments in childcare, living wages for early educators, and support for the Head Start program, and has successfully delivered federal community project funding for childcare programs across the Massachusetts 7^th Congressional District.

In May 2024, Congresswoman Pressley and Mayor Wu visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured for Horizons to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness.

In September 2025, Congresswoman Pressley visited Chinatown to celebrate the $425,000 in community project funding she secured for the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center’s childcare and early education programming.

In February 2023, Congresswoman Pressley welcomed Jaqueline Sanches, a Mattapan resident, early educator, and mother of two, as her guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

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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)